Yes, the Penguin is still celebrating his Cup win. We would be too.

Whoo! West coast game! The Sharks are back home after spending most of this young season on the road, not in the Pacific Time zone. Tonight's action kicks off at 7:30 Sharks time and will be on CSNCA. If you can't be at the Tank. be by a tv or radio. This one's gonna be good.

We can't lie, this is a big game. Both teams have injuries to some key players, but don't expect that to make things any easier. Two of the best teams in the league will be battling it out tonight. This game could get insane. Highly suggest you tune in.

Ok, before we go over the good, let's go over the bad and ugly. You all know what I'm talking about.

This goal.

HAI Nabokov's pads. I c u hav sumthin in der. Lemme take it out 4 u...HAHAHAHHAAHA SUCKERS! I'm Zetterberg, not a LOLcat and that is a GOAL!!!!!

As you hear Drew start to say, it's questionable. The puck was out of sight for the ref and he was practically swallowing that whistle when he saw Zetterberg start hacking away at things unknown.

The whole intent rule pisses me off, but this is one of the few times where you could clearly see there was intent to blow the play dead, it just didn't happen right away. I'm a little annoyed, but only because, once again, rules are not being consistently applied. If you're going to have that crappy rule. at least apply it evenly.

Ok, that and some Wings fans claiming to have pwned the Sharks when they had to fight for that one goal and couldn't manage to beat a team that had played to the shoot out the night before until, you know, the shoot out. (not just you Animal Drew!) The reports from those watching the Wings feed last night were less than happy, let's just put it that way. I decided the best way to look at it is as a very long awaited make up call for that off the netting goal awhile back. Neither goal should have happened, but both did. That's really all there is to it.

Ok, enough of that. It is what it is. Onto the good.

yay Logan! So good to see "Bust" get his first NHL goal against the Wings.

Did you know his real nickname is "Cooch"? Ugh.

I'm sticking with "bust" because no man, hell, no person, male or female, should have "cooch" as their nickname. That is like twenty levels of terrible right there.

And despite playing in back to backs with travel, and having been in the shoot out the night before, the Sharks didn't look half bad. They were super slow at times, but the Wings never seemed to capitalize on that. For a team that had everyone reason to being at full speed, the Wings quite frankly didn't. And, as I said earlier, they had to go to the shoot out to beat the Sharks. That's something to keep in mind.

I unfortunately missed the post game interview with Teh Todd, but I caught a snippet that showed him being overall pleased with his team, despite the outcome. I hope to find a clip of it today so I can see what he had to say.

So while our record at the Joe remains abysmal, you can't say that the Sharks haven't stepped up their level of play. (well I suppose you could, but you'd be wrong) One of these days, things will start to even out. You can bet on it.

Sharks face the Pens tomorrow at a west coast friendly time of 7:30. Road trips are fun and all, but home is where the awesome is.

Another afternoon game.This time at 4:30 Sharks time and OMGTELEVISED. Don't get me wrong, I love listening to Bakes and Rusanowsky. They're some of the best in the biz, hands down. I like to put them on for after game coverage and bring headphones and a small radio to games so I can listen on my way home. There's just something about being able to WATCH a game that seems so much better.

Especially a game against the Wings.

Ok, I know, they aren't the same Wings team that's been dominate since, what, the big bang? But they're still dangerous. Any team is dangerous, and this team has a history of being ridiculously good.

Post game recap from last night after the jump.(or it will be when I can figure out why the read more tag isn't working)

So this is how the game broke down yesterday:

First the CBJs were in control.

Then the Sharks were.

Then Joe Thornton scored. There was much rejoicing.

Jaime Baker "This just in, this just in. Sharks fans, Sharks score the first goal of the game." I laughed out loud when I heard that. He said it so deadpan, it was great.

The the CBJs scored. (Chimera) There was much swearing from Mina.

First period ended tied at 1 a piece

The second started:

First the Sharks were in control

Dany Heatley scored. Much rejoicing again as the Sharks too the lead.

