Attention Ladies and Gentlemen

There's probably not this big of a turnout, but whatever

Ahem.

Ladies and gentlemen of We Bleed Teal. There comes a time in a man's life when he must make decisions. Decisions that alter the scope of the blogosphere forever. Our children is learning, and I is learning as well. So listen up friends. I know you never listen to me, but this time I mean it. DON'T MAKE ME TURN THIS GODFORSAKEN CAR AROUND.

As of 10:35 tonight I will be leaving We Bleed Teal (dot blogspot dot com backslash probably the only passion I have in my sad little life) to pursue new endeavors. If you're cringing right now (hey ma thanks for readin'!), don't be. It's nothing your browser's bookmark toolbar can't handle. Work those phalanges kids!

Fear The Fin is the new home of your humble writer.

In lieu of all of this, I've decided to offer an explanation for the change of scenery, and how this all came about:

* Scouring the interwebs on a Monday night, I bumped into this post by James Mirtle. The significance was not lost on me- Mr. Mirtle is the premier NHL blogger in the land, and the opportunity to work with him was one I had a hard time passing up. So I shot him an email.

I hate it when my mom takes pictures of me like this

* Following that email, I received two in my inbox- one from Diecast Dude (who currently runs Fear The Fin) and another from Mr. Mirtle. Both were very kind, and explained that an opportunity could arise in the near future.

* A short time after that, I got the green light- a tryout persay. If you haven't noticed, I've been double posting gameday threads on both sites. This was in the midst of the "tryout" period. Training camp is probably a more applicable term.

* Tonight I received an email from James that I would be brought on board full-time at Fear The Fin. This is where we stand now.

Before I delve too much into the particulars of the new digs (as well as the future of We Bleed Teal), let me say this. Thank you. In all sincerity, thank you so much. Without readers, this site would be absolutely nothing but a bunch of moronic posts about the San Jose Sharks floating in the vast space of Al Gore. Thank you for being here through thick and thin, through last year's second round loss, through Ron Wilson's firing, and our one hundredth post.

You're the reason I haven't given up on writing about the San Jose Sharks.

Now onto Fear The Fin. The new site url, and how to sign up follows:

URL: www.fearthefin.com

How To Sign Up
1) Go to the aforementioned website.
2) Click "Sign Up" (found in the left hand corner).
3) Lie about your age and/or name.
4) Comment away
5) Take a vacation because that probably took a lot out of you.

Although We Bleed Teal has it perks, there are some things I enjoy about the software on SBN. First off, the game threads are very user friendly. The comments are all in real-time, so you don't need to refresh your page to see them. Secondly, you can add pictures into your posts. Shit makes for good laughs, yo. Thirdly, the ability to quote people in articles is extremely beneficial- it makes the "back and forth" style of current linkage unnecessary, and offers me a better opportunity to service you*.

*Awkwarddddd

Finally (and most importantly), you, oh dear reader, can write articles called "Fan Posts" on the site. This allows you (if you don't have a blog) to get your voice heard, as well as have an opportunity to get published on the front page. I'm currently tag-teaming managerial duties with Jerry, so if the article is well thought out, informative, and speled kurrectly, let it be known I will put it on the front page.

Going along with that idea, I currently have brought on another writer whose nomiker is "That'll Cheech You". With a name like that, it's hard not to like him. He's put together some great "Sharktistical Analysis" pieces where he goes Earl Sleek on your brain. Stat charts and the like. Numbers make my brain hurt (hell, thinking makes my brain hurt) so I'm scared to read them- fill me in if they're noteworthy.

As for We Bleed Teal, it's not completely shutting down. I have some obligations I need to fulfill, so will be making the rounds on here sporadically, probably in the form of the On The Hot Seat sessions that got all sorts of publicity:

"yer a fucking idiot.............go watch yer cartoons" - Anonymous

I'll be sure to link those on Fear The Fin whenever they are posted, anonymous haters be damned.

