NHL: Predicting Where the San Jose Sharks Will Finish in the Western Conference Playoff Picture

For so many years, the question of where the San Jose Sharks were going to finish in the Western Conference was never up for discussion. San Jose is consistently one of the best teams in the NHL, and despite the ups-and-downs the 2011-12 season has carried, this season is no different.

It was the Sharks' penalty kill that first worried all involved about how this team would officially fair this season after making bold trades for Brent Burns and Martin Havlat, while sending Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi to Minnesota.

Minnesota has since made a move for the top spot in the Western Conference before falling back to earth and now currently holding onto the No. 8 position.

The Sharks have yet to get in that groove we have come to expect for several years now. The absence of a good penalty kill has since evolved into a weakness on the power play, an aspect of the Sharks' game that has seen consistent success over the years.

However, this year is different, in some way or another. GM Doug Wilson traded offense for speed and defense in an attempt to prepare this team for a Stanley Cup run. No word on if that will pan out yet, but we can still expect a great finish from an elite team in the Western Conference.

8. Minnesota Wild

The Wild currently sit in the 8th spot in the Western Conference, backed by a solid defensive effort, ranking 8th in goals against per game.

However, this team has yet to impress on offense, despite their notable trades this offseason for Heatley and Setoguchi. The team ranks 29th in the NHL in goals per game with 2.2.

But this team has what it takes to make the crowded Western Conference playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche, who currently sit in the 9th spot just two points behind the Wild, should have a less than mediocre second half of the season.

If Minnesota can hold off a surprising Dallas Stars team, this team should meet the No. 1 seed in the first round.

7. Los Angeles Kings

As much as a Pacific division triumph is still securely in their grasp, the San Jose Sharks have yet to both play to their potential and get injured players back in their line-up.

Currently, the Kings are two points behind the division-leading Sharks and they should stay at just about that distant throughout the rest of the 2011-12 season before the Sharks go on their surge to the finish line that we have become so accustomed to.

Los Angeles has so much more promise and potential than a 7th seed in the Western Conference, but we have yet to see that supposed talent shine through on a consistent basis.

6. Nashville Predators

The Predators are riding high into the NHL All-Star break, going 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, including winning their last four games.

They have been an overall good team, grabbing success in nearly every category this season on both offense and defense. But this team was built primarily on their defense and it was nice to see an elite power play gain some notoriety throughout the NHL.

We should see this Nashville hype take a step back in the second half of the season, but this team will be dangerous yet again come playoff time.

5. St. Louis Blues

We all knew this team had it in them, we just did not expect them to be firmly contending for a division title against the Detroit Red Wings just yet. They sit just two points behind Detroit going into the second half of the season.

Make no mistake, St. Louis has the best defense in the NHL in terms of goals against, as let up an average of two goals per game. Goalie Brian Elliot may have something to do with that. What does need help is their offense, which hardly complements their strong defense and will need to step up if they want to surge any higher than a fifth seed.

If this team wants to steal the division away from the Red Wings, they will need more of a push from their front lines on offense. Until then, this team will be sitting in the fourth or fifth positions come playoff time.

4. Chicago Blackhawks

The Central Division in the Western Conference has turned out to be a four-horse race heading into the second half of the season, with the Blues, Red Wings, Blackhawks and Predators all three points apart.

The Blackhawks certainly have the offense to make a run at the favored Red Wings, but it is the uncertainty in net and in certain aspects of their defense that has this team's ceiling only reaching so high.

However, a hot goalie at the right time can make a move in the Western Conference playoffs, as we witness with Antti Niemi a few years ago. We could see much of the same with Corey Crawford or Ray Emery to complement that relentless Chicago offense.

3. San Jose Sharks

As mentioned before, the Sharks' up-and-down year still has them sitting in the top spot in the Pacific Division, which currently earns them the third seed in the Western Conference.

Although this team has a ton of things going for them in the second half of the season, including players returning from injury and their usual second half surge through the Western Conference standings, it may not be a match for a more or less surprising Red Wings team and the impressive Vancouver Canucks.

The Sharks should have no problem holding off the Kings in the Pacific Division, but anything else may be asking too much for a team with so many current holes in the game.

2. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings currently own the top spot on the Western Conference coming out of the All-Star break. Their consistency in nearly every aspect of their game makes them a dangerous team for the rest of this season.

It is hard to argue with ranking fifth in goals scored per game and sixth in goals against per game. They are a tough opponent every single night.

The only question is can they keep it going?

For the most part, they should, although we can expect the Canucks to snatch the No. 1 seed from them in the last month of the season or so.

Detroit will be a dangerous team in the playoffs if they continue to play to this level for the remainder of the season.

1. Vancouver Canucks

Something about this team's offense and relentless defense will not let many think about putting this team anywhere but the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference come the end of the season.

They have encountered some rough defeats within the last 10 games, but rising to the occasion against the Sharks and Bruins shows this team is poised for an elite postseason run.

The regular season is one thing, but running into the No. 1 power play and top-3 goal scoring team in a seven-game series is a tall task for any team in the Western Conference this season. Whatever happens in the remaining regular season, the Canucks can be sure to have a spot in the Western Conference Finals.

