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Can Timo and Tomas save us?
Aging Sharks
appear headed downward
by Paul Krill
Last
year, I predicted the Edmonton Oilers would be contenders. After all, how could
they pick first in the draft year after year and not get good eventually? Well,
it looks like my prediction was just a year ahead of schedule. The Oilers,
having stockpiled topnotch young players such as Connor McDavid and Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins and trading Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson, got really good this
year instead of last. And at the Sharks' expense in the playoffs.
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Sharks on the brink after Game 5 OT loss
SJ
blows 2-goal lead in 4-3 loss
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks let one slip through their fingers on Thursday night.
Holding a 2-goal lead, the Sharks sat back and let the Edmonton Oilers steal
Game 5 of their Western Conference Quarter Final match up on Thursday night.
San Jose allowed the Oilers to score late in the 2nd period to make it a 3-2
series, then let Edmonton tie the game with a goal with 2:46 left in
regulation. David Desharnais won it in overtime on the Oilers 14th shot of the
extra period to take a 3-2 series lead.
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Goals galore in Sharks Game 4 win
SJ unloads
on Edmonton in 7-0 win
by Mike Lee
After
failing to score in their last 120 minutes of hockey, the Sharks erupted on
Tuesday night in Game 4 of their Western Conference Quarter Final series with
the Edmonton Oilers. San Jose rose to another level after falling behind 2-1 in
the series by scoring 7 goals in their own shutout victory at SAP Center. Logan
Couture and Joe Pavelski scored two goals each to lead San Jose, who tied the
series with the Oilers at 2-2.
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Sharks lay a Game 2 Easter egg
San Jose shut
out again by Oilers
by Mike Lee
Home ice
is supposed to be an advantage in hockey. The Sharks did nothing with that
advantage on Sunday night, dropping Game 3 in their Western Conference Quarter
Finals series with the Edmonton Oilers by getting shutout for the second
consecutive game. San Jose played 20 minutes of hockey and let a mistake end up
in their net midway through the 3rd period to fall 1-0 to the Oilers.
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Special teams costs Sharks in Game 2
Oilers
in with pair of short-handed goals
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks special teams play has been their Achilles heel all
season. It proved to be their soft underbelly on Friday night, after dropping
Game 2 of their Western Conference Quarter Final series to the Edmonton Oilers
at Rogers Place. The Sharks went 0-for-6 on the power play and allowed the
Oilers to generate all their offense on a pair of short-handed goals in a 2-0
decision in Alberta.
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Karlsson's OT Winner gives Sharks 1-0 WCQF lead
Sharks storm back from 2-0 deficit to win on the
road
by Mike Lee
With the way the Sharks
have played the last 6 weeks and Joe Thornton not being able to make the call
for Game 1 of the Sharks Western Conference Quarter Final matchup with the
Edmonton Oilers, it was easy to believe the Sharks had a tough hill to climb on
Wednesday night in Alberta. When they fell behind 2-0 in the 1st period, it
seemed as if that hill turned into Mt Everest. The task became almost
insurmountable as Rogers Arena crowd laid into the Sharks after the host Oilers
scored a pair of opening period goals.
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Go Sharks! (And pray a lot)
Playoffs start
today
by Mike Lee
Finally! From October
to April, most of us couldn't wait for this season to end. Admittedly, the
reasons changed as it went along. Now the San Jose Sharks go against an
Edmonton Oilers team most of us would have rather not see again until 2018.
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Go Sharks! (And pray a lot)
Playoffs start
today
by Ken Smyth
Finally! From October
to April, most of us couldn't wait for this season to end. Admittedly, the
reasons changed as it went along. Now the San Jose Sharks go against an
Edmonton Oilers team most of us would have rather not see again until 2018.
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Sharks look lost in loss to Oilers
SJ
surrenders 3rd period lead to fall to 3rd in Pacific
by Mike Lee
The Sharks true colors are starting to show
at the worst possible time. With home ice in the first round of the playoffs on
the line, San Jose rolled over in a 3rd period meltdown that ended in a 4-2
loss to the Edmonton Oilers at SAP Center on Thursday night. The Sharks blew a
2-1 lead in the 3rd period on three Milan Lucic goals and are simply absent of
any answers.
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Late-season tailspin: Is it finally over?
Not much optimism can be found 10 days before the playoffs
begin
by Paul Krill
This past Sunday, the
Sharks won a game in regulation for the first time in 19 days. That's nearly
three weeks, for a team that had been having a dominant season until this
recent skid that saw the team lose eight of nine game. And Sunday's game in
Vancouver could prove to be be a very Pyrrhic victory: Joe Thornton hobbled off
the ice, barely mobile, and nobody immediately after the game was over knew
what his status was. I really can't remember the last time he was injured, it's
been so long.
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Resilient Sharks battle back to beat Rangers
SJ overcomes 3rd period deficit to win in OT
by Mike Lee
So the Sharks do remember how to win. The
spiraling stopped for one night, allowing the team to clinch a playoff birth,
by beating the New York Rangers in a wild 5-4 overtime game at SAP Center.
Defenseman Brent Burns rifle a shot past Henrik Lundqvist 3:10 into the extra
period to help the Sharks snap their season high 6-game losing streak. Call it
a topsy-tuvey win that saw the Sharks blow a 2-goal lead, then claw back in the
3rd period to tie the game late before winning it in the extra period.
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Sharks continue to stumble
SJ loses 4th
straight with 3-2 decision in Minnesota
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks freefall continued in Minnesota on Tuesday night, as
San Jose fell for a fourth consecutive game in regulation. The host Minnesota
Wild napped their own 5 game losing streak by dominating the Sharks in a 3-2
game that wasn't as close as the score might suggest. The Sharks chased their
own tails and the Wild for 60 minutes, as the regular season winds down to the
final 10 games before the playoffs begin.
