Gameday!

Little known fact: on off days the rangers in Jellystone play hockey.

Today's bout kicks off at 4pm Sharks time on Versus, or the radio for those of you not currently receiving VS due to arguments over your money. Arguments in which you're not really allowed to take part. Fun, huh?

Anyway, the Rangers are starting out super hot, having won 7 games on on their longest win streak in several seasons. Must help when you can get hockey advice from a smarter than average bear. (I am really stretching for these this morning, aren't I?) Not that I'm comparing Tortorella to a bear. I think I might actually have a chance against a bear in a fight. Torts, not so much.

I have no idea where I am going with this so I'll stop here. Go Sharks!

News and Notes: We have a surprise for you all! This will (likely) be our last post here at blogger. We're moving! While we haven't officially flipped the switch just yet, BUT, we'll be your new Bloguin Sharks bloggers!Yay!
We'll make sure to post a link as soon as we flip the switch! (which should be later today)

Our first post in our new home. Go here! Go!

GAMEDAY on Earthquake Day (or, in which Gray pontificates and quotes a funny passage)

Today is several things:

Today is GAMEDAY! against the Isles at 4pm Sharks time. (Whoo hockey!)

Today is also Oktoberfest in Campbell. (whoo beer!)

And today is the 20^th anniversary of the Loma Prieta quake. For those who weren't alive or were too young to remember it, the quake was a defining moment in the lives of all those who lived through it. The bridge in shambles, the Cypress Structure pancaked with people inside, the Marina on fire, all things seen when power was returned. That huge aftershock in the middle of the night that scared the crap out of those with already frayed nerves.

I have a t shirt somewhere that commemorates what the rest of the county must have seen as an inconvenient interruption to a World Series they didn't really care to much about but we're watching because it's the World Series. (the A's won that series btw, in case you aren't one of the people still stewing about that)

Other roads collapsed, State Route 1, 17 was a mess for at least a month, and numerous other streets with collapsed buildings or buckled pavement. In short, the quake was a disaster of epic proportions.

Why am I mentioning this? Because today, whether or not the Sharks are playing well come game time, whether or not the D shows up, whether or not Nabby has to try to single-handedly keep his team in the game, no matter what the final score is, remember, it could always be worse.

I've been reading The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell and she has this passage about using historical references to remind herself that it (whatever it happens to be at time) could be worse.

“Though, ever since I went to Salem, I've been keen on 'Gallows Hill.' As in, Being stuck in the Boise airport for ten hours while getting hit on by a divorced man with 'major financial problems' on his way to his twentieth high school reunion is irksome, but not as dire as swinging by the neck on Salem's Gallows Hill.”

I'm going to suggest that if and when the game starts to go south, Sharks fans say “Loma Prieta.” As in, losing a game to the [Insert team name here] is irksome, but not as dire as being in a huge earthquake.

(and I thank Ms. Vowell in advance for not suing me. Assassination Vacation was fantastic btw)

Post Game Recap:

I was at Oktoberfest trying not to spill either or both of my two beers all over my feet during the first period, so, as far as I am concerned, nothing happened until I got into the passenger seat, turned on the car radio and heard this "...and the Islanders go up 1-0." As far as I know, the game didn't start until the 15:12 minute mark of the 1st. This is a theory I have chosen to stick with.

There was some talking about it being a disappointing first on the radio. I can only assume this was because it was so short. This may also explain why Drew was so angry.

Second Period:

Everyone must have been relieved when this period started on time and not with about 5 minutes to go, like the first had.

In all honesty, the first half of the second period is fuzzy. I had been at Oktoberfest and while I wasn't in bad shape by any means, some of the game is a bit foggy. It was weirdly warm and humid out, which didn't help. I'm also a small lass. You do the math. This also tells me that the Sharks weren't skating poorly enough to catch my attention in a negative way. Always a plus.

Anyway, what I do remember are goals clearly are the Sharks' goals. 2 of them.

The first came on the PP from Patrick "Magic" Marleau. (I just gave him that name right now)

The second came from Vesce, his first NHL goal. Whoo!

Apparently, those who were paying more attention than I noted that the play leading his goal started about a half a stride offside. It wasn't called at the time, and I don't think the Islanders challenged anyone about it (going off the SJ feed), so it stands as his first tally.

Anyway, more stuff happens: Nabby makes good saves, Huskins loses the puck to someone, several Sharks end up in the box, Randy and Drew flirt, the period comes to a close.

Third Period:

At this point I realized that the Sharks weren't skating fast circles around the Isles and I was puzzled. Either they Islanders got faster, the Sharks got slower, or it was some combination of the two.

I didn't have much time to ponder this as just 37 seconds in Joe shots the puck into the net.

Let me say that again: Joe Thornton shot the puck. At the net.

Goal 3. Yay! Holy crap! It was also on the Power Play! 2 PPGs! Awesome!

Joe also hit 400 assists tonight. Because when you don't shoot the puck, the least you can do is pass to a guy who will.

Seto scored later in the period, with help from Clowe, putting the Sharks up 4-1.

Clowe later tried to go for the Gordie Howe hat Trick, but miscalculated and fought with less than 5 minutes remaining. Kinda makes getting a goal hard. As far as I could tell, the fight between Clowe and Jackman was developing BEFORE Seto was boarded by Witt. It was just off camera, so it's hard to say for sure, but that was the way Randy Hahn saw it, and he's been watching games longer than I have, so I'll trust him on that one.

Your three stars of the game: 1st Joe Thornton, 2nd Nabby, 3rd, Kyle Okposo who has one of the coolest last names ever, I might add.

