
SAN JOSE – There were some encouraging signs throughout the Sharks’ seven-game preseason, but none as uplifting as goaltender Martin Jones’ performance in net.
The former backup to Jonathan Quick posted a 3-1-0 record in four full games, including a 0.76 goals-against average and .970 save percentage. It couldn’t have gone any better.
Still, the 25-year-old is keeping an even keel headed into the Sharks’ season opener on Wednesday night in Los Angeles, when he’ll be an opening night starter for the first time in his NHL career.
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“I think I take some confidence of feeling good about [the preseason]. Other than that, it’s a fresh start for everybody,” Jones said. “It’s a long season and we’re excited to get it going.”
[KURZ: Sharks can quickly move on from Torres distraction]
After spending five years in the Kings organization Jones has no shortage of friends that will be trying to put one by him on Wednesday. Heck, the last time he tweeted on August 1, it was pictures of him and Kings forward Tyler Toffoli zip-lining in Whistler, British Columbia.
The matchup will be special for both sides.
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Toffoili said: “It’s going to be different. … I want to make sure that I get one on him opening night. I’ll be laughing about it after, I don’t know about him. But, I think the most important thing at the end of the day is beating him and beating the Sharks opening night.”
“Joner was a great friend to a lot of guys on the team,” Tanner Pearson said. “Obviously you don’t want to see a goalie go, but for him at the end of the day it worked out pretty well. He’s going to get his shot, which I think he deserves, and hopefully he runs with it.”
In terms of pressure, no one on the Sharks roster has more of it headed into the season. San Jose expects to make the playoffs after the step backwards in 2014-15, and to do that they’ll need Jones to be an upgrade over departed five-year starter Antti Niemi. As encouraging as his preseason was, he still has just 34 games of NHL experience.
Jones may even hold general manager Doug Wilson’s future in the palm of his catching glove. The Sharks surrendered an unprotected first round pick and a prospect in order to acquire Jones from Boston, so if he doesn’t work out and the team finishes out of the playoffs again, it’s hard to imagine Wilson returning next fall.
[KURZ: Sharks can quickly move on from Torres distraction]
Not that Jones is thinking about any of that, but there are still some jitters.
“I think everybody gets jitters the first game of the season. It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s extra special for me going into the old building, but I think everybody is going to have some nerves going opening night.”
Pete DeBoer senses a calm guy, which is one of Jones’ strengths.
“He doesn’t really seem like pressure really phases him when you talk to him. I think that’s the nice thing about him, is his calmness and his demeanor. I don’t see that changing.”
Jones’ new teammates have been impressed with him so far.
“He’s a stud, there’s no denying it,” Joe Thornton said. “When he plays you have a great chance to win and as players you feel that and you get excited to have a guy like that in net.”
Joe Pavelski said: “He’s been steady all preseason. He’s had a good camp, so that confidence is there.”