Sharks Gameday: Four In A Row

I'm a little floored at just what has transpired during the course of this 08 playoff run- the outburst of offense in game seven against the Flames that seemed to throw the playoff monkey off our back, to the lackluster showing that has plagued us against the Stars. Let's live another day boys. I know this Sharks team has the talent, the will, the heart to win game four. Sure we got hosed on a goal call in the first period (still fuming) but the fact of the matter is we haven't played the way we can play. That's the sole reason why we're in a three-zippo hole. It's frusturating, it's agonizing, it's somewhat expected from the media who jump on the bandwagon every April only to fling themselves off once we hit a rut, but goddamnit people let's show some faith.

This isn't a desperate plea- the time has long passed for pleas to carry much weight. No matter what happens tomorrow night, I am proud to be a Sharks fan and will always be a Sharks fan. Here's to flipping a bird to Dallas, running Marty Turco in the crease, and Big Joe notching three assists tomorrow night. I have a feeling a break is going to come our way. I don't know how, or when, but that break is going to come, and in the name of Gordie Howe the Sharks will capitalize on that chance.

We've got one chance to crawl closer to crawling back into the series.



Prediction: Sharks win. Period.



Go Sharks.

All But Over (Game 3 Recap)

No i'm not a pessimist, but If you still think we have a chance in this series, please convince me (trust me I want to believe we are still in this as much as you do). I got curious so I did a search for how many teams have actually come back from a seven game series down three games to none. The most recent one I remember was by the Boston Red Sox who came back and eventually won the World Series. They were the first team in all of MLB to do it in 31 tries. If you think those odds are bad, then you wont like the odds the Sharks are up against. Take a look for yourself.

Sport Rnd Ven Game 4 Series

I don't think I need to say anymore about the type of hole we are in so i'll move on to the game.

It wasn't a bad game, but it wasn't a good one either. We played a really good first and second period but the hockey gods just weren't on our side. Don Van "FATASS" Massenhoven blew the whistle prematurely because he was too slow to get into position to see the loose puck that Marleau put home. Setoguchi snapped a hard wrister that JUST and I mean JUST trickled wide. If we had any luck we would have had a 3 or 4 goal lead, but then the third period started. Stars have outscored their opponents 17-5 in the third period (in the 2008 playoffs) and they once again (like in game 2) exercised their magic in the final frame. It was seriously a mirror image of game 2 with the penalty trouble we found ourselves in right from the start of the third. They tied it at 1 with a 5 on 3 powerplay goal just 47 seconds in and from then on they took over. If it wasn't for Nabby, it probably would not have gone to OT. He stopped Nicklas Hagman on a penalty shot, but it just wasn't enough to change the momentum. Constant mistakes and giveaways really cost us game 3, mistakes you can't make when you are already down 0-2 in a seven game series. Those dirty mistakes led to the overtime goal by Norstrom just 4:37 into overtime. That was also the same time I realized this season may all be over tomorrow. They are one loss away from again disappointing themselves, the organization, and we the fans.

Im done. Peace.

Sharks Gameday (2.3): A(nother) Desperate Plea To The Hockey Gods

That's all I got.



Go Sharks.

[Mr. Plank Note] I'll be live blogging during the game and have a full recap after as well. Sorry about the lack of goodies here, I've been quite busy.

Sharks Gameday (2.2): Haven't We Been Here Before?

#5 Dallas Stars @ #2 San Jose Sharks
Dallas leads series 1-0



The tried and true method welcomes us once again. Down 1-0 with home-ice advantage, the Sharks face an early test for the second straight series in the 2008 playoffs.

This has to be said- Patrick Marleau must have been watching White Men Can't Jump before the game yesterday, got a little peeved at the title, and decided to prove Hollywood wrong. Honestly, I don't see how this isn't a bigger deal. I've been fairly supportive of Patty throughout the year, and his play during the postseason has been very good, but plays like this can be the difference in a close series.
[Mr. Plank Edit] In case you don't know what I'm talking about. On the Stars first goal, a shot from the point was taken. Patty was in the position to block the shot, but jumps over the puck to avoid it hitting him.

I'm not too worried about the boys coming out to play tonight- our effort in last night's game was good enough to get the win (I believe we hit about two or three posts during the contest). That being said, a win is really the only measuring stick left for San Jose, and unfortunately we came up on the short side last night. I watched the post-game comments from the players and Ron Wilson last night- they don't seem too fazed by going down 1-0. Three thoughts on that:

1. Good! We played well last night, and were in position to win the game if a couple shots go through. Confidence is good
2. BUT a loss is a loss. Statistically it doesn't matter if you get blown out 7-0 or lose 3-2 in overtime. You're still down 1-0 in the series.
3. Must win? I don't think tonight is a team in dire straits- say we lose this game (not advocating it, just touching upon the highly unlikely possibility). I'm confident that we can take two in a row at the American Airlines Center. That being said, tonight is close to a must win. Dropping two at home puts us in a big hole, one that the defending champion Ducks were unable to crawl out of. We obviously have a team more suited to defeat the Stars when compared to the Ducks, but if Dallas goes up 2-0 their confidence level would be soaring.

Prediction: Sharks win 2-1. Goals by Michalek and Patty.


Go Sharks.

Sharks Gameday (2.1): TV Parodies & Such

#5 Dallas Stars @ #2 San Jose Sharks
Series tied 0-0


I love games against Dallas- it's the one time when booing the National Anthem (when the word "stars" hits the rafters) is acceptable. That being said, I'm having some trouble getting jacked up for this one- game seven was so emotionally uplifting, it almost seems as if we're going to play in a week or so. But that ain't the case butter face.