Special Thanks To the Battle of California, Earl Sleek, James Mirtle, Eric McErlain, The Pensblog, Barry Melrose Rocks, Cycle Like The Sedins, Couch Tarts, Sharkspage, Puck Daddy, Hockey Primetime, and every reader who commented, thought about commenting, read while commenting, commented while reading something else, or just plain read.

I guess this is goodbye dear friends. I'm sure we'll be saying hello once again in about two minutes over at Fear The Fin.


GO SHARKS.

Sharks Gameday: Howlin' At The Moon

San Jose (13-2-0) @ Phoenix (6-6-0)

Radio Only Game: Available on sjsharks.com

These back to backs cause hell with the social life I pretend to have. As you are probably aware, whenever I don't have a whole lot to say I throw up a reference to some arbitrary song selection that may or may not apply to the current upcoming game. After clicking "publish", I hope you, oh esteemed reader, will look past the glaring faults in the specific post and just enjoy the darn game.

There's been a lot to enjoy lately.

With the usual pessimism concerning the San Jose Sharks (where is the speed through the neutral zone! Where are the bodies in front of the net! Why aren't we shooting from the point!) basically a moot point right now, there isn't too much to touch upon. Last night's win against Dallas was fulfilling in a sick, twisted way. Besides seeing Chris Hansen bust some creep on national television, there's nothing I can think of that makes me grin from ear to ear more than watching Patrick Marleau capitalize on a Marty Turco error; throw in the fact that it occurred in the last 30 seconds of regulation, and you have a happy human. Well, make that roughly 17,496 happy humans. Plus all of you watching on television. Whatever- it makes for some happy times. Times so good that last night I considered the ill-advised idea of karate chopping Bas Rutten (seriously, click that link) in the neck due to the sheer joy of the situation. Fortunately for my family's upcoming Thanksgiving picture, I just sort of did an Elaine Benes esque dance in my bedroom. With the lights off. And the door locked. Lemme tell ya, it could have gotten ugly.

Oh, and here's that song selection I was rambling about earlier. See how I tie everything together?

Prediction: Sharks win 3-0. Goals by Clowe, Roenick (!!!), and Brian "Waterboy" Boucher. Nothing like an empty netter, yo.

[Editor's Note]: If anyone knows a place to stream the Phoenix feed online, let us know in the comments. The usual suspects (Channelsurfing.net) are no dice. Fortunately, I'm blessed with Center Ice and will be getting the feed live (read: nanny-nanny-poo-poo). If not, the aforementioned sjsharks.com link will get you Dan Rusanowsky and Jamie Baker. Two of the best in the biz.

Sharks Gameday: Starry-Eyed Surprise

Courtesy of Sharkspage

Fresh off a 5-2 drubbing of the Anaheim Ducks, Dallas rolls into the Tank tonight for the first time since last postseason's second round. I doubt any of you need a refresher course on the outcome of that series. I'll postpone the inevitable arthritis in my fingers, and spare us all the heartbreak.

Oh, and for those of you at the game, make sure to keep the anthem tradition alive.

Marty Turco has been God-awful this year; a trend that doesn't seem like it will have the legs to last, considering his performance throughout the duration of his career. But in giving up more than three goals in all but two games up until tonight, Turco has felt the metaphorical noose getting progressively tighter. In fact, Marty questioned his teammates confidence in him a week ago.

"From my perspective, it just seems like all of the time I've got guys trying to be goalies, going after pucks,'' Turco said after allowing five goals on 24 shots to the Boston Bruins. "We need guys to take men and give us the lanes to see. It's getting old, and it's disheartening. I don't know if it's pressing and the need to feel they need to do everything out there. It just doesn't work, it's a team game and we need to play like a team."