GAMEDAY!

This party gets started early, with a nice East coast friendly kick of time of 4pm. Set your tivos, ladies and gentlemen, so you don't miss this one.

Looks like the NHL network will be carrying this as well as CSNCA and the always amazing radio coverage by Jamie and Dan.

In somewhat related news:

First there was Goc Blog. Then came the short lived Mitchell Blog. Now comes SHELLEY BLOG!
Personally, I am hoping he'll throw up a clip of his bar of soap can of beans moment, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

POST GAME RECAP:

Hey look, in the same post for once this season! Whoo!

Well, ok, that didn't go like we wanted it to, but I love watching the Caps. I'm sorry. I just do. I root for the Pens in the post season so I shouldn't like the Caps, but I do. In fact last post season it was hard choosing between them.

Spending half the first on the PK? Not good. In fact it's a recipe for wearing out your dudes. Shirtless Joe said as much in the post game coverage.

But, on the plus side, Nabby was AMAZING and kept it a 1 goal game despite all the PK time.

And then Benn Ferriero SCORES! Whoo! Go kid, go!

Tie game heading into the second.

After that, as the say, the wheels fell off.

Ovie scored two goals in less than 30 seconds. I'm wondering what he said to Nabby in the first. Can anyone lip read in Russian?

In all honesty I sort of half paid attention after that. I've been pretty busy and I was working on wrapping some things up, and the part of my brain that watches hockey was otherwise engaged. Usually I can listen/watch/write fairly well without missing much, but not tonight. I'm tired. What can I say?

However, I did notice that our D was kinda falling apart.

Ok, maybe no kinda.

Nabby was still great, but he's first period performance was repaid with less than stellar work from his D. Not a constant march to the penalty box like the first had been, but they weren't doing him many favors.

A lot of the Sharks looks SLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW. Joe said, in his shirtless interview, they were all gassed after the PK filled first. I'd believe it.

Patrick Marleau doesn't know tired though, and continued to press and fight and nearly score later in the game. He wasn't worthy of the C because...? If nothing else, he's been playing better and faster having had the C taken away from him. Showing everyone what we already knew: he's GOOD.

The Caps pretty much dominated the 2nd and 3rd. Thing is, I kept reminded myself I was a)happy to have hockey back and b)I'm not a Leafs fan. These things lead to things tweet:

I am not going to worry. I'm just going to watch and blog and see where this season takes me


I stand by that. See you all for the next game on Saturday! Go Sharks!

Post Goose Egg Game Recap

Well, that was weird.

I think whoever described it as a chess match during the post game coverage was right. The 'Yotes weren't there to win so much as they were there to shut down the Sharks. They played for a stalemate, essentially. And rather successfully too, I might add.

Obviously both sides got lucky and the goalies were both en fuego last night. It was crazy. Goaltenders' duel. Like a pitchers' one but with less baseball.

Last night's game felt like 2. It was odd. It wasn't as if players weren't moving, it just felt slow.

We spent a lot of time in our own zone. The 'Yotes were also more aggressive then I have seen them be in awhile.

So uhm, next time can we play on a night that Tippet has off? Thanks.

On the amazing side of the game was Nabby. Both goalies were, of course, brilliant, but Nabby plays for the team I was rooting for. Sorry Bryz! He was like super save city. And that behind the back, behind the net catch? Someone give that man a MLB contract. If you were waiting for the return of unbeatable robot Nabby, he was on the ice last night.

At some point in the third, I confessed to Odin (our kind host over at Five for Howling), that not only was I dead tired (implying that I was also quite ready to hit the hay rather than watch the rest of the game. That rarely ever happens) I also had a sense that the night would end with me being disappointed, e.g. a Sharks loss either in OT or the SO. I don't think he believed me until his Coyotes won in the shootout, though.

It just felt like the type of night where the puck wasn't going in, and wouldn't. Not in regulation, anyway. Perhaps in OT but I saw that being far more likely for the 'Yotes given their extended periods of pressure in the Sharks zone for most of the game.

I didn't actually think the game was that bad, just a tad slow paced, and obviously with a different ending than I'd have preferred. It was certainly a good challenge for the Sharks to face early on, and Nabby shined. My hope is when we next see the Coyotes, we'll be able to turn the chess match into a game of Battleship, where only the 'Yotes team boat sinks.

GAMEDAY MONDAY!

After a summer like the Yotes had, my respect for this team and its fan base has deepened. (not that that stopped me from referencing a potential move when deciding what to draw for them, however.) The 'Yotes always play very well against the Sharks, spurned on by some magical ability to defeat the team in teal handily on many and sadly memorable occasion. ("Coyote Ugly" is still ugly, a few seasons later) And to come back and play after the uncertain summer the team had is not only commendable but a testament to their desire to stay in AZ. Players didn't run from the team. Keep that in mind.

The game kicks off tonight @ 7:30 on your TV and radio. CSNCA and KFOX have you (mostly)covered. Last game in this early three game home stand for the Sharks. Break out your teal and head downtown. Party is just getting started.

Post Game Recappage

Again we had a slow start. Period one wasn't as sloppy as it was on Thursday, which is an improvement, but it was still sssssssssllllllooooooowwwwwwwww.

Owen Nolan is always like "oh hey guys, nice to be backBOOYAPUCKINYOURNET!"

Nabby was awesome last night. Just fantastic.

Not in relation to the Sharks game last night, but in relation to several others truculent was last night's twitter word of the evening. For example, Leafs fans became very truculent after Toskala let in yet another goal."

