Sharks V Preds, Final Regular Season Edition

Today @5pm, Radio & TV. Yay for games on CSNBA

I have been sitting here trying to come up with some witty analysis for this game, but I can't. Today is unfortunately one of those days where I can't breath (curse you pollen infested air) so I can't really think. So I will just leave you with this: Sharks need to win. Go Sharks!

Post Game Recap:

Ugh.
Really?

It was looking good leading into the second. Sharks were up 2-0 and you could sense more goals coming. The smell of puck hitting netting was in the air. Sadly, it turns out those ghostly scents were coming from behind Nabokov, and not in the comically hilarious yet socially awkward sort of way. The Preds ended up scoring three unanswered goals to win 3-2 in regulation. Whatever the Sharks put on their Wheaties wore off between the first and second.

I ended up trying to cook during parts of the second and most of the third, so I could just hear the play-by-play. I didn't see a lot of it. I had a working theory that since I was cooking during the third last game, and they came back to tie, that might work tonight too. The Sharks much hate chicken donburi.

Douglas Murray nearly booched it big time, but didn't. Which was a plus.

The Preds wanted it more and played for it harder. The Sharks, I don't know where they're heads are but it won't be much of a race for the Pres. trophy is they don't start winning. (as a personal aside, I really don't care about the Pres. Trophy, but it's a nice goal to have. I care about how they do in the playoffs, regardless of home ice advantage. Advantages only matter if you can keep them.)

Anyway, while I am disappointed, I'm not mad. It is what it is and that's all there is too it. Besides, 107 points ain't too shabby. Here's looking to Saturday's game against the....oh, seriously? It's the Coyotes? Maybe I'll go out Saturday night...

Sharks V Preds Post Game Edition

Last night's game was better. I'm not entirely inclined to go along with Jaime Baker's sentiment that it was good, even if he is more qualified than I to make such statements. (OK, he's MUCH more qualified, but rationality isn't part of the fan experience.) There were a few moments in the second and third where I was seriously tempted to lie down and take a nap. Some of this is due in part to my being a tad under the weather and some of it is due to the fact that after the first this game became rather boring. I don't expect 60 minutes of amazing every night but I was hoping the jump and energy we saw from both teams in the first would continue.

Now it wasn't all snore inducing city. The fight in the second was one of the biggest, if not the biggest highlight of the game. There were some comments about Staubitz using hockey as a way to get into MMA. Or boxing. No joke.

There were several moments throughout the game and the OT period when I was pretty sure a Preds goal was going in behind Nabby. Some many plays where you could see it happening but miraculously it didn't. Nabby was on his game last night, despite a few moments where he looked a tad unsteady.

Pekka Rinne was crazy good. I mean crazy good. I really want to make his name into one big word. It feels like you have to call him "PekkaRinne" every time, not just "Pekka" or "Rinne." He just has one of those names that needs to be said as the full set.

What about that goal by Michalek? Pound it towards the net long enough and eventually it will go in, eh Milan? So happy he did that.

Blake's shot was so fast I don't think anyone saw it coming. They just heard it pass the by.

The shorty was ugly. It's not entirely Joe Pa's fault, as the puck took a weird bounce, but ugh.

The other Preds goal pin balled it's way off of 40 guys and in. Madness. How do you even score that? I guess you look for who it hit last?

Overtime was a 5 minute blur of stress and sadness over PekkaRinne's ability to do his job and do it well.

Shootout. Because making me sit through a 7 round one at the Tank last Saturday wasn't enough! It went a little like this: Happy, sad, sad, happy, omg, YAY! Not stressful at all...no.....yeesh!

As with many of you, I assume, I was getting a little giggle out of the feigned incredulity over the numerous questions and discussions about yesterday's (now two days ago) 90 minute meeting.I also enjoyed watching Patty artfully dodge Kate's questions about it, while seeming to give a response. That's your Captain folks. Guy know how to spin it. Drew was quite convinced that one doesn't call a 90 minute meeting with everyone in the hockey department (sans press), all the players and coaches, and the GM unless it's somewhat important. I'm fine with it being none of our business but they needed a better plan then "it was nothing."

Next game is a matinee on Sat at 1pm. Rare for us out here on the West Coast. Try to be up by game time, everyone!