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Sharks learn from past mistakes
SJ holds on
to 4-1 lead against Buffalo
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks played the Buffalo Sabres on February 7th and grabbed
a 4-1 lead in the 3rd period, only to squander it and eventually lose 5-4 in
overtime. Call Tuesday night in San Jose their do-over. The Sharks scored a
pair of goals in the 3rd period to grab establish another 4-1 lead, but they
learned from their error of the past by clamping down on the Sabres to win by
that score before 17,386 at SAP Center.
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Sharks top league's best
San Jose's special
teams comes through in win
by Mike Lee
To
say the Sharks special teams play has been a challenge this season would be an
understatement. When they turn that challenge around against the best team in
the NHL is a positive sign as the end of the regular season sits on the
horizon. San Jose converted on 2 of 5 power play chances in their 4-2 win over
the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, and their special teams went a
perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill in an entertaining game at a sold out SAP
Center.
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Sharks snooze through loss in Minny
Wild
smothers San Jose in 3-1 win
by Mike
Lee
The good news is the Sharks didn't blow another 4-1 lead in the
3rd period like the last time they played the Minnesota Wild. The bad news is,
they were overmatched for three periods, and never even came close to holding a
lead against the Wild. San Jose spent the majority of the night chasing a
faster Wild team en route to a 3-1 loss at Xcel Energy Center. The loss was
reminiscent of the Sharks performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the
Stanley Cup Finals last spring. The Sharks were overmatched and never really
made an appearance in the loss.
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Sharks finally beat Vancouver at home
SJ
handles Canucks for 3-1 win
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks extended their win streak to three games by
dispatching the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center on Thursday night. It was
simply a case of the better team beating a team that has some building to do.
San Jose shook off a lethargic1st period by scoring three straight goals,
including a pair in the 2nd period to brush aside the Canucks 3-1. Backup
netminder Aaron Dell made 17 saves to earn his 8th victory of the season.
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Mumps the Word
Sharks return from break with
4-1 win in B.C.
by Mike Lee
You can't win
them all, but there are some games you should win. After their week long break,
the Sharks got back to work on Saturday night and used a slow and steady
approach to beating the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in British Columbia.
The undermanned Canucks had to rely on several prospects after a mumps outbreak
affected several players, putting up a decent fight, before succumbing to their
guests from the south 4-1.
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Offense sputters again
Sharks drop 4th OT
game in last 7
by Mike Lee
It wasn't the
6-3 shellacking like the last time they played, but the Sharks played well
enough to lose their second game to the Boston Bruins this season. 24 hours
after reviving their offense in Phoenix, San Jose sputtered once again and
dropped a 2-1 decision to the Bruins in overtime. The loss marked the third
defeat in overtime in their last seven games.
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Storm Clouds on the Horizon?
It's time to
for the NHL to grow up
by Ryan Hall
Pop
Quiz: What do Long Island, Raleigh, and Glendale all have in common? If you
said they're home to NHL teams that are all in trouble, then you probably
already know how much uncertainty the league head office is currently dealing
with. While the situations are all different, and complex in their own way, the
underlying truth is that at least 10% of franchises are facing some serious
questions in the near future. Just in case you aren't familiar with the
details, here's a quick refresher:
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Sharks Score! (Oh, wait - never mind. It's been
overturned.)
New rules to ensure goals are "valid" are
frustrating
by Paul Krill
These days, NHL
hockey is becoming more like NFL football - and not in a good way. What I'm
referring to is the increasing incidence of goals being overruled - via
after-the-fact offside calls or goalie interference rulings, which can be very
subjective. It's similar to NFL football, where after a touchdown is scored,
you have to wait to see if there were any flags on the play that could overturn
the score. No celebrating until that determination has been made. The other
day, the Sharks managed to score the first goal against the Flyers, only to
have it overturned on a coach's challenge.
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Meltdown in Buffalo
Sharks blow 4-1 lead in
3rd period and fall to Sabres
by Mike
Lee
There are meltdowns, and then there was Tuesday night's game in
Buffalo, as the Sharks kicked off a 4-game road trip through the Eastern
Conference. San Jose held a 4-1 lead with 11 minutes to play at KeyBank Center,
then the wheels fell off. Make that the wheels, doors, motor and seats. Throw
in the steering wheel for good measure, because there wasn't a soul in a Sharks
jersey steering this train wreck. Buffalo stormed back with three goals over a
3:27 span, then scored the game winner in overtime to stun the Sharks 5-4.
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Pacific Division Power Rankings
By the
Numbers Edition
by Ryan Hall
Welcome
Ladies and Gentlemen!
With the All-Star Game now in the rear view
mirror, the NHL is heading into frantic Trade Deadline season, before the final
stretch run to the postseason. Right now, teams have to decide if they are
buyers or sellers, which means digging deep into the numbers to find the truth.
While it has been said that stats can lie, they do offer an unique insight into
the actual performance of a club, and provide the cold, hard truth that a Front
Office needs to know in order to decide the best path forward. So, buckle up,
as we go into the numbers to see how the Pacific Division stacks up internally,
and with the rest of the league.
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Iron Man Marleau Makes it 500 Goals
Has it
really been almost 20 years since he came to San Jose?
by Paul Krill
On January 23, Patrick Marleau entered the
game having scored 493 goals in his career. Just 10 days later, he now has 500.
Wow. He made quick work of that, tallying four goals in one period alone
against the Avs on the 23d , followed by a game-winner one night later in
Winnipeg and a goal against Chicago on January 31. He then scored number 500 on
February 2 in Vancouver.
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Sharks edge Hawks in battle of titans
Tomas
Hertl scores game winner in his 2nd game back
by
Mike Lee
The schedule makers put a treat on the calendar when they
decided to match-up the Sharks with the Chicago Blackhawks in the first game
following the All Star break. With both teams rested, Tuesday night's game
pegged two of the best teams in the Western Conference in a battle for that
didn't disappoint. The contest was a back and forth affair that was settled in
the last 2 minutes of the game when an unlikely source potted the game
winner.
