2010–11 San Jose Sharks season

The 2010–11 San Jose Sharks season was the team's' 20th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Off-season Team captain Rob Blake retired on June 18, 2010.

The Sharks announced that they would not offer Evgeni Nabokov a contract for the 2010–11 season.

The Sharks re-signed centers Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau to four-year contracts on June 24, 2010.

The Sharks re-signed defenseman Niclas Wallin and center Scott Nichol to one-year contracts on June 26, 2010.

Sharks signed free agent goaltender Antero Nittymaki to a two-year, $4 million contract on July 1, 2010, replacing long-time goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.

The Sharks signed free agent goaltender Antti Niemi to a one-year, $2 million contract on September 2, 2010.

The Sharks selected center Joe Thornton as new team captain for the 2010–11 season. Ryane Clowe will be alternate captain on road games, and Patrick Marleau during home games. Dan Boyle was made a permanent alternate captain.

Antti Niemi has also signed a four-year contract with the Sharks as well.

Pre-season

2010 Pre-season Game Log # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Recap 1 September 22 San Jose Sharks 2-5 Anaheim Ducks Niittymaki 0-1 2 September 24 Anaheim Ducks 5-4 San Jose Sharks Sateri 0-2 3 September 25 San Jose Sharks (SS) 1-2 Phoenix Coyotes (SS) Greiss 1-2 4 September 25 Phoenix Coyotes (SS) 1-3 San Jose Sharks (SS) Niemi 1-3 5 September 28 San Jose Sharks 1-3 Vancouver Canucks Niemi 1-4 6 September 29 Vancouver Canucks 2-6 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 2-4 7 October 2 San Jose Sharks 3-2 Adler Mannheim SO Niemi 3-4

Regular season

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

x – Went into playoffs

Schedule and results

Green background indicates win (2 points). Red background indicates regulation loss (0 points). White background indicates overtime/shootout loss (1 point).

