Bad Calls & Bad Goaltending Lead to Loss
Dallas 3, San Jose 1
Thanks to some very questionable calls that did not go San Jose's way, Team Teal found themselves on the losing end of yet another game in which they outshot their opponents. However, it wasn't simply the referees who were at fault. In fact, Evgeni Nabokov should take some blame as well.
On a night when the Sharks actually looked decent, Mike Modano tied and broke the NHL record for points scored by a U.S.-born player. Very early in the game, San Jose came out strong and really put the Stars on their heels. Unfortunately, on a low percentage shot from the top of the circle, Modano was able to put one past Nabokov. This goal definitely hurt, but it did not slow the Sharks down. They continued to put on the pressure, and it eventually led to a powerplay.
On the powerplay, San Jose was able to generate a number of chances. Unfortunately, Team Teal coughed up the puck at the blue line and Modano was able to skate in all alone on Nabby. The deke that Modano used wasn't that impressive, but Number 20 in the teal sweater sure looked fooled. After that short-handed goal, things got worse for the Sharks...more specifically, Steve Bernier.
On two very questionable calls, the refs put Bernier in the box for four minutes. Fortunately, the Sharks were able to kill off both powerplays, but it definitely hurt their momentum. In the second period, the Sharks didn't get off nearly as many shots (7) as they did in the first (18).
To further frustrate the San Jose fans, the refs made yet another bad call when they waived off a goal scored by Sandis Ozolinsh due to an interference call on Milan Michalek. On the replay, it was pretty clear to me that the goal should have counted, and it could have changed the outcome of the game.
In the third period, the Sharks came out gunning again; posting 14 shots in the third period. However, Marty Turco was up to the task and made 38 out of 39 possible saves. The lone Sharks goal came off of Matt Carle's stick in the second period, and on the powerplay...it was his first of the year.
Well, what can I say...the Sharks lost yet another game at home, to a division foe, after winning against the Los Angeles Kings on the road. This unfortunate trend is getting ridiculous and I'm honestly a little tired of talking about it...you can almost set your watch to it! So, rather than blogging about it over and over again, I've decided to create a San Jose Sharks Win-Loss Chart that I will update over time. This way, you can see the unfortunate trending for yourself.
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