San Jose Sharks: Reasons Why the Team Is Playing Playoff Hockey

You can call it desperation, or you can call it panic, but the San Jose Sharks are playing terrific hockey right now.  It just happens to be at the exact right time, as well, as the Sharks are in an ever-changing playoff scenario with five other teams to make the NHL playoffs.


The trade of Jamie McGinn to the Avalanche for T.J. Galiardi and Daniel Winnik is not looking so good from the Sharks' angle, but both Winnik and Galiardi are starting to make significant progress in producing for this team.  Their added production would only further the Sharks' chances of making the playoffs.

However, neither one of the NHL Trade Deadline acquisitions are even a factor in why the Sharks are currently playing well and making a case for why they should be in the playoffs.  In fact, the reasons why the Sharks are playing so well have been on the team or have been characteristics of the team the entire season.



Martin Havlat

Who knew getting one of the team's best offensive players back would make such an impact, right?

Of course Havlat coming back was going to juice this team up.  When he went down with injury months ago, Ryane Clowe, Logan Couture and Havlat were the ultimate line that no team could stop.  Back again, Havlat makes that line better and this entire offense better.  He can move the puck like no one else on the Sharks can, and that has been a huge addition late in the season.


Team Chemistry

Hockey is a game of momentum, and nothing fuels the Sharks' chemistry on the ice more than just that.  Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau have played together for what seems like forever and so have Clowe and Couture.  So when suddenly the team starts winning and momentum ensues, good things start to happen.

Again, Havlat is a major reason for that because of the Clowe, Couture and Havlat line that was so potent mid-season.  Now it seems Havlat has taken that chemistry to whatever line he plays on these days.  His game is awfully easy to play with on the ice.

Aside from those top lines, the bottom two have also played increasingly well over the past week or so, with Michal Handzus and Winnik clearly leading the way.  It was a consistent problem for the Sharks before the trade deadline.  Since then, the bottom six have produced on a consistent basis for San Jose.


Joe Thornton

The captain always has had that feel for the puck and making things happen, but it seems that his production has really picked up over the last 10 games.  Maybe it is because he is the captain and needs to lead that desperate and panicked attempt at making the playoffs. Whatever the reason, he is doing a great job of getting positive results from this team these days.

Thornton has two goals and 10 assists in his last 10 games.

His patience around the net is what differentiates himself from other players in this league, and his use of the body only furthers the development of the play.  With the chemistry he has developed with Pavelski, Marleau, Couture and Havlat (and whoever else he is playing with him these days), the Sharks continue to produce on both the power play and equal strength when Thornton is on the ice.


Todd McLellan's Line Changes

McLellan might have just saved his job with some of the personnel changes he has made late in the season, when lineups are supposed to be well intact.

Most notably, his changes to the bottom two lines have made the biggest difference in the last few games for this team.

The line of Winnik, Andrew Desjardins and Wingels has been tagged lethal over the past couple games, with Winnik scoring two clutch goals against the Bruins and Coyotes, followed by a goal from Desjardins on Monday.

They have obviously found some comfortability with each other.  Winnik is the big body of the line with somewhat of an offensive game, but most likely will hold down the fort on defense.  Also, Desjardins will play that scrappy role, which has made Wingels the scoring option on this line.

McLellan was searching for a spark to light up this team, and he may have just found it in his latest set of line changes.

Read More

San Jose Sharks Control Their Own Destiny in Final Eight Games of the Season

So we know the San Jose Sharks have at least a little fire left in them.  A gritty and determined win against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference will do that to a team, though, as the Sharks beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night at the HP Pavilion.


But as we look to the rest of the games this season, there is a clear idea that the Sharks must win, and win when it matters.

There are eight games left in the NHL season, and every game seems to be that much more important to the Sharks, who are in dire need of a break down the stretch to ease their way in the Western Conference playoffs.

The teams that stand in their way are the Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings.

Put them in any order you want to, but including the Sharks, the six teams are separated by three points and are battling for three spots with eight games remaining.

One beat guy's guess: Scoping out the schedule ahead as #sjsharks likely need to go 6-3-0 to reach the post-season. See mercurynews.com/sports/ci_2023…

— David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) March 22, 2012

For better or worse, the Sharks control their own destiny the rest of the season.

With seven of the eight remaining games against the Pacific division, and one against the playoff contending Avalanche, the Sharks hold their playoff hopes on their shoulders in a desperate attempt to make this season somewhat of a success.

However, desperation is exactly what the rest of this season will entail.  We finally saw a sense of that against the Bruins on Thursday night.  The urgency, the grit and determination were all there, and it was like the season finally clicked for this team that needed to be in desperation mode about three weeks ago.

The defense and hustle was great, the goaltending was what we expect from Antti Niemi in big games and the offense was getting shots to the net against a superb Boston defense.  It felt like the beginning of the season again, or last season at this time.  Whatever it felt like is how we should feel about this team because they are built to succeed this time of year.  It simply has not clicked this season.

One of the reasons for the sudden burst in productivity on the ice is Martin Havlat, who returned from injury and has provided speed and offense to a team in desperate need of a pick-me-up.  It is because of him that the Sharks are still in a good position to make the playoffs.

How?  I do not know.

This team has played so terrible over the last few weeks that they should not even have a chance to salvage their season, yet we see them in a late-season playoff push for the first time in what seems like forever.

