2011–12 San Jose Sharks season

The 2011–12 San Jose Sharks season was the team's 21st season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Offseason The Sharks, disappointed in their playoff results, traded away two major players of their team to the Minnesota Wild. Devin Setoguchi was traded for Brent Burns, and Dany Heatley was traded for Martin Havlat. Burns was targeted to fill a hole on the Sharks as a shut-down defensive presence. Heatley was traded after posting disappointing playoff results.

Season recap

Regular season The preseason was successful, ending in a 5–1–0 record with the only loss came to Phoenix.

The Sharks started the season rather slowly; they gained a win at their opener at home against Phoenix but then lost three straight. Afterwards, the Sharks won the first five games on their six-game road trip. The win against the Devils came on a shootout, with Joe Thornton participating in his 1000th NHL career game, and the win against the Islanders by a sudden-death goal from Brent Burns, so the Sharks won both games that went into overtime. They ended this road trip with a loss against the Rangers before heading back home for a six-game stand. The first one was a win after shootout against the Penguins before losing the first game after overtime to the Predators before the next two games were won. The home stand ended with five wins and only one loss, coming against the Coyotes. The Sharks took over the first position in the Pacific Division in November and had 13 wins in the books after 20 games. After that, the Sharks lost four out of five with the only win vs. the Canadiens by a shootout. The Sharks just won one of the next five games, before they went on a four-game winning streak to take the top spot in the Pacific Division over Christmas. December was finished with two losses to the Ducks and Canucks.

The new year started with two wins on the road, another one at home and the number 1 spot in the division. After an away overtime loss vs. the Wild the Sharks captured their second shutout victory in a 2–0 win over the Jets. January was ended with two shutouts by Antti Niemi and at top of their division. February included an unsuccessful nine-game road trip.

The Sharks clinched a playoff spot on the fifth of April, their 81st game of the regular season.

The Sharks were the most disciplined team during the regular season, with only 225 power-play opportunities against.

Playoffs In the playoffs, the Sharks faced the St. Louis Blues, a number 2 seed, in the first round, the conference quarterfinals in a best-of-seven series. The Sharks won Game 1 by a score of 3–2 after double overtime by a goal from Martin Havlat who scored twice, with Andrew Desjardins sent this game into overtime with his goal five minutes before the end of regulation. Game 2 was won by the Blues, who scored once every period, 3–0. The Blues continued their dominance by posting a 4–3 victory in Game 3, with two of the three goals by the Sharks coming in the waning minutes of the third period. The Blues then won a second straight game in San Jose, in Game 4, by a score of 2–1. The Blues led the series 3–1. With coming back over to St. Louis, the Sharks went into the third period with a lead, courtesy of a goal from Joe Thornton. The Blues, however, answered with two quick goals in the middle of the last period and scored another goal late in the game to capture the series in five games.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2011 Pre-season Game Log # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Recap 1 September 21 San Jose Sharks 6–1 Anaheim Ducks Greiss 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 23 Anaheim Ducks 1–5 San Jose Sharks Greiss 2–0–0 Recap 3 September 24 Phoenix Coyotes 0–1 San Jose Sharks Sateri 3–0–0 Recap 4 September 25 San Jose Sharks 4–3 Vancouver Canucks Greiss 4–0–0 Recap 5 September 29 Vancouver Canucks 0–3 San Jose Sharks Greiss 5–0–0 Recap 6 October 1 San Jose Sharks 1–3 Phoenix Coyotes Greiss 5–1–0 Recap