Jamie McGinn had a HUGE hit. Fantastic

Sykora and Clutterbuck (best last name ever? He's certainly in the running) were taken out by hits from Murray and Marleau and did not return.

Whatever keeps being said between the 1st and the second seems to be doing the trick. The Sharks came out much more energized and together. Someone should start saying whatever that is that's getting them going BEFORE the game too. 40 minutes is a good start, but it ain't 60. And we need 60 full minutes from the Sharks. (hmm, this sounds familiar)

I stand by my nonsensical Brody Brazil comment. If you've seen Brazil, it probably made more sense to you. Or at the very least, as much sense as that movie made. (which imo was none)

It was power play city on the ice from the Wild last night. As soon as the Sharks would get out of the box, they'd be back in it! I'm glad to see the PK was largely successful, but maybe a little less time on the PK next game, eh boys?

Wild went into the second up by 1 and proceeded to score again in the second. Down 2-0 again Shark fans were starting to wonder how this game was going to go. Thankfully Ortmeyer decide to score his first goal as a Shark (and I think I heard first goal in a year?) and brought the Sharks within one.

A few minutes later Patty Marleau tied the game and reminded everyone, once again, why his doubters are perennially wrong.

Dany Heatley brought the Sharks into the lead late in the 2nd on the PP.

9 seconds into the 3rd Patty Marleau struck again and took off and scored, leaving everyone in his dust. yes folks, he IS fast. You've just been too busy pooping all over him the past few seasons to notice. Bret Hedican,( one of several new CSN sports guys), said he thought Patty was in mid season form. I agree. Heart, anyone? Anyone? or are will still going with that tired line about him not having any?

Still getting used to the new commentators on the CSN side. It's great to have more coverage of the Sharks, but much like the team on the ice, the new TV team is still trying to gel. Of course, Bakes, Randy and Drew are doing just fine, but there's a little more time needed to breed familiarity with the rest of the folks. The guy working with Bret, for example, gets really excited and likes to point out when things are a hockey term. Sir, I appreciate your efforts in all honesty, but those of us watching the post game coverage probably either a) already know that or b) will be able to discover meaning via context. That's how I learned, anyway, and it's how a lot of sports fans learn. He is super into it though. Gotta love his enthusiasm!

Teh Todd is no nonsense this year. Wouldn't say he seems meaner, just harder and more determined to succeed.

GAMEDAY!

I'm not too sure if trap jokes are still valid with a new man at the helm for the Wild, but why waste the chance for a good joke, eh? It will be interesting to see where Todd Richards has taken the Wild so far.

Game kicks off tonight at 7:30pm (Pacific)on CSNCA and the radio. I think we really do have a half hour preview leading up to broadcast but I'm not sure if that's on CSN or CSNCA. Still trying to figure out the ins and outs of the channel switch.

In related news, it came out yesterday that Joe Ike, long time in house voice of the Sharks, was let go due to a crappy economy. He's been replaced by Danny Miller, the in game/ intermission activities guy. You may voice your (polite and well written)disagreement with this move by using the contact info on this page. Best bets is likely business/other, but broadcast might work too. If your a season ticket holder and are upset by this move, please contact your account representative and (politely) let them know. We understand this was an economical motivated decision, but many of us are upset by the move to consolidate jobs by removing a man who many of us feel is synonymous with Sharks home games. I appreciate that this is a boon for Danny Miller, but he's no Joe Ike.

By rights, if you like Danny Miller in this position, by all means, also let the Sharks know. But I, for one, much prefer Ike's calls. I was looking forward to them this season.

Post Game Recap!

GAMEDAY!

Pregame rally starts at 5pm right next to the Tank. Game starts at 7:30. Be there, or at least be watching on TV. CSN's various incarnations have all kinds of talking head chatter leading up to game time.

Post Game Recap:


Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!


Always nice to win the home opener, especially against a team that's been spoiling those for folks.

It wasn't a sure fire thing in the first though. The Jackets were swarming and the Sharks looked pretty bad. Slow, lost, not communicating, sloppy...it was a bad scene.

We all went into the first intermission down 1-0 to the Blue Jackets and it was looking like perhaps, this night might be spoiled for Sharks fans. There was even booing when the team screwed up.The natives? They were extraordinarily restless.

Nabby was Nabby. Some great saves and then some moments that stopped your heart for other reasons entirely. Like when he PASSED THE PUCK IN FRONT OF HIS OWN EMPTY NET OMG aldjlajfklsajjg;ogergjldg

yeah, yeah that was an intense moment.

I want to type more to recap this but my brain is like;jadjalfsj;afa;skflshattricklskjdksajfhattrickkkdjakdksajoehad4assistskdjsakdskakjfbrokenassistrecordfortheteamjdksjdsklkf. Allow me to try and compose my thoughts....*ahem*

For the Jackets, Nash (of course, dude is dangerously good and totally pwned poor Demers), Chimera (it was a nice shot too. Tied the game up at 2 a piece) and...Raffi Torres.

We don't like Raffi Torres.

Second period saw a couple good fights. Clowe went nuts on Blunden, and Blunden left the ice with a nasty looking cut on the head. Clowe left for a bit for some hand repairs, but both returned later in the game. (At least I THINK Blunden did. I know Clowe did)

A few minutes later Frazier (Not Kyle) McLaren had an odd bout with Dorsett in which his arm got caught in his jersey and he couldn't get it out. For some reason the refs didn't stop the fight, so it continued as a weird grabbing battle which eventually ended with Not Kyle managed to free his bound arm and started hitting Dorsett.