The win against Boston came in a big game with playoff-type pressure.  If the Sharks can apply that type productivity against the Pacific division foes in these final eight games, then we should be seeing them slide their way into the playoffs.  But if this was simply the usual flash in the pan that we have become so accustomed to over the past couple months, then terrible things are bound to happen to this franchise at the conclusion of this season.

For now, they control their own destiny in these final two weeks.

Read More

Lack of Urgency Dooms San Jose Sharks

We have become so accustomed to winning in San Jose.

So when a team with the notable history of terrific regular seasons and consistent playoff appearances, like the San Jose Sharks have, suddenly stops winning, people start freaking out.

They should be worried, the Sharks are outside of the Western Conference playoff picture for the first time in I don’t know – we are just not accustomed to that.


With 14 games to play in the NHL season, San Jose sits in ninth place, one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the last spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Read the rest of this article HERE

Read More

San Jose Sharks: Where Is Rock Bottom?

Rock bottom is such a harsh word to use for a team with so much talent and the playoff normality that this franchise and fan base have come to expect, but the word describes exactly how it feels these days to be around the San Jose Sharks.


Watching the Sharks' Joe Pavelski score a goal with just under two minutes to play in a crucial Pacific Division battle with the Dallas Stars Thursday night was as hyped as this team has been in just over a month.  However, when it rains it sure does pour on this team that is clearly in a mental and physical rut.

Moments later, the Stars responded with a game-tying goal, as has been per usual as of late for Dallas, and coincidentally per usual for the Sharks, as well.

Again, the Sharks had an opportunity to strike on a power play late in overtime, yet could muster nothing despite several great opportunities in front of the Dallas net.

Low and behold, the game went to a shootout, and it was then that we all knew what was coming next.

What were the odds a team with a lackluster mental game was going to pull out a win in a shootout on the road against one of the hottest teams in the NHL?

It did not matter at that point.  We all knew the loss was coming sooner or later for this team on Thursday night.

The Stars added to their Pacific Division lead, which is now a four games, and the Sharks continue to cling to the seventh or eighth spots in the Western Conference.

Sharks getting some help tonight from MN Wild beating Phx & Columbus beats LA Kings! Going to be a great finish in the West!

— Bret Hedican (@BretHedican) March 9, 2012

It is simply the way things are going for this San Jose team.  When things seem to go right, they tend to go wrong quickly.  It has become the norm these days.

But the Sharks did not play bad on Thursday, and that is the point of this whole ordeal.  They outshot a screaming hot team 48-35 on their opponent's home ice in the middle of a road-trip that has no choice but to come out a success.

Finally, we saw some significance from the Sharks, finally we saw some urgency and finally we saw some hard-nosed hockey.  It was the best game the Sharks have played since their Feb. 28 game against the Philadelphia Flyers, and i cannot remember when the best game before that occurred, and for good reason.  The important part is that the game against the Stars on Thursday night -- the best game they have played in recent memory -- still ended in a loss and a drop in the point standings in the Pacific Division.

Has panic set in for this team yet?

Better yet, where do we consider rock bottom to be?

No, the Sharks are not at rock bottom.  However, when a team has a handle on the division at the mid-season point, then proceeds to drop several games in a row while the rest of their division starts playing aggressive and competitive hockey, it might be just about time.

San Jose is a playoff hockey team, and despite these losses that seem to be inevitable to some extent, we can expect the Sharks to be playing in the Western Conference playoffs at one of the eight seeds, no matter how unlikely that seems to be these days.

But rock bottom is not far off, which shows you just how far this team has collapsed since they embarked on that miserable nine-game road-trip in mid-February.

Changing the momentum of this season starts with defeating their own division, and there are a lot of chances for that coming down the stretch of this season.

Read More

San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings: Who Will Win the Pacific Division and Why

For years we have heard of how special the Los Angeles Kings were going to be once they matured and grew as a unit. That maturation and a few trades have the Kings finally in contention to win the Pacific Division and clinch a top-3 seed in the Western Conference. But the San Jose Sharks continue to stand in their way, which is going to make it one thrilling second half of the season in California.

The Sharks have been through injuries, inconsistent play and have showed clear weaknesses in their play this season, something we have not seen in years past. Incredibly, San Jose still holds on to a three-point lead in the Pacific Division, showing that it will take more than an up-and-down first half of the season to slow down this team. They are poised to contend for the Stanley Cup year after year, making them a tough team to take down, even for as talented a team as the Kings.

However, as skilled as they are, the Sharks will be winning the Pacific Division for another year this season.

Despite the low profile, San Jose is as good a team as there is in the NHL -- their success against top-notch teams this season proves that. It is the playoffs that get them when they are not looking, not the regular season.

The Kings are too inconsistent for a title in the Western Conference, and judging by the play of the Phoenix Coyotes recently, there may be another team more deserving to win this division than the Kings.

As terrific a top-5 defense as the Kings have, their offense has been equally terrible and inconsistent. They average 2.1 goals per game this season. That kind of generated offense will not win many games down the stretch, nor will it knock anyone out in the playoffs. With this much talent on that team, those numbers simply do not add up.

Losing four of their last six games during as big a stretch of games as ever is not going to cut it either. The Sharks are currently on a nine-game road-trip in which anything can happen. If there was a time to win games and overtake the Pacific Division lead, it would be now for the Kings.

