Fear The Fin: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: MLB Trade Rumors: Edwin Jackson to the White Sox, DC next?

Wasn't the regular season not supposed to matter?

I've been thinking about this long and hard, and in the light of the flipping out of the fanbase after Coyote Ugly 2.0 and the team meeting yesterday, I feel now seems like a good time to let this out. It's an observation I've noticed over the season from the fans, and it intrigues me a bit to see how everyone was reacting at the start of the season compared to now.

Star-divide

When this season started, the general consensus of both the Sharks and their fans was that what mattered was not the regular season, but the playoffs - everything they'd do in the first 82 games wouldn't matter one whit if the team screwed up in the second round again. Even as the Sharks shot off intro the stratosphere and became a Presidents' Trophy contender, Sharks fans on any medium you could say were saying, "Yeah, but the real test will be in the playoffs." Supposedly no matter how well they played in the regular season, it was generally accepted that the playoffs have always been a different animal (especially for the Sharks) and that we shouldn't be taking the results then as any indication of how they would do in the second season. A cautious tack to take, but a reasonable one as well.

Now, the team is suffering through their worst stretch of hockey this season, and all of a sudden every Sharks fan with access to a forum or a commenting system is going "How can they play like this? They'll never succeed in the playoffs when they play like this in the postseason!" And all I can think of when I read every one of these posts saying this is, what happened to "the regular season doesn't matter"? Now I'm not denying this team has been stinking up a lot of joints lately, but what I thought everyone in the fanbase agreed that the regular season had no bearing on postseason success - but that was back when the Sharks were giving the beatdowns, not receiving them. Now that the team has been showing they're human, fans are acting like every game is a damn crystal ball into how these guys will play into April and May (because obviously these games indicate they won't make it to June ;)

Really, it's absolutely bizarre to me how quickly Sharks fans have dumped the "the playoffs are the only thing that matters" mantra as soon as the team's play inevitably went south (I say inevitably because even the best of the best have rough patches - see the Red Wings' brutal February last year). I can't possibly be the only one who noticed this shift, right?

This item was created by a member of this blog's community and is not necessarily endorsed by Fear The Fin.

1 recs  |  Comment 26 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Not a bad observation

But Sharks fans are worried about the regular season now in light of the playoff standings – we want first seed at all cost, if possible. Swisher mentioned yesterday that the Sharks need to go 9-4 in their last 13 to have a 50% chance of getting the #1 spot (currently held by Detroit, of course). This might be a big part of the 180 shift you’re seeing.

It could also be that the phrase “the regular season doesn’t matter” is meant to refer to the part of the year not immediately preceeding the postseason. The level of play we’re seeing now is a decent barometer of our focus – i.e. it’s not there. We have less than a month before the quarterfinals begin, which is enough time to turn things around on the ice. Hopefully we’ll finally see the return of Torrey Mitchell, along with our other injured vets.

Still, it IS the playoffs that truly matter. But that doesn’t mean we’re fine with the last games of the regular season being a suck-fest.

Fear The Fin = Anyone who doesn’t like fighting in the NHL can go watch poker on ESPN. [Jamie Baker]

by Mr. K. on Mar 19, 2009 12:26 PM PDT reply actions  

That’s true, I’d have a lot more confidence if this team were playing well and had a pretty good chance at the Presidents’ Trophy. But as far as I can see, the PT is very little comfort as Gray pointed out. Honestly, all the teams contending for the last three spots in the West give me the heebie jeebies. The fact that top teams will be beat up in later rounds if the Sharks win the PT is moot to me, especially with the high possibility that their first round opponent will do it to them as well. The competition will get stronger as the playoffs progress – back in ’04 I was praying to meet Calgary in the conference finals instead of Detroit, and look what happened there.

And yeah, I’d love to see the team playing well going into the playoffs, but the Dallas series indicated to me that’s not a good indicator of how well they’ll play in the playoffs either. Remind me who won that series again, was it the team with a 20 game undefeated streak coming into the playoffs or the one who stumbled for their last 15 games but won on the last day of the season? I’m not so concerned how they play in the regular season as how they play during the post season.

Bay Area born and bred.

by Nael M. on Mar 19, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions  

you're not the only one

I try to stay away from the AMGPOSTSEASONFAIL talk because we’re not there yet. I do think every one of the 82 regular season games matter, as they set you up for a position (or lack thereof) in the post season. The top seed is sort of a mental success for the Sharks and their fans. We could then say with confidence we were the best in the regular season. Bragging rights. It might matter a little too much, but that’s how it is. We’re a sensitive lot after all.

I think it’s mostly a reaction to a) the Sharks hard fall back to earth or b)the fears of the coming post season taunts. Perhaps a bit of both. The fact of the matter is, you can get the President’s Trophy and bow out in round 1. I think we’re all just a little terrified that that could happen. (or round 2 or round 3…Face it Sharks fans, unless they get the Cup, those taunts will still come. Honestly, they’ll be there even when we do with a Cup. It’s how it is)

resident cartoonist @couchtarts.blogspot.com

by CTGray on Mar 19, 2009 12:31 PM PDT reply actions  

funny ...

a guy here at work and I were sorta talking bout this earlier today … we were talking bout how the Sharks were playing lately and how annoyed we were … and I mentioned that really, it doesn’t matter, but what does matter is that we get the Cup. But I added, it would be cool if we could also have home advantage all the way thru.