Tonight is one step closer to the Cup. While Calgary had Nolan (ex-Captain), Primeau (ex=player), Darryl Sutter (ex-coach), Mike Keenan (the man who drafted JR), and some other subplots I probably forgot to mention, this series has em too. JR vs. Modano, the greatest American-born players to skate on ice. A franchise we have never defeated in the playoffs (0-2). And for me (feel free to jump on this bandwagon), the abandonment of the Stars from Minnesota. Needless to say, we've got some ass kicking to do.

Mike Chen has a good history article on the Sharks and Stars. Solid.

We're four wins away from exorcising the second-round demons of playoffs past.

Let's start tonight.

Prediction: Sharks win 4-2. Goals by Big Joe, Lil' Joe (x2) and flipping Milan, who finally gets on the board. Side Note: He had a really good game seven against Calgary. Expect him to show up tonight at The Tank.

[A Word From Mr. Plank] I won't be doing a game recap for this one (I'm not sure about Alfred) but will be chiming in on the comments. Feel free to join me either during the game or afterwards.


Go Sharks.

Round Two Preview: Stars vs. Sharks

cartoonstock.com

Sorry guys, but I'm swamped. I know this isn't what I'm getting paid for, but I've linked a couple talking heads opinions on the series. Wait. What? I'm not getting paid for this?!?! WHEN DID THIS OCCUR? IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY!!!!! WHY I OUGHTA.....

Calm down and come up with something else that's a little more creative. But like I said, I'm swamped. Here's the links.

SIDE NOTE: If anyone wants to do a preview, email me (jasonplank@umail.ucsb.edu) and I'll put it up and credit you.

The Hockey News.
Scott Burnside @ ESPN
Buccigross @ ESPN
Dr. James Mirtle
Bruce Ciskie @ NHL Fanhouse

2008 NHL Playoffs: Pick Em! Round Two

Ah what a win by our Sharkies last night. I'm sure I'll have something up in the next day or so previewing the Stars series, but I'm a little crammed with school. At any rate, here's what all of you have been waiting for- the second round of our tournament. Once again, you need to participate every round in order to win the damn thing. This is the the original post, which contains the rules and your first round picks.

What follows is the leaderboard- if you notice, Omar S. is absolutely destroying us. Someone needs to go Tonya Harding on him if you want my opinion. Click to enlarge people- kinda like those websites you go on late at night when your mom goes to sleep. WHOOOOOOOOO.

[Editor's Note] If I screwed up your score, leave your complaints in the comment section. I'm not perfect- damn close though.

YOUR PICKS NEED TO BE IN BY 7 PM EASTERN (4 OCLOCK PACIFIC) ON THURSDAY

My picks for the second round- follow the format.

DET 4 COL 2
SJ 4 DAL 2

MTL 4 PHI 2
PIT 4 NYR 3

A Thousand And One Words

Sharks win Game Seven 5-3.


WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Enjoy tonight kids. Pound back a few brews and tell that special someone a game seven win at HP is a perfect excuse to make a baby. Just don't tear apart downtown like these nuts in Montreal did last night.

More tomorrow. Go Sharks.

Sharks Gameday (1.7): This Calls For Us All

You may wonder why I'm throwing up this game day post a day before I usually do. Well, huge games call for change people.

Let's get some dialogue going in the comments section. Talk about what the Sharks need to do, and how we need to do it. Talk about the importance of laying on the body, or the necessity of a puck possession game. Talk about your sex lives for all I care- anything to make the 48 hours move that much quicker.


Game seven in The Tank Tuesday night.

It doesn't get bigger than this.
[Edit by Alfred] SWEET MOTHER OF GOD IM SO NERVOUS!!!

[Mr. Plank Edit] A We Bleed Teal commentator by the name of Emily sent this our way. If this doesn't get you jacked up you probably need some Viagra.



Go Sharks.

Game Six Live Recap

Hey guys, I'm going to try something new here considering I'm watching the game off of Alfred's Slingbox, and in front of my computer anyways. This recap will be period by period.

Pre-Game
I'm pretty pissed that this game isn't getting national exposure. Not sure what Versus' deal is, but at the beginning of the playoffs game six was announced to be shown at 8 Eastern Sunday night, and they flipped it over to the Ducks game. Obviously it's the defending champs fighting for their playoff lives, but the NHL really screwed the pooch on this one. Whatevs. I've had a grudge for awhile now, so sadly I'm not too surprised.

First Period
I've been consuming alcoholic beverages for about half the Sharks games (which is a nice way of putting it) so my vision may be a bit "clearer" this time around, but that's probably the worst we've played all series. Let's bury this boys. Personally I'm going to be living period to period- much like my relationships in high school. Oh those were tumultuous times.

Second Period
--> First Break: Good Lord we are just getting outworked. The turnovers in the nuetral zone that were ample during the first period have been cut down a tad, but we still haven't been able to generate a legitimate scoring chance. The Calgary forecheck is giving us some problems as well. Our forecheck has improved a little bit, and you can see that helping out. We look better, but not nearly good enough.
--> Second break: It feels like we are on the penalty kill. Every single minute. We're having trouble clearing the puck. Thank God it's only 1-0.
--> Third break: Finally some sustained pressure. We're gradually turning it on. Maybe this is Ron Wilson's master plan- let the Flames expend all of their energy in the first two periods, then come out pounding in the third.
--> End of period: That 3 on 1 was atrocious. Milan Michalek looked like a toddler. It's so inexcusable that it's excusable. Then Nabby comes back and holds down the fort. Great play.

Oh wow. Langkow scores. Another turnover in the nuetral zone, another scoring chance and they finally capitalize. Buzzer.

