Inside The Cage: In The Driver's Seat

Just what does it mean that the Sharks are the only team this playoff season to open a series with two wins on the road?
It's certainly meant something positive in the past for San Jose. The three times the Sharks have returned home with a 2-0 lead they've advanced in every instance. And, like this year's match-up against the rival Anaheim Ducks, all three have occurred in the opening round.
The Sharks needed five games to oust Los Angeles in 2016, swept Vancouver in 2013 and survived Calgary in double-overtime of Game 7 way back in 1995.
"We did our job so far. We don't want to look too far ahead," Sharks center Eric Fehr said. "We can't expect it to be easy when we get home. As long as we have the right mindset coming home, that we have to work the same way and play the same game that will be good for us."
"Overconfidence is not part of our DNA," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer added.
The flip side, of course, is the fact Anaheim lost the first two games of a second-round series against Edmonton last spring before rallying back to win four of five to dispatch the young Oilers in seven games.
"They've been in this position before and they have been able to claw their way back into a series," Sharks center Logan Couture said. "We know how important the next game is."

That next game is Monday night at what will be an unhinged SAP Center. It's still a best-of-seven, and here's seven reasons why the Sharks find themselves in the driver's seat:

ONE:

Goalie Martin Jones has been rock solid. He had to be even better in Game 2 after shutting out the Ducks in the opener, and he was. Jones made key saves early when Anaheim burst from the gate, shaking off a opening-minute deflected goal on the game's first shot.
"He was excellent," DeBoer said. "Jonsey has been a rock for us this time of the year. You just come to expect it and take for granted."

Jones, who brought a career .925 playoff save percentage into the series, has stopped all but two of 55 shots in the first two games and each of the 23 he's faced in the two third periods. Jones' nine road playoff wins since 2016 are tied for most in the league with Pittsburgh's Matt Murray.
"He's an All-Star," Couture said. "He's a top goalie in the league, and I think that's known now. He's been great since he's been a San Jose Shark."

TWO:

When push has come to shove, San Jose has shoved back without consequence. In other words, San Jose has not allowed the sometimes chippy Ducks to goad them into retaliation penalties. As expected, Anaheim tried to intimidate the visitors early in Game 2.
"It takes a lot of courage to walk away from a hit," Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic said. "You take numbers when you can, but in this game you take the hits."
Kevin Labanc, Melker Karlsson, Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane were among those targeted in Game 2, but let the Ducks march to the penalty box when officials opted to make calls. And they didn't in every instance.
"They took some liberties in the first period that they got away with," DeBoer said. "We didn't shrink, we stood in there. That's one thing about our group. We won't be pushed out of games."

THREE:

The Sharks were only 3-for-35 (8.6 percent) in their last 14 road games of the regular season. Those struggles, however, have not carried over to the postseason. After converting a 5-on-3 into the game-winning goal in Game 1, the Sharks took the lead for good in Game 2 when Couture dove into the crease to redirect a pass from Labanc for a power-play strike late in the first period.
Anaheim's undisciplined habits led to the Sharks earning twice as many power plays in the opener (6-3) and a 3-2 edge in Game 2.

FOUR:

While Jones has been outstanding throughout, the Sharks have turned to different offensive heroes in each game. Evander Kane made his playoff debut a smashing success by scoring the team's first two goals while San Jose's king of the blue line - Brent Burns - found the back of the net, too, in Game 1.
In Game 2 scoring came from depth as wingers Marcus Sorensen and Tomas Hertl joined Couture with goals. Captain Joe Pavelski has provided assists on half of the six goals the Sharks have in the series. Defenseman Brenden Dillon has assists in each game while Mikkel Boedker, Timo Meier, Labanc, Hertl and Couture have provided helpers as well.

FIVE:

DeBoer wants to roll four lines, and that has been easy to do with the kind of effort he's received from Eric Fehr, Sorensen and Karlsson. The speedy Sorensen tied Saturday's Game 2 with his second career playoff goal after pinning the Ducks in their own zone.
"We had a little bit of zone time, were hard on the forecheck and I liked our legs," said Fehr, acquired from the Anaheim organization at the trade deadline. "We wouldn't have minded a few more, but we don't want to get greedy here."
The offensive contributions are a bonus. If the fourth line can continue to average the 9-10 minutes a night they've given so far it means no one's getting over-taxed up front, which bodes well for long games and the possibility of an extended series.

SIX:

Playoff hockey means sacrificing the body and going above and beyond. The Sharks blocked 20 shots in Game 1 and another 16 in Game 2. Vlasic was the team leader each time with six and four, respectively. Pavelski is the leader among forwards with a combined total of five.
Meier didn't score a goal in five games during his postseason debut last spring, and he's clearly brought a more aggressive attitude into his second go-around. Meier has been noticeable in terms of going above and beyond with his physical play to get pucks to the net, work hard along the wall and take things right to the line without crossing it.

SEVEN:

Lastly, and it's a trait the Sharks have displayed all season, their response to adversity in the series has been one of determination. The fact they brushed off losing the opportunity to open at home on the last day of the regular season was the first mental hurdle to clear.
The Sharks could have been in a two- to three-goal hole early in Game 1 following a Paul Martin giveaway in front, a puck off the end boards that got mixed up in Jones' skates and several Anaheim Grade-A changes that either clanged off iron or slipped just wide.
And, of course, surrendering the opening goal within the first minute of Game 2 and nursing a one-goal lead over the final 20 minutes when the hosts were pressing to avoid going down 2-0 in the series were character tests.
"We're a tough team to play against," DeBoer said. "You've got to earn your way to beat us in a game. We've definitely carried that mindset here in the playoffs."