In the end, the Sharks have yet to make their annual second half run up the Western Conference. That could be because of the Martin Havlat injury, but it will happen sooner or later. It always does.

We might have to wait until March to see it, though. Havlat will be returning in mid-March and GM Doug Wilson is sure to make a significant move at the trade deadline to bolster this team.

When all is said and done, the Sharks should win the Pacific Division by 10 points and claim a top-3 seeding in the Western Conference playoffs.

Read More

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.

Read More

San Jose Sharks: The Western Conference Finals Is Not Enough

It took an awkward bounce off the boards, and not a single Sharks player to know where the puck was, for the San Jose Sharks to be eliminated from the 2011 NHL Playoffs on Tuesday night.

The Vancouver Canucks were the dominant team. In fact, the Canucks are probably the best team left in these playoffs, and you may not hear an argument from anyone refuting that. They have speed, defense, goaltending and chemistry, and the Sharks were just trying to keep up.

San Jose was knocked out by the best team in hockey.

Are you satisfied with the Sharks, though?

I wrote an article on my own personal blog around this time last year where I said that I was satisfied with the Sharks appearance in the 2010 Western Conference Finals, even though they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.

I was satisfied last season because they had overcome several demons in that 2009-10 season. They had just come off a series in the 2009 playoffs where they lost in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks, after earning the President's Cup trophy for the regular season as the number one overall seed.

This season was a different story.

The Sharks had risen above it all in 2010, beating the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings, before losing in the Western Conference Finals.

Now in 2011, the team from the South Bay has been defeated again in the Western Conference Finals. They did not lose by lack of talent, though. They were defeated by losing their cool in Game 2, dumb penalties in Game 4 and one of the weirdest endings to a playoff game you will ever see in Game 5.

This Sharks/Canucks series could have been so much more. In the end, the Canucks were the more professional team and now head to the Stanley Cup Finals, something the Sharks have never been able to do.

No, the Western Conference Finals is not enough, not anymore.

The 2010 season was the start of something, and the 2011 team was showing so much grit, passion and dominance that they were a lock to make a deep run the playoffs. The run was not deep enough.

The question needs to be asked: Is the core of players the Sharks have now ever going to get this team to the Stanley Cup Finals?

That is GM Doug Wilson's question to answer.

The Sharks will be back, though.

They have a nice mix of young talent and experienced leaders to make another run -- they always do.

The increased salary cap may help, too. It will give them a chance to go out and get the defenseman they so desperately need.

Besides all that, this 2010-11 Sharks team entertained us, while showing pride, talent and determination. For another year, though, that was not enough.

Read More

NHL Playoffs: No One Tell Joe Thornton It Is Playoff Time

We've seen it before. The San Jose Sharks have an amazing regular season and hopes are high heading into the NHL playoffs.

There's too many weapons on this team to fail, right?

Wrong.

The NHL playoffs are a bigger beast and big names tend to crumble during this time, especially if they're wearing a Sharks jersey, or so history claims.

The perfect example of a big name becoming miniscule when the lights are on them is Joe Thornton.

Thornton had another very productive season at center for the Sharks. His 2010-11 tallied 70 points, just three points behind the team leader Patrick Marleau.

It was Thornton's lowest point total in five seasons.

But Shark fans know that this means nothing and has meant nothing for the last several years because Thornton seems to flop when it counts. I'm talking about playoff time.

Fact: A team with Joe Thornton on it has made it passed the second round of the NHL playoffs only once. That was last year.

The solution this year is to not tell him that he is playing in the NHL playoffs starting on Thursday. So be quiet...

It didn't always used to be like this.

Thornton's entry into the NHL as #1 overall pick in 1997 put the pressure on him to perform early in his career.

In his first playoff appearance at age 19 with the Boston Bruins, Thornton led the team in an upset of third-seeded Carolina before falling to Buffalo in the second round. Thornton would tally nine points in 11 games in those playoffs.

In 2002, Thornton lead the Bruins with six points in six games, but fell in the first round. Still, there was production.

It was the 2004 playoffs that started this whole mess of Thornton as a playoff flopper.

He would total zero points and finish at minus-6 in a seven game series.

After being traded to the Sharks, things have only gotten worse.

Thornton has never gone back to the type of production he had in that 2004 playoff series. In fact, Thornton has never been a total playoff flop. He has always scored around a point-per-game, but he's never been special around this time. There's never been anything to set him above everyone else, which is who he is during the regular season.

A more accurate term to describe Thornton when it matters is "underproductive."

We expect more from him.

Fans are always looking for the best players to go above and beyond in the heat of the moment, and Thornton has never been that guy.

Thornton has averaged 1.06 points-per-game in 995 regular season games played in his career.

His playoff average is 0.71 points-per-game.

That's not quite going above and beyond when it counts.

Until their captain and team leader starts producing when it counts, neither will the Sharks, or any team with Thornton on it, for that matter.

Read More

Sharks Must Carry Hot Play Into Second Half Of The Season

The All-Star break couldn't have come at a worse time for the San Jose Sharks. Riding a 5-game point streak and playing some of their best hockey all season, the Sharks hope to continue their good play Tuesday against the Coyotes.

We will find out very early, and I mean Wednesday, if the Sharks "were who we thought they were," as they embark on a 7-game roadtrip spanning 2 weeks where they will see the likes of Tim Thomas and the Bruins and Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.