Third Period- [Intermission]
First off (I'm watching the Comcast feed), what is up with that Nanotechnology commercial. All the Sharks fans at The Tank who don't know what icing is. Thanks. You made all Sharks supporters look foolish.

My friend Dan says that he feels like the Sharks are going to come out with the best third period of their lives. Haha. Talk about optimism. Good man.

Mike Ricci shows up on the scene (click to enlarge).
What a beast.

Third Period
Aight here we go boys. I'm leaving this live blogging alone for this one- it doesn't seem to be working too well. I'll be back later tonight.

Go Sharks.

Postgame
At this time Tuesday we will be engaging in a Game Seven. God save us all.


Notes: Not sure if you all were aware, but I was using the same Fight Club photoshop for the last three games. Looks like it ran out of luck.

Go Sharks.

Sharks Gameday (1.6): Fight Club 3

The Saddledome has been a fickle place for the Sharks this series- blow a three goal lead one game, then come back to win in the last five minutes another. I'll be keeping my oxygen tank handy Sunday night- I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

From what I can tell, our Sharks squad sounds pretty confident going into this one- I think that has both it's positives and negatives. On the upside we realize that we are the superior team, and over the last 65 minutes we have played like it. On the downside, shit storms seem to follow our beloved Los Tiburones during the lovely season of spring. But this year, that ain't happenin'. As Bob Dylan once said, "The times they are a-changin." I'll save my freak outs if game seven comes along (in which case I will be avoiding the bathroom- I have an odd feeling razorblades would be releasing themselves from my bowels.)

No in-depth analysis for this one ladies and gentlemen. Let's go out and get us a second round berth.

Prediction: Sharks win. Period.

Ed. Note: Everyone who has been on Big Joe this playoff series (including myself at times) for not performing had better shut their piehole. He's had six points in five games. That's not amazing, but it's pretty damn good considering the Flames have made it their number one priority to shut him down.

Tidbits of Teal

[UPDATED]
1. Ryane Clowe gets some fantasy love from THN.
2. Sharks prospect Nick Petrecki gets a ring with Boston College.
3. Jeremy Roenick gives some insight into his resurgence.
4. Jim Kelley from Sports Illustrated analyzes Joe Thornton's "lack" of playoff dominance.
5. ESPN talks about the revival of Cheech and Patty.
6. The Mercury News looks into McClaren's knee, and Clowe's crybaby gesture.
7. Mark Purdy disects Team Teal's play in the last two games.
8. Kyle McClaren may not play in game six.
9. Joe Pavelski on nhl.com's Frozen Moment.
10. Clowe tied for lead in playoff points (as of 4/18).
11. Top players leading Sharks scoring attack.
12. David Amber is an idiot. My problem with the article is that he picks different examples to suit his different arguments- stick with four Cup contenders and then compare. Side note: wasn't everyone saying this last year when the Sens were playing the Ducks?
13. The Sharks prepare for game six.
14. Picture of Team Teal at BOC.
15. Ann Killion talks about Ryane Clowe (everyone is talking about Clowe).

Sharks Win To Take 3-2 Series Lead

Go Sharks.

[Alfred's Edit] I'm just going to jump in and write a few things I saw last night that led to such a tremendous win by the Sharks.

Game 5 was honestly just a showing of how much depth this San Jose team has. Yea, if you look at the scoreboard it was Big Joe, Cheech, and Marleau (all the big boys). But aside from Marleau, who has been our best player this series hands down, the ones who have shown up every night so far has been Clowe (who is among the league leaders in goals) and Pavelski (who scored in game 5 and has a point in all 5 games). Now you add that to the fresh Setoguchi and the always reliable pair of Mitchell and Grier, seriously how are you going to defend against that type of depth? With Michalek showing flashes of brilliance last night, thats three INSANELY good lines and makes for one incredibly KICKASS team.

Lets just get out of this draining series and take on the next opponent with our team firing on all cylinders playing like they did in March.

Sharks Gameday (1.5): Fight Club 2

#7 Calgary Flames @ #2 San Jose Sharks
Series tied 2-2


As all you fin fans out there are painfully aware, being a Sharks fan is much like a rollercoaster of love. Up and down this team takes us, around and around, onto mountain peaks and dark valleys of postseason distress. This series has been no different.

Game five. I don't have the stats to back this up (where's Mirtle when you need him?), but game five seems to be the most important game in the series. [Edit: The game 5 winner of any series tied 2-2 in history has won 158 of a possible 196 series, which is 80.6%. Glove pound to 18,568 Reasons Why.] Mathematically, with a series knotted at two, the winner of game five will be one win away from moving on to the next round. Huge. Be sure to tune into this one, because Thursday is a defining point, a game that transcends all that came before it. No three goal lead is safe. Momentum really doesn't mean jack, because this series has had more references to "change" than a Barack Obama speech. For 60 minutes (and possibly more), the Sharks will attempt to take this into Calgary one win away from moving onto the second round.

If only it were that easy.

What do we need tonight? Pretty much the same formula in game four, where the Sharks proved that they are the better team. Although the first half of the opening period may show otherwise, the Sharks proved that they can dominate in long stretches. The third period was scary with the clock dwindling down, but it seemed like only a matter of time till we got the equalizer (and the eventual game-winner). Thornton and Cheech have lifted some pressure off their shoulders with their goals last night. I have a good feeling that this is going to light a flame (hardy har har) under their respective asses.

