
A pair of national NHL analysts, and former goalies to boot, agree that the Sharks should go with Martin Jones as their goalie when the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin next week.
Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer has yet to announce whether it will be Jones or James Reimer in net for the club’s first playoff game in two years.
NBC Sports’ Brian Boucher, a 13-year NHL goalie including two seasons with the Sharks, said: “I would start Jones. Reimer is a nice upgrade [as a backup], though. If Jones looks shaky at least you have an option as 1B.”
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Martin Biron, an analyst with TSN in Canada who spent 16 seasons in the NHL, said: “I would start Jones unless he completely crumbles in the last couple of games. Reimer has been spectacular, but Jones has been playing well, also.”
Jones, a 26-year-old in his first season with the Sharks after two years as a backup to Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles, is 36-22-4 with a 2.26 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
Reimer’s numbers are similar – he’s 17-14-7 with a 2.31 GAA and .922 SP – but since coming to the Sharks via Toronto just before the trade deadline, the 28-year-old is 6-2-0 with a 1.62 GAA, .938 SP and three shutouts.
The Sharks have two games left in the regular season on Thursday against Winnipeg and Saturday against Arizona. They will face either the Kings or Ducks in the first round.