Preview/Lines #6: Sharks Are a Dump-And-Chase Team

The San Jose Sharks are a dump-and-chase team.

The SPORTLOGiQ numbers back it up: The Sharks lead the NHL with a 56.1 Dump-In % at 5-on-5. That means more than half the time, San Jose is dumping the puck instead of trying to carry it in with possession.

In contrast, tonight’s opponent, the Nashville Predators, are 31st in the league with a 36.6 Dump-In %.

That’s a huge contrast in style.

“You want to carry the puck in the zone and zone entries are important, but what is just as important is being able to put a puck in and run around on the forecheck and turn over pucks,” Andrew Cogliano offered. “That’s how you wear teams down.”

“We work everyday on being a possession team, a rush team, but there’s definitely a strength to this hockey club,” Boughner said yesterday. “I think that [Logan Couture’s] line has had great success, in particular, because they’re putting pucks in areas, getting them back. You got Timo in there, Dahlen’s got a heavy stick, and Cooch is one of the better forecheckers we have. It’s creating a lot of offense for them. It’s nice to see if every line could do the same.”

So how will the San Jose Sharks win the puck against a Predators squad stacked with quality puckmovers on the blueline?

“It’s where you put the puck on the forecheck,” Boughner said. “[And] I don’t think we did a very good job in Boston of running the right routes.”

San Jose Sharks

Projected lines for the #SJSharks.

Eklund is back (Praise be)

Labanc and Ruuuudy swap.

Barabanov is for Gadjovich.

Reimer in net.

Missed out preview?
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— The Content Boyz (@LockedOnSharks) October 26, 2021

Nashville Predators

Per NHL.com:

Luke Kunin — Ryan Johansen — Matt Duchene
Filip Forsberg — Mikael Granlund — Eeli Tolvanen
Yakov Trenin — Colton Sissons — Tanner Jeannot
Nick Cousins — Thomas Novak — Philip Tomasino

Roman Josi — Dante Fabbro
Mattias Ekholm — Alexandre Carrier
Mark Borowiecki — Matt Benning

Juuse Saros

Where to Watch

Puck drop against Nashville is 5:30 PM PT at Bridgestone Arena. Watch it live exclusively on ESPN+/Hulu. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.