- The Dallas News

Yikes. Turco isn't the only one raising a stink either- Mike Modano had some choice words for unnamed players (read: Steve Ott and Sean Avery) after their 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins:

"Tonight, it was idiotic and stupid," Stars center Mike Modano said when asked what the team identity was. "It was one of the most embarrassing things I've seen. If that's what we're going for, then they need to find me an office job."

"It was dumb penalties, dumb situations, that's kind of been the trend all season," Modano said. "There's no mental toughness. We're allowing the refs to get involved in the game with and spending more energy on them than the details of winning the game."

But with all the turmoil in the Stars locker room, it's hard to imagine their lackluster ways will continue. Sergei Zubov (aka the Marlboro Man) came back from injury last night, and will provide a solid veteran presence to a team desperate for a good West Coast road trip. They made a case for their turnaround last night.

As for the Sharks? Nothing we really haven't seen or talked about during the first month of the season. The boys are playing well- really, really well. Earlier today James Mirtle took a look at the shot and goal differential of all 30 NHL teams. San Jose was tops in both categories. Standard fare thus far.

Jonathan Cheechoo is out tonight and will be replaced by Marcel Goc on the Pavelski/Michalek line. With Nabokov nursing his lower body injury Brian Boucher will be manning the pipes, and Brad Staubitz will be skating on our checking line with Jody Shelley.

Prediction: Sharks win 3-2. Goals by Roenick (!!!), Pavelski, and Goc. Homeland Security shuts down the game after the "Star-Spangled Banner" citing National Security issues, and Sean Avery somehow gets arrested in this process. He is shipped off to Guantanamo Bay, causing a severe shortage in the income received by doll manufacturers.


Go Sharks.

H/T to Puck Daddy for the quotes from the Dallas News.

"Clowe"verfield Protects The House, Nabs Injured.

Well Sharks stay unbeaten at home against the Blues although it was one sloppy game and comes with a cost. 

I'll go bad news first. After Nabby made that last save in the shootout he definitely wasn't celebrating. He was face down on the ice and looked like he tweaked his knee somehow when he made that left pad save. It's too soon to know the extent of the injury, but it didn't look good as he left the ice putting no pressure whatsoever on his left leg *cringe*. 

On to the good news. It was nice to see the Sharks battle and comeback from a 2 goal deficit and two 1 goal ones. You can see how tough it is in the past couple games when our breakout isn't working. Everything in this new system comes from that break out and when that break out breaks down, the Sharks cant seem to generate speed else where to enter the zone. Hopefully we can find a way to work around teams who are going to try and play the trap against us. 

A couple other things I noticed was how the flow of this game seemed to get disrupted all game long by the numerous penalties called on both teams and the puck bouncing nonstop didn't help either. It was definitely frustrating to watch til the end when Clowey took over. 

Image from sjsharks.com

The CSNBA feed showed him incredibly ticked off and bleeding after he was hit from behind (btw he needs to tighten his chin strap because his helmet fell off so many times. In fact during the play he got cut in the face, he didn't even have his chin strap on...) and a couple shifts after we saw the beginning of what would be a great night for Clowe. 

Great comeback as Sharks now hold the best record in the NHL. That feels really good to say.

Anyways, just a short recap to help out Mr. Plank. Next game is Saturday Nov 8th vs. Stars.

GO SHARKS!

-Alfred

Sharks Gameday: Kind of Blue

St. Louis (5-6-0) @ San Jose (11-2-0)



The St. Louis Blue come into The Tank tonight (wait for it, wait for it) singing the blues. At one point during this young season the Blues were the league leaders in goals scored, but alas, the tides have turned. St. Louis has bumbled their way to a 1-5 record in their last six games. In that time they have been outscored 20-12, the latest of which came last night at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks. Whenever Ryan Getzlaf pots a goal 190 feet away into an empty net you know you're in trouble. I guess you could make the case they are (wait again for it, wait again for it) kind of blue.