Sharks V Preds, The "What Meeting?" Edition

Tonight @ 7:30 Radio, TV, Tank. Black Armor night tonight.

It's amazing that in this day and age a NHL locker room is still the best place to keep secrets. As was reported by the Sharks website and Working the Corners yesterday, the Sharks scrapped practice in order to have a meeting. What was said, what went on, we don't know. To be honest it's not really our business to know, but we all have this strange desire to be a fly on that wall. Voyeuristic intentions and all that.

Anyway, the hope is that whatever was said will transform itself into a vastly improved performance from the Sharks tonight.There is precedent for this, oddly enough coming after another past disaster in Phoenix.

The Preds themselves are a known enemy. They're frustrating in much the same way that many teams are. They play physical, often get away with some dirty stuff and their goalies all have the power to transform into some god-like force that stops pucks with laser beam eyes.Their goalies win them games. It's ridiculous, but whatever transformitive power gets bestowed upon them by the simple act of being in San Jose, rears its ugly head at the far end of the ice several times a season. This year, at least, San Jose hits back. Fights back too. And, after a meeting like the one they just had, I suspect the Sharks will be in a head pounding mood.

The Preds likely aren't as desperate as the Coyotes, having secured (so far) the 7th spot. In fact, were the playoffs to start today, we'd face them in round one. However, they're going to be hungry to show their long time enemy who's boss. Don't expect this to be an easy game. It's too late in the season for that. Every game left is an all out war. Last team standing wins.

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In other news, allow me to apologize for not getting the two Overheard at the Games up on time. I've been a tad under the weather lately and while it's nothing serious, it has seriously affected my ability to focus and my energy level, making it hard to get things done. Anyway, I hope to have those up for you soon, preferably before the next game I attend.

New topper up!

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Update: Poop on a stick. Clowe's injured.

Also, this. The Todd is not a happy man. The lines, they are a'changing.

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Post Game Recap will come tomorrow. Yours truly needs some serious sleep. Anyway, until then, gaze upon the brutality that was Staubitz V Tootoo.

Post Game Up. Linkage to above.

Shark v Preds, Take 2

Here we are again. Facing the ever annoying Predators. Last game the Sharks took their foot off the gas and let the Preds take home a win. It was also the Sharks first home loss this season. Going into this game, the Sharks have a power play that's finally coming online, scoring coming from everywhere, and the desire to beat the Preds in front of their home crowd.
Mmmmmmmmmm possible payback.

Could this be Greiss' fist start in goal?

Will Ellis let ANYTHING into his net?

Will Arnott once again remind us that's he's annoyingly good, especially against the Sharks?

Tune in at 5pm to find out!

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No one ever wants to see a player get injured. We might not like Arnott on the ice, but we respect him and hope he's alright.

I was a bit miffed at the VERY FEW Nashville fans who booed as most of the Sharks left the ice. You've got a man down, now is not the time to boo the other guys.

In case your wondering, the hit wasn't intentional. Joe and Arnott were flying hard toward the net, and Joe Pa, off balance, nailed Arnott, who was also off balance who sailed over Boucher and into the bottom of the net, head first. Never good no matter how it happens. No need to call for Joe Pa's head though. It wasn't malicious, it was just a terrible series of events. I'd see it the same if it was the other way around.

***UPDATE***
Fear the Fin lets us know that Arnott is alright. Thanks to FTF and On The Forecheck for that news.

POST GAME RECAP: The Minako version

(Gray has a Everest sized pile of laundry to deal with tonight (me, I just ignore my laundry until I run out of clean clothes))

Well my oh my, that was a game wasn't it. It definitely played much closer than one would think a 4-1 game would. It was nice to see the Sharks continue to play hard for most of the game (certainly more of the game than they did in Chicago) minus those few minutes halfway into the 3rd. Nashville certainly played as hard as was expected, but in playing physical they made a lot of mistakes that landed them in the penalty box. There were 3.5 fights which is something Sharks fans are growing to expect from Nashville games.

