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.



 

Well, now, that was certainly a game wasn't it? Go down 2-0 in the first to the best team in the league right now, rally back, TWICE, force OT and then go to a shoot out. Only thing we didn't get was the magic OT ending of a Ryane Clowe hattrick and he came damn close to giving us that. The shootout is a crap shoot, one which I would not use to judge this game by. It was as entertaining a 65 minutes of hockey as one can hope to get during the regular season, even if it ultimately resulted in a loss. It was a good game.

This match up is one we attend pretty much every year in both preseason and regular. The pre season version is always a chippy good time, while the regular season version has become what Mina and I fondly refer to as the annual "Watch Rob Cry Game." Rob, you see, is a Canucks fan with a rather loose affiliation to his team. Having moved to the States a few years ago, he doesn't watch them as much as he used to back home, but he's a good Canadian lad, and he likes his hockey, so we do try to get him down to a game each season. Most of the time, these games result in a loss for the Canucks, which is why we call them "Watch Rob Cry" even though he never does and he quite frankly doesn't really care enough to. The only times he's come close have been when Loungo was in net. (he's not a fan of looouuuuuuu)

Last night was one of those interesting games where it was a loud for just about everything, and there were a large number of Canucks fans in the crowd. I'm pretty sure every penalty was equally well cheered and booed. Speaking of, what was up with Kesler last night? He's too good to be taking all those penalties. He wasn't the only player playing sloppy that's for sure, but it was very noticeable in his case.

I've noticed this season that all that lack of heart bullshit has finally gone away. I guess scoring two goals in less than minutes to start the second will do that. Clowe's goal with 21 seconds left doesn't hurt either. Say what you will, but the Sharks aren't crumbling under the weight this year. Your arguments are now old and tired, like Kirk. Make new ones.

Speaking of arguments, what is with some Sharks fans and goalies? It's a love hate relationship that goes from love to hate in 2.4 seconds or less. They make a save and they're loved but woe be to he who is in net when the puck goes behind him. It doesn't matter WHY it went in, a defensive breakdown on the play, perhaps, a large hockey ass screening the goalie, one of his own teammates deflecting it, no, it doesn't matter how, just that it DID. The guy behind us last night was calling for Nemo's head after EVERY SINGLE GOAL. Ignore that someone missed their assignment and let a Canuck go to the net totally unhindered, that's all Nemo. "GO BACK TO CHICAGO YOU PIECE OF @&^#&#^!" What? Are you daft, man?

Apparently you are. Do me a favor, go learn something about hockey then come back and watch another game. Your angry ignorance insults us all. It's a team sport, in case you hadn't noticed. The goalie only plays one position, and it ain't forward, son. Figure it out.

Greetings, Sharks fans! Here we are in the home stretch, down to our last game against the Preds this regular season. Personally, I think the Sharks owe me a win on this one. They lost to the Preds on my birthday, during the most depressing stretch of this up and down season. A win tonight would allow me to forgive that though, and I don't think it's too much to ask. The Preds currently sit outside the playoff picture, but that could change any minute in this conference, so every point the Sharks can gain is important. Not only do they need to keep their lead on the Pacific, Chicago is right behind them in the standings. A 3-4 spot is preferred, assuming they can't catch the Wings at #2. (btw Hawks, if you want to start losing, that'd be fine by me) We'll see how things shake out tonight. A strong 60 minute efforts from the Sharks would be greatly appreciated. Preds need not apply.

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