I believe after the 4th Sharks goal (4 of the 6 came in the second) the pulled Mason and put in Giron. Did you know he was with the Pens last year? We apparently missed that.

what happened to Joe Ike?! Why is Danny Miller doing the in game announcing? And why can't he read!? Look, I'll be the first to admit I can't type (or apparent edit), but I'm just a random Jill schmo with a computer and opinions. He was epic fail ladies and gentlemen, epic fail. I'm sure he'll improve but we want Joe Ike back!

Mike Cvik did not call any phantom headbutts. JoePa wasn't playing.

JR was in attendance in the lower bowl in a nice fancy box seats. He got an ovation from us fans when showed on the jumbo tron. <3 U JR. Love the shirt JR. Loved it.

At some point poor Demers, already horribly out skated and played by Rick Nash, was shoved by Nabby in order to clear up space. I am of the opinion that he shoved him and shouted "Dis MAI Crease!" (little known fact, Nabokov speaks interwebs)

Ok, I'm going to leave it there for the night and add some more tomorrow, with any luck. My throat is sore from cheering, but I love it.

Go Sharks!

Gameday!

Kicking off tonight @ 7:30pm on CSN-CA with your lovely hosts, Randy and Drew! Jaime and Dan have the radio, as always. I believe Nabby will be in net tonight, but don't quote me on that. Joe Pa is out with an injury, which sucks, so expect to see Patty when JoePa would normally be when the second line rolls out tonight.

I haven't had a chance to see the Kings yet this season, and based off how the Avs have been playing, I'm not willing to make any predictions as to how tonight's affair will go.

Anyone see the Canucks get their butts handed to them by the Blue Jackets last night? Second period was 3 goals on 3 shots. "LuonGod" (as Mina's brother calls him) was pulled and Raycroft finished the game for him. He actually looked pretty good. You figure that one out.

Post Game Recap:
Will be posted by tomorrow afternoon. Fortunately or un, I, your humble recapper, am current busy with more pressing matters. Nothing bad, just a bit more important. The recap will be up tomorrow because of this.

Alright! Let's get this thing started, shall we?

First, The Good:

Sharks Power Play was on FIRE! Yeah! 4 stright PPGs, baby.

Heatley got his first goal as a Shark. Now people can stop with the "when we he score" nonsense and go back to getting on Joe's case for not SHHHOOOOOOTING THE PUUUUCCCCKKKKKKK.

Patty Marleau, Patty Marleau, Patty Marleau.

Despite the outcome the Sharks came back from a four goal deficient. They could have folded and given up, but they fought back. For a team that's so often accused of not having any heart, I'd say they showed a lot of it last night.


The Bad:

The Sharks 5-on-5 play was pretty stunted. It couldn't get anything going. Passes with anything but crisp, they players didn't seem to be connecting or communicating and there were a decent number of turnovers to the guys in the black jerseys. You know, the Kings?

The D was asleep at the wheel. A few shining moments, but for the most part they looked pretty terrible last night. I realize we do have new defensive parings to deal with, so I'm willing to give them all more than 3 games to sort out their issues, but last night's performance was pretty rough. Those first 3 goals against were ALLL failures in FRONT on Nabby.

Once Greiss let in that terrible goal by Purcell, the Sharks deflated. Not that I blame them, but that 5th goal was the game ender. All the momentum from scoring 4 straight to come back immediately fled the room.


The Ugly:



That goal is going to go into the new video enhanced dictionary next to the definition of the word "ugly". Your team has just come back from a 4-0 deficit and you let THAT in? UGLY.

Ryane Clowe was so pissed by his team's performance that as he walked off the ice after receiving a 5 minute major for a fight, he slammed his helmet to the ground and yell what I can only guess was an obscenity that starts with the letter F and and with K. The fans surrounding him seems amused by this, and OF COURSE it lead to jokes about the playoffs. Personally, I think the early playoff references are the real ugly, but that's just me.

A lot of people started to crap all over Nabby about letting in 4 goals. Let me say this as clearly as I can: 3 of the 4 were NOT ON HIM.
I'm all for blaming the goalie when they suck (see Greiss, Thomas), but when the team in front of them is laying an egg, they need to be called on it.


THE FANS.

Seriously. It was like the clouds had opened up and they were raining all over the poop parade. It was GAME 3 and people were acting like it was a late season bout. Obviously, last year's post season wounds still run very deep, and people are reacting to this new season as if it was an extension of the old. By the tone of some of the comments, you'd think the season was already over.

The Sharks are 3 games in. The team changed quite a bit over the summer and you can't expect them to all have clicked and settled into their new roles or a new system just yet. Sure, last season the Sharks were on a tear early. The opened by winning 4 straight, and taking 8 of their first 10 games. But that's not the norm.

The season before (2007-2008) The first 10 games went as follows*:
1 Oct 04 '07 EDM O 00-00-01 1
2 Oct 05 '07 VAN W 01-00-01 3
3 Oct 07 '07 COL L 01-01-01 3
4 Oct 10 '07 CHI W 02-01-01 5
5 Oct 13 '07 BOS L 02-02-01 5
6 Oct 15 '07 VAN W 03-02-01 7
7 Oct 18 '07 DET L 03-03-01 7
8 Oct 20 '07 NSH W 04-03-01 9
9 Oct 22 '07 CGY W 05-03-01 11
10 Oct 26 '07 DET L 05-04-01 11

*taken from here

2006-2007 started a tad better, but it wasn't a whirlwind:

Oct 5 W 5-4OT
Oct 7 W 2-0
Oct 9 W 4-1
Oct 12 L 4-6
Oct 13 W 6-4
Oct 17 W 2-0
Oct 19 W 5-1
Oct 21 L 1-4
Oct 23 W 3-0
Oct 25 L 1-2

2005-2006. Look at the stats, the lost all but 2 games in November. October wasn't much better.
Wed, Oct 5 L 2-3
Fri, Oct 7 L 3-6
Oct 8 W 7-6
Oct 12 W 4-1
Oct 15 W 4-3
Oct 17 L 2-3OT
Oct 19 L 1-6
Oct 21 L 1-4
Oct 22 L 1-2
Oct 26 W 5-4OT

So you see, it's a LITTLE early to start making judgements on how the rest of the season will go. Is it a bumpier start than last year? Yes. But that's all it is.
Let's hold off a bit on the doom and gloom, alright?



