Red-hot Jones gets another start in goal against the Wild
SAN JOSE >> Sharks interim coach Bob Boughner is sticking with the hot hand. Goalie Martin Jones will start today’s game with the Minnesota Wild.
Jones has played some of his best hockey of the season on this homestand, stopping 76 of 80 shots to lead the Sharks to victories over New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Toronto. His .950 save percentage in that time leads all NHL goalies as he and the Sharks are riding their first three-game win streak since late November.
“We’re playing really well together,” Jones said after Tuesday’s 5-2 Sharks win over the Maple Leafs. “I think the biggest difference is we’ve been playing for 60 minutes and not having a good 20 minutes and then let- ting off and giving teams free offense.
“When we defend hard like that for 60 minutes, we’re just a way better hockey team.”
Against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday, Jones made 25 saves, including 14 in the first period. In six games since the middle of February, Jones has raised his save percentage from .889 to .898 and has shrunk his goals-against average from 3.25 to 2.97.
“You saw it last year and you’ve seen it this year, especially the last couple of games. When he’s on the top of his game like he has been these last three, we’re a real hard team to beat,” Sharks winger Evander Kane said of Jones after Tuesday’s game.
“We’re going to make mistakes and we need him to bail us out, and we need to give him some (goal) support, too, which we haven’t done of a good job of this year. We’re a top team in the league. We just haven’t shown it this year or consistently enough.”
The Sharks wrap up their homestand with games against Ottawa on Saturday and Colorado on Sunday. Boughner said Aaron Dell will start one of those games, and has mentioned previously he thinks it’ll be a healthy competition between Jones and Dell for playing time, with winners keeping the crease for the next game.
Dell started 11 of 14 games from Jan. 2 to Feb. 14. Now Jones is getting his chance to keep the net for a while.
“The way that his attitude is, he’s stayed positive. He’s been a great teammate,” Sharks captain Logan Couture said Wednesday. “He’s the type of guy you really cheer for . ... A lot of those games (at the start of the year), we didn’t give him much chance. I’m sure if you asked him, he let in a few goals he would like back, too.
“Now, we’re playing better defensively, and he’s rewarding us with how we’re playing.”
GREGOR BACK UP TOP >> Forward Noah Gregor was back on the Sharks’ top line with Kane and Couture for Wednesday’s practice.
Gregor had been on that line throughout the homestand but was moved down to the fourth line with Antti Suomela and Stefan Noesen for the third period Tuesday. Melker Karlsson was brought up to the top line, and the Sharks scored three goals — including ones by Noesen and Kane — in the final 20 minutes to earn the win.
Gregor took two penalties in the first two periods and his line was on the ice for Auston Matthews’ second-period goal that tied the score 1-1. Couture’s line usually matches up with the opposition’s top line.
“I thought he was real physical for those few games on that line and I thought maybe (Tuesday) night, he wasn’t as engaged as he was before,” Boughner said. “I just thought that (Matthews) line was going off, (so I decided) make that switch to put a little more defensive-minded guy up there in Melker.
“I thought that really quieted things down, and no fault to Noah. Sometimes that’s a tough task against those players. He’s back on there today. I think he complements (Kane and Couture) well.”
DAVIDSON’S FIRST GAME >> Boughner gave defenseman Brandon Davidson a passing grade in his first game with the Sharks on Tuesday.
Paired mainly with Tim Heed, Davidson, in his first game since Feb. 15, had one shot on goal and was credited with two hits in 11 minutes and 34 seconds of ice time against the Maple Leafs.
From all appearances, Davidson will be back in the lineup for today’s game.
“I thought he handled himself pretty well for not playing for a while,” Boughner said. “He even got out there a couple of shifts when we iced the puck, and (the Leafs) jumped us with the big line.
“I thought he did pretty well.”