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San Francisco Giants' Mediocre Offseason Has Team Falling Behind in NL West

With the San Francisco Giants' 40-man roster all but set for the 2012 MLB season, now is the time to make judgements about the team, the offseason they had and the what the future holds for the franchise.

The immediate judgements are not kind, to say the least.

GM Brian Sabean and the Giants have had a busy offseason, and while most would take that as a sign of good moves filling voids the team had before, that is simply not the case.

Adding Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera certainly is not bad, especially if they are to virtually replace a lagging Cody Ross and injury-prone Andres Torres. But standing there watching Carlos Beltran sign with the St. Louis Cardinals, while the New York Mets claim the Giants' former best pitching prospect is absurd. The worst was when it seemed the Giants never touched the idea of re-upping with Beltran, making the trade during the 2011 regular season one with absolute zero contribution to the franchise.

But while San Francisco was wheeling and dealing for the same-old, same-old, teams in their own division were making waves. Significant ones.

Most notably, the defending NL West Champion Arizona Diamondbacks only got better this offseason, making it all that more frustrating for San Francisco to focus all attention and money on signing discontent players already a part of their 2012 team, instead of eyeing big bats via trade or free agent market.

To re-cap, the Diamondbacks added Trevor Cahill and Joe Saunders to their pitching rotation, which now rivals the Giants for best in the NL West, with Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and Josh Collmenter still comfortably hanging around.

Their offense, which turned out to be one of the more dangerous in the National League last season, got more bulk with Jason Kubel being added to the roster.

Kubel hit .273 with 12 homeruns and 58 RBI in only 99 games last season. To put that in perspective, he would bat fourth in the Giants' line-up. No question.

He will be batting fifth or sixth for the Diamondbacks on Opening Day 2012.

Arizona went $10 million over payroll this offseason, which begs the question "Why can't the Giants do that?"

The answer is simple and so very frustrating. San Francisco has money wrapped up in players that will be worthy years down the road.

They focused all their time and energy on claiming Tim Lincecum until 2015 this offseason, and they will spend whatever is left of that time and energy on making Matt Cain a staple on this pitching rotation for years to come, even if no other current pitcher will be a part of it.

Even worse, the Giants are probably already budgeting for when Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner have one tremendous season and want 8-year contracts. Oh, it's coming.

The Giants' front office is in a pickle, which is why you did not see them throwing a bid out there for Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder, two of the biggest bats to come through the free agent mill in recent years. Instead, they locked up their pitching (somewhat, and not totally).

San Francisco made moves this offseason, but it did nothing to advance this team any further than it already stood. Moves like adding Cahill and Kubel to supe up an already potent pitching rotation and offensive punch do that.

The 2012 offseason for the Giants will be marked by standing pat on an entire talent pool, and leaning on locking up fan-friendly figures to please an audience. Fat chance that method pulls in wins during this regular season, at least more than the pass-happy Diamondbacks, but crazier things have happened in the NL West.

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San Jose Sharks: Injuries, Power Play Plaguing Team in January

If it is not one thing, it is another for the San Jose Sharks this month.

After an up-and-down December 2011, the team finally got back on the winning track, claiming victories in seven of their first nine games of 2012. That was soon followed by losing four of their next five games, which is where they are now at 26-14-6 and in a tie for first place in the Pacific division with the Los Angeles Kings.

But the hole keeps getting deeper for the Sharks. Antero Niittymaki trade talks and the need for more offensive power may be the culprits of a weary San Jose team. Even an ailing power play and injuries to Brent Burns and Ryane Clowe can be held responsible.

The injuries come and go, although the ones to Clowe and Burns have no doubt taken a bite out of this team. However, a desperate power play should take the full hit for the lackluster play the past week.

San Jose goes into the game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday with the 17th ranked power play in the NHL, a far cry from the past years of seeing the Sharks in the top-5 and having one of the more dangerous games while a man up on the ice.

At one point within the last month, the Sharks went 5 for 44 on the power play.

Attribute that to the injuries of Clowe and Havlat, who have been sidelined for the majority of that time, but San Jose may never have the "real" Havlat, and Clowe is still waiting to be allowed back into the line-up.

Can you hear GM Doug Wilson on the phone?

The answer may not even be on the trade market. The pieces are on this team, but they are simply not performing.

Joe Thornton has just one goal and seven assists this month when the team needed him the most. Patrick Marleau has just one goal and zero assists in the last seven games.

After the trade deadline, things need to change with the Sharks because the current state of the team is simply not getting it done, while the rest of the NHL is. It starts with the premiere players on this team and ends with a desperate trade deadline pick-up by Wilson.

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NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants Final Injury Report & Predictions

The San Francisco 49ers listed six players as questionable for their NFC Championship game against the New York Giants on Sunday.

The official injury report included CB Tarell Brown (thigh), S Dashon Goldson (ankle), WR Ted Ginn (knee), TE Delanie Walker (jaw), C Jonathan Goodwin (calf) and LB Patrick Willis (knee).

