san jose sharks history
san jose sharks history
NHL hockey fans should get their San Jose Shark tickets and head over to the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion otherwise known as the “Shark Tank” early. The Sharks are entering their 14th season, and of the previous 13, they’ve reached the NHL Playoffs eight times. They’ve also rewarded Shark ticket holders with two division championships and one trip to the Western Conference finals.
The Sharks played their first two seasons in the Cow Palace in San Francisco, where they finished last both seasons. In their second campaign, they set an NHL record with 71 losses. After those two dismal seasons in San Francisco, with apologies to Dionne Warwick, the Sharks found their way to San Jose. There, they played in the new San Jose Arena. The team experienced a major turnaround, finishing with a record of 33-35-16 and qualifying for the NHL Playoffs in only their third season. The Sharks would bite Detroit in the first round but saw their playoff dreams end in the next round with a loss to Toronto.
After another playoff appearance in a lockout shortened season in 1994-95, the Sharks were caught the next two years, finishing last in both. Thing began to turn around however, as San Jose rallied back to the playoffs every year from 1998 to 2002. On the other hand, they would be first-round casualties in four of the five years, and make a second round exit in the fifth.
During those years, San Jose would make some interesting moves, acquiring veteran goalie Mike Vernon from Detroit after Vernon won the Conn Smythe Award the previous season. After Vernon’s departure, Evgeni Nabokov inherited the net and won the Calder Trophy, notching six shutouts in 200-2001, the first year in which the Sharks would have a winning record.
The following year, 01-02, Nabakov would record seven shutouts, and the Sharks won their first division crown. Unfortunately, they would bow out in the second round of the playoffs to Colorado after a seven-game series.
The 2003-04 season saw a resurgent school of Sharks win their second division crown in three years. They went over 100 points for the first time, reaching the playoffs once again. In the playoffs, San Jose beat the Blues in five games, beginning with a dramatic overtime win in Game 1. Moving on to the second round, San Jose buried the Avalanche in a six-game series. When they reached the Western Conference Finals, however, the Sharks were burned by the Calgary Flames in seven games.
San Jose Sharks tickets and a seat in the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion are a promising combo in 2005-2006. The Sharks have been working their way into the playoffs on a consistent basis the last few years. The next step is advancing past the Conference Finals for the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Head coach Ron Wilson is banking on his current roster that fought their way to the Conference Finals in 2004, staying away from big name signings in the off-season. It’s a sound strategy, and only minor tweaking looks necessary for fans with Sharks ticket to enjoy what may be San Jose’s finest season ever.
