Sharks Are Best One-Goal Team in NHL, Barabanov Contract Update

Check out my hit tonight on “Sharks Pregame Live”:

Sheng Peng: The San Jose Sharks have become masters of the one-goal game.

They have an 11-2-1 record in one-goal games and their .786 winning percentage in one-goal games is the best in the NHL.

This is just another thing that’s different about this year’s surprising Sharks, who currently hold the final playoff spot in the West.

They were 19th in the league in this category with a .458 winning percentage last year.

I asked Bob Boughner and Timo Meier why the San Jose Sharks are so good at one-goal games this morning.

The San Jose Sharks’ last six wins have actually all been one-goal wins — they look got a little more breathing room tonight against the New York Rangers.

Speaking of the Rangers game tonight, there’s good COVID news for the Sharks, and it’s not just Nick Bonino coming out of protocol to play tonight.

San Jose Hockey Now has learned that Alexander Barabanov, who was placed in COVID protocol yesterday, is asymptomatic.

That means it’s should be a quick return for Barabanov, who’s proven to be one of the biggest contract bargains in the NHL this year.

Making one million dollars this year, and with 20 points in 32 games, Barabanov has fit in nicely alongside San Jose’s top centers all season.

Barabanov is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. San Jose Hockey Now has learned that there have been no contract negotiations between the Sharks and the 27-year-old Russian winger at the moment.

The San Jose Sharks might be wise to lock up Barabanov sooner than later at this rate. He’s on a 40-plus point pace right now.