And now, as promised, a section on Jamie Baker's hair.

I am SO GLAD someone gave him a comb! Last year, Jamie Baker was on camera all season with hair that pretty much looked like he'd rolled out of bed, put on a suit, and come to work. It was everywhere. All over the place. He doesn't even have a lot of it and it always managed to look extremely unkempt. It was honestly rather impressive just how bad it looked at times. Sticking up here and there, generally being all over the place while everyone else looked rather nicely coiffed in comparison.

Now his commentary and knowledge made up for the distraction of his unruly locks, but I started wondering if I should mail him a comb or something mid season because nothing seemed to be being done to help him. Did he not have a comb, perhaps? He may have lost in somewhere. It happens. Perhaps he thought the bed head look was stylish. It was in a few years back for the ladies, maybe he was trying to start a new trend amongst men.

I can see that his hair has some curl to it, and I know how hard curly hair is to control, but I'm so happy he FINALLY tamed it this season. It looks super good, Mr. Baker. SUPER GOOD! No longer will I mistake you for a man who comes to work very tired all the time.

Gameday! Duck Soup, Anyone?

This show gets on the road tonight @ 7pm on CSNCA with your lovely hosts, Randy and Drew. Jamie and Dan will also, as always, be provided us with fantastic radio coverage.
I know there's some issues about the availability of CSNCA (to put it mildly), but hopefully until everyone's providers figure this mess out (TV shouldn't be this hard!) you all will find a place to watch, or at the very least, listen.

I know everyone is still all pissed about Thursday, but to help you move on, Reader Emily created a fantastic video. You should watch it.



Really Post Game Recap:

So I didn't get to see the game, as I was in places I was at last night, while cool, only were showing college ball. From the highlights I saw, it looked like last night's game was good. Like super good. Love it when we beat the Ducks.

Our rooks all get their first points in the same game AND they all come from Ferriero's 1st NHL goal. Awesome!

Patty's shorty was so amazing Mina called to tell me about it. It was a thing of beauty.

ZOMG Joe shot the puck! ZOMGZOMZOMG!

Seto was like "watch this!" and Hiller was like "wha....dammit."

I missed Randy and Drew, and while I only got a bit of them in the highlights, it was really awesome to hear them calling a game again.

Kinda confused (having not see the game) about why Teemu got the 2nd star when Whitney scored the Ducks only goal of the evening. Anyone have a report on his performance?

The team looked faster as a whole, but like I said, I only got to see the highlights, so I'm just guessing based off those and the recaps I read.

GAMEDAY!!!!!

This thing kicks off TONIGHT! On Versus @ 7, but if I had to guess I'd say the VS will also be airing the pregame festivities as the Avs honor Joe Sakic for being, well, Joe Sakic. Come for the jersey retirement, stay for the game. It's gonna be good.

Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Hockey is back, baby! Strap yourselves in folks! It's going to be one helluva ride!

Post Game Recap:

Anderson is a beast!

Our D didn't show up. Don't know where they were but their less skilful, more inefficient clones showed up instead. "You idiots! These are not them! You've captured their stunt doubles!" So true.

Patty was the best looking player in white and teal on the ice tonight? Letters? Letters? Patty don't need no stinking letters!

It was discussed and decided that the Sharks were beaten by Sakic's right testicle, while the left had more valor than the word valor itself. Powerful stuff.

The 1st line needs some time to gel, that is for sure.

Heatley missed a shot that should have gone in with the most terrific whiff of the night. OY!

Did I mention how Anderson is a beast, cos he is.

Nabby didn't play well, but he didn't play badly, either. He had no help from his D and the Avs walked all over his net.

Pretty poor performance overall by the Sharks, BUT , Patty was great, Demers and Ferriero played well in their first NHL game.

I didn't even know Huskins was ON THE ICE until the VS guys mentioned him. Not sure if that's
good, bad, or entire inconsequential.

But despite the loss, hockey is back, and that make me happy.

GO SHARKS! And kick some Duck butt on Saturday!

Canucks Get Medieval on Sharks, Win 6-2

Greiss looked TERRIBLE. Absolutely TERRIBLE. He moved slow across the net, had a slow glove, was out of position a bunch and was hesitant to play the puck. Half the time I don't even think he knew were the puck was. I really wanted him to do well, but based on what I saw tonight, combined with the few other performances I have seen from him, I remain less than confident about his ability to be our regular backup. (happy to have him prove me wrong. Very, very happy for him to do that)

The D looked like doggy poo. Terrible. It just wasn't clicking.

HI NOTE! tried to fight, and was only half successful. But that's ok because Fraizer McLaren was more than willing to give a clinic on how to beat the crap out of some guy, and look mean doing it.

Clowe nearly had this super awesome behind swirly spinning blind shot at the net goal, but it BARELY missed.

McGinn is awesome. All love McGinn!

Patty looked good too. And he got a nice round of applause from the crowd several times. SJ still loves Patrick Marleau.