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More Marleau Magic
Sharks overcome 3rd
period deficit in Winnipeg
by Mike
Lee
The NHL schedule makers weren't too kind to the Sharks on Tuesday
night. Having played in Colorado 24 hours earlier, the Sharks were forced to
fly to Winnipeg and square off against the Jets in a game that turned out to be
a hum-dinger. The Sharks had to overcome a 3rd period deficit against a team
that was eager to exact some revenge after falling to San Jose in California
last week. San Jose scored a pair of 3rd period goals, then let Aaron Dell hold
off the Jets in a 4-3 win at MTS Center in Saskatchewan.
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Marleau can't miss in 4-goal outburst
Sharks
forward sets franshise record for goals in a period
by Mike Lee
The Sharks were in need of a pick-me-up on
Monday night, as they battled with the Colorado Avalanche in the back end of a
home-and-home series in Denver. Patrick Marleau obliged by scoring 4 goals in a
single period, something no other Sharks player had ever done before. Marleau
snapped a 1-1 tie in the 3rd period, then buried the Avalanche with three more
tallies. San Jose slept through the first 40 minutes, fighting to generate much
offense, then turned to their former captain to save the day.
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Sharks go to work in SoCal
San Jose wins
season series with Kings 3-2
by Mike
Lee
Winning division games are always important, but they're always
sweeter when they come against the Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks 3-2 win at
Staples Center on Wednesday night gave the Sharks the edge in the season series
3-2, but more importantly. it helped them keep pace with the contenders in the
Pacific Division. San Jose sits three points out of the division lead, and they
have two teams ahead of them. The 4-point game also staked the Sharks to an 8
point lead over the Kings, who sit in the final a playoff spot in the Western
Conference.
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Ward leads Sharks in MLK matinee
Sharks get
back to basics and roll Jets 5-2
by Mike
Lee
Joel Ward wears number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Ward read
a biography of Robinson and found it fitting to honor the man that crossed
Major League Baseball's color line by sporting his number on his NHL jersey.
Call it fitting that Ward was the man that stepped up on the Martin Luther King
Jr. Holiday and led the Sharks to a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Ward scored
a goal and added an assist, but more importantly put his nose to the grind
stone and led by example as the Sharks desperately needed to derive some
positives from.
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Sharks shelled on Military Appreciation Night
Blues blitz the Sharks in 4-0 win
by
Mike Lee
The Sharks honored our men and women in the military on
Saturday by going AWOL and getting shelled by the St Louis Blues at SAP Center.
It was Military Appreciation night in San Jose, complete with people rappelling
from the rafters, Joe Thornton conducting bayonet demonstrations on the ice,
and the Sharks getting blitzed at home.
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Pacific Division Power Rankings
Mid-Season
Awards Edition
by Ryan Hall
Welcome
Ladies and Gentlemen!
We find ourselves gathered here, at the halfway
mark of the NHL season, to recognize the accomplishments of the teams from the
Pacific Division. Through hard work, determination, and a high level of
craftsmanship, every team here has done something notable; though not
necessarily praiseworthy. So, without further ado, let's get right down to the
awards.
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Sharks peter out in Calgary
Flames score
late to take 3-2 win
by Mike Lee
The
Sharks missed on a golden chance to go perfect on their swing through Alberta
on Wednesday night, but a flurry of missed opportunities against the Calgary
Flames allowed the host Calgary Flames to come from behind to take a 3-2
decision at Scotiabank Saddledome. Aaron Dell matched Chad Johnson with a 25
save night, but the Flames had one more shot that San Jose in a game that can
be best described as the one that got away.
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Mikkel Boedker found alive
Sharks forward
records hat trick in 5-3 over Oil
by Mike
Lee
Brace yourselves, but Mikkel Boedker has been found. After going
missing right after the Sharks signed him, the forward surfaced in Edmonton on
Tuesday night and brought his game to Rogers Place as the Sharks squared off
with the Oilers. The forward went crazy by recording a hat-trick to pace the
Sharks to a 5-3 win as San Jose kicked off a brief two-game road trip through
Alberta. The Sharks have gone hog-wild on the offensive zone all of a sudden,
scoring 11 goals in their past two games.
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Offense unloads on Wings
San Jose last team
in NHL to record 5 goals this season
by Mike
Lee
After stinking it up for three straight games, the Sharks paid
homage to the California Golden seals of the 60's and 70's by scoring like it
was the NHL's golden era. San Jose scored bushels of goals in the 1st and 3rd
period to run roughshod over the visiting Detroit Red Wings at SAP Center on
Saturday night. Joe Pavelski led all scorers with a pair goals to spark a
Sharks offense in dire need of unloading on an opponent.
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Implosion
Sharks fall flat on their faces in
3rd period
by Mike Lee
If you thought two
straight losses to the Los Angeles Kings stank, then you may want to buy some
air freshener. The Sharks stank it up on Thursday night, blowing a 2-goal lead
in the 3rd period to the visiting Minnesota Wild, dropping their 3rd straight
game. San Jose did about everything possible to implode in a game they had in
the bag. Minnesota scored 4 goals in the final 20 minutes after they failed to
lockdown on a team that has been red hot.
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Nappy New Year
Sharks sleep through another
loss to Kings
by Mike Lee
If your 2016
ended with that bloated, half hung over feeling, then you know what the Sharks
felt like. They kicked off 2017 by ringing in the new year with fully hung
over, gouty kind of bloat that resulted in a second consecutive loss to the Los
Angeles Kings. Yes, those same Kings who have been bringing up the rear of the
Pacific Division most of the season with their perennial backup goaltender Petr
Budaj holding down the fort while Jonathan Quick mends.
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Ring in the New?
The Sharks roster could be
in for some big changes
by Paul
Krill
While the Sharks are having a good run lately, an issue
percolating in the background is – who exactly will be with the Sharks in
coming months and on into next season? For starters, Joe Thornton and Patrick
Marleau, who have both been around for years – nearly two decades in
Marleau’s case – are both unsigned for next season. For sentimental
reasons, we’d probably like to see both come back next year. But will they
still have the skills to make them worth expensive roster spots? We could be
saying goodbye to at least one of them after this season.
