Sharks Fall Short in Their Comeback

Video Highlights from Last Game

The media has been building this game up for a few days now and I found myself getting caught up in he hype. Though I tried to tell myself that this game was the same as any other during the regular season, I couldn't help myself from getting pumped up. Who can blame me? Even General Manager Doug Wilson mentioned that this game was going to be special. First place in the NHL at stake, 14 Olympians suiting up, four days to prepare for the match, the final game of these two teams' season series...just too many things to ignore. However, when setting high expectations, there is always that danger of being supremely disappointed. Uhhhhh...yeah...'nuff said.

After much anticipation, the 1st period started, but not the way Sharks fans would have wanted. At 2:36, San Jose found themselves on the powerplay with a chance to get an early lead. Unfortunately, Team Teal came up empty as most of their shots were wide, without any traffic in front. Then, less than a minute after the man advantage expired, Chicago rushed up the ice and put one by Evgeni Nabokov rather easily. Forty-eight seconds later, after that first goal, the Blackhawks struck again when Troy Brouwer skated towards the near post and snapped another one past Number 20. Where was the defense? Not really sure as the two goals came from pretty good scoring areas without any defensive checking in place.

To stop the bleeding, Coach Todd McLellan called a timeout...little did he know, it would be a waste. Still reeling from the quick two goal deficit, it was clear that each San Jose Shark out there did not trust their linemates as there was little "team play" out there. In fact, this lack of a strategy led to the Blackhawks' third goal of the night at 8:23. Off the faceoff, Chicago picked up the puck and three different defenders pursued. This left Andrew Ladd alone in front...unchecked and ready to score his 10th of the season.

At this point, I was hoping to see some physical play...why not? Everyone else does it to us when we get a lead. Well, apparently Douglas Murray was thinking the same thing when he decked a Chicago forward down low near the crease. Unfortunately, the Swedish Olympian was tagged for two minutes.

Luckily, San Jose kept Chicago from increasing their lead. This allowed Joe Pavelski the opportunity to bring his team back to within two with just over eight minutes left in the first period. The goal was Number 8's 13th of the season and 5th in the last six games. After the goal, you could see the Sharks up and down the bench giving eachother head-nods...as if to say, "Alright...we're still in this one."

In the second period, San Jose came out looking much more prepared and ready to go to the body. More specifically, it seemed like Murray and Ryane Clowe were ready to take it to Dustin Byfuglien. On a big hit, Murray was able to put the 6'3" - 250lb forward on his butt. Then, on the near boards, Byfuglien and Clowe tangled as if there were preparing to drop the gloves, but nothing came of it.

Over the majority of the period, both sides continued to go to the body, but not many scoring chances opened up. There were a few San Jose shots on net, but Cristobal Huet was up to the task and kept Team Teal off the board...that is until Lil Joe kept his goal scoring streak alive on the powerplay. With a quick entry into the zone, the Blackhawks found themselves in the middle of the change while a man down. A few passes later, their lead was cut down to a single goal thanks to a bouncing slapper from Pavelski that somehow found the back of the net.

Late in the period, Nabokov made a couple of key saves against Patrick Kane...keeping the Hawks' lead at one. Though he looked extremely shaky early...Nabby stood strong at that critical moment.

During the first five minutes of the third period, the Sharks continued to take it to the Blackhawks...dumping in pucks, grinding down low, cycling, looking for a chance on net. Though all lines were working hard, it was the trio of Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi, and Manny Malhotra who were able to generate a goal. Thanks to Setoguchi, the Sharks maintained puck possession as he pinched up against the near boards and kept Chicago from clearing the puck. Then, as the play moved to behind the net, Pavelski through a pass up the middle of the ice intended for Seto. However, the puck ultimately reached Captain Rob Blake at the blue line who slapped one towards the net. About four feet above the top of the crease, Malhotra redirected the shot into the far top corner of the net for his 9th of the season. More importantly, Number 27 tied the game at three goals apiece.

For the remainder of the third period, it was all Chicago. San Jose did well to keep the Blackhawks from scoring, but it really looked like an uphill battle even though the score was tied. San Jose was behind every play, late to every puck, and just all around outplayed in their own zone. Fortunately, the Sharks made it to overtime to pick up a point.

OT was short-lived as Chicago found a way to put one more puck past Nabokov. On a 2 on 2 rush, the Blackhawks forwards criss-crossed with eachother which created a screen in front of the San Jose goal. Then, with a nice shot to the far top corner, Brouwer scored his second of the night...the game winner.

After watching this game, I figure there are two ways to look at it:

The Sharks were able to come back after a terrible start and gain a point from a very strong Chicago team
The Sharks were outplayed early, struggled to even up the score, and then fell short when it counted.

Personally, I'm choosing the latter of the two. I'm annoyed. I expected much more from my Sharks. The only thing I saw tonight was that we're tough and good, but the Blackhawks are better. That was clear. Other than the second period, I felt like we were playing at either an equal level or one just below.

I'll admit that Chicago is better than us...for now. I could make excuses that Dan Boyle was out and that the Sharks' D was short-handed for half of the game with Marc-Edouard Vlasic hurt. However, I won't do that. Bottomline, we were beat by a highly-skilled, hard-skating, well-coached team. Fortunately, San Jose has about a third of a season left to improve and possibly surpass Chicago as the best team in the NHL.

COMMENTS