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San Jose Sharks: Top 3 takeaways from Game 1 of the first round

By Justin Fried

SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 10: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks skates with control of the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 10: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks skates with control of the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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San Jose Sharks
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 10: Goalie Martin Jones #31 of the San Jose Sharks defends the shot of Alex Tuch #89 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. Martin Jones stepped up when needed

Goalie Martin Jones has struggled mightily throughout the 2018-19 season putting together the worst year of his six-year NHL career thus far.

But none of that mattered come Wednesday night.

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Jones entered the game fresh off a season that saw him finish with a league-worst .896 save percentage and a very poor 2.94 goals against average. The former Los Angeles Kings goaltender had been — by most metrics — the worst starting goalie in the league, if not definitely the worst starting goalie in the playoffs.

But on Wednesday night, Jones proved his doubters wrong and put forth an excellent showing that helped propel San Jose to a victory in Game 1. Jones finished with 24 saves on 26 shots, good for a very solid .923 save percentage. The 29-year-old made numerous big-time saves that kept San Jose ahead before they pulled away later in the game.

Jones always seems to play his best hockey in the postseason as he hosts an excellent .926 save percentage and 2.07 goals against average in career playoff starts. This is the type of play they will need from him going forward as the Sharks will look to eliminate what has been their biggest weakness this season.

If Jones can continue to play at this level, the Sharks may not just be favorites for this series but perhaps for the entire Western Conference as a whole.

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