SAN JOSE – Glancing at the Sharks’ upcoming schedule for the next few weeks, there aren’t a whole lot of games against legitimate contenders on the horizon. Sandwiched around the late-February bye week are meetings with plenty of non-playoff opponents and others that may be in position, but are nothing more than pretenders or first round fodder.
Facing the Blackhawks in the first game coming out of the All-Star break, though, kicking off the unofficial beginning of the push to the playoffs, had a big game feel to it. Finding a way to win the rubber match of the three-game season series against the three-time recent champs would be the perfect way for the Sharks to remind the league, and perhaps themselves, that they’re still primed to challenge for a Stanley Cup.