Jody Shelley went to start a fight and all he got was 2 minutes for instigating, 5 for fighting, a 10 min misconduct and a game misconduct. Also included was a crappy t-shirt.

Stalock looked good, and the team looked much more confident in front of him. It's like they can sense when the goalie's mind is weak. Fin think?

It was nice when the Sharks finally decided to play with about 5 minutes left. They looked pretty good then.

Patty, JoePa and Blake all had an A on their jerseys.

Ehrhoff got a goal and an assist. Where was this Ehrhoff when we had him and how do the Canucks get him to finally realize where he net is? Did they give him a better map? Install GPS? I didn't boo him when he got a star, and I'm disappointed people did. He was traded. He didn't leave us, we told him to go. Don't boo the man. He kinda had a smirk when he heard it. Fans did, however, cheer him when his name was announced for the starting line up. That was nice.

The stat sheet suffered from lack of name fail. We had NEARLY everyone on the Canucks shoved on there (Ehrhoff was a noted exception, though he did play and now has the number 5) and maybe half the Sharks roster. And it wasn't the half that was playing.


But you know what?

It's the preseason. Try again tomorrow, boys!

Conference Finals, Day 6. 3-0?

Today @ 4:30

VERSUS HD, CBC HD, RDS HD
Pens lead series 2-0

I thought this game was on at noon, but it's not. That would be tomorrow's game. I should have realized that TPTB would not find Pens/Canes anywhere near as sexy as Hawks/Wings.

Recapping the past:

Mina and I watched the first period of last night's game together. She arrived just in time to see the Hawks second goal and that ridiculous hit on Havlat. Dude was out before he hit the ground. Passing out with your eyes open is creepy. Having that happen with people above you who are wearing sharp blades on their feet? Dangerous. Someone smacked him in the head with their stick as he lay there, though it was unintentional and part of the scrum above him the occurred after he was hit.

To summarize our reaction to the hit, Kronwall left his feet. Fighting on top of the unconscious guy= NOT SAFE!

Even though Havlat should have been looking up, there's no excuse for leaving your feet. If he stayed firmly planted on terra firma, it's a clean hit. Brutal, but clean. Mina points out that while it was not interference, it was charging. Neither of us had a problem with the penalties handed out.

Like any fan would, we wondered what the reaction would have been from the media had Havlat taken out Kronwall.

You can view the hit here and make your own opinions. I just tried to watch Quennville's post game press conference reaction, and the audio for another Hawks video that wasn't even open took over and I got a very tinny, stuttering rendition of "Ring My Bell" cutting in and out between the press conference. The NHL video guys might want to look into not having Anita Ward and Joe Quennville playing dueling banjos. Just a thought.

Anyway, after that mess, we met up with some folks for dinner. We we got the the place of dining, the game was 3-0 Hawks. At some point I looked behind me and realized the 3-0 had become a 3-3. We were all floored, but sure enough, the Wings had scored 3 goals in the second.

Not really being able to easily watch the game from where we sat, we went on with dinner, Sharks talk, and general rostercourse when someone mentioned the game had gone to OT. Several of us turned around in time to see fans and Blackhawks alike hugging. Mina proclaimed the game winning goal to be the result of "...what we call a defensive breakdown, ladies and gentlemen." And so it was the the Blackhawks took game three in OT to make the series 2-1.

Reflecting On A Season: by MyMcLife

I saw this last night. I have a lot to say about the end of the season, but I think MyMcLife (of Fear the Fin fame) does a great job of summing up a lot of what I'd like to say, with more eloquence and an appropriate dash of profanity.

---

I am an optimist by nature. It really sucks sometimes, having that rug of hope pulled out from under you. After the second period tonight, I pulled out my pessimist hat and expected the team to lose. Not because I wanted them to, but because of that whole self-preservation thing. I sometimes take losses way too hard. So that’s why, after this game, I’m a bit more level-headed than I normally would be. That, and I swore up a storm when Corey Fucking Perry scored and got a lot of my anger out there.

We came into the playoffs with a whole lot of expectations, expectations that I’m not quite sure were earned. A rookie head coach was brought in, with his completely new offense-based system. The Sharks have been operating under a defense-based system under the Ron Wilson years, so the new style of play was completely different. They didn’t know how to use the system when the offense wasn’t clicking, when there were 9 guys out with injuries, when it seemed like nothing was going their way. And McLellan, for all of his experience being an assistant coach with Detroit, was still trying to learn how to change up the system a bit to get the Sharks rolling again, as well as how to utilize all the players with their difference strengths.

Admit it – we were spoiled in the 2008 portion of the season, when it seemed like the Sharks could never lose unless go up against a hot goaltender. All that talk about NHL records and the possibility of a Stanley Cup really got into our heads – or at least it did into mine. At that point, we were on the top of the world – had yet to lose in regulation at home, lost maybe 4 games in regulation, could score goals like there was no tomorrow, etc. The Sharks came back to earth, and yet we were still high on the first part of the season, back when no team really understood that yes, it was the Sharks that had that high-powered offense.

And as for more positives – Marleau really shined this year. He slowed at the end, but he really bounced back from last season and showed why he was the #2 overall pick in the 1997 draft. Setoguchi emerged as a legit goal scorer in the first half of the season, and in the second half showed a reckless abandon dedicated to hitting everything that moved. Not a bad guy to have on the team. The entire second line (Michalek-Pavelski-Clowe, if anybody has yet to have it memorized by now) showed how deadly they were on both the power play and the penalty kill. Pavelski in particular has really emerged as a great defensive forward that scores clutch goals. And that entire line has defied all criticism from previous seasons and often showed up as the most physical line on the ice, getting into scrums and not taking shit from anybody. Boyle, after many doubting his value with regards to his $6.67 million/year for 6 years contract, made me wonder how we ever won without him. The Sharks/Wings game with the Sharks winning 6-5 was one of the greatest regular season games I have ever seen. And Staubitz provided me with my favorite fight of all time.