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

2011–12 Game Log: 43–29–10 (Home: 26–12–3; Road: 17–17–7) October: 6–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 5–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8 Phoenix Coyotes 3–6 San Jose Sharks Greiss 17,562 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 14 San Jose Sharks 0–1 Anaheim Ducks Greiss 17,243 1–1–0 2 Recap 3 October 15 St. Louis Blues 4–2 San Jose Sharks Greiss 17,562 1–2–0 2 Recap 4 October 17 Anaheim Ducks 3–2 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 1–3–0 2 Recap 5 October 21 San Jose Sharks 4–3 New Jersey Devils SO Niemi 14,319 2–3–0 4 Recap 6 October 22 San Jose Sharks 4–2 Boston Bruins Niemi 17,545 3–3–0 6 Recap 7 October 25 San Jose Sharks 3–1 Nashville Predators Niemi 15,121 4–3–0 8 Recap 8 October 28 San Jose Sharks 4–2 Detroit Red Wings Niemi 20,066 5–3–0 10 Recap 9 October 29 San Jose Sharks 3–2 New York Islanders OT Greiss 11,742 6–3–0 12 Recap 10 October 31 San Jose Sharks 2–5 New York Rangers Niemi 17,852 6–4–0 12 Recap November: 7–3–1 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 San Jose Sharks SO Greiss 17,562 7–4–0 14 Recap 12 November 5 Nashville Predators 4–3 San Jose Sharks OT Niemi 17,562 7–4–1 15 Recap 13 November 7 Los Angeles Kings 2–4 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 8–4–1 17 Recap 14 November 10 Minnesota Wild 1–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 9–4–1 19 Recap 15 November 12 Phoenix Coyotes 3–0 San Jose Sharks Greiss 17,562 9–5–1 19 Recap 16 November 17 Detroit Red Wings 2–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 10–5–1 21 Recap 17 November 19 San Jose Sharks 4–1 Dallas Stars Niemi 13,711 11–5–1 23 Recap 18 November 20 San Jose Sharks 4–1 Colorado Avalanche Greiss 15,013 12–5–1 25 Recap 19 November 23 Chicago Blackhawks 0–1 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 13–5–1 27 Recap 20 November 26 Vancouver Canucks 3–2 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 13–6–1 27 Recap 21 November 28 San Jose Sharks 0–2 Los Angeles Kings Niemi 18,118 13–7–1 27 Recap December: 6–4–3 (Home: 6–3–1; Road: 0–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 22 December 1 Montreal Canadiens 3–4 San Jose Sharks SO Niemi 17,562 14–7–1 29 Recap 23 December 3 Florida Panthers 5–3 San Jose Sharks Greiss 17,562 14–8–1 29 Recap 24 December 6 Minnesota Wild 2–1 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 14–9–1 29 Recap 25 December 8 Dallas Stars 2–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 15–9–1 31 Recap 26 December 10 San Jose Sharks 0–1 St. Louis Blues Niemi 19,150 15–10–1 31 Recap 27 December 11 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Chicago Blackhawks OT Niemi 21,456 15–10–2 32 Recap 28 December 13 San Jose Sharks 3–4 Colorado Avalanche SO Niemi 14,374 15–10–3 33 Recap 29 December 15 Colorado Avalanche 4–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 16–10–3 35 Recap 30 December 17 Edmonton Oilers 2–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 17–10–3 37 Recap 31 December 21 Tampa Bay Lightning 2–7 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 18–10–3 39 Recap 32 December 23 Los Angeles Kings 1–2 San Jose Sharks OT Niemi 17,562 19–10–3 41 Recap 33 December 26 Anaheim Ducks 3–2 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 19–11–3 41 Recap 34 December 28 Vancouver Canucks 3–2 San Jose Sharks OT Niemi 17,562 19–11–4 42 Recap January: 9–3–2 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 5–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 35 January 2 San Jose Sharks 3–2 Vancouver Canucks OT Niemi 18,890 20–11–4 44 Recap 36 January 4 San Jose Sharks 3–1 Anaheim Ducks Niemi 14,596 21–11–4 46 Recap 37 January 5 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–2 San Jose Sharks Greiss 17,562 22–11–4 48 Recap 38 January 7 Washington Capitals 2–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 23–11–4 50 Recap 39 January 10 San Jose Sharks 4–5 Minnesota Wild OT Niemi 18,986 23–11–5 51 Recap 40 January 12 San Jose Sharks 2–0 Winnipeg Jets Niemi 15,004 24–11–5 53 Recap 41 January 14 San Jose Sharks 2–1 Columbus Blue Jackets Greiss 16,582 25–11–5 55 Recap 42 