All listed players were limited in practice on Friday in some way or another, except for Ginn, who missed practice completely and had yet to participate this week.

The more probable of the questionables for Sunday are Brown, Goldson and Willis, who are expected to play on Sunday and be fully healthy by then. Goldson, although sidelined last week against the New Orleans Saints in the third quarter, is expected to go on Sunday.

On the other side of that lies Goodwin, Walker and Ginn.

Goodwin left Sunday's game in the second quarter with a right leg injury, only to return later in the quarter. He missed most of practice this week, but returned for a limited practice on Friday. He is sure to start against the Giants.

Walker, who has recovered from a broken jaw since a Week 16 knee to the face by Seattle Seahawks LB Leroy Hill, is set to play on Sunday. He was re-evaluated by doctors on Monday and returned to practice on Tuesday in a limited role. Walker tweeted on Monday that he feels ready to go and wants to pad up for Sunday's game, but will wait for team approval on that. We can expect him to play against the Giants, but in a very limited role and only on certain plays. TE Justin Peelle has replaced Walker as the back-up tight end over the past few weeks and will be needed in the blocking game against the Giants' pass rush.

That leaves Ginn, the lone player left out of 49ers' practice on Friday. He suffered a knee injury last Sunday against the Saints and was unable to practice the entire week. Ginn had a "noticeable limp" on Monday heading into 49ers' facilities. After sitting out a full week of practice, we should not expect Ginn to suit up against the Giants on Sunday. Kyle Williams can be expected to return kicks, as well as be the No. 2 WR for Alex Smith. Brett Swain will be the No. 3 WR and Joe Hastings (from practice squad) should be ready to be active as the No. 4 WR.

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NHL Trade Speculation: 3 Players the San Jose Sharks Will Inquire About

San Jose Sharks' GM Doug Wilson always seems to come alive this time of year. With a little over a month before the NHL Trade Deadline, rumors of Wilson on the trade prowl have crept into the Twitterfeeds, blogs and rumor mills of Hockey Nation.

Wilson's reputation as a trade machine even garnered the attention of NBC Sport's Pro Hockey Talk, as he recently explained the trade strategy he has when dealing with other teams.

Even worse this season for opposing GM's, Wilson has players to trade and teams are more than interested. Instead of the usual pattern of Wilson inquiring about players and going to teams, teams will be coming to him this season because he has players that could be of great value to them.

Antero Niittymaki has not been shy when expressing his frustration as the "third guy" in net for the Sharks. He is sure to be traded before the February 27 deadline.

Other Sharks that could be on the trading block are apart of the depth on defense. Jason Demers and Justin Braun come to mind if Wilson wants to deal for large support on the top two lines while Martin Havlat is still recovering from injury. Also, do not be surprised if Torrey Mitchell's name gets thrown around if Wilson covets a more seasoned player on the third line.

Here are three players Wilson is sure to inquire about before February 27.

Tuomo Ruutu

Rumors swirling about Ruutu being shopped by the Carolina Hurricanes have intrigued a few teams over the past month. The Sharks, Penguins and Red Wings seem to be the serious contenders. Ruutu has 15 goals and 11 assists so far this season.

The Hurricanes are ranked third to last in goals against, averaging 3.17 per game, and clearly lacking in the goalie department. The team sits in a tie for last place in the Eastern Conference, but if they want to make a play for next season, we might see them make a move for the Sharks' Niittymaki or Thomas Greiss, while adding in Jason Demers or Justin Braun. In return, Ruutu could be headed to San Jose.

Teddy Purcell

It is no secret the Tampa Bay Lightning need a goalie, ranking dead last this season in goals against per game this season. They also sit in a tie for dead last in the Eastern Conference with 40 points.

Purcell has been a slight disappointment this season, as an upstart 51-point 2010-11 season figured to be just the beginning for the young winger. However, an up-and-down 2011-12 has him sitting at 24 points in 44 games played this season, which is no improvement, but no disappointment nonetheless.

The kicker here is that Purcell and Sharks' winger Ryane Clowe are good friends, dating back to their ties in Newfoundland. The two could reunite in San Jose if Wilson can find a way.

For Wilson to pull it off, it will take a lot more than talk of a past friendship. The Sharks will need to offer Niittymaki and throw in others like Mitchell and either Demers or Braun to pull this one off.

Drew Stafford

Similar to the Purcell offering, it will take a lot to get Stafford to San Jose. The Buffalo Sabres have been open about the possibility of trading Derek Roy, Stafford or Brad Boyes before the trade deadline. Stafford has been in a slump this season, and the team is a disappointing 19-22-5, as well.

Again, it will take a similar trade involving Demers and Mitchell if Wilson want to pull this one off.

The Sharks would like some serious thump on the third line. Depending on how Havlat's recovery develops between now and the end of February, we could see Stafford be a nice replacement for San Jose's loss if the Sharks get desperate enough on the offensive front.

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

Looking back at the San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants Week 9 match-up in mid-November, it did not seem totally out of the question that either team would make the Super Bowl. The Giants were 6-2 and coming off a win against the New England Patriots, and the 49ers were a surprising 7-1, not to mention a play or two away from being 8-0.

