What is it that I'm feeling right now? Frustration? Disappointment? Despair? Well, the word that probably best describes my current state of mind is ANGRY. Apparently, I'm not alone. Immediately after Game 3, I received a number of angry messages from other disappointed Sharks fans. One in particular echos my sentiments quite well and I thought I'd share it. Besides, I'm too mad to blog about hockey right now.
What's the definition of "ownage"? Well, if you flip to the glossary of the San Jose Sharks Playbook, you will see a picture of the Dallas Stars...that's what ownage is. However, maybe I'm simplifying it too much. Ownage is winning the 50/50 battle on the boards, it's getting sticks into passing lanes, it's blocking shots, it's getting to loose pucks first, it's making the most of your opportunities, it's making the key save, it's looking like a well-oiled machine while on the road...that's what ownage is and right now...that's what Dallas is doing.
With all of the playoff action going on, the news about Evgeni Nabokov's nomination for the Vezina was sort of lost. A lot has been said about Nabby's strong play throughout the year and if you're a Sharks fan, I don't need to convince you that Number 20 should take the post-season award. However, with that said, let's take a look at all three of the finalists.
I want to personally thank the San Jose Sharks. Not only because they won Game 7, not only because they won the series, not only because they got the job done, but also because they made it a relatively stress-free game to watch. This morning, I woke up thinking about the upcoming series finale and I actually felt butterflies...pretty ridiculous. Fortunately, Team Teal came out strong, came from behind, and came through in the end.
Sunday morning, I thought to myself, "We need Nabby to steal tonight's game so that we can just wrap things up and head into the second round." Well, there was a shutout, but for the wrong team. Miikka Kiprusoff came up big for Calgary in a must-win game, but I have to admit, the San Jose Sharks didn't do much to make it a difficult night for the goaltender. Yes...Team Teal had a chance to move on, but instead...they just disappointed their fans.
I guess a three goal lead is never safe when it comes to the Flames. Though the San Jose Sharks led Calgary by a score of 4 - 1, the Flames came back and created some nervous moments for Team Teal fans in the last two minutes of regulation. Fortunately this time around, the Sharks got the three goal with less than 12 minutes left in the game and this didn't give Calgary enough time to complete their second amazing comeback in the first round of these playoffs.
On Tuesday night, the San Jose Sharks beat the Calgary Flames in the last few moments of regulation. This last second win ties the series at two games apiece, basically making it a three game series. Fortunately, Team Teal has the home ice advantage. However, more important than home ice advantage, it was great to see the Sharks' top offensive guns get going and put up some extremely crucial goals.
After the frustrating loss in Calgary, where the Sharks were thrown off of their game due to the "rough stuff", I began to wonder why Team Teal's current pack of tough guys (Shelley, Murray, and Clowe) didn't try to get Sarich to drop the gloves. Granted, it's the playoffs and fighting is usually a rare occurrence, but when your captain gets dropped and receives a bloody nose, I think something has to happen. This lack of response led me to think about former San Jose tough guys who might have done something about the hit. The obvious ones came to mind: McSorley, Gaetz, Odgers, Nazarov, Marchment, and Parker. However, one player in particular stood out in my head and had me wondering "what ever happened to him?".
After the San Jose Sharks scored three quick goals against the Calgary Flames, everyone knew what was coming. The players, the coaches, the fans, me...hell, even my dog knew what was coming after putting three quick ones by Miikka Kiprusoff. If everyone knew what was coming, then why did the "rough stuff" strategy still work?
What do you do when you need to beat a team that's had your number all season? Well, it's simple...just have your goalie pitch a shutout. And that's exactly what Evgeni Nabokov did last night, but it wasn't easy. Thanks to a couple of amazing saves and crucial goals from the "kids", Nabby and company were able to tie the series up at one game apiece.
Some way, some how, my local sports tv network always finds a way to screw me over. If you've read my blog, you know that I absolutely hate it when games are on the 'plus' channel. Or even worse, when my Sharks are preempted by another event that happens to be taking longer than expected. Well, this was the case again last night. Comcast Sports Network - Bay Area, previously Fox Sports Network - Bay Area, did not endear themselves to a number of Sharks fans who were forced to watch A's baseball rather than the first 10 minutes of the NHL post-season.
Last night, the Calgary Flames came to San Jose to face the Sharks in Game One/Round One of the 2007 - 2008 playoffs. Unfortunately, only a handful of Sharks showed up...or at least that's what it looked like. In front of a packed Shark Tank, Team Teal put up one of their worst performances of the season. Awful...simply awful.
This morning, I was listening to NHL Home Ice on my XM radio when I heard former NHLer and "expert analyst" Denis Potvin pick the Calagary Flames to upset the San Jose Sharks. Granted, he said it would be a good series, but in the end, he still questioned Team Teal's grit. Here's a brief recap of what he said...
Well, the post-season is finally here and it's going to be a tough one. The Flames have had San Jose's number this year, beating Team Teal three times out of the four games played during the regular season. But as one Sharks fan reminded me, Calgary has yet to face the "new" Sharks...a team with a brand new All-Star defenseman and a whole lot of confidence (thanks to an 11 game winning streak).
The San Jose Sharks lost the last game of the regular season, and like the previous game, I couldn't care less. Some fans worry that having lost two in a row is a bad thing, especially just before the playoffs. However, I'm not worried...and here's why.
Well, it was going to happen sooner or later, but the San Jose Sharks finally lost a game in regulation. After going 20 games (18-0-2) garnering at least one point, Team Teal let two slip away to the worst team in the NHL. And you know what, I could care less...I'm ready for the playoffs and nothing else.
Last night, the San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings and pushed their point scoring streak to 20 games (18-0-2). The extra two points in the regular home season finale gives Team Teal a total of 108 points in the standings...a new franchise record.
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