Sharks May Need A New, Temporary Home As COVID Rates Worsen

The Sharks may have to stay away from Santa Clara County "much longer than they had originally hoped," as the Bay Area region’s ICU bed availability "reached record lows this week and local health officials fear the situation will only get worse -- casting doubt on whether the Sharks will be able to return to San Jose and play games at SAP Center as scheduled early next month," according to Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose MERCURY NEWS. If the situation fails to improve, the Sharks "will have no choice but to play home games at a location other than downtown San Jose." The Sharks’ first scheduled home games are against the Golden Knights on Feb. 1 and Feb. 3. The team "will remain in the Phoenix area" as it begins the regular season Thursday against the Coyotes. In the 56-game season, 14 of the Sharks’ first 18 games are on the road (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 1/9).