Although they will not be playing very tough cometition on this roadtrip, it will be nice to how they react to not only the adversity of the 8th spot in the Western Conference, but also if they will continue their good play after the All-Star break.

With just around 30 games to play in the season, the Sharks must turn their season around after having a dismal first-half, by Sharks' standards. That starts tomorrow.

Players that should have performed in the first half must perform in the second half, such as Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dany Heatley. Ya know, the former "best top-line in hockey."

This team shouldn't be led by in mostly every offensive category by rookie Logan Couture. Although it's great and the future is bright, where are the team's leaders? Why is Couture leading with 22 goals on a team with names like Heatley and Marleau?! We're just not used to it.

It all needs to change in the second half.

Looking forward, hopefully the All-Star break didn't slow their roll because the Sharks were playing outstanding. The offense was meshing, the defense was shut down, and goalie Antti Niemi was solid in net.

It will be a long 32 games left in the season. 8 points separates 6th place from second-to-last place in the West so a lot can change very quickly.

Accept the high's and low's from the Sharks the rest of the way, but hopefully more high's than low's for a team not accustomed to struggling to make the playoffs.

Read More

That's It And That's All

The San Jose Sharks' season is over after a disappointing series against the Chicago Blackhawks resulting in the Sharks being swept 4-0.

A long season for the Sharks came down to this dream series featuring the Western Conference's top 2 teams. After this series, we found out who truly was the #1 team.

The Sharks could not have had more momentum coming into this series after previously defeating the Red Wings in 5 games. Yet, the Blackhawks seemed to be the wrong team for the Sharks. This series simply came down to match-ups, and the Blackhawks were a horrible match-up for the Sharks. It's the only way to describe it.

The Blackhawks were too quick, too prepared and too good for the Sharks. It felt that way from the drop of the puck in Game 1.

What impressed me about the Blackhawks was several things, but one stands out. Each game of this series, the Sharks came out with intensity, wanting to get on the Blackhawks quick. Every game, the Blackhawks answered and made the adjustments needed to turn the pace of play around, as well as momentum, in their favor.

Even in the games where the Sharks had chances to win, like Games 1, 3, and 4, the tempo for the game was still controlled by the Blackhawks, it sure seemed that way, and you were just waiting for Chicago to score, and they did.

Antti Niemi, what can you say, hot goaltender, wrong time for the Sharks. The Sharks could simply not figure him out, the 40+ shots on net in Game 1 shows that, as do clutch save after clutch save at the end of every game.

All around, the Sharks were outplayed and it is extremely disappointing to see as talented a team as the Sharks look so befuddled as to how they were going to solve the Blackhawks. No answer.

Where do the Sharks go from here? Patrick Marleau has been rumored to leave the Sharks for the last couple seasons, but that was because he was who everyone put the blame on for losing in the playoffs the past several seasons. Now, he is the only bright spot, and there are several other players who you can blamed for this one. Yet, he is a free agent. The Sharks would be wise to sign him, but maybe he rather not.

Evgeni Nabokov has played his last game as a Shark, that's my opinion. The free agent will depart San Jose in disappointing fashion, as he was never able to get the Sharks over that hump to greatness or the Stanley Cup Finals. Some would say it was because of him. Duh.

Lucky for the Sharks, the free agent goalie class of 2010 is impressive. With guys like Ray Emery, former Shark Vesa Toskala, and Marty Turco headlining, as well as several other starting goalies for other teams, the Sharks should have no problem replacing Nabokov. There's not much to replace.

In my opinion, the Sharks should sign Marleau and let Nabby walk. This is too good of a team to split up, and for the Sharks to go out and let Marleau leave along with others would set this franchise back even farther than a series sweep at the hands of the Blackhawks would.

With possible free agent pick-ups and the best top-line in all of hockey hopefully staying together, expect the Sharks to be back contending again next season, but the Stanley Cup Finals still looming.

Read More

All Uphill From Here

The Sharks are in trouble, plain and simple. They were defeated for the 2nd straight game on their home ice last night by the Chicago Blackhawks, who have a commanding 2-0 lead in this best-of-7 series heading to Chicago.

The Sharks seemed to have no chance in this one. They were outplayed by the young and quick Blackhawks, who behind their red-hot goalie Antti Niemi looked like a team that could take the Cup.

From a Sharks angle, something has to change. After a game in which the Sharks were able to get the puck to the net at will, the complete opposite happened on Tuesday night as the Sharks couldn't get anything started, let alone anything to the net.

Evgeni Nabokov wasn't much help either. After letting a goal up in the 1st period, he let his guard down for a whole 3 minutes in the 2nd period, and the Blackhawks took full advantage netting 2 goals in that time span.

Nabokov would finish with 18 saves on 22 chances, definitely his worst effort that we have seen in awhile.

It's all uphill from here. The Sharks are down 2-0 headed on the road, a position nobody wants to be in. The good thing is that they will have an extra day off, with their next game being on Friday. It will give them an extra day to find out what in the world they can do to stop this Blackhawks team from rolling completely over them.

In Chicago, Niemi will continue standing on his head. But if the Sharks' goal coming into Game 2 was to put bodies in front of the net to get in the way of Niemi's vision, that didn't happen, at least from what I saw. Something needs to change because the Hawks look quicker, more skilled, and more prepared for this series than the Sharks do.