Oh, and we won the freaking President’s Trophy, giving variety to the banners hanging at the Tank. That was pretty nice, as well.

Yeah, we flamed out in the playoffs, but just remember – when Ron Wilson first took over as head coach, the Sharks missed the playoffs. The next season? Western Conference Finals. Do it.

Playoffs, Round 1, Sharks V Ducks: Game 6

Tonight @ 7:30pm
CSNBA-HD, VERSUS HD (joined in progress), CBC HD, RDS HD
Don't miss this game. Catch the great Jamie and Dan on the radio if you can't watch it on TV.
All of the San Jose will be watching.

This is it. All or nothing, do or die, jump or jerk off, my way or the highway, put up or shut up. It's all on the ice tonight.

Go Sharks!

AND...........

We're out!

Welll have more later, but I'd like to thank the Sharks and all the fans (well, all you none whiny ones anyway!), and Randy, Drew, Jamie and Dan, for making this a most excellent season. I will miss watching my boys in teal on tv and will eagerly be awaiting their return for pre season hockey in September.

Stick with us readers. We'll be posting art and covering whatever madness happens in the off season, as well as keeping tabs on the rest of the playoffs. You didn't think we'd stop just because the Sharks are out, did you?

Thanks for a helluva season, boys!
Go Sharks!

Playoffs, Round 1. Sharks V Ducks, Game 5

Tonight @ 7pm
CSN-HD, VERSUS-HD, KFOX with the great Jamie and Dan
Every TV in San Jose and more spread out over a teal web covering the entire Bay Area will be watching.
Don't miss this

We do get disappointed in the Sharks sometimes. Sometimes Mina and critique them, sometimes we slap our foreheads at games and wonder why they play like they've never seen a puck before. But what I won't do is throw these guys under the bus. Sure game 4 sucked, but this isn't game 4 anymore. It's game 5. That's a whole new ballgame. Whatever thoughts you had after that game, toss them out. Time to put that junk in the trash. Nothing's impossible. A win tonight would shock the world. Do it! Go Sharks!

Post Game Update:
Helluva game tonight. It's currently 2:30 am, I have no voice, and I just got back from an awesome night at TCY's. I have apparently been put in charge of chronicling it, which I must confess is quite the challenge. I will do my best, but nothing will capture the evening in a way that does it proper justice. Due to the lateness of the evening, the recap will come later today.

Go Sharks!

Playoffs Day 9, Round 1: Sharks v Ducks

Today @ 7:30pm

VERSUS, CBC, RDS, CSN-BA, all HD
Also catch Jamie and Dan on the radio
Duckies lead 2-1

In some ways it feels like the fate of the universe is being decided tonight. In some ways it's just another game. Unless you have something invested in one of these two teams, you don't understand this series. You don't feel it with intensity. You don't get it.

This isn't 1 v 8, this is Sharks v Ducks. That's a world of difference.

This could be a sad night, or it could be a great night. Either way, enjoy it. A ride like this doesn't come around too often.

No more words. Just do it.

Post Game Recap:

JR's face said it all. Bad game. No idea why. It just was. Passes weren't connecting, no speed, everything felt slower than it should. Disconnected. Not like a playoff game at all. Much more like game 1. Game one felt like a regular season game. So did this.

I can't tell you why the Sharks seemed to shut down tonight, and I'm not going to guess. I don't buy into all those old excuses. Sometimes teams just have a sucky game. This was one was a stinker. But we can't and won't ever know what the guys are thinking, so I'm not going to assume what they do or don't want, what drive they do or don't have, I'm not going to invoke the old argument so Ron Wilson style hockey, playoff choking or any other nonsense. A series is what it is. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's not. A good regular season does not necessarily a good post season make. Suck it up and deal.

If I was JR, you're damn right I'd be upset. But I'm not. So I choose to be quietly disappointed. Tomorrow's another day though, and I'm not going to let tonight ruin tomorrow.

A friend said it best when he said the following, "This is disappointing, but come on people. We're not Habs fans." Truer words may never have been spoken.

Bobby Ryan is a beast. A beast who apparently has it written in his contract that every time you mention his name you have to mention that he was drafted right after Sidney Crosby. That's going to be all I remember about him 50 years from now. That fact has been bored in my mind.

Turnover are bad, mmkay?

The 15 minute interlude with the broken glass was weird. Randy and Drew ran out of material after about 7 minutes. They kept going like the troopers they are. Classic, classic stuff.

Out of sheer curiosity, how noticeable was the earthquake that hit during intermission? For you non CAers, and 4.0 is nothing to write home about. I just wonder if the fan noticed.

Mark Smith looks very different with a) long hair and b) one color hair. He joined the crew for the pre and post game coverage. Hai Smitty!

The three stars: (3)Wisniewski (2) Hiller, (1) Bobby, "drafted 2nd behind Sidney Crosby" Ryan

Well folks, it's do or die on Saturday. Be there or be by your TVs. It should be a doozy...or not. But either way, it will be a game, and it may be the last.

It's not over until Nabby tells you it's over. Go Sharks.

Do it!

Tonight @ 7:30pm
VERSUS, CBC, RDS, all HD
Duckies lead series 2-0

The season begins today. The second season. The season our men in teal fought through 82 games to get to. The season we fans spent 82 games watching, waiting, and hoping to get to.

