Completely off topic, but thanks to a coworker, all I can think of when I hear "New Jersey" is now Jersey Shore, and our pal the Guidette Devil up there. I'm not even sure he likes the show, but he talks about it nearly as much as he talks about Justin Bieber and the Lakers. Of the 3, I am pretty sure he only really likes the Lakers, and likes to annoy people by talking about the other two. But the connect is made, and now firmly rooted within the deep recess of my gray matter. I potentially dedicated an entire wrinkle in my brain to that. Several dendrites if nothing else. What a waste of storage space!

Orange Snookie reminds me of tan DW, and I have to wonder if the cast of the Jersey Shore looks at him and wants to be that Tan in their mid life.

One thing none of the people mentioned above, (aside from DW and my coworker who enjoys talking smack about the Sharks), probably never think about is hockey. Which is a damn shame because these two teams are doing their damnedest to prove everybody wrong and not only make the post season, but destroy, (or at least annoy), everyone in their paths while they do it. The Devils certainly didn't have a good start to their season either, and there are some parallels that can be drawn between the journey of these two teams.

For Sharks fans though, the goal is this: another win. That's it. It's that simple. We want two points. Can we get them? 3 periods and some time in between will tell.

 

 

 

O HAI there Dallas, How you doin'? And here you all thought I was crazy when I said the Sharks could climb back and do this. 4th? Pfft. Well, here they are, folks. Poised to make a run, and potentially even challenge for a top three spot in the West. Crazy what a season will do. Can't count our Sharklings yet, though, there's still a lot of work to be done. Rolling into St. Louis on the second night of a back to back is no picnic. You can believe the STL Blues will be ready to play, and more than happy to try and take the season series. As hot as the Sharks are right now, STL is hot too. As I have said many times before, never ever take the STL Blues for granted. They can and will bite you in the ass when they do.

Tonight's game is going to be good. Here's to two Sharks points at the end.



[Edit] Ok so I totally used the wrong team the first time. Bound to mess something up each season, and this time, I moved Rick Nash a couple hundred miles to the south west. Worked out for the Sharks so, hey, I might have to try that again.

 

Ah, East Coast games. Early, not work friendly, and now much harder to watch after a certain thing that will not be named was shut down the previous week. I usually do my best to catch the radio broadcasts of day games, but it can be hard to really listen when you're busy doing 100 other things. Still, a game's a game and I'd like to see a Sharks win. Continuing their streak would move them that much closer to division leading Dallas, who currently sit in 3rd in the West. Don't think they can do it?

They can. Just watch.

They will.

Go Sharks.

Due to an exhausting week, I missed the first two periods of this game Saturday morning. 10am games are hard for us West Coasters, especially when all you want to do is sleep. Thankfully it seems that I didn't miss much, and the best of the game took place in third, even if Teeth's goal was in the first. (that's what highlights are for amirite?)

The thrid looked fast, we well fought on both sides, and flat out was a good period of hockey to watch. I love seeing the Sharks play like that in the third (or first or second or all game...) Against a team like Boston, they had to bring their A game, and they did just that. They looked quick, they looked composed, hell, they looked like a team. Not only that, they looked like a team that can compete, one hungry to make the playoffs. That's exactly what we need them to be right now.

Apparently, in honor of some unknown holiday, the NHL allowed Nemo to get a shut out. There's this weird law, we Sharks fans are all pretty certain it exists, that prevents Sharks goalies from getting shut outs. It's weird, but convenient pattern finding suggests it's true.

The Sharks did take a few too man penalties on Saturday. From what I saw it was a weird day of calls. Bad calls were nearly always penalized but actual penalties went unpunished for the most part. Well, I guess the refs were consistent, so, that's something.

Next up? Caps on Tuesday.

Let's be honest here. Last night was looking grim. The first 40 minutes were a showcase of  confused, convoluted, crappy hockey from the Sharks, while the Yotes put on a clinic on how to take advantage of the other team playing badly. When Biz scored, it was all but over. Sure,the tweets about it will be hilarious, but really? You guys let Paul Pissonnette score? Wow.

The night was over.



Nemo was pulled. Our Stalock who art in net was in. Hockey be his game. For every shot that was on net, he saved it all the same.

Then a glimmer of hope. Joe PA scored within the waning seconds of the second period to  make a 3-0 blow out a 3-1 game with potential.

The game returned in the third and while the idea of coming back from a 3 goal deficit floated in our minds,  with the way the Sharks had been playing it was all but impossible. Thankfully no one told that to Joe Pa, who scored another goal to bring the game with in one.

Kyle Wellwood finally got a proper welcome form the home town fans when he scored his first goal as a Shark to tie the game. Assist from Eager. Welcome to San Jose, guys.

Then, signaling to all the impossible can not only occur, but it can strike multiple times in one game, Patty gets a break away and scores to make it a 4-3 Sharks lead.

Whoa.

The last 4 and a half minutes of the game were tense as hell. I was yelling at my TV. Despite crawling back the Sharks started ot look lost, they couldn't keep the puck out of their zone, oh the humanity! Then Jumbo scored an empty netter making it 5-3 and everyone immediately cheered in ecstatic relief.

Stalock getting a warm welcome from the home town crowd was great. This kid is amazing. In fact he's so good he already won a game three days from now. He's THAT FAST. Just you wait.

The question is, will this carry over into tonight's game against the Ducks? It has to. The Sharks can't keep doing what they did for the first two periods last night. This is crunch time. You want in the playoffs? Time to turn it up to 11. Keep it there until your ears bleed. Don't fall back into the same pattern. Beat the Ducks tonight. Get two points. Rise.

We're back!

With the All Star Break officially over the regular season returns to run down the final games of the season. The west is tight, and it's very likely that some spots won't be fully decided until the very last day. Wins are important, which is why the Sharks need to get one tonight. Get back into 8th, take over 7th, move up to 6th, the journey back starts tonight. The Yotes have 59 pts to our 56. Catching and passing them is not only possible, but entirely probable if the Sharks start a good run right out of the gate. Tonight's points are huge.

Tonight also marks a celebration for Patty. While he already hit 1000 games prior to the break, tonight they plan to honor him for it at the Tank. Yay Patty! Not every player hits 1000 games they certainly don't usually do it with the same team. Congrats to o'Capn, my Cap'n for sticking it out! (and to his parents for getting him there)

Tonight he's going toparty like it's 1997.

 

 

So, game tonight, huh?

Last one before the All Star Break. Thanks to Colorado's win, the Sharks are one point out of the 8th spot in the West. Look for them to get that spot back tonight, and to set themselves us to advance even further up the playoff ladder after the All Star Break ends. The Pacific might be tight this year, but the Sharks can do it.

Our Stalock who art in goal has been called up to backup Nemo in nets tonight. Anyone who has seen this kid play knows he's the real deal. In fact, some videos out there suggest that he's so fast, he can smell a fart before someone lets it rip. Now that's fast. LA better watch out because there's a man god cheetah in the house tonight, and his name is Stalock. He's so quick he can make a save from the bench and be back in his seat before anyone even know he left. He can make a save like 5 games before the others guys even think to shoot the puck. That's how amazing Stalock is.