Do the Sharks have it in them to make a comeback in this series? We'll find that out on Friday, won't we? It won't be enough just to come out of the gates firing like the Sharks have done in these first 2 games. They will need to carry it throughout the entire game if they are going to defeat a Blackhawks team that seems ready for a Stanley Cup birth.

The only upside for the Sharks, the Blackhawks are 3-3 at home in these playoffs, which isn't saying much because they are 7-0 on the road, but we'll take it. The Sharks will take it. But they will take whatever they can right now in a series that is in their hands to keep alive.

Read More

Niemi Hot As the Sharks Fall in Game 1

If we found out one thing in Game 1, it was that this is going to be as exciting and gut-renching a series as we have seen in a long time. Another, a hot goalie is going to beat one that has been solid the whole playoffs 9 out of 10 times. It's just the way it is. Unfair if you're a Sharks fan, at least in this Game 1, but these NHL Playoffs have been unfair to many teams this year.

The final four teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are lopsided for each conference. In the West, you have the top 2 seeded teams, while in the East, you have the lowest-seeded teams. A little unorthodox but you cannot deny that these are the best 4 teams going. And in a series that boasts the top 2 teams for the West, we expected nothing different than a thrilling game to the final buzzer, and we got that in Game 1.

Disappointing is a good word to describe this game from a Sharks angle. 5 power plays and one result. That is 5 PP's more than Chicago had, which you can also take as a plus because that would mean the Sharks did not commit a penalty.

Still, the hotter goalie came out on top. If there was one lesson to be learned from this Game 1, play the full 60 minutes because if you are out of position for a second, as the Sharks found out on Dustin Byfuglien's game-winning goal, it will hurt you.

Respect Blackhawks' goalie Antti Niemi, though. The Sharks have run into another hot goalie, and that's all you can say. He out-dueled Evgeni Nabokov who was having himself a very nice game as well. But at the end of the game, the 1st star went to Niemi and the 2nd star went to Nabokov.

The Blackhawks are no joke, and neither are the Sharks, but Game 1 showed who was more prepared for this series, and it wasn't the team who had 5 PP's and didn't convert on any of them. Rusty.

2 things to take from this game for the Sharks, though. They managed to draw the 5 penalties while committing 0. Also, Nabokov is playing very well between the pipes, and 38 saves shows that. The only problem, Niemi had 44 saves. That remains the only difference in Game 1.

Read More

Sharks/Blackhawks Series Preview

It's on. This is the way it was supposed to be, right? The two top teams in the Western Conference will face off in a 7-game series to decide who will go to the Stanley Cup Finals and be the overwhelming favorite.

That is true. No matter who comes out of the Eastern Conference, whether it's the Bruins/Flyers or Canadians, the team that wins the Sharks/Blackhawks series will be without a doubt the clear favorite to win the Cup.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Sharks are the best team going, the only thing knocking this team is the fact they have been at a stand still since they defeated the Red wings in 5 games in what feels to be a month ago. They want to get out on the ice while they're hot.

Honestly, the Blackhawks are the favorite in this series. They have recent momentum since beating the Canucks, plus they went 3-1 against the Sharks during the regular season.

But the Sharks have several things going their way that have not been talked about. How about the fact that Blackhawks' goalie Antti Niemi has never played against the Sharks? Or how about the Sharks are playing a much better form of hockey than they were in the regular season?

The tipping point in this series may be that one point that separated the Sharks as the #1 seed in the West and the Blackhawks as the #2 seed. The Sharks have home-ice advantage, and we all saw what that team and those fans can do once in their home arena. The "Nabby" chants start going, the Jaws music start playing. Everything is better at The Sharks Tank. Unless you're the opposing team, then that stuff just gets annoying.

Bottom line is this is going to be a series for the ages. Two teams who have similar styles of play, and just as much equal talent on the ice. The last time we saw this sort of match-up was, well, last series when the Sharks played the Red Wings.

One thing bothers me, though. I cannot help but think back to the game on November 25th when the Sharks and Blackhawks met up. The final score was 7-2 in favor of the Blackhawks in a game where the Blackhawks made the superior Sharks look ridiculous. They outhustled and outperformed the Sharks. Will there be a difference in how the Sharks prepare for this team in this series? There better be, they would have had 8 days between series to do so.

If the Sharks are to knock off the Blackhawks, they will need more contribution from their 1st line than ever. We saw this in the last couple of games in the Red Wings series. The Red Wings' primary focus was on Joe Pavelski since he was tearing them up in the previous games. In response, the Sharks' 1st line showed up and was the reason why the series didnt go to a Game 6 or 7.

Fasten your seatbelts for this one, folks. This is a series made for it to go the distance, and I don't doubt we will see anything but that.

My prediction: Home-ice will play a huge role in this series and the Sharks will be fortunate that they got that last point to get the #1 seed in the West and home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Sharks in 7.

Read More

Sharks' Curse Not Over Just Yet

They're not supposed to be here. There is too much choking in this team's history to have any legitimate success in the NHL Playoffs. But the Sharks finally did it by beating the Detroit Red Wings last night and moving on to the Western Conference Finals.

When Barry Melrose of ESPN finally admits that the Sharks are a "really good team," you know they've done something right. Melrose was the man who was calling a possible Red Wing comeback in this series when they were down 3-0, and he went crazy when the Wings beat the Sharks in Game 4. But who wasn't? That Game 4 was so one-sided that why not give Detroit a legitimate chance of coming back and winning this series? You sound brilliant if they do. After all, the Sharks have always choked. Scratch that, at least for now.

