Tonight on NBCSN, it’s the San Jose Sharks hosting the Pittsburgh Pengins on at 10 p.m. ET. Following are some game notes, as compiled by the NHL on NBC research team:
• On Feb. 1, San Jose was 2nd in the Pacific Division, but a 3-8-2 February put the Sharks on the outside of the playoff picture. SJ appeared to be gaining momentum winning its first two games in March, and taking a 2-0 lead in its last game vs. VAN on Saturday. However, the Sharks gave up 3 unanswered goals to the Canucks and lost 3-2 in regulation. The Sharks are now 5th in the Pacific, 5 points behind 3rd-place CGY w/ 16 gms remaining.
• The Sharks only have won 1 of their last 10 home games (1-7-2 record). Now 15-15-5 at home this season, the Sharks have more home losses (20) than they did in the past 2 seasons combined (19).
• This is PIT and SJ’s 1st of 2 meetings this season; they will meet again on March 29 in Pittsburgh.
• SJ is 13-2-1 in the last 16 head-to-head meetings, including an active 9 game win streak at home.
• The Penguins have not won a game in San Jose since October 22, 1997 (10 losses, 1 tie). This 11-game road winless streak is PIT’s longest active road winless streak vs. any NHL opponent.
• After a 3-game losing streak in mid-February that saw PIT score just 1 goal in each game (0-2-1 record), the Penguins have turned things around, going 6-1-0 in the 7 games since.
• This is PIT’s last game of a 4-game road trip. After losing the opener in COL (3-1 last Wednesday), the Pens won on back-to-back nights against ANA (5-2 on Friday) and LA (1-0 OT on Saturday).
• PIT has not swept ANA, LA, and SJ on the same road trip since December of 1996.
• With an 18-8-6 road record, the Penguins have the best road points % in the Eastern Conference.
• The Penguins boast one of the league’s top scoring duos this season in Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
• Malkin’s 67 points are 4th in the NHL. He had a 7-game point streak (7G-7A) snapped vs. LA.
• Crosby has 45 assists (t-3rd) and 66 points (t-5th).
• The last time two teammates finished 1-2 in the scoring race in a full season was in 1995-96, when M. Lemieux and J. Jagr, also of PIT, accomplished the feat (S. Stamkos and M. St. Louis were 1-2 in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season for TB).
• Joe Pavelski had an assist vs. VAN to extend his pt streak to 5 gms (1G-5A). He is in position to lead the team in goals (32) and pts (61) for the 2nd consecutive year. He is also on pace for a 2nd consecutive 40-goal season.
• His 32 goals are t-4th in the NHL, and his 17 PP goals are 2nd (A. Ovechkin – 20), already eclipsing his previous career high of 16 PPG set last season.
• Marc-Andre Fleury is on pace to set career-highs in many key statistical categories. He is coming off a 31-save shutout vs. LA (shut out LA both times this season), extending his NHL lead and single-season franchise record to 9 shutouts.
• Fleury also reached the 30-win plateau for the 7th time in his career. Amongst active goalies, only H. Lundqvist (8) has more 30-win seasons (Lundqvist is 5 wins away from getting his 9th this season).