San Jose Sharks' Penalty Kill Growing As A Unit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens Preview & Prediction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is almost identical to San Francisco.

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

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

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

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

X-Factor

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

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

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

Prediction

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

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

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

49ers win 24-20

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dashon Goldson Possible Suspension

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

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

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

Special Teams

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

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

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

Alex Smith

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

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

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

Frank Gore' Injured Knee

Should they start him or not?

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

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

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

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San Jose Sharks Not Shy in Big Games This Season

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

What defines a big game?

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

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

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

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

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

Why the big deal about these big games?

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

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

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

Physical players and speed to boot.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals Preview & Prediction

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

You better believe it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

X-Factor

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

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

Prediction

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

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

49ers win 27-17

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San Jose Sharks: Top Prospects in Their System

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

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

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

The prospects they have now are no exception.

Here are the top prospects of the San Jose Sharks.

5. Matt Nieto

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

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

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

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

4. Tommy Wingels

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

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

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

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

3. Alex Stalock

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

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

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

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

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

2. Nick Petrecki

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

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

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

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

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

1. Taylor Doherty

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

Have I said enough?

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

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

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

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

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Detroit Red Wings Pose Early Season Test For San Jose Sharks

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

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

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

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

And, yet, a game like this means everything.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sharks vs. Wings does not often disappoint.

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