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Burns bails out Sharks with OT winner
Sharks
return to work after short Xmas break
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks extended their Pacific Division lead by beating a
division foe on Tuesday night, as the league restarted things following the
Christmas Break. San Jose trekked to Southern California for a brief one-game
roadtrip, knocking off the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on an overtime goal by defenseman
Brent Burns. The Ducks deserved the 2 points, but the Sharks aren't going to
complain with the outcome, after they managed a way to pull out the victory.
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Labanc outshines McDavid for Pacific Division lead
Rookie forward scores a pair of goals in OT win
by Mike Lee
With the Edmonton Oilers in town in the
battle for Pacific Division supremacy, there was a youth exhibit on display on
SAP Center ice on Friday night. Both teams sport a few players under 25 that
are key contributors. NHL poster-boy Connor McDavid showed everyone in the
South Bay why he's the new face of the NHL, but it was Sharks rookie Keving
Labanc that decided the game, scoring a pair of goals for San Jose. Labanc's
2nd goal came in the overtime period to give the Sharks a 3-2 victory and sole
possession of the Pacific Division lead.
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Donskoi gets back to scoring
Sharks unload
on Flames with 4-goal 2nd period
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks returned home from their successful 4-game road trip
on Tuesday night, and continued their hot hand by beating the Calgary Flames
with a solid 4-1 victory. The game kicked off a span that will see the Sharks
play at SAP Center 8 out of their next 12 games. San Jose spent the first 20
minutes acclimating themselves to home ice, then unleashed a flurry of goals on
the Flames.
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Pacific Division Power Rankings
The Week
Before Christmas Edition
by Mike
Lee
T'was the week before Christmas and all through the League,
Teams were eyeing the break, worn out from fatigue.
Over 30 games had been
played, by one and by all,
The standings so close, it was too close to
call.
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Sharks learning to enjoy the shootout
Couture injured in chippy contest with Senators
by Mike Lee
The Sharks enjoy playing hockey so much,
they're trying to squeeze out as much extra ice time as they can get. After
taking the Toronto Maple Leafs to the shootout on Tuesday night, San Jose
repeated that with another trip to the skills competition in Ottawa 24 hours
later. The outcome was the same as San Jose scored the only goal in the
shootout to take a 4-3 win over the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. The win
may have come at a steep price, as Logan Couture was injured after being
cross-checked in the back of the head.
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Sharks continue mastery over Maple Leafs
Big
3rd period comeback kicks off road trip
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks were 0-8-1 this season when starting the 3rd period
with a deficit. The Toronto Maple Leafs had them on the ropes with 20 minutes
to play, holding a healthy 2-0 lead over the Sharks. A gritty comeback, an
inexperienced opponent or a combination of both helped the Sharks tie the game
with 5:10 left in regulation, before Logan Couture scored the only goal in the
shootout to propel the Sharks to a 3-2 victory at Air Canada Centre.
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100
Things a Must for Sharks Fans
Author Ross McKeon
captures the early color of Sharks hockey
by Mike
Lee
Christmas is now less than two weeks away, and like everyone else
on the planet, you've procrastinated and your shopping isn't done. Actually
making it to the mall isn't usually the hard part. It's finding something
worthwhile to gift. My advice to you is, procrastinate a little more and get
something for yourself. Given that you're reading this article, there is an
extremely high likelihood that your a Sharks fan. At the very least, you're a
hockey fan. I've eliminated the need for you to do any thinking when it comes
to gifting something for yourself. It's simple. grab a copy of Ross McKeon's
book, "100 Things Sharks Fans Should Know & Do Before They
Die".
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Offense opens up to snap losing streak
Labanc stays hot and pots game winner
by
Mike Lee
With a four game road trip looming on the horizon, the
Sharks didn't want to kick things off already on a 3-game losing streak. They
prevented that by jump-starting the offense then holding off the Carolina
Hurricanes for a 4-3 win at SAP Center on Saturday night. Kevin Labanc's 4th
goal of the season with 6 minutes remaining in the 2nd period turned out to be
the game-winner. The Sharks rookie scored in back to back games and is
outperforming some of the big ticket forwards who were supposed to be carrying
the load for San Jose.
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Defensive gaff late costs SJ
Sharks battle
back from deficit, but still lose
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks inconsistency is one of the most consistent things
about them this season. After their mesmerizing performance against the
Montreal Canadiens last Friday, the Sharks turned 5 days of rest into a
dumbfounding performance that resulted in a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on
Wednesday night on SAP Center ice. The Senators jumped out to an early 2-0
lead, then stunned the Sharks with a go-ahead goal with a minute left in
regulation after San Jose clawed their way back to tie the game.
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Sharks bust some balls in LA
3-goal 1st
leads SJ to second straight win
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks turned back into the road warriors that vaulted them
into a playoff spot last season on Wednesday night with a commanding 4-1 win
over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center in Southern California. San Jose
scored early with a flurry of 1st period goals, then leaned on Martin Jones to
snap the Kings 5 game winning streak.
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Burns OT winner bails out Sharks
SJ avoids a
3rd loss to Arizona this season
by Mike
Lee
The Arizona Coyotes entered Tuesday night's game against the
Sharks with the worst record in the Western Conference. With only 8 wins this
season, the Coyotes should have been easy picking for the Sharks, but San Jose
had lost both meeting with Arizona this season, including an overtime loss to
the Coyotes last week. Arizona almost kept things close and could have made it
a third win over San Jose this season if not for an overtime tally by Brent
Burns.
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Sharks win humdinger vs Hawks
Special teams
extra special on Thanksgiving-eve
by Mike
Lee
Losses to teams like the Carolina Hurricanes and Phoenix Coyotes
become all the more frustrating when the Sharks play the way they did on
Wednesday night. San Jose turned in a statement performance with a solid 2-1
win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks at SAP Center. Chicago leads the
Western Conference for good reason this season, but it was the Sharks night as
the special teams were extra special and Martin Jones had a second consecutive
gem of a game.