Then there is the whole mental health the players have going into the playoffs. If they are in a slump going into the playoffs, will that influence their playoff game? I think that is a concern for the fans.

GO SHARKS!

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Mar 19, 2009 1:09 PM PDT reply actions  

Point Taken

I agree with you that fans at the beginning of the season only stated that the playoffs were important, but now that we’re struggling that goes out the window. It’s stupid and its a downhill spiral basically. What matters is that we clinched our division and that we’re guaranteed a spot.

NO INJURIES PLEAAAAAAAASE! – and I hope we beat the Preds tonight and face them in the playoffs and kick their you know whats!

OneSeasonNHL

by OneSeasonNHL on Mar 19, 2009 1:45 PM PDT reply actions  

Forward lines

As much as I hate to see another forward go down, especially one as good as Clowe has been this year, I think the lines Mac had them practicing with today could be very beneficial to getting the Sharks moving again. I expect to Cheech on the top-line will motivate Joe and Patty to start working a bit harder when they see Cheech (hopefully) seizing this opportunity to regain form with hard work and plenty of net-crashing.

Seto with Pavs and Milan has plenty of skill to be productive but not enough pure ability (at their current developmental levels) to allow for any complacency. Seto needs to see that playing with good players helps you be great, but it still takes the work and drive and desire to ‘productive’ (for him this is goals, goals, goals).

Moen, Goc and McGinn looks like a 3rd line that we’ve desperately needed lately. None of them are gonna go out and score a hat trick or anything, but these three have been arguably our three hardest workers lately and they do possess the skill to pot goals. Goc’s work around the net and in the corners has been excellent as of late and both McGinn and Moen will crash the net and grind it out themselves.

The 4th line (or extra pieces really) still lacks structure, but both Shelley and Staubitz have tried hard to be effective however they can and Vesce knows that he isn’t getting any younger, is coming off as strong a season as a non-drafted free agent could hope for in the AHL. I wouldn’t mind seeing him get a chance to play with some offensive players (double-shift one of our centers with Vesce as a roving wing and Shelley parked in front).

Plenty of incentive and opportunity tonight for all 4 forward lines tonight. If we can keep the game simple, drive the net and be responsible with the fore and back-checking, I don’t see why we can’t start finding success again.

by Teas on Mar 19, 2009 3:20 PM PDT reply actions  

momentum is the point...

We all want the fins to have the best record, have home ice for the playoffs but I think the thing that is disturbing to the fanbase is that right now we are doing stuff that we have avoided all year (giving up 3rd period leads, lack of pp production, lackadaisical passing (reminds me of last year) et al.

Speaking for myself, I could live with the Sharks giving up home ice in the playoffs if I saw that the momentum that they skate in to the playoffs with showed that they had their EDGE back….the edge that made them so exciting and potent during the regular season.

As is stands currently, the effort and results that I am seeing of late reminds me (and obviously others on this board) all too much of past seasons where we fell short in the playoffs.

If that happens again this year, this season was like a date with a hot chick…you think you’re gonna get lucky, but all you get is a bad case of blueballs

by GeeEssDub on Mar 19, 2009 4:25 PM PDT reply actions  

this season was like a date with a hot chick…you think you’re gonna get lucky, but all you get is a bad case of blueballs

There’s a headline for ya…

Fear The Fin = Anyone who doesn’t like fighting in the NHL can go watch poker on ESPN. [Jamie Baker]

by Mr. K. on Mar 19, 2009 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions  

Uh … can you put it in terms for those of us who are female and not bi can relate to? Thx kindly. :)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Mar 19, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions  

Greetings to OneSeasonNHL, Teas, and GeeEssDub

Now who are you people? ;-)

Fear The Fin = Anyone who doesn’t like fighting in the NHL can go watch poker on ESPN. [Jamie Baker]

by Mr. K. on Mar 19, 2009 5:06 PM PDT reply actions  

Hi, I’m a season ticket holder who recently found this site and wanted to join in on the fun.

by Teas on Mar 20, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions  

Sweet!

Uppers or lowers? If you’re in the lowers, I’ll let you buy me a beer :-D

(totally kidding – welcome to Fear the Fin!)

Fear The Fin = Anyone who doesn’t like fighting in the NHL can go watch poker on ESPN. [Jamie Baker]

by Mr. K. on Mar 20, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

I’m in 213, row 8 – hopefully we can still be friends ;-)

by Teas on Mar 20, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions  

Hey you’re near my sister’s seats! We’re 214 row 14

by WhoseYourNabby? on Mar 20, 2009 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions  

Haha

I’m in 205 row 13 – I was teasing about the lowers (i.e. “You have money – buy me beer!!!”).