But the Giants still had to outlast the Dallas Cowboys in their division, and San Francisco had not been to the playoffs in nine seasons, let alone have a chance to win the Super Bowl.

Two months later, these two teams meet again in a clash of clearly the best NFC teams left in the tournament. However, significant things have changed since Week 9, and it could be the difference in the game this time around.

For one, New York is the hottest team in the NFL. Period.

They finally have a significant rushing attack with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, their defensive front four is healthy and ripping offensive lines to shreds and Eli Manning is showing time and time again why he should be considered an "elite" quarterback in the NFL.

On the other side, the 49ers can also make their case for one of the hottest teams left in the NFL playoffs. Their defense against the rush this season is historic, their pass rush continues to smother the opposing quarterback and Alex Smith may be playing the best football of his career. Oh, and they have Jim Harbaugh as their head coach. Everything he touches these days turns to gold -- even Alex Smith.

So how do you compare two teams playing at the highest peaks of their respective seasons with nary a hole in their games?

We find the loose ends. Or in this case -- nitpick.

You do not have to nitpick far to find out that the 49ers have a hard time putting up points against respected NFL defenses, and the Giants have a hard time stopping the rush and the pass on a consistent basis. New York ranked 19th in rush defense and 29th against the pass during the 2011 regular season.

With that said, two things stand out when we talk about this NFC showdown: The home-field advantage and San Francisco's ability to stop the run every single week. The Giants suddenly have a hot rushing attack, which should be a crucial test for the 49ers. But the game should ultimately come down to how many points Manning can put up against a stingy 49ers defense.

X-Factor

Given that each teams' rushing attacks are presumed to be limited, seeing as the 49ers have the No. 1 rush defense and Frank Gore has simply not been able to run the ball effectively, the game should rest on each teams passing offense and how many turnovers their quarterbacks commit.

Smith has not thrown an interception in six straight games, but a rational-thinking person may question that come a chance at a Super Bowl bid. He is after all Alex Smith. But something magical is going on in Jim Harbaugh's Wonderland he has created in Santa Clara. Manning will have to throw for a seriously large number of yards against a swift 49ers defense to beat them on his own. Drew Brees accomplished that last week and still fell short.

How Smith and the 49ers' offensive line reacts to the relentless attack of Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck will also play a huge factor in the outcome of this game. If the San Francisco offensive line collapses, as it does every once in a blue moon, it could spell big problems for Smith and the offense. Anything close to how the offensive line played against the last serious defense the 49ers encountered (Thanksgiving Day against the Baltimore Ravens) will not be good enough on Sunday.

Prediction

Candlestick Park plays a huge factor in this game, as this crowd is thrilled to see the 49ers back in the NFC Championship again with a shot at the Super Bowl.

What may play the biggest role, though, is how the actual field reacts to the rain that is sure to pour down Thursday through Sunday in the Bay Area. The mud and slop with only slow down both teams' defenses giving Smith and Manning more time in the pocket, to some extent.

In the end, the 49ers' will to stop the run, as well as their hard-hitting secondary that should cause a couple Manning turnovers, will be the difference in a rather low-scoring affair on Sunday.

49ers win 24-19

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NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers' Delanie Walker Adds New Element If Healthy

What was lost in the mayhem that was the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints epic divisional playoff game on Saturday was the fact the 49ers won without one of their most reliable and timely offensive weapons.

Within all the match-ups that will be discussed this week concerning the 49ers vs. New York Giants NFC Championship showdown at Candlestick Park, a few big ones come to mind. The Giants' suddenly hot rushing attack against the NFL's best rushing defense the 49ers' boast is one of the biggest. Also, Eli Manning against the suddenly hot San Francisco secondary is sure to be broken down many times.

However, what may go unnoticed and virtually untouched is the offensive weapon Alex Smith may get back just in time for the biggest game of his NFL career.

Delanie Walker, although not a premiere piece of the 49ers' offensive game-plan, is another weapon Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman can add to their scheme against New York on Sunday if healthy.

Walker has been out since the Week 16 game against the Seattle Seahawks when Leroy Hill unintentionally kicked Walker in the head breaking his jaw. He is supposed to be re-evaluated by doctors on Monday and hopes to receive the go-ahead to return to practice and play in the NFC Championship.

Given the amount of tight end sets the 49ers use at different points in the game, Walker would be an excellent weapon to have back for Smith, who has sought him out several times this season for big gains in critical moments of the game. He is another phase of the game the Giants will have to address for Sunday.

Justin Peelle, the 49ers' third-string tight end, filled in nicely for Walker against the Saints on Saturday, but was not much of an offensive threat, as his blocking is considered his best asset.

Walker has slowly improved his blocking ability, although not much is known of how healthy and ready to block New York's relentless pass rush he will be come Sunday.

If Walker receives medical clearance this week to play in the NFC Championship, we are sure to see a nice mix of both Peelle and Walker at different moments in the game. Walker will be used as that extra weapon Smith can rely on, since the two seem to have had good chemistry on offense this season and throughout their careers, and Peelle should see time when Smith needs that extra protection from the Giants pass rush that will be so crucial on Sunday.