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Home cooking energizes Sharks
San Jose
scores 4 goals in shutout out of New Jersey
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks returned to the friendly confines of SAP Center on
Monday night, following their long 6-game road trip, and made the most of their
home-ice advantage. San Jose scored early, and rolled to a decisive 4-0 win
over the visiting New Jersey Devils, paced by Martin Jones' 26 saves and 15th
career shutout. The victory snaps the Sharks 3-game losing streak.
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Early Diagnosis: Mediocrity
Slumping Sharks
can't score
by Paul Krill
OK, so it's
probably too early to panic. But what we've seen so far from this year's Sharks
team has them on a downward trajectory. As in, if this keeps up, we can forget
about another fourth-round appearance in the playoffs this year. Or anything
close to that. According to hockey-reference.com, the Sharks one year ago on
November 20 had played 19 games and had a record of 11 wins and 8 losses
amounting to 22 points.
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Coyotes bite Sharks again
Sharks finish road
trip 3-2-1
by Mike Lee
The Sharks limp
home from their 6-game road trip that started like gang busters, but finished
with a whimper. After taking the first 3 games of the trip, San Jose dropped
all three in the back half, including a 3-2 overtime loss to the Arizona
Coyotes on Saturday night. The Sharks battled back from a 2-0 deficit by
scoring a pair of 3rd period goals, but a tip by Martin Hanzal 1:16 into the
extra period sent the Sharks to their first overtime loss of the season.
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Special teams fails Sharks in St Louis
Sharks drop second straight game
by Mike
Lee
After an abysmal showing in Carolina again an inferior team on
Tuesday, the Sharks squared off against a more qualified team that was also
looking to settle a score Thusday night. The St Louis Blues had a score to
settle after they were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by San Jose
last spring. The Blues converted on a power play late in the 2nd period to take
a 3-2 win an exact a bit of revenge over the Sharks at Scottrade Center in St
Louis.
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Gritty comeback leads to 4-2 in South Florida
Sharks win second straight
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks dug deep on the road and fought back from a 2-0
deficit to take a 4-2 decision over the Florida Panthers in Sunrise on Thursday
night. Four different skaters tallied goals for San Jose, including Tommy
Wingel's game winner 9 minutes into the 3rd period. Martin Jones overcame a
shaky 3 minute span in the 1st period to finish the evening with a 22 save
night to earn his 7th win of the season.
More >>
|
Stunner in DC
The votes are in, Sharks still
have a pulse
by Mike Lee
The Sharks spent
election night in our nation's capital on Tuesday night, canvassing the Verizon
Center ice with defensive strategy that helped them bounce back from a week of
putrid hockey. The Sharks clamped down on a high powered Capitals offense and
rode a pair of 2nd period goals to a 3-0 shutout. Martin Jones turned aside 24
shots to earn his 14th career shutout.
More >>
|
|
2016-17 Pacific Division Power Rankings
Early Issues Edition
by Ryan
Hall
Welcome Sharks Fans to another season of the Pacific Division
Power Rankings! I'm a bit late with this first edition, but I wanted to give
enough time for some clear trends to emerge. Boy have they ever! While it may
be early, every team has shown their strengths; and where they are vulnerable.
Time will tell if these flaws will become fatal, or if they can be overcome,
but for now it's clear that there are some issues facing each Pacific Division
squad.
More
>>
|
Another stinker dooms Sharks
Lifeless start
leads to second straight 3-2 loss
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks have suddenly decided that they don't need to play 60
minute hockey games. Their second consecutive lackluster performance in as many
games was a another indictment on the commitment of this team right now. The
Calgary Flames played a solid road game and knocked off the Sharks 3-2 at SAP
Center on Thursday night as San Jose turned another head scratching
performance.
More
>>
|
Sharks October Recap
A Monthly View of San
Jose Hockey
by Zach Bodenstein
Hockey
season is flying by so far, and for Sharks' fans, that may be a good thing.
This team is coming off of its greatest playoff run in franchise history,
falling two wins shy of the ultimate prize. Now, nine games in to the 2016-2017
campaign, they're still dominating. The Sharks sit at a respectable 6-3-0
record, good enough for second in the Pacific Division. However, this record in
not indicative of their play thus far. They could, have and will be even
better.
More
>>
|
Sharks wither in the desert
Lowly Coyotes
handle Sharks
by Mike Lee
Looking at the
box score, the Sharks peppered goaltender Louis Domingue and the Arizona
Coyotes on Tuesday night but ran into a hot goaltender that shut them down. The
reality of it all is much different. San Jose played 20 minutes of hockey at
Gila River Arena, then took the easy road to a flight back home after dropping
a lifeless 3-2 decision to the worst team in the NHL.
More >>
|
Sharks stay perfect at home
SJ beats
Nashville 4-1 at SAP Center
by Mike
Lee
It's early in the season so you can't gauge the outcome on a few
games in October, but not having to make constant corrections to rights nagging
issues is always a plus. The Sharks have figured some things that have made
them click at home, which was a far cry for their inconsistencies on home ice
last regular season. San Jose pretty matter of fact on Saturday night, as they
dispatched the visiting Nashville Predators 4-1 at SAP Center.
More >>
|
The lights go out on Blue Jackets
Tomas
Hertl scores a pair in Sharks win
by Mike
Lee
Early season games don't always seem like must win game, except
when they come against teams in rebuilding mode like the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Those are games that you need to put in the bank as automatic wins. The Sharks
did that on Thursday night, taking their season series with the Blue Jackets
with a 3-1 win at SAP Center. San Jose overcame a brown-out and Sergei
Bobrovsky en route to their 5th win of the season. Tomas Hertl scored a pair of
goals and Martin Jones turned aside 24 shots to lead the Sharks.
More >>
|
Vlasic gets Sharks back on track
San Jose
returns home to beat Anaheim
by Mike
Lee
It wasn't a work of art, but it was two points against a division
rival. For the Sharks, two points is what it's all about right now. After their
recent sub-par road trip, San Jose needed to generate win whatever the cost.
Doing it against the Anaheim Ducks made it that much more important. The Sharks
turned in a more inspired effort and got a clutch goal in overtime to knock off
the Ducks 2-1 at SAP Center.
