Martin Jones shutdown the New Jersey Devils for a 3-0 San Jose Sharks win at the Prudential Center on Friday night.

Jones made 28 stops and had some help from his post en route to his first shutout in almost a year. Ironically, his last shutout came against the Devils too.

Joe Pavleski, Melker Karlsson and Joonas Donskoi each scored for the Sharks. While defenseman Justin Braun had two assists in the win. The Sharks have won two in a row and three of their past four games.

San Jose held the Devils potent power play scoreless on five chances. But, it was Jones that was the Sharks best player once again. The Sharks netminder made several keys stops early in the game including a Drew Stafford power play attempt in the first when the game was still 1-0.

A few thoughts...

- I very solid road effort from the veteran Sharks. They scored the first goal of the game and never allowed the Devils offense to get comfortable. SJ applied just enough offensive pressure to hold serve, while clamping down on defense, keeping NJ at bay. It was prototypical Sharks hockey.

- The Sharks went 0-for-5 on the power play too and to be honest many of NJ's best scoring chances came shorthanded.. Just when it looks like the power play is back - they deliver a stinker.

- San Jose dominated the face-off circle, winning 63% of the draws. That was pivotal in dictating the flow of the game and paramount to the Sharks puck-possession game.

- The Sharks bottom six were outstanding. They allowed the Sharks to protect, then build on, their lead by keeping the puck pinned in the Devils end for most of the game.

- The Devils top line of Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier and Drew Stafford were held to just six shots on goal and finished minus-6. That line had been fire entering the game.

The Devils were playing the second of a back-to-back and their eighth game of the season. The Sharks were well rested and only playing in their sixth game of the year and it showed in the results.

Tonight the shoe is on the other foot. San Jose is playing their second game in two nights. Meanwhile, the Islanders have played just one game in the last four days and should be the fresher team.

Aaron Dell will get the start in net vs. the NYI

Thanks for reading,
Steve

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