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San Francisco 49ers: Jim Harbaugh More Than A Coach; Alex Smith More Than A Game-Manager

There was a point in the third quarter of Saturday's epic shoot-out between the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers that Jim Harbaugh and his team seemed to be satisfied with just crawling into the NFC Championship. It was fitting, seeing as San Francisco has had ugly, gut-checking wins throughout the season where they had just played well enough to win. But they have also had victories where the offense surprised and ultimately succeeded this season. The comeback win against the Philadelphia Eagles comes to mind, and so does the dizzying victory over the favored Saints on Saturday afternoon at Candlestick Park.

But as tight end Vernon Davis came off the field after hauling in his second touchdown of the day with nine seconds remaining in the game, tears ran down his face. He then ran right into Harbaugh's arms and we knew this was more than just a game to the 49ers. Harbaugh was more than just a head coach of an NFC Championship-bound team.

Davis' tears were not because of the touchdown that sealed the victory and silenced the Who Dat Nation. The tears were because of the journey he, Alex Smith, Frank Gore, and the rest of the many players on this 49ers team that have sustained years with this franchise with no playoffs to show, have been through.

Harbaugh came in this last offseason with a "family first" mentality, and the team, including Davis who has had his uncontrollable moments with head coaches, bought into it. Saturday, with nine seconds to go in the game, was a culmination of all that hard work throughout the years with a franchise that had yet to reward its players.

Harbaugh single-handedly repaid Davis, Smith, Gore and all the others for all their hard work throughout the years with this franchise by giving them one of most well-coached games we will see the entire NFL season on Saturday. The franchise will not look back as they head to the NFC Championship next weekend.

Alex Smith is no slack, either.

With less than twenty seconds to play in a 32-29 game, and a field goal to tie all but guaranteed, Harbaugh let Smith play in shotgun formation, as if it was Tom Brady or Drew Brees who was throwing the ball. Smith did not just throw a dump pass or even hand it off to Gore , as we all expected to run down the clock, it was a throw to the middle of the endzone for a touchdown. The game-winning touchdown.

This is not Rex Grossman of the 2007 Bears where the team went to the Super Bowl despite of its quarterback. The 49ers are heading to the NFC Championship because of their quaterback. His 85-yard touchdown drive with about 1:30 left to play is by far the biggest stage he has ever been on and might ever be on. He showed he is more than just a game-manager with that final minute drive and zero interceptions, and it is thanks to the trust Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Vic Fangio have in him that led him to that success.

The game against the favored Saints on the road showed that Harbaugh is more than just a college coach, Smith is more than just a game-manager and this team is more than just a one-trick defensive pony.

Oh, and that defense is as dynamic as there is in the NFL. Just ask the New Orleans offensive line (the best in the NFL), who received a rather large helping in that first half, and a little more again in the second half.

Harbaugh has this team winning and the nation believing again in San Francisco. That was a well-prepared football team out there against Drew Brees and the Saints that looked like they had spent the last two weeks scheming on ways to shut down the New Orleans offense and make a dent in their defense.

We can expect the same preparedness in the NFC Championship game next weekend.

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NFL Playoffs: San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints Final Injury Report

The San Francisco 49ers released their final injury report on Friday before their clash with the New Orleans Saints today. The report listed five players that were all listed as questionable, leaving it up to the public (and the Saints) who will play and who will sit in the 49ers' first playoff game in nine seasons.

The list included TE Delanie Walker, WR Ted Ginn, CB Chris Culliver, DT Ray McDonald and WR Kyle Williams. Again, all listed as questionable.

Off the bat, it looks like Walker will be out against the Saints on Saturday, although Walker was really never in the game-plan for the 49ers.

Those who will play are also fairly obvious. Ginn is sure to play through his ankle injury that has kept him out the last two weeks. McDonald, who participated in drills this last week of practice, said he is ready to go and will play on Saturday.

That leaves two players up in the air that could provide significant depth to the 49ers against the Saints. Culliver is still nursing that knee to go along with an illness, but the SFGate.com's Kevin Lynch feels he will be ready to go. San Francisco needs all the depth they can get in the secondary against New Orleans.

Williams is another player up in the air that Lynch sees playing. Williams has been out since the Week 16 incident in Seattle. Although he was in a no-contact jersey the entire week, we can expect him to play and provide necessary depth at receiver and kicker returner this afternoon.

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NFL Playoffs: San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints Preview & Prediction

It does not matter what the San Francisco 49ers' defense has done this year or what kind of a mastermind Jim Harbaugh is. It seems to be an overall consensus that the New Orleans Saints are the overwhelmingly better team heading into the game on Saturday.

The Saints are favorites not because of a west coast bias or even because the 49ers have received little if any respect throughout this entire season, but because New Orleans simply puts up points on a consistent and relentless basis.

The saying "defense wins championships" does not apply to the NFL in this day and age and especially not to the Saints or Green Bay Packers this season. Both teams sport mediocre defenses, but have offenses that score at will, and that is what matters.