The Rick Nash had to rain on our parade by scoring a goal for his team. Because that's what Rick Nash does.

From then on the CBJs mostly controlled the second.

Period ended tied at 2 a piece

The the third started:

No one controlled the third. It was all grind grind grind, post, chance, grind grind grind, way too close a chance, period ends.

OT happens. 5 minutes pass and no one scores.

Shoot Out:

Cbjs (Filatov) go first and miss.

Sharks (Cloooowwweee) go and miss

Cbjs (Stralman) go and miss again. I start to wonder if this will be another 6 rounder

Dan Boyle says no, and scores.

Rick Nash is up. Crap. It's Rick Nash! omgomgomgomg....

Nabby Saves!

Sharks win 3-2.

Cbjs get the loser point.

Everyone goes home. Except the Sharks who fly to Detroit instead.

This game will NOT be televised locally. NHLN-US will have the game in HD. For the rest of us, Jamie and Dan have our back radio side. Love those guys.

The game kicks off today at 4pm Sharks time. Set your tivos and DVRs. That is the one problem with games in the eastern time zone, they're early. Luckily for me, unemployment makes afternoon games easy to catch. I used to have to listen to them on the radio at work, and try to contain my cheers (or swears) so as to not frighten the customers.Though I'd happily trade in the rest of the afternoon games this season for a regular job at a work place that allows me to listen to games, either on the radio or online.

But enough about me, the last time the Sharks faced the Blue Jackets it was awesome. It didn't start out awesome, but it ended awesome. It was the home opener. Heatley got a hat trick. Boyle scored. Vlasic scored. Seto scored. The Sharks pwned the Blue Jackets 6-3. We got to see the salute for the first time. Not Kyle fought with ONE ARM! Banners were unfurled. Nachos were had. It was the first game of the season in our new seats. The evening was good.

Will it be good again tonight? You'll have to tune in to see! (or hear!)

Mina and I had totally different reactions to the comments accompanying this article on Puck Daddy last week. I rarely read the comments on Puck Daddy because there's really no value in most of the, and I can guess what 90% of them will be bout anyway, so why waste my time and brain juice? For whatever reason, I did read the comments that morning. There were only 8 when I looked, and I was neither surprised or shocked by what I found. Mostly because it was exactly what I expected; anonymous internet asshats being asshats. Remarkable how that works out.

VS.

Every once in a while, real life rears it ugly head and keeps Gray from being able to get a game day post out.  When that sad thing happens, something awesome occurs: Mina gets to make a Game Day Post!!!  While my artistic skills are severely lacking,  I scour the internet looking for relevant photos for you our dear reader.  (It look me close to 14 pages of results to find this awesome Hurricane picture.  All for you kids. The Whale Shark is a tribute to our dear friend Mr. K, who apparently really wanted to see one during his visit to Atlanta.)

Today's game is at the ungodly hour of 10.30.   I was planning to be up anyway to watch my Niners play my AFC team, the Colts.  I'm hoping for wins in both but I'm more optimistic about the Sharks than I am about the Niners.

The Canes are having a rough start to their season, having only collected 2 wins and 7 points 12 games into their season.  In fact, they have lost 8 in a row, 3 of them in OT.   This looks like a game that the Sharks could win easily, but they have a nasty habit of not kicking teams when they are down.  There are several players on the Canes that are underachieving and looking for a breakout game.   Cam Ward's numbers aren't bad this season and he sat last game, with hot Michael Leighton getting lit up by the Flyers for 6 goals.

What does this all mean? It means the Sharks still need to be on their game and do what they do best in order to win.  Solid goaltending, physical play, and winning faceoffs.  And scoring first.  And Nabby keeping his legs closed.  And Clowe staying hot.  And me waking up in time to see the game.  Should be easy.  Go Sharks.

Gray should be back for the next Game Day post.  We won't subject you to me too often.

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