2010–11 Game Log October: 5–3–1 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 3–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8(in Stockholm, Sweden) San Jose Sharks 3–2 Columbus Blue Jackets Niemi 11,324 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 9(in Stockholm, Sweden) Columbus Blue Jackets 3–2 San Jose Sharks OT Niittymaki 9,537 1–0–1 3 Recap 3 October 16 Atlanta Thrashers 4–2 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 1–1–1 3 Recap 4 October 19 Carolina Hurricanes 5–2 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 1–2–1 3 Recap 5 October 21 San Jose Sharks 4–2 Colorado Avalanche Niittymaki 12,803 2–2–1 5 Recap 6 October 23 San Jose Sharks 6–1 Edmonton Oilers Niittymaki 16,839 3–2–1 7 Recap 7 October 24 San Jose Sharks 0–4 Calgary Flames Niemi 19,289 3–3–1 7 Recap 8 October 27 New Jersey Devils 2–5 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 4–3–1 9 Recap 9 October 30 Anaheim Ducks 2–5 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 5–3–1 11 Recap November: 6–5–3 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 1–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 2 San Jose Sharks 0–1 Minnesota Wild Niittymaki 16,502 5–4–1 11 Recap 11 November 4 San Jose Sharks 0–2 St. Louis Blues Niemi 19,150 5–5–1 11 Recap 12 November 6 Tampa Bay Lightning 2–5 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 6–5–1 13 Recap 13 November 9 Anaheim Ducks 3–2 San Jose Sharks OT Niittymaki 17,562 6–5–2 14 Recap 14 November 11 New York Islanders 1–2 San Jose Sharks SO Niittymaki 17,562 7–5–2 16 Recap 15 November 13 Calgary Flames 3–4 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 8–5–2 18 Recap 16 November 15 Los Angeles Kings 3–6 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 9–5–2 20 Recap 17 November 17 San Jose Sharks 3–4 Colorado Avalanche OT Niittymaki 12,436 9–5–3 21 Recap 18 November 18 San Jose Sharks 4–5 Dallas Stars OT Niemi 14,720 9–5–4 22 Recap 19 November 20 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–0 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 9–6–4 22 Recap 20 November 24 Chicago Blackhawks 2–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 10–6–4 24 Recap 21 November 26 San Jose Sharks 1–6 Vancouver Canucks Niemi 18,860 10–7–4 24 Recap 22 November 27 San Jose Sharks 4–3 Edmonton Oilers Niittymaki 16,839 11–7–4 26 Recap 23 November 30 Detroit Red Wings 3–5 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 11–8–4 26 Recap December: 9–5–1 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 6–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 2 San Jose Sharks 4–0 Ottawa Senators Niemi 18,017 12–8–4 28 Recap 25 December 4 San Jose Sharks 1–3 Montreal Canadiens Niemi 21,273 12–9–4 28 Recap 26 December 6 San Jose Sharks 5–2 Detroit Red Wings Niemi 19,010 13–9–4 30 Recap 27 December 8 San Jose Sharks 5–4 Philadelphia Flyers SO Niittymaki 19,801 14–9–4 32 Recap 28 December 9 San Jose Sharks 3–6 Buffalo Sabres Niemi 18,017 14–10–4 32 Recap 29 December 11 Chicago Blackhawks 1–2 San Jose Sharks OT Niemi 17,562 15–10–4 34 Recap 30 December 13 Dallas Stars 3–2 San Jose Sharks SO Niemi 17,562 15–10–5 35 Recap 31 December 15 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Nashville Predators Niemi 14,731 15–11–5 35 Recap 32 December 16 San Jose Sharks 4–3 Dallas Stars OT Niittymaki 14,899 16–11–5 37 Recap 33 December 18 San Jose Sharks 4–1 St. Louis Blues Niittymaki 19,150 17–11–5 39 Recap 34 December 21 Edmonton Oilers 1–2 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 18–11–5 41 Recap 35 December 23 Phoenix Coyotes 1–4 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 19–11–5 43 Recap 36 December 27 Los Angeles Kings 4–0 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 19–12–5 43 Recap 37 December 29 San Jose Sharks 3–5 Minnesota Wild Niittymaki 19,131 19–13–5 43 Recap 38 December 30 San Jose Sharks 5–3 Chicago Blackhawks Niemi 22,112 20–13–5 45 Recap January: 5–6–1 (Home: 2–5–0; Road: 3–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 1 San Jose Sharks 1–0 Los Angeles Kings Niemi 18,118 21–13–5 47 Recap 40 January 3 Vancouver Canucks 4–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 21–14–5 47 Recap 41 January 6 Buffalo Sabres 3–0 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 21–15–5 47 Recap 42 January 8 Nashville Predators 2–1 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 21–16–5 47 Recap 43 January 9 San Jose Sharks 0–1 Anaheim Ducks Niemi 16,172 21–17–5 47 Recap 44 January 11 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–2 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 21–18–5 47 Recap 45 January 13 Edmonton Oilers 5–2 San Jose Sharks Niittymaki 17,562 21–19–5 47 Recap 46 January 15 St. Louis Blues 2–4 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 22–19–5 49 Recap 47 January 17 San Jose Sharks 4–2 Phoenix Coyotes Niemi 9,672 23–19–5 51 Recap 48 January 20 San Jose Sharks 2–1 Vancouver Canucks SO Niemi 18,860 24–19–5 53 Recap 49 January 22 Minnesota Wild 3–4 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 25–19–5 55 Recap 50 January 26 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Los Angeles Kings SO Niemi 18,118 25–19–6 56 Recap February: 11–2–0 (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 8–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Phoenix Coyotes 3–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 26–19–6 58 Recap 52 February 2 San Jose Sharks 4–3 Anaheim Ducks Niemi 14,486 27–19–6 60 Recap 53 February 5 San Jose Sharks 2–0 Boston Bruins Niemi 17,565 28–19–6 62 Recap 54 February 8 San Jose Sharks 2–0 Washington Capitals Niemi 18,398 29–19–6 64 Recap 55 February 9 San Jose Sharks 3–2 Columbus Blue Jackets Niemi 11,906 30–19–6 66 Recap 56 February 11 San Jose Sharks 1–2 New Jersey Devils Niemi 17,102 30–20–6 66 Recap 57 February 13 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Florida Panthers Niemi 16,217 30–21–6 66 Recap 58 February 15 San Jose Sharks 2–1 Nashville Predators OT Niemi 16,217 31–21–6 68 Recap 59 February 17 Washington Capitals 2–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 32–21–6 70 Recap 60 February 19 Colorado Avalanche 0–4 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 33–21–6 72 Recap 61 February 22 San Jose Sharks 4–3 Detroit Red Wings Niemi 17,562 34–21–6 74 Recap 62 February 23 San Jose Sharks 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins OT Niemi 18,253 35–21–6 76 Recap 63 February 25 San Jose Sharks 4–3 Calgary Flames SO Niemi 19,289 36–21–6 78 Recap March: 9–2–3 (Home: 7–1–2; Road: 2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 Colorado Avalanche 1–2 San Jose Sharks OT Niemi 17,562 37–21–6 80 Recap 65 March 3 Detroit Red Wings 1–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 38–21–6 82 Recap 66 March 5 Dallas Stars 3–2 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 38–22–6 82 Recap 67 March 8 Nashville Predators 2–3 San Jose Sharks OT Niemi 17,562 39–22–6 84 Recap 68 March 10 Vancouver Canucks 5–4 San Jose Sharks SO Niemi 17,562 39–22–7 85 Recap 69 March 12 New York Rangers 3–2 San Jose Sharks SO Niemi 17,562 39–22–8 86 Recap 70 March 14 San Jose Sharks 3–6 Chicago Blackhawks Niemi 22,094 39–23–8 86 Recap 71 March 15 San Jose Sharks 6–3 Dallas Stars Niemi 16,724 40–23–8 88 Recap 72 March 17 Minnesota Wild 2–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 41–23–8 90 Recap 73 March 19 St. Louis Blues 3–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 42–23–8 92 Recap 74 March 23 Calgary Flames 3–6 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 43–23–8 94 Recap 75 March 24 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Los Angeles Kings SO Niemi 18,118 43–23–9 95 Recap 76 March 26 San Jose Sharks 4–1 Phoenix Coyotes Niemi 16,394 44–23–9 97 Recap 77 March 31 Dallas Stars 0–6 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 45–23–9 99 Recap April: 3–2–0 (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 Anaheim Ducks 2–4 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 46–23–9 101 Recap 79 April 4 Los Angeles Kings 1–6 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 47–23–9 103 Recap 80 April 6 San Jose Sharks 2–6 Anaheim Ducks Nittymaki 15,649 47–24–9 103 Recap 81 April 8 San Jose Sharks 3–4 Phoenix Coyotes Niemi 17,125 47–25–9 103 Recap 82 April 9 Phoenix Coyotes 1–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 48–25–9 105 Recap