More >>
|
Energy and initiative absent in Detroit
Sharks end road trip 2-3-0
by Mike
Lee
The first road trip of the season came to a sputtering finish in
Detroit on Saturday as the Sharks dropped a lifeless 3-0 decision to the host
Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings muzzled a Sharks team that seemed
ready to come home after splitting the first 4 games of the road trip. Gustav
Nyquist scored a pair of 2nd period goals to provide Detroit with more offense
than they would need against the lackluster Sharks.
More >>
|
Epic collapse in rematch with Pens
Sharks
blow 2-goal lead in 3rd period
by Mike
Lee
There are certain games you want to win at all costs. Facing the
team that crushed your Stanley Cup dreams for the first time is one of those
games. When San Jose entered the 3rd period with a 2-0 lead, it looked as if
that mission would be accomplished. The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh
Penguins had other ideas, storming back with a 3-goal 3rd period to stun the
befuddled Sharks at PPG Paints Arena. While not the magnitude of a Stanley Cup
eliminating loss, it was a demoralizing defeat. It confirmed who the better
team was last spring when it counted most.
More >>
|
Rookie Dell earns first win for Sharks
San
Jose tops Islanders in Brooklyn
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks have historically had a knack for letting rookie
goaltenders beat them. They let an opponent get a taste of that medicine on
Tuesday night as 27 year-old rookie Aaron Dell got the start in net for the
Sharks and turned in a 21-save performance against the host New York Islanders
to earn his first career NHL victory. Dell didn't have to play superhero, as
his teammates provided lots of air cover to keep the Islanders suppressed for
the most part.
More
>>
|
New Season Musings
Some thoughts on the
just-opened 2016-17 season
by Paul
Krill
Obviously, this Sharks team has a tough act to follow, with
last year's team coming just two wins from the Stanley Cup. So far, the team
looks up to the task, with solid defensive play and goaltending. Some more
goals would be nice, though. Here's just a few thoughts on what we've seen so
far, from the fan-at-the-game perspective:
More >>
|
Road success continues for San Jose
5-game
road trip starts off with a W
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks kicked off a 5-game road trip with a stop in Ohio to
take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. San Jose took advantage of
a young lineup that was out-classed in the opening 30 minutes, to take a 3-2
victory at Nationwide Arena. San Jose received scoring from three players and
clamped down on the Blue Jackets for their second consecutive win of the
season.
More
>>
|
Enjoy the Ride
Who knows where it will
end
by Ryan Hall
Well here we are. With
their season opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings, the San Jose Sharks
kicked off their first ever defense of the Western Conference. It might not
mean as much as defending Lord Stanley's mug, but let's take a moment to
appreciate just how far this club has come. It isn't easy to win the West, and
in doing so the Sharks have placed a large bullseye on their backs for the
2016-17 season, which means every win will be hard fought, and none should be
taken fro granted.
More >>
|
Sharks hit the ground running in opener
SJ
outclasses Kings in spirited game
by Mike
Lee
It wasn't a Stanley Cup victory, but it was still sweet. With the
sting of their oh-so-close loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins still lingering in
the SAP Center air, the San Jose Sharks did the only they could do on Wednesday
by hitting the ice. The Los Angeles Kings tried to exercise some of the demons
of their playoff loss to San Jose by simply hitting as many Sharks as they
could find. In the end, San Jose skated away with an entertaining 2-1 win over
the Kings by brushing off the rough stuff and focusing on the style of play
that got them to the Finals last Spring.
More >>
|
The Longest Summer
Sharks look to repeat
last season's success
by Mike Lee
Summer
is officially over. Technically it was the shortest break in franchise history,
but for the San Jose Sharks, it was excruciatingly long. Falling two wins short
of a Stanley Cup Championship, the Sharks had four months to stew over the
"what ifs," and ponder what might have been. A bounce here, a shot 6 inches to
the one direction there, and history could have been much different. What the
Sharks get to do now is prove to everyone that they belonged in the Stanley Cup
Finals.
More
>>
|
Preseason opens with OT thriller
Sharks tie
game late, then win in extra session
by Mike
Lee
The longest summer on record in San Jose is officially over.
Hockey is back. Considering the way things finished on SAP Center ice, everyone
in the south bay wants to get things moving, so Tuesday night's preseason
opener popped the top off the 2016-17 NHL season. It was only a preseason game,
but the Sharks got off to a winning start by taking a 3-2 decision in overtime
over the visiting Vancouver Canucks.
More >>
|
Analyzing the Western Conference's Top Teams Salary Cap
Situations
Time to start thinking
dollars
by Zach Bodenstein
With many
moves to be made by many teams due to salary cap and expansion reasons, we
break down the top teams in the West as of June 20th 2016 looking towards next
season. The Blackhawks were forced to make another deal that they did not
necessarily want to make earlier this week, sending promising forward Teuvo
Taravainen alongside Bryan Bickell to Carolina for draft picks as a salary dump
in attempt to re-sign Andrew Shaw. The Blackhawks have had to make similar
deals involving Patrick Sharp to Dallas and Brandon Saad to Columbus, amounting
in very little returns for their respective values.
More >>
|
Gordie and Dad
Fond memories of a
legend
by Ken Smyth
There's still a few
thoughts about the Sharks' playoff run, but today is a time to reflect on
Gordie Howe. The personalities of the hockey world are coming forward with
individual recollections and anecdotes about what a fine man he truly was. For
me, though, Gordie Howe is another part of the stuff I shared with my dad.
More >>
|
That's how the story ends
Sharks simply lost
to a better team
by Paul Krill
We've all
heard this expression 1,000 times: So close, yet so far. This season, we saw a
rebirth of our Sharks, After disappointing ends to the past two seasons, the
Sharks came within two games of the Ultimate Prize: The Stanley Cup.
Unfortunately, after dominating through the first three rounds of playoffs and
finally, at long last, getting to the championship round, the Sharks were like
Rocky Balboa facing off against Apollo Creed in the first "Rocky" movie. It
became apparent quickly that the Sharks were outmatched and they'd have to will
their way to competitiveness in this series.
