Tonight @ 7pm. EARLY START!Jamie, Drew, Randy and Dan tooIt's like 18 fricking degrees up there. Damn. That's cold. So last night's game didn't go as intended. No time to dwell on it. Gotta move on and use that disappointment as motivation tonight. 2 pts are up for grabs, and we want them both. No sharing with loser points, no walking away with nothing, get those 2 pts. That's what matters. It's redemption in numeric form. Seto's out with an injury of unknown type. Nichol may or may not be in thanks to a puck to the eye yesterday during practice. Demers is out. We're shorthanded, but we can do it. Go Sharks! no comments

Ah, the Canucks. They're kind like Sharks Northwest, in the sense that they have 2 ex Sharks on their team.  Statistically the teams are pretty evenly matched, and winning two games in a row would be a boon for both squads in a season where consistency has eluded them. Both teams should be preforming above the levels they have been, although I personally don't mind if the Canucks decide to not come to that realization tonight.

Rypien is out for personal reasons. Not sure how this will effect the Canucks. To balance that loss out, Nichol may or may not be in the lineup tonight after taking a puck to the face during practice.

Choosing to ride the hot hand, TMac is going with Nemo again tonight. Personally, I think he's trying to get his team to play comfortably and confidently in front of both goalies, but time will tell. The Hockey Gods know that Nemo could use the boost.

 

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Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo what a game that was! Took the better part of the day for my voice to recover fully from cheering all sjdkfjskfjsklfjsakdjksadskjfdksfj for the goals. You see, we had a family of 4 Blackhawks fans sitting behind us. Whenever there are two or more fans of the opposing team that close to us, I get really competitive with them. Basically, I want to see their hockey related hopes squashed like so many bugs on a windshield. I mean, we can't let these guys win and leave happy now can we? No! Thankfully the Sharks were up to the task, beating the Hawks in a 5-2 game that showed some real flashes of steadiness in a very up and down season.

I will admit to having some reservations when I heard Nemo would be in net tonight.  I didn't feel entirely comfortable with it based on his unsteadiness earlier this season, even if I did kinda get why McLellan made that decision. Mina admonished me and further rationalized the choice by saying this was actually a good thing, good test for him, gets the team behind him, blah blah blah. Then I was like "ok, you're right, " and mostly acquiesced. (which is rather uncharacteristic of me, but what can I say, she had some good points). My fears were further allayed when I we got the stats sheets and I saw the despite playing more games than any other team, Chicago didn't have many more points than the Sharks did, even if they did have 2 or so more wins. (whoo loser points!)

BRAUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN as I was calling him, was called up to take the place of an injured Demers, but we were excited because Murray was back in the line up. Oh how the blue lines misses him when he is gone. And ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you Murray did no disappoint. No longer forced to deal with Buffy, Murray had his way with Chicago. Hits, smashes, even SAVES, let me tell you it was beautiful. A sight to see. Something to behold. In short, MURRAY SMASH. Murray was playing so well, he could have scored a hat trick. Usually when we say "Douglas Murray, offensive power hours." it's meant in light hearted jest, but on Wednesday night, it was a serious statement of fact. 240 pounds of it.

The night was not all about Murray, as Patty Marleau reminded everyone why we kept him (and that he should be a Shark for life), scoring two goals to seal the deal in the third. The first was a PP goal and the second was an empty netter that saw him beat Campbell down the ice like a rented mule. We have Patrick Marleau on our team, Brian Campbell is irrelevant.

Speaking of Campbell, we weren't aware the tradition was still going on after last seasons big fuss over it, but every time he had the puck, boos rained down from above. Now, personally, we find this funny. We get that for most people, it's now a funny joke thing to do. Sure, some folks are still mad that we gave up a lot for him, and he lied and left, but we're far enough removed from that now that's more a fun tradition in the works than anything else. I was momentarily confused though, because we were booing someone and I was pretty sure Pronger wasn't on the ice. With Pronger now back east, someone had to fill the void. Looks like we chose you, Soupy.


When the game hit 3-2 in the third, I was a tad concerned. I'd be messaging the other half, who had mentioned the score looked good last he check. The Chicago scores. I sent him back "You jinxed it, jinxer." Thankfully, Patrick Marleau made sure that was not the case, but I was a little worried for a few moments there. The Hawks had life and the Sharks suddenly weren't playing as well as they had been most of the rest of the game.

For reference, the reviewed Chicago goals was not explained during the game. We guessed they might have though a skate kicked it in, but no one said why it was under review, and they only showed one replay which clearly showed the puck as in. Despite this, when the call on the ice stood, a bunch of Sharks fans booed. Mina shouted, "You don't even know why you're booing!" but no one seemed to care.

The kids of the Hawks fans behind us, aside from spending all night kicking the back of my chair (they needed to kick it a little higher and to the right. Free massage chair.)ere young enough to not understand they people cheer for a team, not just EXCITING THINGS. They even started joining on on the "Let's go Sha-arks" chants, much to their mother's chagrin. (at one point she turned to the father and said "We may need to send them back." Ouch.) They also were very much into the Turco chant, but were unaware people were actually saying his name and just sat there mimicking the general sounds instead. This in between them deciding to scream at the top of their lungs because clearly, that's how you cheer.

I think mom was suddenly really happy dad had brought her a beer instead of a hot coco.