Dress seven defencemen (the Canadien spelling is really catching on to me) once again, limit McClaren's ice time. Ryan Clowe needs to continue to do his best Cloweverfield impression. Milan Michalek, use your damn speed like Patty has been doing all series, it's obvious that we can outskate them and use that to generate scoring opportunities. With Christian on our blueline, we are hands down the better team (the Sharks limited the Flames to ten shots on net last game, a franchise playoff record).

The urgency is there. The drive is there. The home ice-advantage is there. Now comes the tough stuff.

"We dont question our heart, you guys do. I dont know if any of you in here have ever put on a pair of skates or actually played hockey to be able to say a team has heart or it doesnt." - Ron Wilson

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Prediction: Sharks win. Period.

[Editor's Note:] Marcel Goc has a new blog up. Always a treat.

[Editor's Note Two] If you're anywhere in the Santa Barbara area Thursday night, feel free to come over to my house for the game. Here's the Facebook event link.

[I Bet You're Really Sick of Editor's Notes By Now] Here's the goal call by our very own Randy Hahn in game four. The call starts at 1:40.

My friend Dan heard Randy on the radio today, where he talked about his call. The Saddledome got dead silent, and apparently his voice from the pressbox could be heard by a good amount of fans. Quality.

2008 Sharks Playoff Merchandise

I was just looming around on the Sharks website and ran across some new playoff merchandise for this year. This one is definitely my fav. 

Inspired by disgustingly awesome glove saves and superhuman like reflexes, Sharks fans can now beg to question...

(Photo taken from www.sharksstore.com)

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

(Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images)

Some quick, incoherent thoughts that took me about two minutes to come up with- Alfred is covering the recap on this puppy (see the post below):

--> As scary as it was (I almost defecated in my brand new jeans), Langkow hitting the post and raising his arms in premature celebration reminded me of a bunch of chicks at an N*SYNC concert (enter half-assed photoshop).

--> Cheech's goal was a tight squeeze, but I'll take it. Give him credit for recognizing the puck needs to get to the net in order for us to score.
--> Clowe- absolutely stellar. What a player.
--> Thornton and Cheech finally get some momentum going their way. Look for these guys on the scoreboard more often as the series gets down to crunch time.
--> Patty is our captain. I'm so proud to utter those words. And apparently so is someone else:

"It was one of the gutsiest performances I've seen out of a player in a long time. To go through what he did early in the game and continue to jump on the ice and compete, and want the puck - that's what we need out of our captain.

If there was a guy in this room who wasn't inspired by the way Patrick Marleau competed (Sunday) night after getting his head taken off, then they should go work in a library because they don't belong in here." -Jeremy Roenick (after game three)

Go Sharks.

Game 4 Recap (a baller one at that)

(Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images)

[Mr. Plank Edit] Sir Alfred has joined us on this here blog for his first post. It's rumored he took a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the groin and didn't even flinch, so show him some love.

Well this is my first post on this blog and I could go into an introduction of who I am, but I’m just going to start yapping about the Sharks because this was one hell of a game.

When the Stanley Cup Playoffs started today, 5 of the 8 matchups showcased teams who had a 2-1 series lead. Of the five matchups, I could not find one that had as much significance and impact looming over it in the 4th game than the one between the Sharks and Flames. The media has been all over the Sharks after their disheartening loss in game three. They started to question San Jose’s ability to overcome adversity and the ability to push back when shoved. If you have followed the Sharks long enough, you would know why these questions have reared their ugly heads once again.

Two years ago in the second round of the playoffs, they played the 8th seed Oilers and lost in 6 games after having a 2-0 series lead. Critics blamed the Sharks for not having enough character to rebound from a triple OT game 3 loss, and a bad bounce in game 4.

Just a year ago, The Sharks were 20 seconds away from taking a 3-1 series stranglehold against the Detroit Red Wings, but failed to clear the puck in the dying seconds that led to the game-tying goal, eventually culminating in an overtime loss. The media blamed the Sharks for not having enough character to win the Holy Grail, as they eventually blew the series and walked in shame for another early exit.

Today, the Sharks answered all those questions in final five minutes of Game 4.

Yes, they let a three goal lead slip away in game 3. Yes they were down 0-1 early to start the game. BUT the Sharks never gave up. They started to go back to the way Sharks hockey is played: strong forecheck, crisp puck movement, and shut down defense.

At the 10:56 mark of the 2nd period, Clowe tipped in his league leading 4th goal of the playoffs from Patty and Big Joe to tie the game at one apiece. Clowe played like a monster again, and was rewarded with the goal because he goes to the “dirty” areas of the ice.

But with just over a minute left in the 2nd period, Iginla stripped Thornton cleanly off the faceoff in our own zone straight to Phaneuf. Phaneuf, who is very good at finding shooting lanes ([Mr. Plank Edit] Faguef is also good at putting on a "tough guy" show after the whistle blows), puts one
past Nabby for a backbreaking goal. Thornton was largely to blame on this goal, as he screened Nabby big time, as well as losing the faceoff.

Super bummed in the second intermission, I checked the score sheet and showed that Calgary, although up 2-1, had only SEVEN shots on goal!! We had more than double that amount, but had half of what they had on the scoreboard. But as time will tell, our persistence paid off in the third.

Setoguchi, who was playing in his first playoff game (FINALLY RON WILSON PUT HIM IN), made a huge difference as he set up Cheech (where’s he been huh?) for the game tying goal at 4:54 of the 3rd. BUT WE WEREN’T DONE.

Joe, who had been dead quiet all series, decided to show up in the second
half of game 4. With just 11 seconds to go in the game, Douglas Murray snaps a shot towards Kipper. And this time instead of screening our own goalie, Jumbo Joe gives Kipper a big view of his big ass, and no view of the puck. The puck finds its way to the back of the net, and all I see is some daring Shark fan in the first row at the Saddledome screaming for joy (not knowing 18000 others in red are about to kill him).

