Martin Joneshas been with theSan Jose Sharksfor all of four regular season games, but he’s already making a huge impact. In his fourth start wearing teal, Jones has broken the Sharks’ franchise record for the longest shutout streak in team history. 45 seconds into Friday night’s contest with the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Jones pushed his shutout streak to 178 minutes and 56 seconds, passingAlex Stalock‘s team record.
Stalock earned his team record on January 27th, 2014, when he he surpassedEvgeni Nabokov. After allowing a goal late in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Stalock shut out the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets, before breaking the team record against the Los Angeles Kings. His streak ended at 178 minutes and 55 seconds whenAnze Kopitarscored in the second quarter.
Jones allowed a goal in his debut on opening night on the first shot against him, as Los Angeles Kings’ centerNick ShoreredirectedDustin Brown‘s shot attempt past Jones one minute and 49 seconds into the game. Jones recovered, stopping all 19 shots against him over the final 58 minutes and 11 seconds against the Kings.
Jones carried that momentum into the second game of the season, San Jose’s home opener in the SAP Center against the Anaheim Ducks, as he blanked the Sharks’ Southern California rivals, stopping each of the 27 shots he saw.
In the third game of the season, Jones pitched another shutout, this time against the Washington Capitals, as he sent away all 31 shots against him. The second shutout wasn’t without controversy, asDmitry Orlovfound the back of the net at the nine minute, 39 second mark of the second period. However, Peter DeBoer used his coaches’ challenge, and after the review, it was determined that Capitals’ centerJay Beagleinterfered with Jones (but the contact was minimal and on the opposite side of Jones as the shot, creating a bit of controversy), so the goal was waved off, keeping the shutout streak alive.
On Friday night against the Devils, Jones was uncontested through the first 45 seconds to break the team’s record. He made his first save just over two minutes in to the game, afterPatrick Marleauhad already scored to put the Sharks ahead 1-0. His shutout streak came to an end at the 16:22 mark of the third period. When it was all said and done, Jones’ streak ran up to 234:33, and he had saved 111 consecutive shots.
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Jones shutout against the Capitals was his ninth career shutout, and according toSportsNet Stats, he is the second fastest goalie in NHL history to reach nine shutouts in his career, as he did so in 37 games played. The only goalie to reach that mark faster is Hockey Hall of FamerFrank Brimsek, who pitched nine shutouts in 28 games between 1938 and 1939 for the Boston Bruins.
Jones fantastic performance so far this season may not be that surprising after his preseason performance. In four games during the exhibition season, Jones went 3-1-0, allowed 0.76 goals against (the lowest total among NHL goalie who played in at least four games), and posted a .970 save percentage. He’s been just as good so far in the regular season, and proving to be worth the trade that brought him over from Boston.
Next: Sharks Rout Kings to Open Season
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