Ah, nothing like a Miles Davis reference to get the night started. "But Mr. Plank, it seems so contrived and obvious for you to do such a thing. Don't you have anything else to bring to the table? You're washed up."

Maybe so. But one thing that hasn't washed up on shore yet is the San Jose Sharks (see how I change the subject so effortlessly? Hell I could run for public office). Compiling a league-leading 22 points through thirteen games, San Jose has displayed the sort of tenacity usually reserved for the ocean-dwelling creatures that inspired the team name.

It's safe to say Todd McLellan knows how to treat a city right on the first date.

Prediction: Sharks win 4-2. Goals by Pavelski, Thornton, Vlasic, and Blake. I listen to Miles Davis all night while drinking red wine, trying in vain to be a symbol of witticism.

For All of Those Watching CNN Last Night

Kyle McLaren Update

Adorable Link found here.

Sharks Gameday: Election Special

Minnesota Wild (7-2-1) @ San Jose (10-2-0)

Courtesy of Puck Politics

Considering today is election day in the United States of America, here's a few fun facts about the two states involved, as well as some general articles that I found interesting:

* What is the only state to vote Democrat in the Presidential election since 1976? You guessed it- Cali...er, Minnesota. Wait, Minnesota? You betcha. Minnesota was the only state in the entire frickin' Union not to vote for Reagan in 1984.

* Both states have had actors as Governors- Jesse Ventura (MN) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA).

* Slate takes a look at the greatest fictional presidential candidates. They are obviously missing a huge one.

* In 1992 Bill Clinton only won 43% of the popular vote, yet still won the majority (George H.W. Bush had 37%, Ross Perot 19%).

* Al Gore was the first Presidential Candidate since Grover Cleveland in 1888 to win the majority and not become elected President.

* Only 55.5% of the voting age population voted in the 2004 election- the highest percentage since 1968.

* Dixville Notch is the first town in the US to vote- the polls open at midnight every election day.

* Most polls close at 8 PM in our humble state, so if you plan on voting, do it before faceoff. Me? I'm writing in Jamie Baker with Mike Ricci as VP.

Alright. Game time.

I haven't seen too much of the Wild this season, but a quick glance at the standings board and a read-through of some assorted blogs (The Wilderness in particular) shows that they are a pretty solid team. They have this player named Cal Clutterbuck- if I'm the Wild's play by play guy, and Cal has a great shift, it would be damn hard not to exclaim, "Clutterbuck is causing a clusterfuck in the offensive zone!" Or something of that sort.

San Jose, San Jose. What can I say? The team is firing on all cylinders right now, and what impresses me most is the consistency we've shown. There hasn't been a game where you could make a case for us deserving not to win. Granted both Philly games were horrendous defensively, but other than that we've played well, or at least well enough to win. The shutout in Anaheim was due in a large part to Giggy's phenomenal play, and the loss to Florida also saw some solid netminding from Tomas Vokoun (who made 47 saves).

Also, take a look at our scoring depth. 11 players have totaled at least 6 points through 12 games (the point total may seem arbitrary, but I used it figuring a .5 P/GM clip was a solid indicator of point production). This is phenomenal. The system is working.

Defensively the Sharks have improved as well, which seemed to be (just grasping at straws here) part of McLellan's plan- improve on what was lacking last year (goals, speed through the neutral zone, bodies in front of the net, defensemen pinching and taking chances) and then focus on our back end.

One thing to look for- we give up a lot of two on two opportunities, yet are always are able to shut them down. Vlasic is slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite players to watch- probably our best shutdown defensemen. He's not physical (3 hits thus far, which is almost appalling for a d-man, yet alone a guy who leads the team in ice time), but possesses a masterful ability to drive forwards wide and poke-check the puck away.

Let's keep it going.

Prediction: Sharks win 3-1. Goals by Clowe, Lukowich, and Cheech. Torrey Mitchell gets some tips from Kurtis Foster after the game on leg rehab.


Go Sharks.