More >>
|
Magic playoff run ends
Sharks fall in Game 6
ending Stanley Cup Finals
by Mike
Lee
Time ran out for the Sharks on Sunday night. Literally and
figuratively. As the puck skidded down a sheet of bad ice, the clock ticked to
zero on the Sharks storybook playoff run, ending with the Pittsburgh Penguins
celebrating as they hoped to do. Another tight hockey game ended in favor if
Pittsburgh, which was all the Penguins needed to cap a 3-1 win over San Jose at
SAP Center on Sunday. The Sharks offense failed them for a fourth time in the
series, ending a series that was probably more lopsided than the game scores
suggested.
More
>>
|
Martin Jones steals Game 5
Sharks live to
fight another day with 4-2 win in Pittsburgh
by
Mike Lee
In order to win the Stanley Cup, you need to be good, you
need to play above yourself and you need to be a little lucky. The Sharks were
all three on Thursday night, winning Game 5 with a 4-2 nail biter over the
Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center. San Jose finally looked like their
playoff selves, jumping out to a quick lead, and battling after Pittsburgh tied
the game to overcome a bit of adversity. Martin Jones turned in a game for the
ages, stopping 44 shots to force the series back to San Jose on Sunday.
More >>
|
So Hasty With the Shovel?
The Sharks aren't
dead yet
by Ken Smyth
All these funeral
metaphors. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression: that makes Game 5 on Thursday
night "acceptance". Should there be flowers? Maybe Peter DeBoer should forfeit
the game, and the team just show up in black suits for a handshake line and
screw the Penguins out of a game's worth of beer sales.
More >>
|
Win or Lose, 2015-16 a Success
Much to be
proud of this season
by Mike
Lee
Regardless of what happens on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, this
season can only be regarded as a success. Should the Sharks lose Game 5 in
Pittsburgh, and ultimately the series, they can still hang their heads high.
The 2015-16 season was supposed to be a big question mark, filled with the
unknown uneasiness for a team that was an absolute mess a season earlier. To
make the Stanley Cup Finals, much less make the playoffs, was a massive step
forward for a team that many had written off for dead.
More >>
|
Believe
by Ryan
Hall
It's been a long time since I've put pen to paper. Truthfully, I
haven't had much to say, since I've been living in a teal colored dream.
However, the time feels right to say something.
More >>
|
Sharks teeter on the brink with Game 4 loss
San Jose's big guns AWOL once again
by
Mike Lee
The only thing missing from the procession of fans streaming
out of SAP Center on Monday night following the end of Game 4 was a casket. The
somber reality that the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals is about to turn into a funeral
for the San Jose Sharks hit home like a slap in the face. The Sharks succumbed
for third time on Monday night, falling 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins after
another lifeless performance that left no doubt who the better team is in this
series.
More
>>
|
Sharks saved by a Donkey
SJ wins first
Stanley Cup Finals game on Donskoi's OT goal
by
Mike Lee
It took three games to get it done, but the San Jose Sharks
finally win a Stanley Cup Final game. Rookie Joonas Donskoi blew the roof of
the SAP Center on Saturday night, with an overtime goal that legitimized head
coach Peter DeBoer's insistence that the Sharks aren't dead yet. Donskoi sent
the capacity crowd into a frenzy as the Sharks finally figured out the
Pittsburgh Penguins in their best-of-seven series.
More >>
|
Sheary beats Sharks in OT
San Jose limps
home down 0-2 in the series
by Mike
Lee
The Sharks first foray into the Stanley Cup Finals is turning
into a public flogging. San was dominated in Game 2, and by some grace of the
hockey gods they managed to get the game to overtime, where they would fall
2-1. Rookie Conor Sheary snapped a shot past a screened Martin Jones 2:35 into
overtime to hand the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.
San Jose spent the majority of the night scrambling in their own zone,
defending against a superior Penguins lineup that owned them.
More >>
|
Late miscue costs Sharks SCF Game 1
San Jose
battles back from 2-0 deficit to fall in final 3 minutes
by Mike Lee
The Sharks waited 25 years to make their
first appearance, but they kicked off their first showing with a bang in Game 1
vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rust and nerves got the best of San Jose, who
dropped the opener, but it was a battle to the end. San Jose battled back from
a 2-0 deficit to tie the game, but a miscue late in regulation cost the Sharks,
who dropped a 3-2 decision to the Penguins.
More >>
|
It's Real, Again
Time for Sharks to
shine
by Ken Smyth
On April 26, 1994,
over 22 years ago, the San Jose Sharks beat the Detroit Red Wings 6-4 in game 5
of their Western Conference Quarterfinal to send that series back to Detroit
with the Sharks leading the series 3-2. Johan Garpenlov put the game winner
past Bob Essensa at 8:08 of the third period and the Shark Tank was nuts. Our
new team was finally for real. That was the high point of playoff game elation
in San Jose until last Thursday's win over St. Louis sent the Sharks to the
Stanley Cup Finals. But finally the feeling is real, again.
More >>
|
The Prediction
And other SCF tid
bits
by Mike Lee
As the Sharks embark on
their first ever foray into the Stanley Cup Finals it's customary for the
prognosticators predict who will win the best-of-seven game series with the
Pittsburgh Penguins. Predictions from across North America peel back every
statistical detail in search of the information that will help determine who
lift the Stanley Cup. With the puck drop just hours away, here is my
prediction...
More
>>
|
Sharks Break on Through
Chokers No
More
by Paul Krill
Yes, I say the Sharks
can no longer be known as chokers. They have made it to the Stanley Cup Final,
thus leaving behind a small contingent of teams (Minnesota, Nashville,
Columbus, Phoenix, Winnipeg) that's never been there. Of that group, only
Phoenix, the original Winnipeg Jets, has been in the NHL longer than the
Sharks. The rest are late-90s/year 2000 expansion teams. A number of teams have
made it this far but still haven't won: Vancouver, Saint Louis, Washington,
Buffalo, Ottawa, Florida. So for now, the mantle of Choker for This Decade
officially passes to the Washington Capitals, who had the best record in the
regular season this year but were done in the second round.
