Nabby Sketches

I drew a few more little Nabby doll type guys while working on the Overheard in the Line cartoon. Figured I'd share.

Overheard In The Line: I Love Nabokov Edition

She didn't actually have a Nabby doll, but she was clutching her purse and a her Nabby jersey as if they were dolls. This was also in line for (now former Shark) Brad Lukowich's signing, so, you figure that one out.

Teh Todd Doll Sketch

Sharkie Doll Sketch

Conference Finals, Day 3. The West Returns

Today @ 4:30
VERSUS HD ,TSN HD, RDS HD
Wings lead series 1-0

I was feeling somewhat underwhelmed by the though of a large building fighting a giant octomonster. I'm not sure why because that is like Rampage-esce gold right there, but for whatever reason it wasn't working for me. Since I planned to change my format for the last two rounds of the playoffs anyway, it gave me a chance to redesign the characters for each team.

The Hawks was an obvious choice, but I did waffle between in and some version of the Blackhawks logo. For some reason, something lovecraftian seemed appropriate for our perennially annoyingly good winged foes.

But enough of that. I do like to go into artist mode, but that's not what you came here for.

Recappage!
Canes got spanked. Doesn't look that way on the scoreboard but they were outplayed.

The Pens were like a force of nature last night. They showed some weakness in the second, but were otherwise dominant. Watching that one goal trickle in past Ward was painful. The only time I enjoy seeing shots like that go in are when they are against whoever the Sharks are playing. MAF was solid. Ward looked vunerable at times, but settled down pretty well and looked pretty good after that.

Conferernce Finals, Day 2. I Don't Have A Clever Historical Pun For The East

Today @ 4:30
VERSUS HD, TSN HD, RDS HD
Game 1. FIGHT!

I hope everyone enjoyed yesterday's guest art. Our guest artist was a little bummed no one commented, but I told him not to take it personally.

Conference Finals Recap:

So. Wings, huh?

I was really hoping the Hawks could take game 1,and for awhile it looked like it would at least be a battle. Then Detroit decided it was time to stop effing around and time to start pwnage. This is going to be a long Western showdown. I think I speak for everyone not rooting for the Red Wings/mutual annihilation when I say "Go Hawks."

Playoffs, Round 2, Day Whatever. This Game Is Early

How different life is when your team is out at the end of the first round. We're so used to have heart attacks by now, everything has been rendered horridly boring. Our journey came to a sudden and jarring end. We're still trying to figure out why games we want to see aren't on TV. Thankfully for us, it's Saturday and the game we've both been waiting for is FINALLY ON!

It's when?

10am?!

Seriously?

Frak me.

Today @ 10am
CBC HD, NBC HD, RDS HD
wattehfrak NHL? We lazy west coasters aren't even up by ten on Saturday

Recapping yesterday's events:

The good thing about round 2 is it means I only have to draw 4 pictures, not 8. The bad part is the Sharks aren't in any of the 4.

It's safe to say the we at Couch Tarts have given up on the Western Conference entirely, however, Gray did watch some of the Wings v Ducks game, enough to feel very conflicted about the entire thing. She resorted to taunting the opposing team when the other team scored. That way, in her mind, everyone lost.

Brown had a hard hit on Hudler. He got 5 and a misconduct and was done for the night. Hudler got some stitches. Not going to wade into the suspension pond because it's not like hits are evaluated on any consistent basis with which one could make comparisons and educated guesses about suspendability*, ferociousness, etc. We'll leave such things to the peanut galleries of the involved teams and see what the league says.

The Wings won 3-2, by the way.

Whatever.

Bruins v Canes was also on, but only glimpses were shown until the completion of Wings v Ducks, at least if you were watching VERSUS. At that point Gray decided to take a nap as it was 4-1 Bruins, and it wasn't likely to be a very interesting finish. She may have been wrong, but after the Wings v Ducks game, unconsciousness sounded pretty darn good.