Now that the Sharks have defeated the Almighty Red Wings in a playoffs series, can we finally put this whole choking matter about the Sharks behind us?

For the Sharks fans, yes, go ahead. But for the rest of the NHL world, they still know the team from San Jose as one that has fallen in their potential to win the Cup year after year despite being the favorite. Is a couple series wins in this year's playoffs going to change that? No, the Sharks are the #1 seed, they should be here. Which brings up the question, why do the critics keep picking the Sharks to lose each series? History is the answer.

For the rest of the NHL world, the Sharks' curse is still not over. It won't be over until they are hoisting the Stanley Cup over their head. They will be the underdogs in the next series and the series after, but if they are to relinquish that "choking" title from their name, they must win the Cup. Easy, right?

Sure, Sharks fans know that this a different team with a different attitude and different players, but the rest of the world does not understand that. Prove it to them. The Sharks are the best team still in the playoffs and anything less than a Sharks Stanley Cup victory isn't worth it, and surely won't be worth it to the rest of the NHL world.

Read More

The Sharks Answering When It Matters, Up 2-0

Mission accomplished. The San Jose Sharks did what they were supposed to do on Sunday by winning on their home ice for the second time in this series and leading the best of 7 series against the Detroit Red Wings 2-0.

This was a total team effort that saw both teams gather momentum throughout the game. For the second time in this series and 5th game in a row, the Sharks came out firing, but this time only to be let down by a Red Wing goal midway through the 1st period.

But the Sharks showed something that we have not seen in playoffs past, but have seen several times already in this year's playoffs. That is a will to answer right back. The Sharks would answer with 2 goals in just over 2 minutes to go up 2-1.

The Red Wings would tack on another goal late in the 1st period to tie the game up at 2-2.

After a stalemate 2nd period, which saw the Red Wings hit the back of the net a 3rd time, pressure was on the Sharks to maintain their home ice against the mighty Red Wings. And they answered.

It is often the saying that it doesn't matter how you start, but how you finish, and the Sharks finished this one with emphasis.

They took to the offensive early and often in the 3rd period, and it payed off with a power play goal by that man again, Joe Pavelski, at 4:40. But they weren't done.

After both teams threatened midway through the 3rd, the Sharks had a 2 on 1 breakaway at 12:37 where Dany Heatley wristed a shot at goalie Jimmy Howard which bounced off Howard's chest and in front of the net to be tapped in by Joe Thornton. 4-3.

After that, persistent and pesky defense all but sealed it up for the Sharks as they took the first two games of the series at home.

No doubt, the Sharks have surprised many with how much they have continued to improve their game throughout these playoffs, and how not affected they are by recent disappointing seasons, which many thought they would. The consensus before this series was the Red Wings are too disciplined, too experienced, and too good for these underachieving Sharks. But looking at these first two games of this series, we haven't seen any of that. The Sharks' defense is playing great, their 2nd tier players are contributing more than the 1st tier, and their goalie is hot right now. The Sharks are peaking at just the right time.

Now, we will see if this carries over to Hockeytown. But the way the Sharks are feeling about their game right now is business as usual, the perfect attitude. They understand what they are doing is large, but they also understand that they belong somewhere further in these playoffs, and that they are by no means done. With the 1st line starting to sprout legs and walk, maybe this could be the start of something that the Bay Area hasn't seen before with this team.

All the pieces are there, but can they continue. It will be a real test in Detroit, but pulling out one win over there would be huge, the question is can they get that win?

The goal I set for this team so far in this series is win at home. Check. Next goal, take at least 1 of 2 from Detroit in Detroit.

Read More

Sharks Come Out Firing, Get Game 1 Win

Is there any argument as to a better start to the series for the San Jose Sharks? The Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings at The Tank last night by a final of 4-3, giving them a 1-0 series lead.

Coming into the game, it seemed to be a nation-wide consensus that the #1 seeded Sharks appeared to be the underdog in this series, given their history in the playoffs and the way the Red Wings are playing right now.

But for a stretch of 1:19 in the 1st period, the Sharks looked and played like a favorite as they scored 3 goals in that span. This included another goal from that man again, Joe Pavelski, who is quickly losing his nickname of "Little Joe", and adding the "Big Pavelski" to his assortment of names. He would finish with 2 goals and an assist, including the deciding goal on a 5 on 3 powerplay at the start of the 3rd period.

But back to the jaw-dropping 1st period. For that 1st period, mostly the 1:19, the Sharks looked unstoppable like a team that was prepared, like a team that is the #1 seed in the playoffs, like a team that belongs there.

But you didn't think that would last long, did you? I sure did. Maybe that was what I wanted to happen or maybe that was because of what should have happened, but looking back, there was no way the Red Wings were going to throw in the towel after that 1:19. It would have been nice, but just simply was not going to happen. They are too good of a team for that, and don't expect in any of the other games in this series.

The Red Wings quickly rebounded and put up 2 goals before heading into the 2nd intermission. But back to the Big Pavelski, who again proved he is the best player going on this Sharks team, at least for these 2010 playoffs. He scored on that same 5 on 3 power play and the Sharks had another multi-goal lead. But you didn't think that would last did you? Well I did...again. The Red Wings would score another goal within minutes of Pavelski's goal, and the game was on yet again.

