Sharks will likely have to return to Arizona

Sharks may not be able to come back to Santa Clara County until middle of next month

The Sharks have not made an official announcement but all signs point to the team having to play its scheduled home games early next month at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. instead of SAP Center in San Jose.

The Sharks’ first scheduled games as the home team are Feb. 1 and Feb. 3 against the Vegas Golden Knights. However, a region’s stay-at-home order, under California regulations, will remain in place as long as ICU bed availability is under 15 percent.

As of Friday afternoon, the ICU bed availability — according to data in the state of California’s COVID-19 website — in the Bay Area region was at 6.5 percent, with the four-week projection staying below the 15 percent threshold necessary for reopening.

The Sharks had to hold their training camp in Scottsdale, Arizona from Dec. 31 to Jan 11 because of Santa Clara County’s ban on professional and collegiate contact sports, which will remain in effect as long as the Bay Area’s regional stay-at-home order is in place.

After the first games of next month against Vegas, the Sharks are in Southern California to play two games against both Ducks on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6 and Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 9 and 11.

The Sharks are more likely be able to return to San Jose for their Feb. 13 and 15 games against the Anaheim Ducks. But even then, there’s no guarantee.

“We’re keeping our mindset on coming back, but we also know that there’s a chance we definitely might have to play the first two games in Arizona, our two first two home games,” Sharks coach Bob Boughner said.

“But then we go on the road for another week. So we’re still in the long term hoping the latest we’d get back there would be February 13, but no one really knows to be honest with you.”

The Sharks are on an eight-game road trip to start the season, and they carried a 2-2-0 record into Friday’s game with the Minnesota Wild. The Sharks play Minnesota again on Sunday, then face the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Jan. 26 and Jan. 28.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN PETERSEN — GETTY IMAGES The San Jose Sharks’ Evander Kane (9) faces off against the Arizona Coyotes’ Derick Brassard (16) during the first period at Gila River Arena on Jan. 16 in Glendale, Ariz.

Limited attendance fans stand and cheer after the notional anthem for an NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and the San Jose Sharks at Gila River Arena on Jan. 16 in Glendale, Ariz.