Pandemic issues have San Jose on mission
Sharks hit road because of safety protocols at home
A disappointing 2019-20 season kept the San Jose Sharks out of the NHL bubble when competition restarted following the long break for the coronavirus.
The Sharks are getting plenty of time in a modified bubble of their own to start this season. The Sharks have become the NHL’S vagabonds, kicked out of their home because of strict coronavirus protocols that ban contact sports and sent on a road trip that will last at least a month and possibly even longer.
After spending two weeks for training camp in Arizona, where they are limited to spending time at a hotel or the practice rink, the Sharks will play at least their first eight games on the road, starting with Thursday night’s opener against the Coyotes.
Coach Bob Boughner, who replaced Pete Deboer in December 2019, hopes the unusual circumstances can end up being a benefit.
“If you had asked me last season what this team probably could have used from a chemistry standpoint, from a culture standpoint, I would have said a training camp where we all get away together and have no distractions, and probably a good long road trip to start the season,” Boughner said. “This is a little more than I would have wished for, but I think it’s going to be a good thing for us.”
Officials in Santa Clara County, California, announced a three-week ban on contact sports games and practices on Thanksgiving weekend in response to rising coronavirus numbers.
The ban was extended in December, forcing the Sharks to relocate to Arizona for a training camp that began Dec. 31. The ban was extended again last week and will remain in place until ICU bed availability increases to at least 15 oercent in the area.
“We’re hoping and so crossing our fingers that we can get back home as soon as possible,” Boughner said.
The Sharks are set to open the season with an eight-game road trip before their first two scheduled home games Feb. 1 and Feb. 3 against the Golden Knights. But the way the COVID-19 situation is trending, those games might not be played at the Shark Tank.
San Jose has six of eight games on the road after the opening two home games, hosting Anaheim on Feb. 13 and Feb. 15. The Sharks then return home Feb. 26 and are scheduled to play 24 of their last 38 games in San Jose.
“Obviously, it’s different,” captain Logan Couture said. “We’re going to be limited to what we can do and how much time we can spend around each other. But still, being on the road, distractions are on the side and we can just focus on hockey here. I’m looking forward to it.
“Down the road in our schedule when, fingers crossed and everything goes well, we get to go back to San Jose and play there, we’re going to have a lot of home games down the stretch.”