If there were any more doubts about this San Jose Sharks hockey club, I believe they have all been silenced.

I think as Sharks fans we all hope this is the turning point, the critical moment in a series that will turn the tides our way to make this journey last all the way till June.

For now, we can all let out that sigh of relief. (SIGH)

Game 5 is 7pm at the tank on Thursday. GO SHARKS!

Sharks Gameday (1.4): Fight Club

#2 San Jose Sharks @ #7 Calgary Flames
Calgary leads series 2-1


If there ever was a bigger game in the history of this franchise following the lockout, I'm not aware of it. With a chance to go up 2-1 in the series in front of a hostile crowd, the Sharks slunk into a cave a la Osama, allowing four unanswered goals in regulation to lose. The ghosts of playoffs past circulate in the air like a plague, talent turned to timidness; strength to softness. The pundits are crying out that the Sharks don't have the heart, the guts, the testicular fortitude, the will, the drive, to win this series. They say we're done.

We say this series is our's to run.

Our Captain Patrick Marleau has played phenomenally. Ryan Clowe has been a monster in front of the net and along the sideboards. Nabby has been Nabby.

Heart.
Determination.
Mysterious toilet seats?
A Captain playing through adversity.
Talent.

The drive to win a Cup.

This game is huge. This game is war. This game is a message to the rest of the league that will show them exactly what our squad is made of. So keep your heads up fin fans- the series is far from over. Our play tonight will set the tone for game five in San Jose.

One win is all we need.

Prediction: Sharks win. Period.

Game Three Wrap Up

/pensblog'd

Sharks go up three in the first four minutes, Calgary scores four unanswered goals. See ya on Tuesday boys.

Sharks Gameday (1.3): Enter The Saddledome

#2 San Jose Sharks @ #7 Calgary Flames
Series tied 1-1


If I had to pick one word to describe that video, it would probably be "hell." Fire, epic music, loud fans screaming for blood (okay that might be a stretch) and the like. Thankfully, the Sharks carry their league-best road record (27-10-4) into the game. One huge question for the game will be how the officiating is- to say the least, Calgary coach Mike Keenan was unhappy with how game two was called.

If you take games one and two at face value, the Sharks are more suited to a tightly officiated game, while the Flames benefit more from a loosely called one. I don't necessarily agree with that, but looking at the first two games that's the logical conclusion. We'll see how this politicking turns out.

Don't quote me, but I have a feeling Ehrhoff will be back on our blueline for tonight. This is bound to help shore up some problems we've been having (odd-man rushes) and help limit the amount of work Nabby has. Kipper vs. Nabby toe-to-toe once again will be a treat to watch- the stellar play of both netminders will likely determine the outcome of the game, and eventually the series.

Prediction: Sharks win 2-1. Goals by JR and Patty.

Crankshaft's Kegs

Check out the full story at BOC.

Game Two Recap

If you weren't aware of the capabilities in the crease for both teams, tonight was your wake up call.


Some thoughts:

-> Nabokov and Kiprusoff were monsters. I can't wait to see them in game three.
-> Our powerplay looked terrible (1 for 8 tonight). If it continues to be this bad, there is no reason why Calgary won't start taking liberties with some of our players, guys like Cheechoo (where has he been? More on that later), Michalek etc. If our powerplay can't put pucks in the net, why wouldn't they go after some guys and take the penalty?
-> Work the puck down low on the powerplay. We have one of the best passers in the game (Joe Thornton for all of you unaware) camped out in the left circle, feeding centering passes that never seem to hit the mark. Get it down low behind the net.
-> Enough unscreened shots from the point. Besides Ryan Clowe, we don't have a solid presence in front of the net willing to set screens, and clean up the garbage. Yeah we have outshot the Flames in the last two games, but I feel the total is a little inflated. Kipper eats up every single shot from the blueline.
-> McClaren is as slow as ever.
-> The official getting on top of the net halfway through the second was awesome.
-> Great play by Matt Carle to pinch and take the hit for our second goal. Quality.
-> Nabokov's save on Owen Nolan was one of the best I have ever seen in my life. I watched the Sharks broadcast (I found a Slingbox user! WHOOT WHOOT) and Randy Hahn called it a goal before correcting himself; same thing on the highlights on nhl.com (CBC feed below- I'm pissed they don't show another angle, but whatevs).

-> Cheechoo is non-existent. He's getting thrown around like a stripper at a Duke Lacrosse party, and has yet to establish himself physically.
-> Patty Marleau has been everywhere this series. I couldn't be happier with his play.
-> JR's shot that he missed was a fluke. If we lose this game it's a big deal, but a win helps you put a little perspective on it. He's due for a goal- watch him come up big on Sunday.
-> McClaren is so slow he's still reading the sentence where I said he's slow.
-> Torrey Mitchell is an absolute treat to watch. He hustles more than anyone on the team.

I'm not sure if I'm completely confident about our defense just yet. We limit shots on net, but it seems as if we always give up 4-5 excellent scoring chances through the course of the game (most of them 2 on 1's). We also need to pick up the physical play more in our own zone, and that starts with Murray. I have a feeling that he has the potential to become one of those guys who makes opposing forwards cringe when they're retrieving dump-ins. That being said, we're solid at the blueline. I'm nitpicking.

All in all, a good win.

Ed. Note: We may have a new member on We Bleed Teal, my friend Alfred (details are still being worked out). He's a huge Sharks fan, and has a lot of knowledge on minute details that my teal-biased eyes can't see. I'll update all five of you readers out there on Saturday.

