DIRECTV and VERSUS reach carriage agreement
Versus will return to DirecTV today, ending a nearly 6-month standoff during which the network wasn't available to DirecTV customers. The network will be included in the same packages it was before the disagreement.
about 2 hours ago
cyoung
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How the Sharks have spent the post-Olympic break
by Mr. Plank on Mar 15, 2010 4:30 AM PDT
in Statistical Analysis
57 comments
Captain Comeback has hid some pretty porous team-wide numbers for San Jose since the Olympic break.
And it's likely going to start catching up to them. In fact, it probably already has.
Since the NHL resumed play on March 1st the San Jose Sharks have had six games to work out any outstanding issues in preparation for a postseason run-- and while they have gone 3-2-1 in that time span, an admittedly sufficient record at face value, the Sharks have not made it easy on themselves. Nor have they looked especially good in the process.
The "sixty minute effort" talking point that has followed this team for awhile now is applicable here, no matter how welcoming it may be to cast aside as a cheap blanket statement better suited for the likes of Couch Potato Paul and his esteemed associate High Chair Harry. It is a tired line that has unfortunately grown into the everyday verbiage of Sharks fans when discussing the team, one that is usually best served with qualitative analysis of individual players garnished with a broad look at what this means in the context of the season; if one wishes to be considered a reliable source of discussion, that is.
At this point however, I don't think you can label any one individual effort that has brought about the current slide, nor can you really label it a slide per se-- the scoreboard reads 7 points since the Olympics, and even if San Jose has accomplished that mark with some pretty lofty comebacks, there is a silver lining in knowing that they are able to stage these comebacks of epic proportions.
Exciting, yes. They haven't packed up shop and mailed it in after going down early. This has been another criticism of the organization over the years, a black mark that has been addressed on some level during victories against Montreal and Nashville.
But sustainable over the course of the long run? Sustainable during the playoffs when teams will be better and goals much more monumental?
No.
57 comments | 0 recs |
The Experiment of Line Shuffling Fails, as Sharks Get Stopped in Anaheim
by Ivano27 on Mar 14, 2010 8:27 PM PDT
in Gamedays Review
21 comments
Another night, another loss, as the Sharks fail to sweep the Ducks in regular season and lose 2-4 in Anaheim.
Back in October when the Sharks struggled to find their game at the start to their season, I actually welcomed the idea that the team will not run the table for another year and may have to battle hard to earn a good seed in the playoffs. But once the HTML line was put together, the team started putting one winning streak after another. Before we knew it, the Sharks were once again at the top of the Western Conference schedule with a comfortable position going into March-April.
In this position, the points now start to matter less and at times we see the players put questionable effort on the ice. To battle this, we are starting to see these kinds of ideas coming out of McLellan's mouth as team is starting 6-game road trip:
"We’ll be able to play some people in different situations than we have been. You might see the big guys back together some night, you might see some lines that are different just in case we need it later on."
We sure saw plenty of that tonight. On one shift we saw HTML line together. On another Thornton was skating next to McGinn and Setoguchi (which is how the first goal was scored). Then all of a sudden we saw Heatley skating next to Clowe and Mitchell and on and on this chess game went.
21 comments | 0 recs |
Gameday Thread: Sharks @ Ducks
by Mr. Plank on Mar 14, 2010 4:45 PM PDT
799 comments
Do it.
Go Sharks.
799 comments | 0 recs
Sharks Gameday: Drive Home The Dagger
by Mr. Plank on Mar 14, 2010 3:30 AM PST
in Gamedays
56 comments
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@5:00 PST |
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| 43-14-10, 96 points | 30-29-8, 68 points |
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| 1st in Western Conference |
13th in Western Conference |
Television |
CSN-CA
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Following a porous end to the game yesterday against the Florida Panthers, which saw one of the most lifeless forty minute performances San Jose has turned in all year, the Sharks get a chance to get back on the horse and do something special today.
Bury the Ducks playoff hopes.
Make no mistake-- Anaheim's season is likely over already, with Detroit and Calgary making a strong push towards the final two spots in the West. But for an organization (San Jose that is) that was embarrassed last season by Anaheim in the playoffs, tonight deserves some recognition. There is an opportunity to go undefeated against the Ducks since the April Aspyhxiation*, and truly make a stamp on the season. It is one of those moments that will stick with me for a long time if it occurs, no matter how insignificant it may be in the standings column.
*Disclosure: I hate the "choke" label as much as the next guy, but the alliteration there was too much fun to pass up.
At any rate, daylight savings really threw a wrench in my gameday plans today, and with final exams approaching, I don't have enough time to wax poetic as I would like. If you're in the mood for some reading material however, this article from earlier in the year is a great one. If I hadn't written it then I would have written it today, and I think it holds up quite well-- hell, it will likely be relevant even two years from now when it comes to Anaheim.
Also, big ups to Ryane Clowe for being just about the only Shark out there yesterday who looked like he had a pulse. I have definitely extended a fair share of complaints his way throughout the season, and it's only right to acknowledge when he has a great game. Keep it up #29.
Prediction: Sharks win 4-2. Goals by Marleau, Setoguchi, Pavelski, and Thornton. The big guns show up and drive a stake through the heart of a past playoff ghost.
Go Sharks.