As the Sharks made it clear that the only team leaving the ice that night with points would be them, I turned around to see mom with her head in her hands, shaking it in dismay. I'm pretty sure this is how the Hawks fan Sharkie owned earlier that night was feeling too. (The guy kept shouting about how "WE" have a ring, and so Sharkie came back with a sign that said "Where's YOUR ring?" and they guy sat down and moped. Good stuff.)

Next up the Sharks take on Vancouver on Friday at 7pm. Be there or be super square.
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Ok, I know, I recycled art but, between work, hurting my arm a few weeks ago, and work again, I just didn't have the time to make a new image that would sum up this new found rivalry quite as well as a shark attempting to eat a (black)hawk would.

I wouldn't say I am nervous about this game as much as I am hopeful my attendance (and Mina's) will result in a win. I'd feel better about it if the Sharks weren't coming off a flukey set of losses, but two games worth of bad luck and back bounces has me worried. Worried that it might continue tonight! I know the Sharks are good enough to beat the Hawks, no matter what last post season says, but going into to it cold and unlucky is just a bummer, you know?

There was an article I didn't get to read about the Hawks knowing where to shoot on Nemo if he's in net. Whoopdie-freaking-do. The Sharks know where to shoot on Turco too, and I don't seen an article being written about that. Sure Turco wasn't on the team that won the Cup last year but neither were 29 other teams worth of people. That's not much a of a newsstory either. Stuff like that drums up drama for the game though, which breeds interest, which hopefully translates to eyeballs watching tv screens, which is good for the Sharks, and so, I am ok with it overall. Plus, like I said, I didn't read it. Hard to fully judge something I saw the headline for.

But, as always, we strive to maintain unresonable amounts of positivity (Thanks, Sleek) here, so let's get to the good stuff shall we?

The Sharks are playing again.

It's so cold out the ski season is opening early.

We've been getting rain, but the Guadalupe River hasn't flooded games out. Always a plus.

The game is a good excuse to wear your jersey to work.

It's probably a day off for most people. (It's not for me, but I am getting paid, suckas!)

The Sharks are playing.

The Sharks are playing.

and..oh yeah,

The Sharks are playing!

Let's do this thing, boys! Show those Hawks who's boss! It ain't Tony Danza.

Go Sharks!



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With luck, Wallin and Murray will be back in the line up tonight, as both Moore and Not Kyle have been sent back down to the Wooooostah Sharks. Will this bethe third night in a row of waved off goals, had earned space and a crushing OT loss? I sure hope not.

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Coming off a disappointing 3rd period/OT loss to the Avs last night, the Sharks will need to rally hard to win this one. The Stars have been backsliding lately, but they'll be rested and ready for the road weary Sharks. The Sharks had some good jump in the 1st and 2nd last night, but made the mistake of relaxing in the third which allowed the Avs to come back and tie the game to force OT. It wasn't a bad game, just an incomplete one. The Sharks can easily take the lessons from last night and apply them against a hungry Dallas team.

It's likely, but not for sure as of the time of this writing, the Nemo will get the start tonight against Dallas. Let's hope both he and our D are up to the task. I think they will be. Sharks take 2 outta 3, and fly home happy.

Will it happen? Tune in and we shall see.

 

Go Sharks!

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So last game was epic. It was easily the Sharks best and most complete performance so far this season, and I think it reminded everyone why the Sharks have been the best in the division for several years running. They played the way we all knew they could, now let's see if they can sustain it. Going into Colorado, the Sharks are riding a 3 game winning streak, while Colorado is busy recovering from a spat of injuries that has struck the club early this season. Both teams are searching for a consistent 60 minute game, but, in my biased opinion, the Sharks are closer to fully realizing that, and it's way more important for them to play another strong game tonight. What can I say, I like me some doubleyous.

Niitty was absolutely AMAZING in net last game, but it's clear TMac wants Nemo to play too. We'll see who gets the start tonight. (I'm hoping for Niitty!)

Go Sharks!

Beat them Avs!

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I will keep it short and simple. EFFFFFFFFFFFFFF YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! WHOOO HOOO!!! jdkadjaksdjsakfjaksfjaksfjaksf! WHOOOO!




Whoo!!!!!!!!!



Woo! no comments

So this is only the biggest game of the young season. No pressure, or anything, right guys? "Keeping pace" with the Kings has been on every Sharks fan's mind since the beginning of the season. The Sharks have had a somewhat slow start while the King shave been red hot. With the Ducks and Stars sitting idle, tonight's game presents the perfect opportunity for the Sharks to gain some much needed space between themselves and their Pacific Division brethren. A point behind the 'Yotes and 4 back from the Ducks, tonight's game presents what could be the beginning of a fight for the Pacific, should the Sharks be lucky enough to beat the Kings. They have the skill, and the talent, but do they have enough of those skills working together, at the right times, to beat the raging Kings? Only time will tell.

Just dooo eeeeeettttt.

Go Sharks! no comments

CouchTarts is proud to present our newest campaign to get a man of the people into the All Star Game this year. We've done it before with Devin Setoguchi. We've championed the Big Pavelski. Now, it's time to get a working man in. A man who is on the ice every night, win, lose, or draw. He blocks shots with his ankles, he flirts with the ladies, he lets you now his black eye is from a puck, and he plays his own brand of hockey. He would hold the door open for you if he noticed your arms were full, because he's that kind of guy. He will lead us to the promised land. He needs your recognition. He needs your votes. He is... no comments