Pack Your Bags, Gordon

by Mr. Plank on Feb 6, 2009 6:00 AM PST in Sharks News

Gman_medium

Welcome to the defining moment ladies and gentlemen. We've all been around the block. We've all seen what this team is capable of.

But when you hit the road, things change. And when you play back to backs on the road things really change. Instead of a chorus of boos when Koharski misses another flipping tripping call, you get jeers and cheers. Instead of Sharkie handing out lollipops to children you get drunk yokels screaming about your personal life. It's a vicious world out there, one that isn't going to lie down and take your record for granted. Everyone wants a shot at the big dog. Everyone needs something to take into the tail end of the season. This is the road trip that tells us just how good the San Jose Sharks were, are, and will be.

The next eight days are going to be a doozy.

My father sat me down when I was a kid and said to me, "Son, listen. You'll get a lot of opportunities in this world, some that will come and go without you even batting an eyelash. But remember this- you learn a lot from your time spent on this good Earth. Don't ever pass up an opportunity to listen to one of your elders speak- they've been places and have seen things that make them a valuable resource. Take the time to soak up their knowledge. You won't regret it."

Dave Valentine has been a big proponent all season of the Sharks schedule in the month of February. Now I know we don't pay much attention to that old codger (kidding of course), but he's right on the money. This road trip is a brute.

Tomorrow gets kicked off with Columbus, who has played us well all season long. Boston and Pittsburgh follow on back to backs, teams that are tops in the league and fighting for their playoff lives respectively. Craig Rivet's Sabres (show of hands who hasn't emotionally recovered since the last time we met?) are always a formidable match up when Ryan Miller is on, and a date with the Devils on Sunday ends the East Coast romp.

All of these squads are playoff teams, all are looking to snuff the Sharks. We have to ditch the school books/cut out of work early for that ever glorious live feed, fight through four o'clock starts, deal with mothers and significant others who want the TV turned off when "we're at the dinner table". Whenever you hit the road it's a pain in the ass.

But sometimes, all the distractions make it that much better.

Go Sharks.

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I work with

a bunch of Penguins fans and we’re having them all over for the game Wednesday. It should be interesting.

I have no idea, at this point, what shirt to wear!

Fear the Fin....where being an old guy isn't all bad

by Dave Valentine on Feb 6, 2009 6:13 AM PST reply actions

Penguins!

Aw come on, Penguins are on a crappy thing right now [except for that AWESOME win over TB with my superhero Malkin] but meh, me figures Penguins need my support, woo!

The Boston game, however, will be very, very… very interesting…

by AppleSweetRose on Feb 6, 2009 8:40 AM PST up reply actions

I don't disagree

But they are Penguin fans…so they kinda want to watch that game. I’ll be watching the Boston game, no doubt.

Fear the Fin....where being an old guy isn't all bad

by Dave Valentine on Feb 6, 2009 10:39 AM PST up reply actions

Boston

I am flying out to Boston tomorrow to catch the game on the 10th + hopefully a little Bean-Pot action as well. I have been looking forwrd to watching Big Joe’s return to the Gardens for a while, but now I’m a little nervous haveing seen thier play as of late. Glad to hear that its the First game of B2B’s instead of the second though.

Hopefully I’ll get to see some of Nick Petricki too, but it looks like all the games have been sold out for months :(…. “Cheap Seats” on Craigslist are going for about $50-a-pop, but what the hey, this will be my one hockey vacation of the year and my first NHL game in another team’s building. Go Sharks and look for us on Versus!

by SF_SharkBait on Feb 6, 2009 10:26 AM PST reply actions

Hopefully he will last longer than 5 minutes this time.

by mattman on Feb 6, 2009 2:53 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah that would be nice.

It takes a big man to cry and it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. -Jamie Baker

by Lurker Shark on Feb 6, 2009 3:41 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks a lot, Plank

You just reminded me I still haven’t finished Half-Life 2 Episode 2. I should probably do that before Street Fighter IV hits or I’ll probably never get it done.

On the topic at hand, I’m not looking forward to this trip, not with the way the boys in teal have been playing leading up to it, but it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll manage this trip while still grappling with their current struggles. I was listening to the the radio pre-game last night and it was either Dan or Jamie (can’t remember who) who noted how the trip’s schedule (as in games played over days) will be much more similar to the schedule come playoff time.

I just hope this trip ends with me being more confident about their ability to get through the playoffs, regardless of their record.

Bay Area born and bred.

by Nael M. on Feb 6, 2009 10:50 AM PST reply actions

You just reminded me I still haven’t finished Half-Life 2 Episode 2.

Highly recommended sir- I can’t wait for Episode 3 to drop (rumored to be this year). I’ve been playing a little Left 4 Dead lately, Valve knows how to make a frickin’ game thats for sure. You have The Orange Box (i.e. have you played Portal?).

On the topic at hand, I’m not looking forward to this trip, not with the way the boys in teal have been playing leading up to it, but it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll manage this trip while still grappling with their current struggles.

I’m actually looking forward to this trip, but for exactly the same reasons. If we’re going to (wait for the inevitable pessimistic comment) break through the second round this year, I think this week’s test will highlight a lot of strengths/weaknesses that McLellan can focus on. Namely re-establishing the breakout and finding ways to get higher percentage shots- we’ve sort of sunk into a funk where we feel just throwing the puck at the net is going to get the job done.

Our forwards need to be stronger in front of the net as well; I can’t tell you how many times a puck has been floating outside the crease and an opposing defensemen will tie up their sticks. Credit where credit is due I guess, but those are the types of opportunities you need to capitalize on during April & May.

Regardless, HL2 should make the week more enjoyable no matter what the outcome haha.

Fear The Fin: Where The Second Round Is Overrated

by Mr. Plank on Feb 6, 2009 12:10 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, I bought Orange Box for PC, actually (While I love my 360 and Wii, nothing ever beats a good ol’ keyboard and mouse for a FPS). I’d already beaten HL2 and Episode 1 prior to getting it, and Portal was the first thing I played through and beat on it. I was halfway through Episode 2 before I had to reformat and stupidly forgot to back up my saves, so I would have to start over from scratch (not that I would mind). For some reason, I’ve been neglecting Team Fortress 2 and I really should pick it up and give it more of a try.

Got to agree with the assessment, the Sharks have sort of begun coasting on offense at times and it’ll take a swift kick in the butt from the coaches to stop the lazy habits. Of course, the same was said at times the past few seasons, so I think this trip will definitely be a test of the coaching staff’s mettle as much as is it of the players’ own.

Bay Area born and bred.

by Nael M. on Feb 6, 2009 1:32 PM PST up reply actions