A San Jose Sharks Blog

Though San Jose sits near the top of the Pacific, many fans out there surely feel as I do; that the team could play so much better. I thought to myself, "Am I just being greedy? The Sharks have 59 points and I'm disappointed?" If I wasn't a Sharks fan and heard someone whine about San Jose's play, I'd probably tell them that they're crazy and explain to them how happy they should be that Team Teal is within striking distance of first place in the Pacific, even though a number of key players have battled with injuries (such as Cheechoo, McLaren, Clowe, and Roenick...just to name a few).

So why do I feel the way I do? Well, here are a couple of possible reasons.

- Preseason Hype: With all of the "experts" saying that the Sharks were the front runner, I expected daily domination of the competition...anything less, has been a disappointment.
- Inconsistent Play: As you can see from the Sharks' Win-Loss Chart, it's been a roller coaster of a season. This up-and-down record can make it tough to realize that your team is winning more often than not.
- High Level of Skill: San Jose is comprised of young talent with a ton of skill and ability. If all of them were to play to their full potential, we would be having a Detroit-like season. However, that's easier said than done, and as a fan, it's tough to remember that.
- Anaheim Owning Us: Of course, as Stanley Cup Champs, the Ducks are always going to be seen as the measuring stick. Unfortunately, Anaheim has owned San Jose this year and it has left Sharks fans feeling like their team isn't on par.

So what does all of this mean? Well, it means that I need to understand that it's a long season and a "perspective check" is needed from time to time. Don't get me wrong, I will still expect more from my team and be critical of poor play, but I just can't get down when the team hits a small cold streak or has an off game because that's hockey. It's impossible for San Jose to win every night, and I just need to keep that in mind. Like the players themselves, I can't get too high after a win, and I can't get too low after a loss. I remember suffering through some really terrible seasons where the Sharks couldn't win a game, and it seemed like the future was void of hope. Nowadays, San Jose fans have a real contender playing in their rink and have much less to complain about.

So, look for the San Jose Sharks to have a strong second half, and for me to be more consistent...with my blogging and my outlook.