SAN JOSEThe Sharks wont be practicing on Friday, but flying east to St. Louis where they will begin a three-game road trip against the Blues on Saturday.
The road has been a generally productive place for the Sharks again this season, as they are 7-3 in just 10 games away from home, tied for the fewest games in the league. San Jose is in the midst of a stretch of 18 home games out of 24 in November and December.
Theyll face a surging Blues team first, which has turned things around under new head coach Ken Hitchcock; an elite club in Chicago on Sunday, and a last-place Avalanche squad on Tuesday, which theyve already beaten handily once in Denver in November.
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And, theyll get to savor the good taste in their mouths from a 5-2 beating of the Dallas Stars on Thursday, ending a stretch of four losses in five games.
Build on what we did tonight, said Todd McLellan after the win on Thursday, when asked what he wants to see from his club on the three-game trek. Were going into some tough buildings. St. Louis, since they made the coaching change, and even before that, has really always been a tough team to play in their building.
We all know how quick and talented that Chicago team is. Then, coming back in that third game in four nights is always tough when youre playing it in Denver.
It will be the second of four games against the Blues, who beat the Sharks 4-2 in early October and who are 6-1-1 in their last eight. They are just three points behind the Blackhawks for first place in the Central Division.
San Jose Sharks
Since losing to the Antti Niemi and the Sharks on Nov. 23 at HP Pavilion, 1-0, Chicago is 5-1-1. Except for some concerns in goal (and on the penalty kill, which is 29th in the NHL ahead of only San Jose), the Blackhawks look to be rounding into Cup-contending form.
The Sharks beat the Avalanche, 4-1 on Nov. 20. Since then, Colorado is 4-4 including back-to-back losses to Vancouver and Calgary.
Torrey Mitchell, who scored his third goal on Thursday against Dallas, is looking forward to hanging out and having a few meals with his teammates.
Its really good. Well go on the road, do a little more bonding, and hopefully string together a couple wins before Christmas break, he said. Every night those two points are super important in the Western Conference, being so close.
Were comfortable on the road and play well on the road, said Joe Thornton. Well try to come back with some wins under our belt.
The Sharks return home on Dec. 15 to host Colorado for the back-end of a home-and-home.