Tonight will either see the Sharks sitting in a prettier position, down 2 games to 1, with the proven ability to steal a game on Anaheim's home ice. Or they'll be down 3 game to none, with only the potential for a game 5 as the last remaining gleam of hope in an otherwise darkening sky.

This could be the second to last game you watch the boys in teal play this year, so enjoy it. No whining, no crying, not pouting, just enjoy it for what it is. It will be a long summer drought when this is over.

Maybe today will be the beginning of the end to a brilliant season, or maybe it will be the first step on the road to 16 wins.

Go Sharks!

Reader Emily is back with another fantastic video. Watch this before game time. Watch it a lot.

Post Game Recap:

EPIC WIN!

Whoooooooo!

I'll provide a more in depth recap once I finish running around like a madwoman. Whoo! Or not, I don't know. Whoooooo!

Boyle is a beast!

3 Stars:(3) Blake (who made a butt save of sorts), (2) Alternate Captain Elbows, (1) Danny Boyle

Playoffs Day 5, Round 1: Sharks v Ducks

Tonight @ 7pm
Earlier start than normal folks
CSN-HD, VERSUS, Radio (KFOX), Tank, Stanley's, probably the Brit too
Duckies are up by 1

Let's do this. Go Sharks!

Post Game Recap: Coming Monday! Why? Because I'm tired and want to sleep. Just a hint, if you're expect me to say the sky has fallen, you'll be waiting awhile.


What a beach day today! My AC is making strange noises so the beach might get my vote. Maybe it will get the Sharks vote too. Sharks like water, and that water will be cold.


Anyway, on to the game. It's still a bit hazy in my early morning mind but I liked what i saw last night. True, i didn't like the outcome, but I liked the game. It was a good game.

But they lost, Gray! Did you really watch?! OMGTEHSKIESIZFALLIN!

Get grip! The sky isn't falling. The Sharks may have been on the shorter end of the goals last night, but they went down early and came back. They didn't just roll over and die on the ice, they fought all game.

Yes they were having problems getting rebounds and staying in the Ducks' zone on the PP, but they were out hitting the Ducks and not letting them out "grit" them. These Sharks don't lack heart; what they lack is luck.

*PING* is a sound we're starting to hate. We're not the only fan base with that issue, let me tell you.

Now is no the time for the same tired old excuses and whining. Those things don't apply.

I'm sort of glad I don't have tickets to any more games at the Tank this series. I don't need to listen to the sounds of 17,496 people collectively panic. i got to watch last night's game with friends, and 75% of us were pretty upbeat and able to put the game in perspective. The other 25% tried, but she worries.

Hiller has been a beast. He's been the deciding factor in my mind. Without Hiller where would this series be? No clue!

First to FOUR, everyone. FIRST TO FOUR. Not one, not two, FOUR. Philly came back with a force yesterday in game 3. It's not like you're done by virtue of being two games down.

I'm looking forwards to Tuesday's bout. It was a good game last night and I'm thinking will see an even better on in the house of the Ducks!

Go Sharks!

Playoffs Day 1, Round 1: Sharks v Ducks

Tonight @ 7:30 PM. Radio, CSNBA, Tank, Dave and Busters, Stanley's

There are so many things that we could say to summarize this season, this series. To preview it, dissect it, turn it inside out before it even begins. But that's been done already. If you want that, you know where to find it.

All we have to say is: dkfhlfjadae0iprejlf;asd[as'fl;gf;gjk

Ok, Mina has more to say....kinda. In the absence of a super large series breakdown (other than what I just sent to James at Cycle like the Sedins (super late btw...sorry James)), we have scoured the internet for what they have to say about the series. You might think that having people predict the Sharks to move on into the next round is reassuring. You would think wrong....

• The boys at Battle of California have been putting together some awesome work. This is truly the place to go for required reading about the series. Chances are if you read this, you read them, but in case you missed it check out this, this, this, this, and this. And of course, despite being on the outside, Rudy Kelly has his own take on the series.
• The boys at Fear the Fin did pretty much the same thing I am in today's game day post. (Just because they did doesn't mean I won't. :P) Check in there for information and occasional witty comments from Gray and myself.
  
• Puck Daddy breaks down the series with a special appearance from my Internet Hockey Boyfriend Steve Dangle.
• Barry Melrose Rocks and JR have an awesome take on the series.
• The always entertaining crew at Melt Your Face Off have a series preview complete with some rather, ahem, colorful language.
  
• And as always, check out the awesome Mr. Pollak on Working the Corners. He does the hockey gods work.

Post Game Recap:

If you came here looking for chicken little, you're in the wrong place. As far as I can tell, the sky is still firmly anchored inside the celestial globe and while a few stars may fall to Earth from time to time, the rest of the universe has yet to come smashing down upon us.

The Hockey Gods, however, mock us. Mock us with plays that are ever so slightly off. Passes that are half an inch south of crisp. Crossbars and posts that eat goals, and a lack of 5v5 scoring. They mock us by taking away our one goal scoring weapon, the power play, and rendering it lame and useless. They mock us, but perhaps, it's just what we need. For perhaps, all our haughtiness has brought this upon us, much like gravity brought those two tripping calls upon Boyle and Cheechoo.

The level of play was there, the desire was there, but the chances were not. Such is life in professional sports. If you can't take that kind of heat, get out of the kitchen. This is a 7 game series, not one. First to four, not to two. Buckle up kids, it's only going to get rougher. And perhaps, if we're lucky, more awesome.

Go Sharks!