More >>
|
Why the Sharks can beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round
4
Stanley Cup Finals prognostications
by Zach Bodenstein
For the first time in the franchise's
25-year history, the San Jose Sharks are in the Stanley Cup Finals after
successfully capturing the Clarence S. Campbell trophy as Western Conference
Champions. They will oppose a core that has not only been here before, but has
succeeded in capturing Lord Stanley's cup. With contributions from the entire
depth chart, the Sharks took care of the high-powered Blues in six games,
including controlling the pace of play for practically the entire series.
More >>
|
Finally!
Sharks advance to Stanley Cup Finals with 4-2
win
by Mike Lee
The San Jose Sharks are
going to the Stanley Cup Finals. Let that one soak in for a moment. It took 25
years, but the Sharks improbable playoff run reached new heights on Wednesday
night, as San Jose eliminated the St Louis Blues with a dominating 5-2 win at
SAP Center. It was a 60 minute affair that showcased four Sharks lines that
contained the Blues from the opening whistle. St Louis was forced to play catch
up from the opening period, but could never generate the spark necessary to
match the Sharks.
More >>
|
Uncharted Sharks Territory
Sharks notch 11th win in the
playoffs
by Mike Lee
The San Jose Sharks
have gone where no Sharks team has ever gone before. They won their 11th game
in the playoffs on Monday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference
Finals with a hard fought 6-3 win over the St Louis Blues at the Scottrade
Center in Missouri. Sharks captain Joe Pavelski scored the tying goal late in
the 2nd period, then bagged the game winner 16 seconds into the 3rd period to
propel San Jose. The Sharks sit one win away from their first trip to the
Stanley Cup Finals, which they can lock up at home on Wednesday night in Game
6.
More
>>
|
Blues even series by smashing Shark
Everything goes wrong for SJ in Game 4
by Mike Lee
When the Sharks beat the St Louis Blues in
Game 2 at Scottrade Center, they stole home ice advantage as the series shifted
back to San Jose. The Sharks imploded in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon, to hand
that advantage right back to the Blues. Holding a 2-1 series lead, the Sharks
played like a team that expected the Blues to roll over and hand them the
series. Not so fast. The Blues landed a throat shot to the lethargic Sharks to
even the series with a resounding 6-3 win at SAP Center.
More >>
|
The Quest for Game M
Sharks are closing in
on uncharted territory
by Paul Krill
The
Universe is in spot where it's never been before: The San Jose Sharks at this
juncture are leading a Western Conference Finals series in games won. And if
they can take just two of the next four games, Sharks ticketholders will for
the first time get to use tickets for Game M. For those of you confused by what
Game M is, let me explain.
More >>
|
Sharks continue to roll in Game 3
Jones
extends shutout streak in 3-0 win
by Mike
Lee
Momentum in a powerful thing, and the San Jose Sharks have all of
it in their Western Conference Finals series with the St Louis Blues right now.
The series shifted to San Jose on Thursday night, and the Sharks picked up
where they left off in St Louis, by shutting out the Blues for the 2nd
consecutive game. The Sharks used a pair of goals from Tomas Hertl and another
from Joonas Donskoi to use a 3-0 decision to take a 2-1 series lead.
More >>
|
Welcome Back
Sharks now control home
ice
by Ken Smyth
Coming back to San Jose
with the series tied, the St. Louis Blues are trying to earn a split on the
road just as the Sharks were a few days ago. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock tossed
his team under the zamboni after Tuesday's loss, but his lamentations of
why-can't-we-play-at-home-like we-do-on-the-road sound appropriate for the
Sharks as well. Also, don't snicker at Htich too much. Spending all those years
in 210 watching his Stars teams snag a loose pass and send the forwards back up
ice made me appreciate his system, boring as it looked to play. Those doughnuts
power a good hockey mind.
More >>
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| SHARK SNAPSHOT |
|
|
| Western Conf |
W |
L |
OTL |
Pts |
|
| (1) Chicago (C) |
50 |
23 |
8 |
108 |
|
| (2) Minnesota (C) |
48 |
25 |
8 |
104 |
|
| (3) Anaheim (P) |
45 |
23 |
13 |
103 |
|
| (4) Edmonton (P) |
45 |
26 |
9 |
99 |
|
| (5) San Jose (P) |
45 |
29 |
7 |
97 |
|
| (6) St Louis (C) |
44 |
29 |
7 |
95 |
|
| (7) Calgary (P) |
45 |
32 |
4 |
94 |
|
| (8) Nashville (C) |
41 |
28 |
12 |
94 |
|
| (9) Winnipeg (C) |
39 |
35 |
7 |
85 |
|
|
|
| SJ Home |
25 |
11 |
4 |
54 |
|
| SJ Road |
20 |
18 |
3 |
43 |
|
|
| Next Game: |
TBD |
vs |
TBD |
|
| Prev Game: |
3-1 L |
vs |
 |
|
|
| LEADERS |
| Scoring |
Gm |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
|
| Burns |
81 |
29 |
46 |
75 |
40 |
|
| Pavelski |
81 |
29 |
39 |
68 |
34 |
|
| Couture |
73 |
25 |
27 |
52 |
12 |
|
| Thornton |
79 |
7 |
43 |
50 |
51 |
|
| Marleau |
81 |
27 |
19 |
46 |
28 |
|
| Goaltending |
W |
L |
OTL |
Sv% |
GAA |
|
| Jones |
35 |
23 |
6 |
.912 |
2.40 |
|
| Dell |
10 |
6 |
1 |
.930 |
2.06 |
|
| Special Teams |
# |
Eff% |
Rnk |
 |
| Power Play |
40/244 |
16.4% |
25th |
|
| Penalty Kill |
41/209 |
80.4% |
18th |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| RECENT TRANSACTIONS |
|
|
|
|
|
| RECENT MILESTONES |
|
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| |
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| Technorati Profile |
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