So then can we write off the 49ers as just another bump on the Saints' road to a matchup at Lambeau Field with the Packers two weekends from now?

Not so fast. The 49ers will have several things going for them when they play the Saints on Saturday afternoon.

San Francisco has the luxury of playing at home at Candlestick Park away from any dome the Saints would feel comfortable in. The 49ers also have a relentless pass rush that is sure to at least perturb quarterback Drew Brees just a smidge.

However, the number of things going against the 49ers far outways the number of things going for them, and that is the reality of it.

The Saints average 467 yards of total offense per game, ranking No. 1 in the NFL, while boasting the quarterback with the second best passer rating in the NFL at 110.6. The team also averages 34 points per game.

Even if the 49ers were so lucky as to slow down the Saints' offense by a touchdown or two, it would still require the San Francisco offense to put up around 24 points on Saturday at Candlestick Park to even contend.

Alex Smith and a beat-up Frank Gore will have a lot on their plate.

If the 49ers want to win this game against a hearty offense like Drew Brees and the Saints, they will need to stick to their strengths. That means controlling field position with punter Andy Lee and David Akers, having an overwhelming pass rush against one of the NFL's best offensive lines and limiting the dump-off passes from Brees to Darren Sproles, Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas.

To say the least, it will be a tall task for the 49ers on Saturday.

X-Factor

There are two ways the 49ers can contend and win this game on Saturday, and they will need to do both for every second of all four quarters.

The first is for Alex Smith to simply put up points, most notably in the red zone. Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have had nearly two weeks to come up with some sort of offensive scheme to throw at a decent Saints defense. The reality is that New Orleans is just 30th in the NFL in pass defense, so Smith will be able to throw the ball with some consistency. Also, the Saints rush defense allows just over 100 yards per game, which will be a welcome sight for Gore and Kendall Hunter, who is sure to play a big role in Saturday's game.

It is a fact that the 49ers need to pass rush Brees to death in order to have a chance, but the Saints' best asset is that they adapt to defenses easily because they have weapons like tight end Jimmy Graham and Sproles.

Make no mistake, the 49ers are at their best when they control their opponent's field position. Brees has no problem leading a drive 80+ yards down the field, but if San Francisco can make him do that drive after drive, then that smothering 49ers' defense will have to kick in eventually, even against a New Orleans offense with so many playmakers.

The goal for San Francisco on Saturday is not to stop the Saints every drive, but to stop them just enough and when it counts. That will put them in position to win this game.

Prediction

It would be easy to pick the Saints, who are favorites and playing incredible offensive football right now, but the fact the game is outside at Candlestick Park against one of the NFL's top defenses brings this game back to nearly an even match-up.

We all underestimated Harbaugh and his coaching staff at the beginning of the season. And after a 13-3 season, i am having a hard time betting against him again.

However, that New Orleans offense is simply too overwhelming with too many targets to game plan for. Although the 49ers' defense will be able to hold the Saints back for a good portion of this game, it will only be so long before those offensive flood gates open up for Brees & Co.

Saints win 31-27

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San Jose Sharks Streaking In 2012; Crucial Road Trip Awaits

It is amazing what a new year can do to a team's self-esteem. After ending 2011 on a two-game losing streak, the San Jose Sharks have turned over a new leaf in 2012 and now ride a four-game win streak into a four-game road trip in the midst of playing 17 of their next 23 games away from HP Pavilion.

Suddenly in 2012, the power play and penalty kill do not seem so bad, under the radar players are stepping up and producing and Antti Niemi and the defense have let up two or fewer goals in all four games in 2012.

With all the ups-and-downs this team has gone through this season, which include the injuries, glaring weaknesses and inconsistent play, the Sharks still hold the top spot in the Pacific division and are just five points out of the top spot in the Western Conference.

However, if one was to make the statement that the Sharks have yet to be tested away from home, not many would disagree with them.

Good wins against the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks away from HP Pavilion are always nice, but having the luxury of playing 23 of 38 games at home to start the season, including 10 of 13 in the month of December, is a little ridiculous.

Low and behold, San Jose gets their first real test of the season on the road against quality opponents for a period of 23 games stretching over a month and a half. Key games include the Chicago Blackhawks, Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Red Wings and Minnesota Wild twice.

Weaknesses will be revealed, changes will be made and this Sharks team will return back to San Jose a whole different team than they left with.

The Sharks had circled this stretch of games on the calendar before the season began, and they go into it riding a four-game win streak playing arguably their best hockey of the 2011-12 NHL season. They knew this was coming eventually.

Fortunately, the veterans are finally producing and the team is meshing wonderfully, coincidentally after key offseason pick-up Martin Havlat's injury sent him to the sidelines for possibly two months. Since then, the team has rallied around that incident and developed a team chemistry despite losing such a key offensive player for this team. They ride that team chemistry into Minnesota on Tuesday.

But we all know what is coming. A long road trip like this will reveal glaring weaknesses in this team that they will have to continuously work on throughout the months following this long stretch of games away from home.

Parts of the game, like the power play and penalty kill will either rise to the occasion or falter under the intense pressure of being on the road.