*probably not a word. I used it anyway

Playoffs, Round 2: In Which Two Other Teams Begin Competition

I ended up skipping the game last night in favor of more boring endeavors. 5-3 Canucks was not a final score I expected to see, but then again, I'm not sure what I expected.

Today we have two games coming to a terebi near you:

Today @ 4pm
VERSUS HD, CBC HD, RDS HD
We're hoping for mutual annihilation

Today @ 4:30
VERSUS HD, RIS, TSN HD

What's the over under on the number of swine flu jokes brought up because of Stormy?

Second Round Starts Today

While saddened that Team Teal is not in round 2, that my game F ticket will sit uselessly on my fridge until I can bring myself to toss it out, and that may days at the Tank are done for now, there are some benefits to not having the Sharks in the second round. For instance: no more second round jokes, freer schedules, the joy of being able to watch a playoff game and not give a frak who wins. All pluses to that keep your blood pressure lower, to be sure. We're still disappointed, but if we can't look on the bright side as fans, they might as well hand out anti-depressants at 525 W. Santa Clara st. instead of rally towels and pom poms.

The West kicks off the second round with one game today.

Today @ 6pm
VERSUS HD, CBC HD, RDS HD

In case your wondering, I (Gray) did make picks for this round, but I didn't take them at all seriously.

Another FTF regular posted her picks, which are as follows:

VAN 4 CHI 3
DET 4 ANA 3

BOS 2 CAR 4
WSH 4 PIT 3

Her suggestion was to pick the opposite if what she did because she threw out everything she knew about each team and picked results she wanted to see. Not feeling into picking winners for a round I had little stake in, I followed her advice and chose the following:

VAN 3 CHI 4
DET 3 ANA 4

BOS 4 CAR 2
WSH 3 PIT 4

I don't care if I pick "correctly." It's more fun to pick when you don't give a frak, or you know, make your career doing this sort of thing. That seems a lot like making a living by playing the slots at Vegas. When you're right, it's great, but the odds of winning each time are dramatically low.

Second round crapshoot begins. Uhm, bring it?

Also, the Sharks injury list is out. All you AMGTRADEMARLOOANDTEHBIGJOE people, check is out. (care of the fantastic Mr. Pollak) I should note the days=how long said player has been injured.

*** Marleau has a sprained MCL
***Rob Blake — foot contusion, 10 days, MRI possible.
***Jonathan Cheechoo — MCL sprain, left knee, 22 days.
***Travis Moen — hip contusion, 8 days.
***Douglas Murray — left shoulder may need MRI, acts like mild rotator cuff strain.
***Evgeni Nabokov–strained hip muscle (gluteus medius), 13 days.
***Joe Pavelski — knee contusion, 4 days.
***Devin Setoguchi — mild ankle swelling by Achilles tendon.
***Jody Shelley — possible MRI for neck and shoulder soreness.
***Joe Thornton–groin/hip flexor, 63 days.

Playing while you can barely skate, that's called heart. Stick that in your angry pipes and smoke it.

Playoffs Day 14, Round 1

The Sharks may be out (post mortem later), but there are still games to be played and watched. You better believe Gray will be glued to the television for the duration of playoff hockey.

Today @ 4pm
VERSUS HD, TSN HD, RDS HD
Game 7. Epic

Today @ 4:30pm (dontcha hate conflicts?)
VERSUS HD, RIS, TSN2 HD

Game 7. Brodeur'd or Ward'd? Watch and find out!

**UPDATE**

Teams and matchups are all set for Round 2. A few surprises in there:

Ducks and Wings start Friday
Chicago will ace Vancouver

Hurricanes (Dude, did you see that last goal. WHAT) will face Boston
Pens will face the Caps

On a side note, apparently when VERSUS said they're carry both games, they meant they'd show the Caps/NYR game and then just talk about what was happening in the NJD/Canes game. And show little clips here and there.