January 15 San Jose Sharks 3–4 Chicago Blackhawks Niemi 21,645 25–12–5 55 Recap 43 January 17 Calgary Flames 1–2 San Jose Sharks OT Niemi 17,562 26–12–5 57 Recap 44 January 19 Ottawa Senators 4–1 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 26–13–5 57 Recap 45 January 21 San Jose Sharks 3–4 Vancouver Canucks Niemi 18,890 26–14–5 57 Recap 46 January 23 San Jose Sharks 1–2 Edmonton Oilers SO Greiss 16,839 26–14–6 58 Recap 47 January 24 San Jose Sharks 1–0 Calgary Flames Niemi 19,289 27–14–6 60 Recap 48 January 31 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–6 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 28–14–6 62 Recap February: 5–8–1 (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 2–7–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 49 February 2 Dallas Stars 2–5 San Jose Sharks Greiss 12,979 29–14–6 64 Recap 50 February 4 San Jose Sharks 3–5 Phoenix Coyotes Niemi 17,562 29–15–6 64 Recap 51 February 8 Calgary Flames 4–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 29–16–6 64 Recap 52 February 10 Chicago Blackhawks 3–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 30–16–6 66 Recap 53 February 12 San Jose Sharks 0–3 St. Louis Blues Niemi 18,447 30–17–6 66 Recap 54 February 13 San Jose Sharks 5–3 Washington Capitals Greiss 18,506 31–17–6 68 Recap 55 February 16 San Jose Sharks 5–6 Tampa Bay Lightning OT Niemi 16,819 31–17–7 69 Recap 56 February 17 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Carolina Hurricanes Greiss 18,680 31–18–7 69 Recap 57 February 19 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Detroit Red Wings Niemi 20,066 31–19–7 69 Recap 58 February 21 San Jose Sharks 3–6 Columbus Blue Jackets Greiss 14,625 31–20–7 69 Recap 59 February 23 San Jose Sharks 2–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Niemi 19,493 32–20–7 71 Recap 60 February 25 San Jose Sharks 2–6 Nashville Predators Niemi 17,113 32–21–7 71 Recap 61 February 26 San Jose Sharks 3–4 Minnesota Wild Greiss 17,401 32–22–7 71 Recap 62 February 28 Philadelphia Flyers 0–1 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 33–22–7 73 Recap March: 7–7–3 (Home: 6–3–1; Road: 1–4–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 63 March 1 Buffalo Sabres 1–0 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 33–23–7 73 Recap 64 March 3 St. Louis Blues 3–1 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 33–24–7 73 Recap 65 March 6 Edmonton Oilers 3–2 San Jose Sharks SO Niemi 17,562 33–24–8 74 Recap 66 March 8 San Jose Sharks 3–4 Dallas Stars SO Niemi 16,812 33–24–9 75 Recap 67 March 10 San Jose Sharks 0–3 Phoenix Coyotes Niemi 14,994 33–25–9 75 Recap 68 March 12 San Jose Sharks 3–2 Edmonton Oilers Niemi 16,839 34–25–9 77 Recap 69 March 13 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Calgary Flames OT Niemi 19,289 34–25–10 78 Recap 70 March 15 Nashville Predators 1–2 San Jose Sharks SO Niemi 17,562 35–25–10 80 Recap 71 March 17 Detroit Red Wings 2–3 San Jose Sharks OT Niemi 17,562 36–25–10 82 Recap 72 March 19 Anaheim Ducks 5–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 36–26–10 82 Recap 73 March 20 San Jose Sharks 2–5 Los Angeles Kings Niemi 18,118 36–27–10 82 Recap 74 March 22 Boston Bruins 1–2 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 37–27–10 84 Recap 75 March 24 Phoenix Coyotes 3–4 San Jose Sharks SO Niemi 17,562 38–27–10 86 Recap 76 March 26 Colorado Avalanche 1–5 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 39–27–10 88 Recap 77 March 28 San Jose Sharks 1–3 Anaheim Ducks Niemi 14,780 39–28–10 88 Recap 78 March 29 San Jose Sharks 0–2 Phoenix Coyotes Niemi 14,446 39–29–10 88 Recap 79 March 31 Dallas Stars 0–3 San Jose Sharks Niemi 17,562 40–29–10 90 Recap April: 3–0–0 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT/SO Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 3 San Jose Sharks 5–2 Dallas Stars Niemi 18,584 41–29–10 92 Recap 81 April 5 San Jose Sharks 6–5 Los Angeles Kings SO Niemi 18,330 42–29–10 94 Recap 82 April 7 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 San Jose Sharks OT Greiss 17,562 43–29–10 96 Recap

Playoffs

The Sharks clinched a playoff spot and made their eighth consecutive appearance in the playoffs.