What we will find out in this next month and a half is how good this team really is.

A road trip this far away from home for this long a period of time will do that to a team, and we will see what kind of a squad coach Todd McLellan really has when they officially return to the Sharks Tank at the end of February.

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San Jose Sharks: Predicting the Offensive Starting Lines at Season's End

With all the ups and downs the San Jose Sharks have gone through this season, it is intriguing to see how this team will finish the season. Even with all the line changes and injuries, San Jose is still one of the better teams in the Western Conference and competing nearly every night for the top spot in the Pacific division.

The Martin Havlat injury has been a major blow to both the offensive production and overall morale of this team. Also, the defense may have received a little too much preseason credit, and have slowly come back to Earth.

Where this team will stand at the end of the year is still up in the air, but we can at least have a good understanding that the Sharks will finish somewhere near the top of the Western Conference playoff picture, as per usual.

What starting will we see at the end of the season, and will James Sheppard make an appearance in them?

Here are my predictions for the Sharks' starting lines at the end of the 2011-12 NHL season.

First Line: Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski

It is hard to imagine a better set of players that the Sharks can put out there with this much skill and chemistry nearly every night. Slowly, this squad is getting more and more familiar with each other and the production can only go up from here.

Marleau is set to have a huge second half of the season and Pavelski should continue to impress on the big stage of a premiere team in the NHL. With Thornton's consistent play-making, we should see this line become one of the more deadly in the NHL heading into the playoffs.

Second Line: Ryane Clowe, Logan Couture, Martin Havlat

Havlat should return within the next two months, giving the this set of players a good month and a half to re-familiarize themselves with each other.

When Havlat went down with injury, this was a very productive line just getting into their stride and gaining a consistency with each other.

Clowe and Couture continue to be paired up with each other while Havlat is out, so the line should not take long to get back into a groove once Havlat returns come mid to late February.

Third Line: Jamie McGinn, Michal Handzus, Torrey Mitchell

There was a moment where i thought we would see James Sheppard, the offseason pick-up who skated in practice for the first time this season the other day, on this line. Even with the surprising news, his return this season is doubtful, although we could see a game or two towards the end.

With the fourth line in tact, as well as the first and second lines, this hard-working line is all but set come season's end.

Tommy Wingels has a shot to make this line if Andrew Desjardins falls off the map during the second half, but his hard work is deserving of a spot at the end of the season. Wingels has been off and on after being called up from Worcester this season. If he gains some consistency and become that player we all saw during the preseason and the first few games of the regular season, we could see him taking McGinn's spot on this line and pushing him down to the fourth line. But that sort of roster move may not be what McLellan is thinking come playoff time.

Fourth Line: Brad Winchester, Andrew Desjardins, Andrew Murray

This is another definite spot to include either James Sheppard or Tommy Wingels in, but with Sheppard's uncertainty and Wingels inconsistency, that is highly doubtful.

This fourth line has been together the entire season with consistent productivity all around, giving McLellan no reason to split them up.

All three players have +/- in the positive numbers, which is more than you can ask for any other fourth line in hockey. They do what they supposed to do and get the job done, which is why they have stayed in tact with one another throughout this season, and also why McLellan has so much faith in them as a unit.

I am sure we will see McLellan test the waters and dividing them up during the second half of the season just to see what happens, but we are sure to see them back together towards the end.

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Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry Needs Second Option Mentality

The court was Stephen Curry's on New Year's Eve against the Philadelphia 76ers. Monta Ellis was attending his grandmother's funeral in Mississippi, and Curry was set to be the main scorer for the Warriors.

Curry finished with 21 points on 9 of 15 shooting and looked less like a go-to player and more of someone attempting to be just that. David Lee would be the one to shoot the ball 24 times in that game. Naturally, the Warriors were run out of their own gym by a 76ers squad that seemed to have it all figured out.

But Curry is not a go-to scorer, and it was wrong to put him in that situation and surround him with that much hype. We can date that back to the Warriors drafting him.

Yes, the loss of Ellis in that game hurts, which is the case whenever a team loses their majority scorer for a game, but many expected more than forced shots and awkward turnovers from Curry when the lights were shining on him.

For that reason, it is time we retire any idea of Curry becoming what many thought he could be in the NBA, which was a lights-out shooter that could potentially lead a team. That worked for him at Davidson College. On the Warriors, that role is Ellis' and Curry is just his wingman.

If the 23-year-old wants to take the next step in the NBA, he will need to accept the role of the second option and play like such.

Far too often, we see Curry forcing shots and having the ball in his hands for way too long. His name and the reputation that comes with it may suggest he should have the ball in his hands, but his style of play that translated in the NBA suggests something totally different.

Curry's role should be off the ball and less of the man with the ball in his hands. We all know he can shoot like not many other players in this league, but it is he and coach Mark Jackson's responsibility to set him up to succeed and utilize that skill in the NBA. He can play point guard well, but his game is more suited to a Richard Hamilton-style of play, and it would not take much to develop him into such a player.

Less time with the ball in his hands, but the same amount of shots per game.