After that, it was a race to the finish, and the finish seemed like forever if you were a Sharks fan. The Sharks seemed to fall back on their aggressiveness in the 3rd and hoped to win by scoring those 4 goals, or so it appeared. But the defense kicked in and Evgeni Nabokov made clutch saves as the Sharks were able to hold off the Wings and get the win.

Although the Sharks won this game, the impression was evident that the Red Wings were the better team, except for that 1:19 of the 1st period. Give it up for the Sharks, though. They came out firing, and that payed off. The Wings were caught off-guard and were not able to stop the Sharks, whose 1st line finally showed up. That was one of the keys to this series, wasn't it? The 1st line? Dany Heatley had a goal and Joe Thornton made his first contribution to the 2010 NHL Playoffs with an assist. All this minus Patrick Marleau, who should be ready for Sunday's Game 2.

The Sharks got Game 1, but there is no doubt this series will go the distance. First priority for the Sharks: Come out with the same fire, and win Game 2 on home ice.

Read More

Game On: Sharks vs. Red Wings Series Preview

So the San Jose Sharks get the series no one wanted to happen. The Sharks will play the Red Wings in the Conference Semifinals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Game 1 starting on Thursday at The Tank.

These two teams have met numerous times before in the postseason, but no one need mention what the Sharks record is in Conference semifinals or even how the Red Wings have faired against the San Jose Sharks in previous seasons.

This series has a different feel to it. The only stat lines that need to be mentioned are the ones pertaining to this season. The Sharks have the #1 seed in the Western Conference, the Red Wings have the #5 seed, the Sharks are playing some of their best hockey of the year, and so are the Red Wings. Game on.

Make no mistake, the Detroit Red Wings are only the #5 seed in the West because of injuries to their premiere players. This is a top 3 team in the West, maybe the best. We got to see that when they were healthy down the stretch, going 16-3-2 after the Olympic break.

Off the top of my head, I see at least one advantage for the Sharks. Jimmy Howard is a rookie goalie. The bad news: he is a finalist for Rookie of the Year.

The Red Wings are skilled defensively and have the players to score anytime they want. If the Sharks are to succeed, they will need help from not just the Joe Pavelski Line, as we have come to know it, but the 1st line as well. After all, they are the Canadian top line. If the 1st line has a series like they had against the Avalanche, granted they were hit with injury... but I dont't even want to think about it.

The main thing is that Evgeni Nabokov needs to continue to stop everything in sight, and the Sharks need to play with the same high energy that we saw in the last several games of the 1st Round. If they can limit their mistakes as well, that would be most beneficial, as the Red Wings are patient and take full advantage of the opposing team's mistakes.

In most people's minds, the Sharks are the underdogs. This could work in the Sharks' favor, or maybe it won't. But the Sharks have not faired well these last couple of seasons being the favorite, so maybe a change of rank will help.

The Sharks went 0-3-1 againgst the Red Wings this season, but that means nothing now. This is the 2nd season where everything gets turned around. Where #8 seeds can actually have a legitimate chance at beating the #1 seed, both in the West and the East. The Sharks main concern, first and foremost, win Game 1.

Read More

Sharks Get Huge Win in OT

How nerve-racking was that? Knowing that the Sharks were down 2-1 in the series, knowing that rarely do teams come back from a 3-1 deficit, and knowing how well Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson was playing, how could you not?

The San Jose Sharks beat the Avalanche in overtime in Game 4 last night, evening the series and heading back to the Bay Area with a sigh of relief. Joe Pavelski scored top shelf on the goalie Anderson in overtime, the only puck that had got past Anderson since the first minute of the 1st period.

Seeing how well the Sharks have played in these last three games, it is about time they come out with a win, and this one is a big one.

But the big story was Dan Boyle. 48 hours after his blunder in Game 3, which after further video review was not his blunder at all, Boyle scored in the first minute of the 1st period to put the Sharks up 1-0. Sweet relief for Boyle who was visibly down on himself for the past 48 hours. Also, sweet relief for the Sharks as they went 0-6 on the power play in Game 3, but scored on the power play in the first minute.

Boyle's goal would fuel the Sharks for the rest of the period as they were no doubt the better team in the 1st period. They were playing like they had played during the games before, except this time they got some points for their effort. The Sharks were scrappy on defense, they got to every puck, and the Avs had no chance on any of their shots taken on Evgeni Nabokov.

The 2nd period was a different story. The Avs came out firing on all cylinders and the Sharks were put on the defensive. Avalanche center Paul Stastny scored on the power play at 3:27 and the game was tied.

The Sharks looked tired walking into the dressing room after the 2nd period and to top it off, Anderson looked like he was at the top of his game yet again. But it felt like equal momentum for both sides as they went into the 3rd period.

Dany Heatley, who sat out Game 3, was visibly tired and not 100% throughout the game, and it showed in the 3rd period. Anderson for the Avs continued to stop everything in sight and the Avs were quicker than the Sharks who seemed to be praying for the dressing room down the stretch of the 3rd.

The game went to overtime and after brilliant saves by both goaltenders throughout the first half of the period, Pavelski finally scored on a lightning fast wrister that sailed top-shelf on Anderson giving the Sharks the win.