Playoffs

The Sharks clinched a playoff spot after beating the Dallas Stars 6–0 on March 31, 2011 in front of the sellout crowd of 17,562 at the HP Pavilion. This makes it seven consecutive seasons of making the playoffs for the Sharks. The Sharks also made the Conference Finals for the third time in franchise history.

2011 Stanley Cup playoffsWestern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (7) Los Angeles Kings – Sharks win series 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 14 Los Angeles 2–3 San Jose OT Niemi 17,562 1–0 Recap 2 April 16 Los Angeles 4–0 San Jose Niemi 17,562 1–1 Recap 3 April 19 San Jose 6–5 Los Angeles OT Nittymaki 18,216 2–1 Recap 4 April 21 San Jose 6–3 Los Angeles Niemi 18,234 3–1 Recap 5 April 23 Los Angeles 3–1 San Jose Niemi 17,562 3–2 Recap 6 April 25 San Jose 4–3 Los Angeles OT Niemi 18,118 4–2 Recap Western Conference Semi-finals: vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings – Sharks win series 4–3 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 29 Detroit 1–2 San Jose OT Niemi 17,562 1–0 Recap 2 May 1 Detroit 1–2 San Jose Niemi 17,562 2–0 Recap 3 May 4 San Jose 4–3 Detroit OT Niemi 20,066 3–0 Recap 4 May 6 San Jose 3–4 Detroit Niemi 20,066 3–1 Recap 5 May 8 Detroit 4–3 San Jose Niemi 17,562 3–2 Recap 6 May 10 San Jose 1–3 Detroit Niemi 20,066 3–3 Recap 7 May 12 Detroit 2–3 San Jose Niemi 17,562 4–3 Recap Western Conference Finals: vs. (1) Vancouver Canucks – Vancouver wins series 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 15 San Jose 2–3 Vancouver Niemi 18,860 1–0 Recap 2 May 18 San Jose 3–7 Vancouver Niemi 18,860 2–0 Recap 3 May 20 Vancouver 3–4 San Jose Niemi 17,562 2–1 Recap 4 May 22 Vancouver 4–2 San Jose Niemi 17,562 3–1 Recap 5 May 24 San Jose 2–3 Vancouver 2OT Niemi 18,860 4–1 Recap

Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes Updated April 11, 2011.

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM 82 37 36 73 -3 16 80 21 49 70 4 47 74 20 46 66 10 24 80 26 38 64 8 56 75 24 38 62 13 100 79 32 24 56 18 41 76 9 41 50 2 67 72 22 19 41 -2 37 75 2 22 24 19 28 66 9 14 23 10 46 80 4 14 18 14 18 73 1 13 14 5 44 78 3 11 14 3 124 35 5 8 13 10 0 28 2 9 11 -1 2 50 2 8 10 8 12 † 23 2 8 10 9 8 33 5 4 9 8 9 74 3 5 8 0 46 56 4 3 7 -3 50 † 34 4 3 7 0 43 49 1 5 6 -6 33 37 2 2 4 -8 8 ‡ 17 1 3 4 -2 8 17 1 2 3 -1 4 6 1 0 1 -1 7 5 0 0 0 -1 0 13 0 0 0 -2 17 9 0 0 0 -1 22