Pollak has a good interview with JR up over at his blog.

Other than Pollak, FTF and BOC, I am staying away from the media. I'm done with the "choking" arguments and the arguments about "heart". Anyone using those arguments has no idea what they're talking about. Period.

Art will be ALL NEW for the second round. I'm still trying to figure out what to draw to wrap up the end of the Sharks season. I'll figure it out eventually.

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!

Playoff Round 1 Day 12

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor lack of sleep and voice will keep Gray from her posting duties.

So Torts was suspended for getting into it was that crazy Caps fan. He won't be on the bench today. The Rangers are also after the Caps via the league for not having adequate security by the Ranger's bench.

Unless you're Plank, you know the Blackhawks won 5-1 last night.

The Pens took their first round series yesterday and booked their tickets to the second round.

Today @ 11 (now!)
TSN, NBC, RDS, all HD
Rangers lead series 3-2


Today @ 4:30
VERSUS HD, RIS, TSN HD
Devils lead series 3-2

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, Round 1, Day 11

Anyone catch that fan fighting with Tortorella last night? That was some serious crazy right there. Torts grabbed himself a stick to defend himself, not that I think he needed it. Dude looks like he could win a rumble when fired up. But when the fans knock out the dividers between panes of glass, it's best to go a little overkill.*

What mayhem and madness will happen today? Tune into the following games to find out:

Today @ noon

CBC, NBC-HD, RDS-HD
Pens lead series 3-2
The Flyers will not go quietly into the night. This game should be a doozy

Today @ 6pm

RIS, TSN-HD, CSN-CH
Series tied 2-2
If you aren't going to or watching the Sharks game tonight, watch this game instead. This series has been crazy good.

*if you think I'm actually advocating beating a drunken, mouthy fan with a stick, you're crazier than that Caps fan.

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.

Playoff Round 1 Day 9 (seriously?! 9?!)

Cat caused fiasco last night. Ah the joys of pet ownership. A few dead pixels aside, I seem to be otherwise whole. Lucky for you!

In a summary of what went down yesterday, the Habs met a wall of bear and Cylon and were eliminated by a giant sweeping broom. I heard Price was heckled mercilessly, poor kid.

The Flames and Hawks decided to have a goal scoring contest in the second. The Flames ended up winning. Note to Blackhawks: Do not piss of Ignila.

Ovie finally found the net in the Rangers/Caps game, but it wasn't enough. Lundqvist has anti Ovechkin spray, I think. Or anti Alexander spray. Not guys names Alex can score against him. (even if they have. The spray is new. Still some kinks to work out.)

What's on the docket today, Bob?

Today @ 4pm
CBC, VERSUS(HD), RDS(HD)
Pens lead series 3-1
This series has been good folks, if you can tune in, do so.

Today @ 4pm
TSN2(HD), FS-D(HD), FS-O
Detroit leads series 3-0
This may be your last chance to see the Blue Jackets this season. Or, it may be a chance to watch them take a game back and crawl back into this series.

Today @ 4:30
Series tied 2-2
VERSUS (I believe this game will be joined in progress), RIS, TSN(HD), FS-CR
Brodeur probably won't lose his mind again, but you never know.

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!

Playoff Round 1 Day 5

Today @ Noon pacific
NBC, CBC, RDS
Pens lead series 2-0
Philly is going to be nuts folks, tune in.

Today @ 4pm
VERSUS, CBC
Canucks lead series 2-0

Today@4:30pm
RIS, TSN, MSG-HD
Series tied 1-1

Playoff Round 1 Day 4

You want more hockey? We've got more hockey!

On right now on NBC.
10am pacific time
Rangers lead series 1-0

Today @ 3pm
TSN, NHLN-US
Detroit leads series 1-0

Today @ 4pm
VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Boston leads series 1-0

Today @ 6pm
TSN, CSN-CH
Chicago leads series 1-0