You can argue that the Sharks got away with one here, but after all this team has been through in this series, the Sharks will take whatever they can get. In my opinion, the Avs won 2 of the 3 periods, with the overtime period going to the Sharks. Anderson played the way he has played since the start of Game 3 and grabbed 43 saves, some standing on his head. Nabby grabbed 33 saves as well and he continues to be reliable in these playoffs for the Sharks.

This win was much needed for the Sharks and now they return back to San Jose with the home-ice advantage and will be welcomed with open arms in the HP Pavilion.

A couple things need to happen for the Sharks. Heatley needs to get healthy. Even though he played no part on the power play last night, he is a key part to the success of the Sharks getting the puck in the back of the net. Had they had him on the ice in Game 3, we'd be talking about a 3-1 lead for the Sharks. Also, where is Patrick Marleau and the rest of the Canadian National Team's 1st line? They've disappeared. Maybe the rest of the Sharks team is good enough to pull them through, but the 1st line is supposed to be the cornerstone of this team, and they have not shown up in this series.

Game 5 in San Jose at the HP Pavilion on Thursday, 7:30p.m.

Read More

Sharks Give Avs 2-1 Lead

Still trying to pick your jaw up after watching that game last night? Yeah me too. The San Jose Sharks lost last night in overtime after The Play We Shall Not Speak Of occurred just 51 seconds into overtime.

It was an absolute heartbreaker for the Sharks who were in absolute control of the game from the start of the 2nd period on, and yet no "W."

The news of Dany Heatley sitting out the game had already put the Sharks behind the 8-ball, and wow could they have used his powerplay skills last night. The final tally of the Sharks on the powerplay was 0-6. But the Heater absence was negated, at least a little, with the loss of Avalanche Milan Hejduk who left the game after colliding with his teammate at center ice in the 1st period.

Still, the Sharks played well, in fact, they played great, they just could not find the back of the net, not once, which happens to be the most important part (And by back of the net, I mean the opposing team's net). The Sharks outshot the Avs 51-17, and 43-8 from the 2nd period on. There is no way to relate those stats to the final score.

It was an absolute grudge match that pinned Evgeni Nabokov against Craig Anderson, with Anderson playing the role of a brick wall in front of the net. There wasn't much Nabby could do. He had a couple of huge saves early, and given the opportunity, probably would have been just as hot as Anderson.

Craig Anderson, win or lose, was terrific. It was a performance in net that not many will forget, and could potentially mark this series and maybe his career. He stopped 51 shots, which is unheard of given that these are his first playoffs. The only way to describe his play last night was that he was in the zone. And the Sharks ran into another hot goalie.

How do the Sharks move on from this? They just do. They have to. They need to go back to the fact that they are playing very good hockey right now. They are aggressive, quick, playing solid defense, and getting shots to the net. Getting the puck in the net like they did in Game 2 was not going to happen last night. Anderson was too good, and the Sharks didn't capitalize on the opportunities in front of the net when they needed to, and that may have been the result of no Heater.

If the Sharks score in overtime and win the game, then there is huge momentum going into Game 4 knowing that they just played excellent hockey for the past 2 games. Up until 51 seconds into overtime, they did. In fact, they ARE playing great hockey, but somehow the series is 2-1 in favor of the #8 seeded Avalanche, and the Sharks will have to try to find someway to put The Play We Shall Not Speak Of out of their minds. Someway.

Read More

Avalanche Take an Early Bite Out of the Sharks

I could have sworn I was watching a Ducks/Sharks game from the first round of the 2009 NHL Playoffs last night. That's how it felt. The San Jose Sharks lost last night to the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 when Avalanche winger Chris Stewart scored off of Rob Blake's skate with a little less than 50 seconds left in the game.

Is this 2009 and before all over again? Probably not, at least I'm not going to say that out loud. Bottom line was the Avalanche defense came to play last night, and the Sharks offense couldn't put the puck in the net. That's it, don't overthink it. In the playoffs, every team brings it every night. That is why it is called the 2nd season. Teams like the Avalanche, who many predicted would not be in this position, have nothing to lose, so they play their hearts out. The Sharks were a victim of that last night.

Sharks fans should be bummed about this, though. After all, the Sharks are the #1 seed playing a team that could not be a more better match-up for them. The Sharks are stronger, bigger, quicker, and more experienced. Then how come they lost so convincingly last night? Sure, the Sharks lost by just one goal, all be it a goal that was scored with 50 seconds left. But the Sharks were a Ryan Clowe "excuse me" goal away from being shut-out.

Credit Evgeni Nabokov with continuing his hot play and stopping 28 shots. But credit Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson even more for stopping all of the weak shots sent his way by the Sharks' offense. The Sharks couldn't get a good opportunity at the goal, and when they did, they couldn't execute it.

The Sharks had 26 shots on net and that is unacceptable for a team that boasts Heatley-Marleau-Thornton. Where were they? They got shots to the net with 8 shots altogether, but none went in, and that seems to be what counts.

Maybe this was a case of a little playoff jitters, or maybe it wasn't, but the the Sharks played last night like they belonged there, when in fact the scoreboard would say otherwise. The Sharks need to play like they are not the #1 seed, because in the playoffs it doesn't matter. As the Sharks franchise knows all too well.

The only thing you can say is tomorrow is another day. I'm not going to call the game on Friday a "must-win," but it would be highly advised.

Read More