What a game last night, eh? I got up to make a phone call at the office, came back and it was 2-1 Sharks! I wasn't even gone that long. That's when I knew it was going to be a wild night out on the ice. I was home in time to watch the third and it did not disappoint. Anytime the Sharks can mow down the Flames, it's going to be a good night of hockey. (Clowe fighting Sarich was also pretty epic. Dude, Sarich, be a gentlemand and take your helment off if you're going to fight.)

Tonight starts the last of eight games in the regular season for the Sharks, all of which are in their division. While tonight is only the second to last meeting this season against the Kings, it's high time the Sharks show them who's boss. Too many poor games against them earlier this season. Let's do this thing, Sharks. Time to show the division why swimming with Sharks in the Pacific is a dangerous game.

Gather your canoes, kayaks and dinghies Sharks fans, it's time to paddle on down to the Tank for some hockey.

The Coyotes had to go and win last night, which is so annoying for the Sharks. I mean, come on guys, the regular season is nearly over, can't you 'Yotes just coast? Do you have to be all up in our division and annoying like that? It's like you're actually playing the game, or something. So rude.

Hopefully we'll have Teeth back for tonight. Seems whatever he did looked worse that it really was, which is good. I believe Heater is eligible to return tonight as well. Keep those elbows down, sir. The Flames annoying the crap out of me too,  but let's just keep it to some good, clean checking, alright? Hip checks and ass checks accepted in all rinks.

What a crazy game that was! The Sharks score 3 goals in about 3 minutes in the first to move them into what would be an insurmountable lead. There was a goalie change 7 minutes in. 7 minutes! Holy crap, it was unreal. I wondered at the time if the pulled Halak for Conkblock in order to send  message to the team, but then Conkblock conkblocked everything coming his way, and I knew it was because is wasn't Halak's night.

Then there was the hatty that wasn't. JoePa was originally credited with three goals on the night, giving him his first NHL hat trick, but further review, and a gracious JoePa, awarded one of the goals to Patty thus wiping out the hatty.

Teeth slammed into the boards hard in the second. It was a scary thing to watch. You can see his one leg buckle and shutter violently against the force of hitting the boards. He didn't return, and had to be helped off the ice and into the locker room, although he did walk out of the Tank under his own power at the end of the night. He's been busily tweeting about haircuts and tv since, so, one assumes he's relatively ok. What looked like a broken leg may instead just be a few days of soreness. Here's hoping that's the case.

The Blues had to go make things exciting towards the end of the game, coming back to make the final score 5-3, though it was thankfully too late for a full comeback. While the Sharks responded well to losing Teeth, they really were on their heels in the thrid. I blame Randy Hahn, who wouldn't shut up about how a 3 goal lead was "the most dangerous lead in hockey," until the Blues started to score, of course. Bakes, who was filling in for the absent Drew, asked him "Are you happy now?!" when the Blues made it 3-1 and Randy said "Yes...NO!" We see how it is, Mr. Hahn. For your non stop promotion of a 3 goal lead, and general doomsday bringing, I award you last night's Bringer of Doom Award. It should go nicely with the others already on your shelves.

 

 

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! No, not Patrick Marleau, (although if any Shark is to be canonized by fans, it might be him), St. Patrick. Or, as we American contemporaries see it, an excuse to wear green and drink Guinness. While there are no "snakes" to be driven from the land tonight, there is an enemy hockey team that could use a little getting rid of. The Sharks 6-3 win over the Stars showed that they are still in win mode, even if it takes nearly heart attack inducing endings to games to get there. 

As you all know by now, Heater got two games for an elbow to Ott. No problem with that, elbows aren't to be used as weapons. In fact, aside from the fact that it was a ridiculously stupid penalty to take at a really bad time to take any penalty, my biggest issue with the hit is that someone did something to make Steve Ott look good. He's a dick, but now he can pontificate on the virtues of clean play. How annoying.

A friend of mine suggested Cheech coming back to replace the suspended Heatley, mostly for the amazing amusement value of that move. The Tank would explode. After being traded and sent down and run through the ringer, San Jose still really loves Cheechoo. There is very little chance of that actually happening but just in case, ready those whistles. *wink*

 

Yesterday's game went from bad, to awesome, to bad again, to awesome again to omgwtfwasthat in a matter of about 2 periods. Games like that I am almost glad I am at work while they're on because it makes it so much easier to just put the headphones down and walk away. No use in rehashing the past though, as the Sharks (and we fans) have a game tonight to focus on. Let's hope this one goes much, much better than last night's. I would love to see the boys take get a win against Dallas tonight. They've had the Sharks number all year. Maybe it's time we take it back and scrawl the Stars number on the inside of a bathroom stall.

Just a thought.

Two teams, two losing streaks, only one can finish the night victorious. The Sharks come in looking to finish the job they couldn't in last seasons Western Conference Finals, and sweep the Hawks out of this regular season's existence, while the Hawks come in hungry for points and a win. While I am happy to finally be meeting the Hawks on the front end of a back to back, why oh why is tomorrow Dallas? That makes for a very disagreeable hockey sandwich. Load up on some Tums, folks, because you might need them.

I am looking forward to tonight's bout, even if it takes place while I am at work *sigh* I am way more antsy about Dallas tomorrow, even though, as a life long sports fan, sweeps make me nervous. But who doesn't love to bring out the broom. eh? Here's hoping the Sharks can do just that tonight!

It's funny how a two games with essentially the same ending can conjure up completely different feelings afterwords. Two games end in shootout losses, two games get the Sharks 1 point a piece, and the two couldn't have felt any more different. We walked out of the game on Thursday night feeling jubilant, despite the loss. There we were, walking away from what has been widely hailed as one of the best games this season, and it was against the best team in the league this season. Saturday felt like a completely different type of loss. It sucked. It wasn't the worse loss, but it was like your typically disappointment post shootout loss. All that effort and you still don't walk away with the W.

It sucked to lose to the Rangers when both teams should be playing like their playoffs lives depend on it (cause they do). While the Rangers are in far more dire need of points, The Sharks have to remember that the rest of the Pacific is hot on their heels. There is no room to sit back, every game needs to be played like a must win. The point is important, but who knows when the second one the Sharks missed out on will come back to haunt them. Maybe it won't, but going into the back-to-back against Chicago and Dallas, I'd feel a a lot better with just a bit more breathing room.

We did, however, get to make this gem thanks to the game, and that's worth something.