Sharks Gameday (1.2): Cloweverfield

#7 Calgary Flames @ #2 San Jose Sharks (Calgary leads series 1-0)

If we can consider last night's game an aberration I think we'll be fine.

Ouch.

It's a little disheartening, but a seven game series is just that- a seven game series. A game one loss is in no way a sign of things to come, and although the momentum from last night's game may play a factor in tonight's game, there's a couple things that make me feel fairly confident about.

1) The first five minutes were terrible. Not just because Calgary scored twice, but because we were getting outplayed in every single aspect of the game. They were laying on the body, and we were on our heels. Good thing is, we outplayed Calgary right after those five minutes for just about the rest of the game.
2) Kipper was out of position on some scoring chances, and got some bounces that went Calgary's way. The hockey Gods always seem to balance this out.
3) There's no way Brian Campbell plays as poorly as he did last night ever again in his life.
4) Ryan Clowe is a monster in front of the net. Cloweverfield.


Prediction: Sharks win 3-1. Goals by JR, Patty, and Campbell.

Go Sharks.

Game One Recap

Flat like month old soda.

Quick observations. Too tired and pissed to make a full recap.

- Ryan Clowe looked solid.
- Patty was everywhere
- Thornton = Non-existent
- Can't believe Semenov was in the lineup.
- Cheech got beat around.
- First five minutes = Forget about it.
- Need to win next game.

Game two tomorrow.

Go Sharks.



Solid recap at Battle of California.

Sharks Gameday (1.1): It Begins

#7 Calgary Flames @ #2 San Jose Sharks

Not much to say here- it's all been said. This game is the biggest game of the year. Next game is the biggest game of the year. Every game from here on out is the biggest game of the year. No more finding your rhythm- it needs to be found. No more regular season winning streaks- they don't mean jack come playoff time. Seven games. Win four of em. Period.

Game one is always big, but this one even more so. The Sharks and Flames play back to back for the first two, so a solid win tonight will set the tone for the series.

Let's do this thing.



Sharks Pre-Game Street Rally Today
Game Day Preview from sharks.com

Any Sharks fans living in Calgary? Mike Chen has been contacted by Calgary Herald reporter Joel Kom; he wants to do a story on watching the game with a Sharks fan in enemy territory. If you fit that bill, you can contact Joel directly at jkom@theherald.canwest.com.

Quick Plug & Thanks

The guys over at Pensblog put together an epic playoff preview by compiling bloggers from all over the NHL to put in their two cents for their respective teams. Yours truly was blessed to be on that list. Here's the article.

The Battle of California, Barry Melrose Rocks, and Pensblog were three of the four inspirations for starting We Bleed Teal.

BOC's statistical juggernautery (is that a word?) and in-depth insight.
BMR's pure awesomeness.
Pensblog's photoshops and witticisms.

Needless to say I am extremely excited to have these guys enjoy the work I do, especially since I've been at this for just about a month. If you're reading this guys, thank you. And thank you Mr. Reader for putting up with endless drivel and nonsensical wordplay. Now on to the number one reason I started We Bleed Teal.


Wednesday can't come soon enough.

My prediction for this series.
The prediction tournament (join if you've got the fortitude).

[EDIT:] The Two-Man Advantage just emailed me a link of a show they shot with Patrick Rissmiller. Quality.

2008 Playoffs: Pick Em!

So I was wandering the web today and saw something that caught my eye. The Battle of Ontario has a quasi-tournament set up where readers get to make some predictions on the playoffs. So I decided to run something similar over here. Here's the rules. Leave your predictions in the comments section on this post.

Predict the series outcomes, and your score is the sum of the differences. The lowest score at the end of the playoffs wins.

For example, you pick San Jose over Calgary 4-1. It turns out to be 4-0 for San Jose, so you get a 1. If it ends up 4-1 Calgary then you'd receive a 6.

In the 2nd round your score gets multiplied by 1.5, 3rd round 1.75 and the Finals 2.

You must participate in each round to win. The winner will get the opportunity to do a guest post on the site. Whatever you want to say, whatever you want to do, it's fair game (obviously within reason). If that's not your cup of tea I'm sure we can figure something else out.

Side Note: If a Ducks fan wins this thing I just may pack up shop


Here's my picks- they might differ just a tad from what I chose in the post below, but whatevs. Please keep everything in the same format as mine so I can track it easier. Remember, you need to participate every round in order to get the chance to win, and if you're posting from an anonymous account make sure to put your name somewhere in the post so I can track it. Remember to get your predictions in by 7 PM Eastern on Wednesday.

Best of luck!

MTL 4 BOS 2
PIT 4 OTT 2
WAS 4 PHI 2
NJ 2 NYR 4

DET 4 NSH 1
SJ 4 CGY 2
MIN 4 COL 3
ANA 4 DAL 2

2008 Playoffs: First Round Preview

The playoffs are here.

WHOOOOOOOOOOO!

#2 San Jose Sharks (49-23-10) vs. #7 Calgary Flames (42-30-10)

Inside The Numbers
Record Against Calgary: 1-1-2
Goal Differential: 0 (13 goals apiece)
Shots on Net: San Jose 130, Calary 86
Power Play: San Jose 5/20 (25%), Calgary 2/12 (16.6%)
Penalty Minutes: San Jose 43, Calgary 67
Miscellaneous: Jarome Iginla scored both overtime game winners.

Okay. Now forget about all those stats. They don't mean a thing.