The power play was still a little sketch after being amazing against the Flames (4 for 9) and very, very good against the Blackhawks (4 for 6). It will be interesting to see which power play is the real Sharks power play: the one of those 2 games or the 16% or so that they had been going at before playing out of their minds. I'm hoping those two games were a sign of good things to come and that this game was an aboration. But I'm probably wrong.

Sharks are off until Saturday when they will unveil their snazy new black third jersey. I will be there with my brother (Ovechkin is pretty much his favorite player so this is an early Christmas present) and since I have the next week off, I should be able to get pictures up soon(er).

Yay Sharks!

Sharks v Preds

Yes, that is a Predator. Why do you ask?

What is it about the Preds that makes Sharks fan cringe? Is it those two post season match ups? The fact that they have played a tad dirty against the Sharks in the past? Is it that fact that their goalies always seemed to have some anti Shark force field around their nets? I'm not sure what it is, but what I am certain of is that there is a bit of a rivalry going on with these team and that tends to lead to interesting hockey games.

The Preds are coming in at 6-7-1, which doesn't really mean anything. Compare that to Dallas at 5-7-2 and then think about how the Sharks played Saturday night. The Coyotes are 7-6-0 for reference. As I said, the stats don't mean much other than each team has won and lost games, albeit at different rates.

Always a show when the Preds come to town, be sure to tune in.

If you didn't catch them yesterday, be sure to read the announcements in the post below.

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Boyle is out tonight. He and his wife welcomed their daughter to the world this morning. Congrats to the Boyles. And the Shelley's who also recently had a baby.

Everyone has poppies on tonight. I'm assuming that's for Veteran's Day. (Armistice or Remembrance Day to our non US based friends) In the US, poppies are more commonly seen around Memorial Day, so, forgive us if we seem a tad confused by their presence.

Seto gets the first goal after 19 shots for the Sharks. They did have a goal waved off earlier in the period after the ref lost sight of it.

There was a 4 on 3 for a bit (which is when the above mentioned puck went in after the whistle) that was kind of awesome.

Ehrhoff was nailed in the faced by a puck, but appears to be ok.

Patty has been doing all he can to get a puck in the net, but Ellis is doing all he can to stop him. He's very effective at his job. He stops 21 shots to end the first.

2nd
Shots are 43-18, but it's a 2-1 game. Math fail.

Blake got the second tally for the Sharks towards the end of the period while on the power play. His goal was answered by shortly after by Arnott, one of my least favorite players, because he's a Shark killer. (nothing personal, sir, you're just annoyingly good against the Sharks) Boucher made a rare bobble while trying to adjust and Arnott was able to get the shot in. Randy Hahn said 5 hole. I'll go with that.

You can tell how much the Sharks are missing Boyle on the power play.

That was a weird second. There was a Sharks power play, 4-4 and Preds power play, all within the same 3.5 minutes.

Someone tried to check Douglas Murray. Hope they had fun with that.

Obviously a lot of good chances for the Sharks, but Ellis has that anti Shark force field going on.

My cat just tried to publish a post. Maybe I should let him handle the third period summary.

3rd

o hai! i gray's kitteh. i r doig dis parte.

preditours skor but was off teh sides by mile. refs no cal it. i dun no y.

tasty sharks skor rite aftr. Seto gets 2nd goal of game.

den, i fights wif mai broddur and miss sum of game.

pucks look nomable but iz not. dis make me hungy. i go take nom break.

den preditours go on teh powa play and skor. booshay try to save but fal down and it go in off rebownd. I no blames him. he no has cat like reflckses.

tasty sharks go on powa play but not dos much. spend 2 much timez in der zones.

bad turn ovar by bigger joe. preditours almost skors but doez notz

tootoo tried to hit teh duglas murry. he fals on tasty shark bench. mebe shuld have ben penaltees.

dis gamez going to overtimez. wil be late night 4 kittehs.

overtimez

tasty sharks has gud chance but preditorus skor to winz game. I nao go nom on piece of papers i foundz. has gud nite!

Gray chimes back in: preds win 4-3 in OT.
Now, here's an animated blast from your past that is sort of Veteran's Day topicalish.
Hopefully, unlike me, you'll be able to actually watch it instead of being distracted by how off model Linus looks at times and the utter simplicity of the mouths. There is also linkage to part 1 if you feel like reliving the entire half hour special.