56 comments | 0 recs |
Sharks Gameday: Is Tomas Vokoun criminally underrated?
by Mr. Plank on Mar 12, 2010 9:39 PM PST
in Gamedays
41 comments
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@1:00 PM PST |
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| 27-29-10, 64 points | 43-14-9, 95 points |
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| 12th in Eastern Conference |
1st in Western Conference |
Television |
CSN-CA+
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Back by popular demand, it's the obligatory "Goaltender with a question mark in the headline" article that has been making the rounds on Fear The Fin this week. On the docket today is one of the elite goaltenders in the NHL, Tomas Vokoun, who will face off against the Sharks today.
Vokoun has played for two franchises during the course of his 11 year professional career. These franchises, the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers, have had a history of attendance issues and been largely ignored by the mainstream media. This is not to say that they are franchises that should be relocated to Winnipeg at the drop of the hat-- after all, Florida looks to be locked into Sunrise for the foreseeable future, and reports out of Nashville indicate the team will be there for at least two more seasons. Both organizations have done a fine job of expanding their fanbase and generating interest in their respective clubs despite cries from some in the Canadian media for relocation.
However, this is to say that Vokoun has not had the opportunity to prove himself in a premier hockey market that would elevate his presence, despite being the most consistent and successful goaltenders since the NHL lockout:
This is while playing behind some of the worst defenses in terms of SA/60 over the course of this five season data range.
41 comments | 0 recs |
Sharks score six goals in the third, Pavelski soaks panties faster than a firehose
by Mr. Plank on Mar 11, 2010 10:48 PM PST
in Gamedays Review
59 comments
It was one of those nights that make you question your sexuality.
Heavily outplayed from the outset of the game the San Jose Sharks kept up their comeback ways, roaring back in the third period to defeat the Nashville Predators. Joe Pavelski was the man of the hour, notching four points in the final frame to extend the winning streak to three.
With the game tied at four, Manny Malhotra made a great play to keep the puck deep, sealing off the boards as Nashville attempted to clear out of the zone. The puck bounced to Joe Pavelski at the bottom of the circle, and in a move that brought back lucid memories of his overtime goal against Dallas two years ago, Pavelski took the puck across the zone, waited out Dan Ellis, and rifled the puck gloveside high to put the Sharks up 5-4.
Following a JP Dumont tally that tied the score at five, Scott Nichol made a nice breakout pass to Pavelski, who entered the zone on the rush. Ryan Suter made a good play to pressure him above the circles, but one titillating spin move from the depths of hell later, Ellis was a five hole late and a few bucks short. That shot, a lock to be played on the HP Pavilion Jumbotron for years to come, proved to be the game winner.
Patrick Marleau also scored his fortieth goal in the season, the first time he has done so in his career. He joins Owen Nolan (44, 1999-2000) and Jonathan Cheechoo (56, 2005-2006) as the only San Jose Sharks to reach that milestone in franchise history.
59 comments | 0 recs |
Sharks Gameday: Pick your Poison
by That'll Cheech You on Mar 11, 2010 3:00 AM PST
in Gamedays
245 comments
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@7:30 PM PST |
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| 36-25-5, 77 points | 42-14-9, 93 points |
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| 7th in Western Conference |
1st in Western Conference |
Television |
NHLN-CA, CSN-CA+
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As Plank explored yesterday, this 8 day stretch is going to be difficult. Three of the Sharks next six games are against playoff teams, and four are against teams which are currently fighting for their playoff lives.
The first of these games comes against a team that has given the Sharks relative headaches all year. Not migraines, but definitely a few Tylenol worth. The Nashville Predators have played some hotly contested games against San Jose so far this season, staring with a 4-3 squeaker in San Jose where the Sharks came out on top. Interestingly enough, the next two games against the Predators were decided by a 4-3 score as well; Nashville won at home on November 10th, followed by a San Jose Sharks win in Nashville on February 6th. So, although the Sharks have a 2-1-0 record against the Predators this season, they've only outscored them 11-10.
Why have the Predators given the Sharks so much trouble? Well, they fit the bill of the type of team that gives Sharks problems. They have a solid defensive unit, an industrious group of forwards, and a forecheck that disrupts the Sharks ability to move the puck up on the rush. Other teams like the Predators? Think Columbus, Phoenix, and St. Louis. While these are teams the Sharks should beat consistently, their style of play usually results in a closer game than expected.
Still, the Predators remain my preferred first round opponent.
245 comments | 0 recs |
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Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose
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68 | 43 | 15 | 10 | 96 |
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Phoenix
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69 | 42 | 22 | 5 | 89 |
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Los Angeles
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68 | 40 | 23 | 5 | 85 |
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Dallas
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68 | 29 | 26 | 13 | 71 |
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Anaheim
|
68 | 31 | 29 | 8 | 70 |
(updated 3.15.2010 at 5:47 AM PDT)
Sharks Schedule
Next 5 Games
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@
Dallas
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Tue 03/16 | 5:30 PM PDT |
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@
Vancouver
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Thu 03/18 | 7:00 PM PDT |
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@
Calgary
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Fri 03/19 | 6:00 PM PDT |
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@
Edmonton
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Sun 03/21 | 5:00 PM PDT |
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@
Minnesota
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Tue 03/23 | 5:00 PM PDT |
Last 5 Games
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@
Anaheim
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Sun 03/14 | L 2 - 4 |
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Florida
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Sat 03/13 | OT - L 2 - 3 |
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Nashville
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Thu 03/11 | W 8 - 5 |
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Columbus
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Sat 03/06 | W 2 - 1 |
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Montreal
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Thu 03/04 | W 3 - 2 |
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