The San Jose Sharks have been a completely different team since the acquisition of Brian Campbell. It's been preached here, it's been preached in the media, everyone knows he's transformed the Sharks from a bunch of talented players into a bona-fide Cup Contender. The record against Calgary during the season is a little inconclusive because of this- fact is, the Sharks now ice a completely different team than the one that played four games against the Flames during the regular season. So I'm going to approach the series as such.

Enter the breakdown. This post has more breakdowns than Britney Spears.

Goaltending

Yada Yada: Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important during the course of the postseason than goaltending. A hot goaltender can change the course of a series, and become a catalyst for the entire team. With that in mind, both of these goaltenders are among the top in the league. Evgeni Nabokov has risen to the challenge this year, and posted Vezina caliber numbers. Miika Kiprusoff was a Vezina winner back in 2006, and although his numbers have slipped since then, don't be fooled. Both have played a bulk of their team's games in the crease (76 GP for both goalies, with Nabokov logging 142 more minutes on the ice).

Advantage: San Jose. Nabokov's GAA is light years above Kiprusoff's this year (2.15 compared to 2.69). Last year's playoff totals also give the nod to Nabby, as he posted a 2.23 GAA, and took the Sharks to the second round. Comparatively, Kiprusoff was a 2.81 in their first round loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

The Captains

Yada Yada: Jarome Iginla and Patrick Marleau. In the last three postseasons, nobody has banged the twine more than these two guys (20 goals each). Patrick Marleau started this year colder than ice, but has turned it up after the trade deadline. Call it what you will. I call it a wake up call. His performance in last year's postseason raised some questions about his ability to perform under pressure. Can he return to form this year and help lead the Sharks past the Flames?

Advantage: Calgary. Jarome Iginla is a Sharks killer, and scores big time goals at big time points in the game. 50 goals and 48 assists this year ain't nuddin to scoff at. Best Captain in the NHL.

The Blueliners

Yada Yada: On paper, this one looks like it would go to Calgary. Dion Phaneuf is a good young defenseman who will give the Sharks forwards trouble, but the rest of Calgary's defensemen seem to have lost a step or two. The Sharks defense has the speed and two-way play to counteract the Flames. They also boast the third best goals against in the NHL by limiting shots on net.

Advantage: San Jose. With Brian Campbell's ability to move the puck quickly through the neutral zone, all of the Sharks have seemed to pick up on it. Speed kills in today's NHL, and that is what the Sharks core brings to the table.

The Forwards

Yada Yada: Both of the offenses posted roughly the same amount of goals during the course of the year (San Jose with 222, Calgary with 229). That being said, Jarome Iginla is a monster goal scorer. Alex Tanguay and Daymond Langkow also round out the cast. But what San Jose may lack in a go to guy for goals, they make up for it by spreading the scoring around. With veteran leader Jeremy Roenick second in the league with ten game winning goals and Milan Michalek on that list as well, you have to like our chances. Cheech, Joe Pavs, and Patty are also familiar with how to handle the puck when it's on their stick. Joe Thornton has been relatively quiet in postseason's past, but this is the year he puts up big numbers.

Advantage: San Jose by an inch. Iggy has the potential to carry a team, but San Jose's scoring depth makes up for the lack of a premier go-to-guy. If Big Joe puts up the numbers he is capable of, Calgary is in trouble.

Parting Words

Playoffs = War.

Sharks in six. I said seven before, but looking at it now I don't think the Flames have the talent to take it to seven games. Expect a physical series. With Ryan Clowe back in the lineup we can match the Flames grit and wear them down with our speed. It will be a rough battle, but barring a complete meltdown the Sharks will take this series.

Stuff You Need To Know

Schedule & National TV Coverage
TSN's Predictions
ESPN's Prediction
Five Hole Fanatics Flames Preview (Loads of Stats)
Battle of Alberta's Flames Preview
EA Sports Predicts The Playoffs

Quick Picks

East: Habs in five, Pens in six, Caps in six, Rangers in six
West: Wings in five, Wild in seven, Ducks in five

Ladies & Gentlemen

Meet your first round opponent, the Calgary Flames.

Sharks Gameday: NHL Update

My friend Paul Niedermier (who plays drums for a killer band, Thriving Ivory) is a big Sharks fan, and nabbed these pics after the Sharks 2-1 win over Anaheim on February 21st. Pretty cool stuff.

Sharks head into LA tonight for a game that has no real bearing on their playoff lives. That being said, the Sharks are not completely out of the running for the President's Trophy or the 1 seed in the West. If Detroit loses their next two games (in regulation), and Team Teal wins the next two, we will have done the unthinkable and caught the Red Wings. I'd give this about a 12% chance of occuring.

In other news, the Washington Capitals are fighting for their playoff lives tonight at home against the Lightning. I would love to see Ovy in the playoffs, talk about great ratings. The Caps have been playing insane hockey lately, and could be a dark horse in the Eastern Conference. On Frozen Blog has done an excellent job of covering the Caps this year, truly a superb group of writers.

The Predators, Canucks, and Flames also play. Tonight could give us a good indication on who we are playing in the first round, so check out the scores on nhl.com during/before/after you watch Full House re-runs.

As for me, I won't even be watching the Sharks game, I'll be down in Oak Park listening to my former roomates band Submare at their CD release show. "More breakdowns than Britney Spears". Yeah that was my idea, but whatevs.

Prediction: Sharks win 3-1. Goals by Big Joe, Little Joe, and Grier. Anze Kopitar gets demolished by a Douglas Murray hip check, receiving a concussion that knocks him out for their last game. Los Angeles doesn't even notice.

Suck on that RudyKelly

Los Tiburones Ready For The Playoffs

Game-winning goals may be one the most underrated stats in all of the NHL.

Which is why I just found this lil tidbit of info today.

