Tonight @ 6pm CSN-CA and KFOX

The Sharks got a much needed win last night against the LA Kings, though it wasn't a full 60 minute performance. Things started to get really iffy in the third, and after the Kings peppered Nabby with shots and had some sustained pressure in the Sharks zone, I think the majority of us had at least some specter of dread about going to OT lurking in the back of our collective minds.

There was something in the intermission period with DW saying the Sharks weren't dependant on their goalie...yeah. About that...did you uh, did you watch the game last night?

Now I did only catch PART of the interview with Doug Wilson, so I can't be entirely certain what context that comment was given in, but if Wilson has any trade deadline plans that involve Nabby (and I'm not saying he does.) I'll be pretty pissed. I need to see if I can find the interview on YouTube so I can get better context.

I also noticed DW and Randy Hahn have very similar tans. Do you think they tan in the same place? Do you think DW gets a 2fer1 discount when he brings a friend? Does everyone on air have to tan? How ridiculous would someone with my skin tone look with a tan? (I believe it is oft described as "porcelain", which is a polite way of saying "damn girl, you pale!") Why does Brett Hedican have such huge hands? Does he have to tan them separately?

Mysteries we may never solve.

Tonight @ 7:30pm CSN-CA & KFOX

This is the fifth time we'll face the Kings this season. Lucky for them, they've done pretty well against the Sharks all season so they could get that elusive first home win on their current homestand.

Uhm, whoo?

Not so much.

It isn't even so much that I'm worried because of the Sharks home loss on Saturday against the Wings. Or that other home loss last week against the Kings. Teams lose, whatever. Sometimes they lose really badly. It happens. I'm not even sure I'm worried at all. Maybe that is what's throwing me off. I don't know. I still want to watch the game, I'm still looking forward to the (potential) for being entertained by it. I'd obviously love to see a Sharks win, I guess I'm just not willing to stress about it right now.

Had a chat with folks on the way back from the way too crowded downtown scene after the game on Saturday and at least two of us decided that we'd start to really worry about the Sharks play if they're still doing less than stellar AFTER the Olympic break.

First, there was Monday, Jan 4th, against LA. For those who've forgotten how that went, let me refresh your memory. The final score was 6-2. The Kings were up by 3 by the end of the first. The Sharks played well for about all of 10 minutes, and then the wheels fell off, the engine fell out, Joker got away, and everyone decided to go home. They just happened to leave their bodies skating around the ice. Or, as Coach Todd calls it, Globetrotting.

Tonight @ 7:30pm Tune to CSN-CA of KFOX to get your game on.

The DreadWings.

For reasons involving humor, I have a Red Wings winter hat with a white little poof on top. Truth be told, the only thing signaling its allegiance is a super tiny patch sewn on which says "Red Wings". It was a joke gift from a relative who, being from Detroit, is a Wings fan. Well, sort of. He knows they've been a perennially reliable power house, and that they've been having problems this year, but I'm not sure how closely he follows them otherwise. He thought it'd be funny to get me the hat for Christmas. Now it's just sitting here and I don't know what to do with it. In some oddly round about way, I feel like this hat is my household's Setoguchi.  Remove that small patch and there's really nothing wrong it it, but it doesn't seem to fit in anywhere and it can't be counted on come game time. It's not a top line hat, but it isn't a fourth liner either. It's just kind of there, not living up to its wearable potential. The only real different between the two, (for the purposes of this rather stinging metaphor), is that I know for sure which one you won't be seeing at the game tonight.

Not sure why I felt like picking on Seto in today's gameday post. Maybe it's because I kinda feel like his preformance this season mirrors the Wings. He's got a ton of talent, skill and promise, he was injured for a bit, and for some reason he just hasn't found his game yet. In the case of the Wings, I don't find this upsetting. In the case of Seto, I do, because I know how good he CAN be, and I just want to see him succeed again.

Or maybe I'm in stealth grumpy mode. Who knows.

Feartherfin already covered this pretty well earlier in the week. That have at least 22 reason why Dan Boyle is better than you. You can add to that list the fact that Boyle got nailed in the mouth by a puck last night and after some repair work, came back to play the rest of the game. Bleeding, fat lipped, and perhaps down some teeth, he continued to play.

Yet, despite this, his picture is now being fan banned from all game day threads. The Sharks lost miserably on Monday, and the commenting community* has decided to blame Boyle's picture. I find fault with this claim.

Below this line is girly stuff. Consider yourself warned.

So the question is, how do the Sharks respond to their complete disintegration on Monday?My guess is they come out, sit on the bench, while other step onto the ice and play. How well is really up to them. Either way, I'm not worried. I sat through Monday's game in person, and managed to stay sane and have a good time. We even stayed the whole game! That game on Monday was so bad, it was hilarious. No seriously. We were rolling in the stands after awhile. What else were we supposed to do? Whine and pout? Pfffft. Aneurysm chick in the box one section over was taking care of that for everyone all by her crazy drunk self.

I don't expect a repeat performance (or is that flop?) You can only suck that hard so many times in a season.

We will be recapping Monday's game, awesomely, as promised. I'm trying to do a recap in Flash and have hit a few technical difficulties. Which is a way of saying I have NO IDEA how to use Flash, so this is all being done by trial and error. Mostly error. But I've called in some backup who knows what's they're doing, so, with luck will have something for you soon.

Anyway, the game tonight is at 7:30 on CSN-CA, NHLN-US, NHLN-CA and KFOX.

Grab a frosty cold root beer, take a load off in your comfy chair, and sink into the enjoyability of Sharks hockey.

Tonight @ 7:30 CSNCA & 98.5 KFOX

Tonight's enemy blog: The Royal Half

Seriously, weren't the Kings just right on our heels like 2 games ago? Couldn't we feel their hot, Santa Ana Wind* like breath on our heels? Tendrils of black and purple snaking towards us with deadily grace? Their push to unseat the Sharks as the top team in the Pacific nearing completion. The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!**

When did they drop to 8th in the Conference? Does it matter? Won't they still be just as dangerous tonight as they were the last time we saw them? (a game the Kings won in OT, in case you'd forgotten)

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is maybe more so. The Kings know that not only can they win here, they can force this team to go to a shoot out as well, which makes it anybody's game to take. They have the tools, and they have the talent.*** They're confident now. I wouldn't under estimate that.

In related news, NHL.com had an article up this morning talking about Woostah Shark Benn Ferriero. If you don't know who he is, you should. Check it out.

*I grew to hate those winds. Tepid wind that smells like cow poop. Gee, thanks.

**Thanks Ghostbusters!

***Thanks Winston!

And oldie but goodie for today's game. Hope you're all enjoying the show! Happy New Year, everyone!