For the Warriors to succeed this season, Ellis needs the ball in his hands because good things happen when it does. Curry is not at that level yet.

Meanwhile, let him play the role we know he can play: Maker of shots.

Adding in ball-handling duties and a leader of the team will hopefully come with experience, but right now he does not have it. So why does it appear like it is being forced on him?

The Warriors need to accentuate Curry's skills and abilities, and only then will this team play winning basketball.

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San Francisco Giants Speculation: Tim Lincecum Trade Possible

The words "sizable gap" were scattered around the baseball world this past week when it came to the San Francisco Giants and Tim Lincecum.

Those are definitely not the words Giants fans want to hear when talking about their team in contract talks with their pride and joy, long-haired magician on the mound.

Reportedly, the Giants offered Lincecum $80 million for four years over the summer, and that offer has been upped in recent weeks. However, Lincecum has been adamant in his stance on wanting an eight-year contract and getting paid. It would be the first substantial payday of his MLB career, after making just $650,000 per year the first four years and a little over $11 million per year since these past two.

Lincecum, who will be a free agent after the 2013 season, reportedly wants loyalty in the form of a large sum of money for a large number of years, and it seems it does not necessarily have to be from the Giants.

The last time San Francisco gave a big-time contract to a pitcher was Barry Zito for seven years and $126 million. You can understand the hesitation of the Giants' part.

But Lincecum is different, right?

A two-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion has to mean something to the Giants franchise. However, a contract like Zito's sticks with a ballclub, the general manager that made it and the fanbase surrounding it, no matter how different these players are.

The problem here is not the eight years, although that number is large for a 5'10", 165 lbs. pitcher with an unorthodox motion to the plate. The problem is the risk of failure, and given the information in the previous sentence, that risk may be growing higher every year they give Lincecum that paycheck.

With that said, eight years is a large risk for a GM like Sabean, who still wears the $18 million per year to Zito, and the Giants franchise that cannot afford to miss or risk setting their ballclub back several years.

In any case, this potentially leaves the Giants with two options if eight years is too much: Trade Lincecum or hope he agrees to accept short-term deals of no more than two years.

The trade could give the Giants much-needed prospects or much-needed hitters, and the short-term deal could buy both Lincecum and the Giants time, as well as involve less risk for the franchise.

Who knows what the most likely scenario is now?

For the Giants, a trade may be the safest.

It rids the Giants of a very possible plunge if Lincecum goes down with injury, which many baseball minds believe could happen any season now given his calculated, yet unorthodox, motion to the plate and including his small, yet powerful, frame. Baseball scouts say it does not add up, and an eight-year contract may lead the Giants' decision-makers to think the same.

You give an eight-year contract to a fully-built workhorse, not a small-framed pothead, right?

San Francisco has a decision to make between Lincecum and fellow starter Matt Cain. Do they sign one or both?

Lincecum's recent actions may have them leaning towards settling for Cain and risking less by potentially acquiring more and dealing Lincecum this season.

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San Jose Sharks: The Best Way To Replace Martin Havlat is to Not

Martin Havlat, the speed and offensive skill the San Jose Sharks traded for during the offseason, is out for good portion of the upcoming few months. As far as we know, he will be sidelined 6-8 weeks, but we can bet on the 2 month range looking like a probable timetable for his return.

That likely return will take us to just about the end of February 2012 and leave around a month and a half left in the season for the Sharks.

With the team already struggling in several aspects of their game so far this season, it is only fitting that trade rumors surface in order to salvage a possible Western Conference playoff run.

That is what happens when Doug Wilson is your GM, though. His flair for the timely trade has become standard around San Jose, but this season may be the most important for him to come through in the clutch.

However, does this team really need to make a key acquisition right now if they are to make a real push in the Western Conference playoffs?

Losing Havlat is a blow, but overreaction may be even worse, which is why Wilson needs to take a step back for the moment and wait until the trade deadline to acquire that talent needed for a deep playoff run.

The reason for the wait is the team is used to running without Havlat. His absence from the team has been more of a distraction than his actual unimpressive play on the ice so far this season.

Wilson, given his reputation and long list of acquisitions in the Sharks' organization, should understand what a player's worth is. This far into the season, that is tough to judge.

Make no mistake, San Jose's main trade bait is goalie Antero Niittymaki, who recently returned from injury and replaced Thomas Greiss as the second-string netminder on the team, despite Greiss's respectable play behind starter Antti Niemi. Many teams are looking for a goalie and they will be calling Wilson come the trade deadline.

That time would become Niittymaki's highest value period, where teams need the goalie and Wilson can make his play for who he wants on that opposing team. Right now, although the team can use a healthy body whose name provides a bigger boost than Benn Ferriero, the Sharks need to wait and accept the "winger by committee" that is presumed to occur over the next couple months for the Sharks.

Wilson will make a significant trade this season, and it will most likely have Niittymaki's name in it, but now is the time to form chemistry with this team that includes Ferriero (the best option at winger they have) and whoever else coach Todd McLellan decides to light a fire under. Havlat will be back and he will be affective, but making a drastic trade so early in the season is nowhere near where Wilson is or should be leaning right now.

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