Jeremy Roenick is tied for first with Alexander Ovechkin in the NHL for game winners. Both players have put in 10 apiece. Coming in when your team needs you the most is what separates a good player from a great player, and what elevates a good team to a Stanley-Cup winner. Clutch (not couture). Milan Michalek is also tied for third in the NHL with game winning goals. It's hard to read too much into this (OMG, the Sharks are a lock for the Cup!), as regular season success does not predict playoff dominance. Nonetheless, this is a good indication that the Sharks have playmakers who know how to get the job done when the game is on the line.



Ken Campbell has some related articles over at The Hockey News entitled Campbellonics. In these articles he examines the importance of when the goals were scored, and ranks the players accordingly. Tied for second on that list?

Joe Thornton.


Add in Evgeni Nabokov (a Vezina candidate this year), Patrick Marleau's proven playoff scoring ability, and the addition of Brian Campbell on the blueline, and we are looking good for this playoff run.

April 9th can't come soon enough.


In other news, here are the regular season awards handed out at last night's final regualar season home game.

Ze Playoff Post

So the Sharks have two games against the Kings this week. Expect some veterans (JR, Rivet) and our big guns (Big Joe, Nabby, Campbell, Patty) to be getting some rest in these two. This makes sense in many ways.

a) The Loss Angeles Kings are really bad this year.
b) In terms of playoff positioning, these games mean absolutely nothing. The Sharks have clinched the two seed, as well as home-ice in the playoffs over the rest of the NHL (excluding the Red Wings, who have had a death-lock on the President's Trophy before we rang in the New Year on January 1st).
c) The playoffs are a long, tough battle, so having these guys rested makes a lot of sense.
d) It gives our "depth" players opportunities to get more ice-time. This helps establish momentum for them, as well as making our team top-to-bottom that much stronger.

In lieu of the rest of this week consisting of the Queens Kings, I've decided to take a look at other squads in the West that the Sharks may play in the first round. It's not that I am looking past the Kings games as semi-important. They've played the Sharks pretty well this year, and every game is important when gearing up for the playoffs. It's just that my time is limited, and needs to be distributed according to things that truly concern the Sharks.


Here's what the playoff race looks like as of April 1, 2008 (will be updated as games are completed).

5) Dallas Stars: 93 points with 3 games left.
6) Colorado Avalanche: 93 points with 1 game left.
7) Calgary Flames: 92 points with 2 games left.
8) Nashville Predators: 89 points with 2 games left.
9) Vancouver Canucks: 88 points with 2 games left.
10) Edmonton Oilers: 86 points with 2 games left.
11) Chicago Blackhawks: 86 points with 2 games left.

Consider the Hawks done. Edmonton has an outside shot of sliding in is done. Dallas looks like it will take the 5 seed and play Anaheim. This leaves us with the following options.

Vancouver Canucks

The Sedin brothers really creep me out to be honest- twins on the same team on the same line with the same contract length and pay. They look like they still live with their mother and share a room, possibly even the same bed where they cuddle when the bitter cold Vancouver winter sets in. Do they feed each other too? "Here comes the airplaneeee Henrik! Yummy huh? Mmmm split pea puree will make your bones strong. And your muscles big. Like your biceps. And your legs. And your tightly chiseled abs......"

Roberto Luongo is insane, and could potentially take over a series. Goaltending has to be solid in the playoffs, or your team isn't doing jack. He has a lot going on in his personal life though, which could affect his focus come playoff time. Their Captain Brendan Morrison is also out for the year. Imagine losing Patty five games before the playoffs. Sharks in five.

Colorado Avalanche

Paul Stastny has a nose for the net. It's also been rumored that he owns the universe.

Coincidentally, his nose actually looks like that of a pig. Am I the only one who sees this? Apparently not. Here's an excerpt of a conversation I had with bleedinteal12 during the 'Nucks Avs game on April 1st.

Mr. Plank: avs on the PP, down 2-0. big one right here midway through the second.
bleedinteal12: yup
Mr. Plank: wow. i can see stastny's nose from here. i'm not even on my hd
bleedinteal12: i can see stastny's nose through the radio
Mr. Plank: lol
bleedinteal12: can hear it
bleedinteal12: snortin

Good times.

After the Avalanche picked up Peter Forsberg, it seemed as if they would turn into a force to be reckoned with. That really hasn't been the case. Forsberg has been limited with injuries, and although his production has been pretty good (9 assists in 7 games) the injury factor makes him a possible every-other-night type of player in the playoffs. Joe Sakic is solid (he's always pretty solid), but once again has been injured this year. This is the type of team that if healthy and hot could do some damage. Scott Hannan is a big jerk. But that's neither here nor there. Sharks in six.

Calgary Flames

Out of these teams, Calgary scares me the most. Jarome Iginla is downright money in the postseason, and has the heart to lead this team to victory. Physically, they are tough as nails. A hard-hitting team in the mold of Anaheim, built for a long playoff run. I could do without playing them in the first round, it would be a long, physical series that will wear down the Sharks. If Kipper's on, he's a top five netminder.

Gritty team that hasn't been playing up to it's potential as of late, but could catch flames (look at that word play, freaking brilliance) in the postseason. Sharks in seven.

Nashville Predators

No. Just no. I'm sick of playing the Preds in the first round. I don't want to do this three years in a row. This team is chock full of grinders, assholes, and overachievers. Good for them if they make the playoffs. Sharks in three four.


If you're at The Tank tomorrow, enjoy Fan Appreciation night. If you're at Staples on Thursday, enjoy empty seats and a subpar home crowd. And no matter where you are this week, remember next week is the playoffs. Let's go win a flipping Cup.