Fear The Fin = Anyone who doesn’t like fighting in the NHL can go watch poker on ESPN. [Jamie Baker]

by Mr. K. on Mar 20, 2009 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions  

That's good

Whenever it’s the Dance off between sections, I NEVER cheer for the lower bowl.

by idunno723 on Mar 20, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions  

You should boo the lower bowl.

And boo heartily. I always do.

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

by Lurker Shark on Mar 20, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

Oh I boo

I boo a lot

And don’t you hate it when the lower bowl get’s the jersey? It’s not fair!

by idunno723 on Mar 20, 2009 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yeah, they can afford one.

Send them up to us upper bowlers.

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

by Lurker Shark on Mar 20, 2009 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

210 row 10 here.

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

by Lurker Shark on Mar 20, 2009 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

Nice.

All this Section X Row Y talk makes me giggle for some odd reason lol

by AppleSweetRose on Mar 21, 2009 6:49 AM PDT up reply actions  

your right, the regular season doesn't matter

because once the playoffs start, it doen’t matter how well you did, what matters is what you do in the game your playing.

but when your team is playing like a pile of shit when the playoffs are about to begin, then we start to worry.

"It aint over till the fat lady sings." - Not Yogi Berra

by serrapadre716 on Mar 19, 2009 5:42 PM PDT reply actions  

this phenomenon could be simply put as

sharksfanshumbledbecauseofearlyplayoffexitsophobia

by sharks on Mar 19, 2009 11:22 PM PDT reply actions  

or maybe its...

sharksfanshumbledbecauseofearlyplayoffexitsandarescaredtodeathofithapeningagainophobia, I’m not sure I’m not a doctor

by sharks on Mar 19, 2009 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions  

let me introduce myself properly...

@ Mr. K and the rest….

GeeEssDub is my handle – mostly hang out on GSOM, but have a long history of Shark love. My pops sprung for season tix for the innaugural season at the Cow Palace back in the day and the love affair has grown steadily since.

Link Gaetz, I cheered him on and I remember when he got his first DUI in San Mateo.

I was watching when the Sharks upset the Wings in round 1 in 93-94, I was a fan when we seemed to always get beat down by those tough Avs teams with Roy and friends. I laughed out loud when Nolan made the half court shot against the blues in the playoffs, etc, etc, etc….

Not that I need y’alls acceptance but I earned my Shark lovers card early on. Just a little late to the party here at FTF.

Looking forward to yukkin it up with all you fine Hockey fans.

ps- ang6666 sorry for the coarse language, it seemed to be a vivid way to describe our collective want for something greater than our history has provided with this hockey club

Peace,
GeeEssDub

by GeeEssDub on Mar 25, 2009 4:42 PM PDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

The Official SB Nation blog of the San Jose Sharks.
Start posting about the Sharks »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

P5070331_small
July OT Thread #2

Recent FanPosts

Crosbyjersey_small
Sharkweek starts August 1 at 9pm.
Avatar_small
Setoguchi's Contract
Anaheimsucks_small
FA Defensemen in 2011
6137johnmayerprofile_small
YOUR BRAIN IN SUMMER
P5070331_small
World Cup Final
Small
Yahoo! Sports FAIL
Sharks_clean_small
This could be our team to the deadline
Small
Modano to the Sharks?
Ianyanni_small
Why I hope the NHL doesn't go back to ESPN

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SBNation.com Recent Stories

NEWARK NJ - JULY 20:  Ilya Kovalchuk of the New Jersey Devils poses for photographs following the media opportunity announcing his contract renewal at the Prudential Center on July 20 2010 in Newark New Jersey.  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) +9 updates

With Arbitrator And Hearing Date Set, Is Kovalchuk Contract Mess Set To End?

In this photo taken on Monday, July 19, 2010, Atlanta Thrashers forward Andrew Ladd, formerly of the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, spends his day with the Stanley Cup atop Crown Mountain, British Columbia., north of Vancouver. Ladd, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, was flown by helicopter to the top of Crown Mountain to watch the sunrise. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,  Mark L. Johnson) +55 updates

NHL Free Agency: Andrew Ladd Avoids Arbitration, Signs With Thrashers

FILE - In this May 7, 2009, file photo, Milan Michalek, front left, of the Czech Republic attacks Swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson, right, during a quarterfinal at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Bern, Switzerland. Sweden's Carl Gunnarsson is seen behind on left. The Toronto Maple Leafs landed Gustavsson with a one-year contract on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. The 24-year-old netminder, nicknamed "The Monster," was also heavily pursued by Dallas, San Jose and Colorado. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File) link

Euro Hockey For Dummies: A Primer On How European Hockey Leagues Work

More from SBNation.com >


Managing Editor

N3625599_32203920_2275-1_small Mr. Plank

Editor

Mandalorian_small TCY

Authors

Pattypavslarge_small mymclife

Ovechkin-russia-080518-584_small Ivano M

Moderator

Captain_marleau_small Mr. K.