Sharks’ 2022-23 Schedule Breakdown: Key Dates, Lots of Back-to-Backs

The San Jose Sharks have two home openers! Okay, not really, but the first Sharks “home” game on the 2022-23 schedule is taking place in Prague. The first game of the season is slated for Oct. 7, as the “road” team against the Nashville Predators in Prague as part of the NHL’s Global Series. The next night, the Predators will assume role of the road team and the Sharks will have their first scheduled home game.

However, fans in San Jose will have to wait until Oct. 14 to see the Sharks back at The Tank but then are treated to back-to-back games at home. The true home opener will feature a 7:30 PM puck drop against the Carolina Hurricanes, with another 7:30 PM puck drop at SAP Center the next night against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Here’s the full schedule.

BACK-TO-BACKS

Not including the two games against Nashville in Czechia, the schedule features 13 back-to-back games, and it’s a tough break for the boys in teal. 10 of the back-to-back sets are on the road, two are split, and just one is at home. Yes, that means that the first two home games of the season are the lone back-to-back set of games for the Sharks. Each of the other back-to-backs include travel for the Sharks. None of the back-to-back games are against the same opponents both nights.

LONGEST STRETCHES

The Vegas Golden Knights will be in town on Oct. 25 and, kicking off a six-game homestand for the San Jose Sharks, their second-longest stretch at home of the season. The homestand may be one of the more challenging stretches for the Sharks, especially if Anaheim has a revival this year. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be in town following Vegas, with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers visiting. The final game of the six is against the Ducks once again.

If that isn’t a tough enough set of games for you, just wait for the big eight-game road trip. The longest stretch of road games for the Sharks will be extended even longer as it is split by the All-Star break, meaning the team will be away from SAP Center from Jan. 21-Feb. 12. A game against the Columbus Blue Jackets will kick off the road trip, followed by the Boston Bruins,  Detroit Red Wings, and Pittsburgh Penguins before the All-Star break. Following that, the Sharks will resume the road trip against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Washington Capitals. The first game back at home will be the Valentine’s Day game and is set to be against the Penguins.

While the team will spend nearly four weeks away from SAP Center, fans will be quickly treated to the team’s longest homestand which is seven games from Feb. 18-Mar. 4. They kick things off against the Buffalo Sabres before the Seattle Kraken, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Washington Capitals make their way to San Jose.

EARLY GAMES

Six of the 40 games at SAP Center are scheduled as early games:

Saturday early games:

• Oct. 29 vs Tampa Bay – 1 PM
• Nov. 27 vs Vancouver – 5 PM
• Jan. 16 vs New Jersey -1 PM
• Feb. 20 vs Seattle – 1 PM
• Mar. 4 vs Washington – 3 PM
• Apr. 8 Edmonton – 1 PM (Final home game of the regular season)

SEEING THE CHAMPS

The Sharks won’t see Stanley Cup champions until heading out to Colorado to face the Avalanche on Mar. 7. However the Avalanche are set to be the opponent in two of the final three home games of the season for the Sharks. The Edmonton Oilers are the final home opponent but, yes, the Colorado Avalanche are the two home games leading up.

Dates to Circle

Barclay Goodrow was in COVID protocol when New York Rangers last played at SAP Center. In 2020-21, NHL teams only played within their division in the regular season, and Goodrow was in the Central with the Tampa Bay Lightning. So Goodrow has yet to play at SAP Center since the Sharks traded him in Feb. 2020. That might change this Nov. 19 when the Rangers visit SAP Center.

Recent fan favorite Jake Middleton returns to SAP Center on Dec. 22 with the Minnesota Wild.

The San Jose Sharks’ first visit to ASU versus the Arizona Coyotes is on Jan. 10. Tickets start at just $410!

Joe Pavelski and Peter DeBoer return to San Jose with the Dallas Stars on Jan. 18.

THE END

The team will finish the regular season with three games on the road on a mini-Canada trip: Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers.