San Jose Sharks: 5 Moves Todd McLellan Needs To Make

We shouldn't be surprised by a little inconsistency on the part of the San Jose Sharks. It seems every year this team starts off slow, then suddenly runs away with the Pacific Division.

In fact, we can almost call this business as usual for this time of year, and it seems coach Todd McLellan is thinking the same thing. Recently, he has been wayward with some of his line-up changes, with some hitting and some really missing, which has been the result as of late.

That is what type of coach McLellan is, though. He likes to experiment and experiment until he finds something that works without thought and he suddenly becomes a genius. It is what makes him one of the better coaches in the NHL.

But there are still moves that either have or have not been made this season, and he seems to be missing the calling when it comes to either keeping the moves intact or totally switching gears.

Here are some moves that need to be made in the near future for the San Jose Sharks.

Torrey Mitchell and Jamie McGinn Together on the Third Line

With McLellan entertaining the idea of splitting up Marleau and Havlat over the first three lines on offense, it is clear that Mitchell is a top candidate for a spot on Joe Thornton's top line.

Mitchell has been there once, an it seemed to fizzle after a week or so.

However, Mitchell and McGinn make up one of the more hard-working pairs on the Sharks, which is why they need to be set on either side of the veteran Handzus, who can hold steady at center.

Mitchell did hint in an interview the other day that he may be getting tired of moving around the amongst the top lines, so it may be best to position him on one line and just keep him there.

Patrick Marleau and Martin Havlat's Continued Separation

One thing that McLellan has stayed constant on is the separation of Maleau and Havlat. It is rare that we see them both out on the ice together this season.

McLellan is correct on this one, and he need to continue it, but it is Havlat's appearance on the third line that is simply not appropriate. I understand the dispersion of speed on this team, but Havlat is a top-tier player in the NHL, and he deserves a better job description.

Thomas Greiss, Not Antero Niittymaki

With Niittymaki slowly coming back from injury, and Greiss continuing to play well in net when called upon, let the conflict begin.

How can you argue with putting Greiss ahead of Niittymaki on the depth chart?

Greiss has been more than superb when in net as Niemi's back-up, and he deserved the No. 2 goalie spot.

We know what we are getting out of Greiss. We do not know what we are getting out of Niittymaki when he comes back from injury.

Jim Vandermeer Somewhere on the Defense

Colin White has been away from the team for a few games now, but it is the penalty kill and defense in general that has improved without him.

One of the reasons is Jim Vandermeer's hard work on the third line with Jason Demers. The two have seemed to click, and we can expect a gritty player like Vandermeer to continue good play in order to earn a spot on the defense for the Sharks.

That is not to say Colin White should be left out. White is far too good a player to be forgotten off a roster. Plus, San Jose could use his big, bulky body on defense.

However, Vandermeer deserves more ice time, and i think McLellan and others understand that and will reward him for an excellent job in place of White.

Get Ryane Clowe, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski Back Together

With the recent offensive shortage, it is obvious that some changes need to be made. That is especially true on the first three lines, which recently have been a series of blind shots in the air, as far as line-ups go.

What worked in the playoffs last season, as well as in the past, is a line of Clowe, Couture and Pavelski, who have seemed to find chemistry with one another even in offensive droughts that this team seems to have every once in awhile.

Havlat seemed to work, as well, with both Clowe and Couture. but it was a change in that line that has backfired on McLellan and led this team into an offensive recession.

Go with what works, and chemistry is certainly a strong suit of the Sharks.

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The Good and the Bad of the San Francisco 49ers' Loss to the Baltimore Ravens

It is not often we can find good things about a loss at the hands of a playoff-bound AFC foe on one of the greatest stages the NFL has to offer. But the San Francisco 49ers managed to escape Baltimore on Thanksgiving Day with at least a little of their dignity and a secure spot as one of the remaining elite in the NFL.

The 49ers lost 16-6 to the Ravens behind a terrible defensive line and offensive line effort that saw the Baltimore defense put relentless pressure on poor Alex Smith. He would be sacked nine times on the most thankful of days.

What did Smith have to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day?

The fact he left Baltimore with his limbs, as Terrell Suggs almost took them with him.

Besides all that, the 49ers managed to show some good play despite all the bad that appeared on the surface.

The Good

Limited Turnovers

Alex Smith only had one interception on the day, which was a pass in the endzone to Braylon Edwards in a panicked moment with time ticking down in the second quarter before the half. The 49ers could have definitely used those points.

But for how much Smith was bombarded time and time again by the Ravens' defense, it is a wonder he did not fumble the ball or even throw a couple more interceptions.

Smith takes care of the ball and that was evident with just one turnover on Thanksgiving Day

The Secondary

We can talk about how the defensive line was close to invisible in the eyes of Joe Flacco on Thanksgiving Day, but the secondary really helped them look a little better.

Flacco is a better version of a game manager, which he showed the 49ers time after time and resulting in zero turnovers in the game.

However, the Ravens' wide receivers are talented. Carlos Rogers was able to keep Anquan Boldin in check, for the most part, and the there was rarely a ball over the top of the 49ers' defensive secondary.

Baltimore does not put up many points, but it was nice to see the San Francisco secondary growing up in a big game.

The Bad

The Offensive Line and Defensive Line

We might as well group these two together to save some time because it is a no-brainer on ths one. There was zero pressure on Flacco from the defensive frontline, and next to zero protection from the offensive line.

Oh, to be a fly in the wall after the game when Harbaugh wished both lines a Happy Thanksgiving.

Credit to the Baltimore defensive minds who strategized that bombardment of flurries from the likes of Suggs & Co. Their offensive line was not bad either, holding one of the better defensive front lines to next to zero damage.

Frank Gore

With no offensive line comes no Frank Gore, and that was never more evident than on Thursday i Baltimore.

Gore was supposed to be the running back rushing for over 100 yards. Who expecte him to run for a long of nine yards on the day?

Not many.

It seemed like Kendall Hunter was more of a force at times in the backfield, which is why the entire offense needs to take a breather, forget Thanksgiving Day and re-group for Sunday against the Rams.

Jim Harbaugh

Where was the game-plan we all could not wait to see in primetime on Thanksgiving Day?

If this was an offensive genius at work on Thursday, I am still waiting.

There simply was no game-plan from what it looked like. The game-plan relied on the offensive line making plays and Gore running for many yards. When that did not happen, it was scrambling time.

Wasn't that the point, though?

Counter to the Ravens' game-changes. However, Harbaugh & Co. did not have that and were not prepared. So we start from square one again and pray for a better showing in the playoffs when the 49ers meet their next notable opponent.

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San Jose Sharks' Penalty Kill Growing As A Unit

It is funny how the NHL works. From week to week, it seems that you can never tell which part of the team will either break down or become clutch in the right moments.

For the Sharks, a penalty kill that was the weakest part of their game just two weeks ago seems to be a key force on the ice in the last week.

San Jose still ranks near the bottom of the NHL in terms of penalty kill percentage, but it was their streak of eight-straight penalty kills recently that has some wondering if this defense could be as good as advertised.

The players have even said with more time on the ice comes more opportunity to mesh as a team, focusing solely on the penalty kill, which has been the team's biggest weakness to date.

With Henrik Sedin's power play goal on Saturday night against the Sharks' penalty kill, San Jose's streak was halted at eight opposing attempts.

However, this is a good sign for the Sharks, who will take anything these days when it comes to defending the zone while down a man. Maybe the biggest difference for San Jose on the penalty kill was the addition of Jim Vandermeer and the subtraction of Colin White.

Vandermeer, who has played in just seven games for the Sharks this season, is a major defenseman when it comes to blocks and grinding defense in tough spots on the ice. He has consistently been the seventh defenseman on the San Jose depth chart this season, and is attempting to provide that gritty performance game-to-game that the San Jose defense has seemed to lack this season.

Of course, we can attribute great defensive play when down a man to the fact that Antti Niemi is as solid as any goalie in the game right now.

After shutting out the Blackhawks last Wednesday, Niemi stopped 24 of the Canucks' 27 shots on Saturday night. He has only let up more than two goals once in the last five games.

Demers and Vandermeer have clearly been the best third line pairing the defense has to offer in recent games. After seeing Demers and Justin Braun share time with the bulky Colin White, the introduction of Vandermeer on the line has seemed to be that gritty final piece that the Sharks needed. Or maybe it is the subtraction of White that has made the difference.

White is that large man in the middle that every team could use, but it seems like the Sharks have reaped zero rewards from such a force in the middle. GM Doug Wilson was absolutely clutch when he acquired the massiv veteran, but it has not seemed to pay off of the team.

With White coming through on the penalty kill comes the Sharks efficiency heading upward. Until then, San Jose will have the veteran Vandermeer working hard for time on the ice and on the penalty kill.

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San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens Preview & Prediction

Throw out the first 10 games. Throw out the tests that were the Eagles, Lions and Giants. Even throw out the 9-1 record because the San Francisco 49ers were never going to get the full respect until their Week 12 match-up with the Baltimore Ravens. It will be the team's biggest test and measuring bar on Thanksgiving day on one of the biggest regular season stages of the entire year.

The 49ers/Ravens match-up is an equal test for both teams, but more so for San Francisco because of the fact that many still believe this team is unproven. Their final few games that include playing the Ravens and Steelers should resolve that.

How will the 49ers fair on a national stage? How will Alex Smith "manage" the relentless Baltimore defense?

From the looks of it now, Smith and the 49ers will probably handle it extremely well, that is if Jim Harbaugh is on the sidelines, and reports are he will be.

The Ravens defense has drawn a lot of comparisons to the Detroit Lions, and the 49ers had no problem moving the ball then.

Maybe one of the best reasons to bet the 49ers on Thursday is the fact that Ray Lewis is not playing. He is the defensive genius behind switching up coverages and making it an overall hassle for opposing quarterbacks. Smith will be glad to not see him while under center.

The Ravens will supply several ideas and schemes against the 49ers on Thursday, but it still comes down to the fact that this team is run on its rushing attack, smash-mouth defense and the occasional offensive breakout game.

It is almost identical to San Francisco.

With that said, Smith will have to handle being blitzed on a regular basis, which is something he was used to against the Lions.

The name of the game on Thanksgiving is about the same as it was against Detroit: short, quick passes and not turning the ball over.

Frank Gore and Ray Rice are powerful backs with potential to break into the secondary, but i doubt we will see much of that on Thursday, what with the 49ers and Ravens boasting top-5 defenses against the run. We can expect around 80-100 yards rushing for each of them.

In the end, the running back that can overcome that relentless opposing defense may see his team win this game. Throw in the aspect of Smith and Flacco simply managing games better than the other, and we could see a very competitive and close game in Baltimore on Thursday.

X-Factor

With both quarterbacks capable of cooperating on offense and not turning the ball over, the game could come down to the defense in the trenches and how the opposing running backs overcome that.

Points will be put up by the running backs, and whatever points the quarterbacks put up is just gravy for their team.

Whatever running back is able to break the opposing defense could see his team's chances of winning this game get really high.

Prediction

Smith showed against the Lions that he can handle blitzes and aggressive defensive teams, which is what the Ravens will hope to do on Thursday.

He should see a slew of quick slants and passes out of the backfield from Harbaugh's play-calling against Baltimore, as should be expected.

If Smith and Harbaugh do not get too crazy downfield, we should see San Francisco escape Baltimore and the Harbowl with a win on Thanksgiving day.

49ers win 24-20

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San Francisco 49ers: Things to Pay Attention to Against Baltimore Ravens

The 49ers domination of division foe Arizona resulted in some good things discovered and some really bad things that should set up an intriguing match-up on Thanksgiving Day against the Baltimore Ravens.

The entirety of the 49ers' victory over the Cardinals brings up some questions about the team, one of them being "Are the 49ers ready for the Ravens?"

Of course, they are ready. A 9-1 team in the NFL is ready for just about anything at this point, and a defense that sick can handle any offense thrown at them.

But it was the overthrown balls, blocked field goals and ejection that have some wondering about the 49ers' status for Thursday's Harbaugh Bowl.

Here are four things that need close attention in Baltimore on Thanksgiving Day.

Dashon Goldson Possible Suspension

It is unclear as to whether or not Goldson will be receiving a game suspension for his altercation with Cardinals wide receiver Early Doucet. Goldson did throw three hefty punches at the antagonizing Doucet, and that would appear to draw some sort of fine or suspension from the NFL.

Madieu Williams should replace Goldson if a suspension is carried out, which many expect to happen given the ferocity in which he went after Doucet. Williams has received limited playing time since being acquired by the 49ers this past offseason, playing in nine games while starting just three of them.

He is a downgrade from Goldson's hard-hitting prowess, but Williams can still hold his own on an NFL field.

Special Teams

Special teams has been one of the strongest assets for the 49ers this season. David Akers has been one of the better offseason acquisitions for GM Trent Baalke, as Akers has missed just five field goals all season, but just ended a streak of 15 straight made. He also is one of the best kickers in the NFL in terms of touchbacks on kickoffs. Because of that, the 49ers have been able to play the field position battle with several of their opponents this season.

It was the two blocked field goals on Sunday that can be a cause for concern against a rampid Baltimore defense. Even a punt that was almost blocked by the Cardinals off the foot of Andy Lee is a bit of something off the beaten path for this team. Tack that up to a soggy field at Candlestick Park on Sunday, if you will, but it is enough to put something in the back of the minds of both Akers and the protection on both field goals and punts.

The 49ers rely so heavily on getting good field position on offense and dishing out terrible field position for their opponents that this could be a major factor in Baltimore on Thursday night.

Alex Smith

Smith's so-so day in the pocket could be something the Ravens could target on Thursday. It is doubtful Harbaugh chooses to have Smith throw the ball over 40 times, but more surprising things have happened this season.

We can also tack Smith's erratic arm up to the soggy field on Sunday, but Smith had a hard time finding Davis and Crabtree over the top of the secondary several times. He is still learning, as we have witnessed, but there are teams that will take advantage of that and one of them is the Ravens. They will rush Smith on Thursday and force him to make split-second decisions several times, which is something we only saw Smith deal with once this season against the Detroit Lions.

In response to that, Harbaugh had Smith throw short slants and dump routes almost the entire game. We should see that from Smith on Thursday, as well.

Frank Gore' Injured Knee

Should they start him or not?

That was the debate before Sunday, and i cannot say the 49ers made the right decision there. Yes, they took him out with a few minutes to go in the game, but his 88 yards on 24 carries against the 21st-ranked run defense was something we are not used to seeing this season.

Even more, Gore will have a short week to heal from a game that maybe he should not have played in anyway. Kendall Hunter's 2.5 yards per carry on Sunday was not much better, but it could have been a small price to pay for a healthy Gore on Thanksgiving Day had the team rested their All-Pro running back.

We will see how things play out on Thursday, and i expect Gore to grab a little extra for a primetime game on Thanksgiving night, but all fingers will point back towards starting him against the Arizona Cardinals if things go awry on Thursday.

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San Jose Sharks Not Shy in Big Games This Season

It is hard to call any games "big" this early in the 2011-12 NHL season, but for the sake of the argument the San Jose Sharks have had a few, and won nearly all of them.

What defines a big game?

That is up to opinion, of course, but i think we can all agree on a few standout games that we had circled on our calendars during the offseason.

Games like the L.A. Kings returning to where they were scorned last season in the playoffs can be considered big, and even playing the defending Stanley Cup champs is a game that players get up for.

But this is a different team on the ice than in recent years. It was interesting to see how that would translate in larger games this season, and it seems that this franchise has not missed a beat with their acquired talent.

Through the first month of the NHL season, we saw the Sharks get tested twice, in both the Bruins game and Red Wings game. The result was the same; 4-2 victories that made statements as to how this team was to fair this season.

So far, in this second month of the NHL season, San Jose has been tested with several big games, including the Penguins, Kings, Wild and Red Wings. All resulted in wins, and rather impressive wins at that.

Why the big deal about these big games?

With the way this Sharks franchise has faired in the playoffs, it is hard not try to peer into the future. The playoffs are all about big games, and paying well in them. The Sharks have done that so far this season.

Another impressive characteristic of this team in big games this season: They look so comfortable doing it.

Eighteen games into the 2011-12 NHL season, it has occurred to the masses that this team is so much more ready to take on top-tier talent in the playoffs than in previous seasons. The change in artilary during the offseason is the main reason for this.

Physical players and speed to boot.

In those big games this season against teams that wake up in the playoffs, the Sharks are faster. And if they are not faster, they are more physical, which is why San Jose is primed for a deep run in the upcoming playoffs.

I do not mean to think playoffs 18 games in, but it is hard not to acknowledge the fact that this team has changed since last season, and we are seeing them come together and grow, while benefiting the team with the addition of speed and physicality.

In recent seasons, we saw the Sharks get boat-raced, outmanned and outplayed on the ice in the Western Conference Finals. These days, the Sharks are boat-racing, outmanning and outplaying whatever team happens to be on the ice when they are.

It is not to say that San Jose was not doing this in previous seasons. The Sharks can arguably be called "King of Regular Season" if it was not a knock on their terrible reputation in the playoffs. Winning is what the Sharks do in the regular season. It is the playoffs that have been the hard part.

And yet the Sharks franchise continues to upgrade their roster. This time, it was with speed and large men. Yep, large men (Burns, White, Winchester, etc.). They are the bone-crushing players that make way for the speed and fast play San Jose has used to claim wins so far this season.

In October, the Bruins had a hard time keeping up with the Sharks' fast play and physicality on the boards and in front of the net. Even against the much-hyped Kings, San Jose was able to get pucks to the net with their speed and less with sniped shots from the circles, like in previous seasons.

Much has changed in San Jose, and no one is complaining.

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San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals Preview & Prediction

Have the 49ers done enough to sway you into thinking they are Super Bowl contenders?

You better believe it.

It is hard to argue with a relentless defense, physical running back and a quarterback that can manage a game with the best in the NFL.

And so the Arizona Cardinals dawdle into Candlestick Park with an acquired quarterback that does not work and a team hoping for next season. That will not stop them from playing a gritty game against one of the NFL's elite.

It is a trap game for the 49ers if there ever was one.

The Cardinals are coming off back-to-back wins against the Rams and Eagles, and are most likely looking to make it three, while trying to salvage a dismal season after trading for one of the more coveted quarterbacks of the offseason.

For San Francisco, there is not much to it. A conservative game plan will win this game. In other words, play like you have been playing all year.

Frank Gore is said to be ready to go, but if push comes to shove in the second quarter, we will see a whole lot of Kendall Hunter from then on. That may not be the worst thing either.

Arizona has one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL and it is paired with the 21st-ranked rushing defense. Offense may not be needed much in this game for the 49ers, but it may come willingly anyways.

The game falls on Alex Smith's shoulders in this one, and if he can hold onto the ball while limiting mistakes, then we will see San Francisco cruise to a victory.

X-Factor

The Cardinals willingness to win is the key factor here. After pulling off a win in OT against the Rams and shocking the Eagles, the Cardinals are believing. The 49ers cannot fall into the trap they have set before them.

In addition, Smith cannot turnover the ball, which he has been very good about staying away from this season.

Prediction

The running attack and physical defense are consistent week after week, and we can count on that to continue once again in Week 11 for the 49ers.

Smith will not be urged to force the ball, as he was against the Giants last week, and San Francisco should roll to a big win at Candlestick Park.

49ers win 27-17

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San Jose Sharks: Top Prospects in Their System

The San Jose Sharks have made their mark in the NHL as a Western Conference powerhouse that is inches away from getting over that hurdle and into the Stanley Cup Finals.

While we can attribute that to GM Doug Wilson's relentless mission to make this club better with trades and acquisitions, we can equally attribute the team's success to the constant home-grown talent or players have been drafted into the team's system. Most recently, that has involved Devin Setoguchi, Logan Couture, Ryan Clowe and Torrey Mitchell.

Because of that constant amount of talent coming through this franchise, the Sharks remain a contender year after year.

The prospects they have now are no exception.

Here are the top prospects of the San Jose Sharks.

5. Matt Nieto

The 19-year-old kid from Southern California got the chance to stay close to home when he was drafted by the Sharks in the 2nd round of the 2011 NHL Draft.

San Jose drafted him for several reasons, with the first being that he is flat-out quick on the ice. Compare him to a lesser version of Patrick Marleau, if you want to get crazy.

There is still much to learn for Nieto, who has yet to display good offensive awareness, but is sure to develop that in the Sharks' system in the coming years.

We can expect him to be play on a second or third line for San Jose in two to three years.

4. Tommy Wingels

It is hard to argue with what we saw from Wingels in training camp this past preseason. He was a player that looked like he belonged on the ice with the best the Sharks had to offer, and earned that chance when he was named to the opening night roster.

However, we may have witnessed a more realistic version of the 23-year-old in the first few games of the 2011 NHL season, as he looked out of place many times on the ice in his short time in the NHL.

There is no doubting what Wingels has, but it may just be too raw as of yet.

We can expect Wingels to be a second-line player for the Sharks down the road, and a part of this team next season.

3. Alex Stalock

Stalock is at No. 3 on this list because he plays the position of goalie, and may be the most crucial part of the Sharks organization of any of these players when it is all said and done.

For those who do not know about Stalock, he will soon become a household name in the NHL.

His college career and even minor league stats have been through the roof, which is why so many knowledgeable people are raving about the 24-year-old.

He did have a setback when he had surgery to repair a sliced nerve behind his knee, but he will be back, and the Sharks have not flinched when thinking about who will be the future in net, although Thomas Greiss has proven to be good competition for that spot as well.

We can expect Stalock to battle for the starting spot with Greiss in the near future, or whenever the Sharks decide the two are ready to overtake Antti Niemi.

2. Nick Petrecki

Petrecki is a no-doubter when it comes to playing the NHL and being a stable force.

The 22-year-old is as defensive a defenseman as they come, and the Sharks may not have it any other way.

He is a 6'3" hard-hitter. Petrecki hits like Douglas Murray, positions himself like Colin White and has a shot like Brent Burns. Unfortunately, that shot is not accurate and there is still minor work to be done when thinking about Petrecki as an NHL defenseman.

He will end up being one, though. There is zero doubt about that, and the Sharks will welcome a legitimate defenseman for their future.

We can expect to see Petrecki in San Jose in 1-2 years.

1. Taylor Doherty

Doherty is a 20-year-old, 6'7", 235-pound defenseman.

Have I said enough?

Taylor Doherty resembles a fresh version of Brent Burns, with the use of his big body and booming shot from the point. Doherty just has to learn how to use those assets.

He skates well and has learned how to use his body to his advantage of late, which is why San Jose is so high on the kid.

There is still some more maturing to do if he wants to play at the next level in the near future, but we can expect Doherty to be a key player in the Sharks' future.

Expect the big boy in San Jose in 1-2 years.

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Detroit Red Wings Pose Early Season Test For San Jose Sharks

The rivalry that is Sharks/Red Wings goes back many years, and everyone knows that story well whether you root for one team or the other.

For now, the rivalry has swung the Sharks' way after two seasons of playoff exits for the Red Wings at the hands of the Sharks. Suddenly, San Jose is a playoff powerhouse after so many years of looking up at Detroit. If only they could get over that last hurdle, and there always seems to be one that time of year.

San Jose defeated the Red Wings 4-2 in their first meeting this season at Joe Louis Arena, but that was a Detroit team in the middle of a six-game losing streak and hardly the team we will see on the ice on Thursday.

Early season tests like the one taking place on Thursday night at the HP Pavilion between the Sharks and Red Wings may not mean much for either team in the grand scheme of things, as both teams will surely make their way into the Western Conference playoffs sitting among the top seeds.

And, yet, a game like this means everything.

The Sharks enter Thursday with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games, and Detroit has won four of their last five games. Both teams have around the same records with the Red Wings at 9-6-1 and Sharks at 9-5-1, and both have 19 points. The game should be a measuring stick for both teams, to say the least.

Both teams still have much to work on. The Wings have had some trouble this season with nearly every aspect of their game at some point, but goalie Jimmy Howard has kept this team afloat with one of the best stretches of his career.

For the Sharks, it remains that this team still has to deal with two aspects of their game if they want to contend way, way down the line. Penalty kill and putting puck in the net have been the main issues. The penalty has been up and down all season, and it is up for now. But the putting the puck in the net part has been a key factor in how their team flows on the ice. San Jose can get shots to the net, but getting them in the net is a different story.

However, the Red Wings have not seen this Sharks team. San Jose is now a team built on speed and physical defense, rather than the finesse and gritty team the NHL has grown used to in past seasons. Joe Pavelski is suddenly a star, Martin Havlat is the glue and Brent Burns is the drive that this team needs on a constant basis.

There are two things great about this rivalry: It concludes every season in the playoffs and it is always entertaining.

Not sure you can ask for more in a rivalry, which is why it is must-see-TV every time these two teams take the ice.

Thursday begins a new chapter, though, with the Sharks entertaining a different style of play that they hope will take them to that next step in the playoffs, and the Red Wings growing as a unit while gradually growing into a team for the future.

Sharks vs. Wings does not often disappoint.

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San Francisco 49ers Yet to Prove Themselves to the Monday Morning Quarterback

The San Francisco 49ers (8-1) took yet another step towards the NFL's best when they defeated the New York Giants (6-3) in their biggest test this season.

Even without Frank Gore, the 49ers managed to pull away a win from the Giants who have made their mark this season with late-game scores, and San Francisco was a Justin Smith batted ball away from possibly falling into that same category.

It was the biggest win of the season for the 49ers, who also have wins against the Lions and Eagles to add to their big win against New York on Sunday.

However, many are not convinced this team is legitimate, as was plain to see watching the numerous Monday morning quarterback shows on television.

Why is San Francisco not the overwhelming favorite as the No. 2 team in the NFL?

The Bears have something to do with that after dominating the Lions on Sunday. Even the 49ers' remaining schedule can take some credit. And that may be the problem, or the only thing stopping Harbaugh and the 49ers from being called the game's elite.

Unproven.

So far, San Francisco's signature wins have come against the Eagles, Lions and Giants, but it was the recent developments that have many second guessing just how signature these wins are.

The Bears beat down the Lions after the 49ers just scathed by in Week 6, the Eagles lost to the Cardinals and fell to 3-6 and the Giants were on the road without their starting running back.

It is going to take a lot to have the Monday morning quarterbacks across the country call this team a legit contender. Maybe, just maybe, the rest of the 49ers' schedule will prove that.

But how really proven is this team from San Francisco?

The references three paragraphs up are on the table, and even their narrow victories against the Browns, Bengals and Redskins seem to portray a team just getting by with a serviceable quarterback and gritty defense.

In the end, it will be key match-ups with the AFC's elite that ultimately shows us what kind of a team this really is and what kind of respect they will get Monday morning.

Thanksgiving Day is the first step on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, who will be a playoff team and will attempt to have a field day with their relentless defense. The second and last step comes at home against the Steelers on December 19. A statement game if there ever was one.

Until then, we can expect the Monday morning quarterback to talk all about how this team cannot possibly be the second best team in the NFL, even though their record stands far and above the next best competition. A first-year head coach plays into that analyst's opinion, as does Alex Smith under center

There is zero chance they will give any consideration to a team with Smith at the helm. However, they may miss the key fact that Harbaugh is pulling the strings, Harbaugh is making Smith look good and Harbaugh is in control.

Without that thinking, the 49ers are a surprise team making moves deep into the playoffs. But this team has been here all along. They just didn't get the credit for it.

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San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants Preview & Prediction

A test...finally a test.

Before Week 1, did you think that would be what we were saying in Week 10?

Not sure many did, but the match-up agains the New York Giants on Sunday will be an actual test, and a good one at that.

I seems so long ago that the 49ers played the Lions and squeaked one out at Ford Field in Detroit. Now at 7-1 on the season, this 49ers team is for real and the nation is taking notice.

Realistically, this game against the Giants will be a fight for which team acquires the 1st round bye in the NFC playoffs.

The Giants, at 6-2, are slowly coming into their own, with a dynamic defense and a quarterback that is showing what he really has with his brother on the sidelines.

One thing the 49ers will have going for them is the lack of a New York running back, as Ahmad Bradshaw was ruled out of Week 10's game. Not that San Francisco's No. 1 rushing defense was going to let Bradshaw get anywhere, but he was a test that the 49ers were primed to meet.

The biggest test for the 49ers on Sunday will be containing Eli Manning. There is no stopping him these days, but keeping him at bay with a turnover or two would be a win for the San Francisco secondary.

For the Giants, it will be stopping Frank Gore. New York has the 25th ranked run defense and Gore already tore up the Redskins' No. 21 rushing attack last week on just 19 carries.

X-Factor

As i mentioned before, it will be enough for the 49ers to contain Manning, seeing as the run defense should take care of itself.

However, it is not Tom Coughlin's first rodeo, and i think he will have some trick up his sleeve for Alex Smith this weekend. With that said, Smith will need to limit mistakes against a gritty New York defense, which means that Jim Harbaugh will need some tricks of his own.

Prediction

How do you pick against the 49ers these days?

Well, this is about as close as it gets.

The home field advantage should be apparent in this game, and i give the slight edge to the 49ers in most major categories heading into the NFC showdown in San Francisco.

49ers win 27-24

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San Jose Sharks: Todd McLellan Tinkering With the Defensive Third Line

The San Jose Sharks have clicked as a team, simply said. Martin Havlat has made an impression that second line and the team is continually growing together to gain chemistry with one another as the season is progressing.

Something things are taken care of and have become a staple night after night on the ice, and others not so much.

The top two lines on offense are as good as they come in the NHL these days. However, the penalty kill could use some work, and even the third and fourth offensive lines could be contributing much more.

As much as they creep under the radar, the third line on defense in another part of the Sharks' game that could use some work.

Coach Todd McLellan has appeared unhappy with what he has seen from a defense that was supposed to be ranked with some of the best in the NHL. However, Jason Demers has been a disappointment and Colin White is flying to far under the radar to even be noticed on the ice at times.

McLellan's frustration with the line has caused him to make several changes, most of which happen on a night to night basis now. On any given night, we can see Demers, White, Vandermeer or Braun back-skating against the opposing team. McLellan may not even have a clue which defensive pairing works best on this line, and if he does not know, then what hope is there for the rest of us.

I am going to take my best shot, though.

Here are the third line pairings that give the Sharks the best chance to win.



3. Jason Demers/ Jim Vandermeer

Jason Demers has slowly become a regular for a healthy scratch these days, which goes to show how aggravated with him McLellan is. There were such high hopes with him coming into this season that most cannot help but feel disgust toward someone so set-up to thrive in San Jose.

Demers has played in seven of the team's 13 games thus far, tallying just two assists and a +/- of -6.

Vandermeer has played in just four games so far, but has made a mark on both defense and offense with two assists and a +/- of +3.

Is it time to give Vandermeer a shot?

As long as Demers let's him.

This would be a nice pairing of moderate offense and a good defense, which may just work for a struggling Demers.



2. Justin Braun/ Colin White

We have seen this pairing over the past couple weeks, and it has seemed to work for the most part.

McLellan, at this point, is just trying to find anything and everything that will work on this line, which is why Braun is getting his shot at claiming a starting role on this defense.

Braun has flown under the radar, as well, but he is someone who keeps a flow on the ice with minimal damage to result.

Pairing him with White gives a "tough guy" mentality to this line, as Braun is no slack at 6'2."

Braun supplies the offense and White supplies a force in front of the net, which has panned out quite well for the Sharks so far.



1. Jason Demers/ Colin White

We all know this has not worked so far, as coming into the season this was the starting pair on the third line.

I have documented the struggles of Demers in the previous slide, which is more on him than anyone else playing with him.

White is a player that goes about his business on the ice, and maybe that has not worked well with Demers so far.

But how could this not work?

Demers is the young talent with decent finesse ability on both defense and offense, and White is the bully in the trenches intimidating players.

In McLellan's wildest dreams, this pairing was the lesser version of Dan Boyle and Douglas Murray. However, Demers has not played up to par, and White is still creating chemistry with anyone and everyone that gets penciled in with him on the third line.

As much as Demers has stunk it up, this is the best defensive pairing available on the third line for the Sharks, and McLellan should give it more of a chance to succeed.

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San Francisco Giants: Jonathan Sanchez Dealt For Melky Cabrera

Hot stove this early? Evidently, yes, because the San Francisco Giants traded Jonathan Sanchez to the Royals for Melky Cabrera on Monday.

In fact, Giants GM Brian Sabean may have managed to force a wry smile after hearing that the Royals actually wanted to take Sanchez off their hands.

Sanchez used to joke that he has been traded five or six times now, and I am sure Sabean & Co. may have preferred it that way with all the heartache that went into these last few seasons with the lefty.

Finally, albeit at an unorthodox time, the Royals bit, the Giants jumped and a deal was done.

The Royals acquired pitcher to help their struggling starting rotation, and maybe much more, and the Giants get their .300 average lead-off hitter that can play CF who is realistically heading into the prime of his career.

Can or should anyone be mad at the Giants trading away Sanchez?

Sure. Sabean should have dangled him over the trading block back in 2009 after his no-hitter against the Padres at a time when his stock was at its highest.

Maybe then San Francisco thought too highly of him. Trade proposals were coming in, I am sure, but who knew about their starring rotation back then?

Now with Ryan Vogelsong and pitching coach that can seemingly turn nothing into something, suddenly Sanchez is available. And suddenly the Giants are settling for Melky Cabrera.

Realistically, next to Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, the free agent market was nothing to look at. Especially with the potential to attempt to lock-up Lincecum and Cain, there was less than a chance the Giants would overpay for either of those bats.

In that sense, Cabrera was a decent catch in a weary free agent market. The Giants just had to give up their most attractive available arm.

The truth is that Sanchez was always a tease. He was someone with so much potential, yet had so many mental blocks it was going to be impossible to get him to play up to that potential.

Cabrera, on the other hand, is just about the exact player they wanted, needed and could dream of this offseason. He hits like Freddy Sanchez, plays centerfield (the position the Giants needed) and is available to bat lead-off.

Sabean did all that while managing to not break the bank on the act of going after Carlos Beltran.

How he managed to acquire a player coming off a career year in exchange for a pitcher that will never live up to the hype, I do not know.

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San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Redskins Preview & Predictions

The San Francisco 49ers will make their way to Washington D.C. this week to take on the Redskins looking for their sixth straight win and continue their undefeated season on the road.

Let's lay the facts out here because they should pretty much tell the story for how we can presume this game to end up. The 49ers are looking to extend their record to 7-1, and the Redskins are losers of four of their last five games.

The Redskins choose to focus their attention on their running game, which now consists of just Ryan Torain and Roy Helu. Seeing as Torain had a tough time against the 20th ranked run defense in the NFL in the Buffalo Bills last week, we can expect the 49ers' first ranked rushing defense to have their way with the Washington backfield.

Grossman, Beck or whoever they are throwing out there these days should not play much of a factor with a growing San Francisco secondary either.

That would mean that the game for the 49ers comes down to limiting dumb turnovers. Seeing as Harbaugh pretty much has this team by the throat when it comes to game-plan and overall effort, the 49ers should have zero problem with a reeling Redskins team.


X-Factor

Turnovers is the major factor in this game, particularly with the 49ers because if San Francisco can limit turning over the ball, which has been their strongest suit, the Redskins will have less than a chance at winning this football game.

If Alex Smith can continue his magical stance against turnover, then we should see Harbaugh with a possible smile on his face on the sideline. A rarity.


Prediction

Frank Gore should have another field day on the ground, this time with the 21st ranked rushing defense.

Although i do not expect Smith to throw for many yards this week, given the Redskins veteran defense, i do expect Harbaugh to let him air it out once or twice and really open that playbook up.

49ers roll 31-17

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San Jose Sharks: 5 Players That Need To Step Their Game Up

The San Jose Sharks have officially clicked as a team, after a 5-1 east coast road trip has revived this team's very early season blunders.

The addition of Martin Havlat has stabilized the Sharks' second line, and Joe Pavelski is having a field day with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau on the first line.

However, the team is having some trouble.

The penalty kill is a major part of this team and how it will fair down the stretch, and it has yet to show up.

Here are five players that need to step up their game.

5. Jamie McGinn/Brad Winchester

As minimal a role as these two players play on the bottom lines, it is all that more important that they contribute to the cause. The cause is tallying in the statistical category, and these players have just two points between them.

McGinn is a key part of this team with the way he works incredibly hard when on the ice, but we keep waiting for him to show up in the stats department on a regular basis. We have yet to see that.

Winchester is not a player that will be much of a factor when it comes to scoring, as he has scored over 10 goals only once in his career. However, he has flied virtually under the radar when on the ice, which can be good or bad.

His big body will keep him on this roster, but McLellan may want to see more from him down the road.

4. Brent Burns

It is tough to call out a premiere defenseman like Burns, but the fact is he has been rather sloppy when it comes to handling the puck.

Sure, he makes up for it with his bullet of a shot from the point, but the turnovers have been a key factor for the Sharks and him in particular this season.

3. Colin White

Where is the six-foot, five-inch behemoth of a defenseman that the team was in dire need of?

He is there, just not very noticeable yet.

The third line of White and Demers have been a combined -11 so far this season and that is simply not acceptable when we are talking about one of the best defensive teams in all of hockey.

White is there for physical purposes, but he needs to play more a significant role on this team if the defense is to play up to par.

2. Jason Demers

For a player supposedly on the verge of a breakout season, Demers' +/- of -6 is simply disappointing.

Many thought the physical/finesse duo of Demers and White would pay dividends for this team. It has yet to show even glimpses of dividends, and it is hurting this team.

Demers needs to play to his potential, but working intuitively with White is what needs to happen first.

1. Michal Handzus

As much of a Swiss Army knife that Handzus is, it is all that more imperative that he play all those roles well on the ice.

The penalty kill, which he plays a huge part of, is one of the Sharks' biggest weaknesses.

He heads a group penalty killers with huge potential in this kind of situation, and they have yet to show up.

Handzus, as captain of that penalty kill, needs to receive the blame.

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