The Kings Would Be A Murderous Draw In The First Round
by Mr. Plank on Jan 4, 2010 11:28 PM PST
in Sharks Game Recaps
Email
PrintSeriously, we can't seem to buy a win against these guys. I want no part of that come April because all four tilts against Los Angeles this season have reminded me of the Ducks playoff series last season. The bounces will never go our way, Quick will make a ton of saves, Doughty will probably score fifteen goals, and their defense does a good job of limiting chances in tight.
Los Angeles has amassed just too much hockey karma for all of the beatings they've taken over the last few years. I hope they shoot the lights out in the last half of the season and fall short of the division title by one point.
*****
There was a small discussion on the lack of power play production lately (which, admittedly, gets glanced over when you're riding an eight game winning streak), and I think bringing Jason Demers back to the squad would help get the wheels-a-turning. Here's the current production of the blueliners that have had more than a minute per game played with the 5v4 advantage.
Just a note-- I don't really pay all too much attention to GAON/60 when it comes to the powerplay, as shorthanded goals are really a product of some skill, a lot of luck, and the entire unit at large since San Jose's forwards have a good amount of responsibility in this area considering the system promotes defensemen making hockey plays at the circles or below. It's not a bad thing to consider of course, but just something that I don't think should be a defining factor. PTS/60 and GFON/60 are much more worthwhile statistics, and that's what I've put in bold.
For all the times I've cited Demers' egregious turnovers in the defensive zone* during the course of a game, it's plain to see that the power play runs smoothly when he's out on the ice. I'm not against Joe Pavelski playing on the backend in theory, but Demers' lateral movement is much superior to Pavelski's which opens up shooting lanes as well as makes teams think twice about aggressively pressuring the defensive puck carrier all the way up to the edges of the blueline. With the amount of firepower San Jose has down low it's a deadly combination.
The defense hasn't been nearly as good this season at generating offense (something I'll be looking at in the near future), and at this point I think there's no need to pull any punches when it comes to getting the man advantage back on track.
*Speaking of turnovers-- Rob Blake's to start the third, a mere thirteen seconds after Thomas Greiss entered the game, was hilarious. It sealed the Sharks fate, came against his former team, and was so outrageously asinine I couldn't help but laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and... well, you get the idea. I think I might be losing it.
Congrats to Jumbo Joe on his 900th NHL point tonight.
Go Sharks.
21 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Huzzah! A gameday recap!*
*We’ll see how long these last.
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
I love that you are doing game recaps again – but did it have to start after THIS game?? It couldn’t have been after one of our eight wins in a row??
I know … I shouldn’t bitch.
YAY! game recap!!
I’ll still think it’s funny maybe tomorrow.
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality? (boycott Hollywood!)
by ang6666 on Jan 5, 2010 12:07 AM PST reply actions
Recaps after losses during successful regular seasons (i.e. ones where the playoffs are all but a certainty) actually are sort of nice to write— allows me to wind down, try and put the game in context, focus on things that can improve etc. It’s elementary therapy on some level.
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
I laughed after the 6th goal too. It was so bad. I turned to my friend who was with me at the game and said “see, Greiss is gonna go back to the bench and say ‘damn, Nabby, you’re right. It’s brutal out there!’” By that point it was comical. Kind of like this dream I had where the Sharks were playing some team from Chicago the day before Thanksgiving. Thank goodness it was only a dream!
And I agree on all accounts on Demers’ addition to our power play unit. He really seems to be a spark plug for the unit. I mean, they sucked when he was in Worcester and Joslin was up. And then when Demers came back up, the team started playing well and scoring on the pp again. It seems to make sense to me. I know we have to get Jay Leach some pt, but can’t it come at the expense of Huskins? The, what, $2,000 dollars or so of cap space we’ll save by sending Demers down rather than just healthy scratching Huskins can’t really be worth it, can it?
Sometimes the impossible can become possible if you're AWESOME!
That Huskins contract will kill me for the next two years. He’s had his off nights this season, and he’s definitely had his good ones— there’s no debate, in my mind at least, that he’s proved to be what we can reasonably expect out of a sixth defenseman. I don’t have any huge issues with him in that regard (relative to his role on the team).
Problem is, $1.7 M for a guy who’s seeing below average competition on a roster as cash-strapped as San Jose really tightens up the ol’ pocketbook. I remember when he was signed and the report came out it was 1.7 per, SwisherThresher or someone else speculated that it was spread out over two years (making it 0.85 per). That would make me feel a whole lot better, and lighten up the cap load as well.
Anyways (what the hell was I trying to say again?), yeah, Leach has to get some PT and I wish Wilson/McLellan or whoever the hell is making the transactions (I’m sure it’s Wilson as no coach in their right mind would want to subject their players to that) would be able to just stand pat and scratch some guys here and then. They seem hellbent on making a deadline deal though, so I doubt it happens.
The good news is that all the roster shenanigans end after the trade deadline, and we can finally just focus on some hockey.
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
I can see why they’d be so hellbent on wanting to make a deadline acquisition this season. You know, with how well our deadline acquisitions have worked out n the past…
Sometimes the impossible can become possible if you're AWESOME!
by ZeroIndulgence on Jan 5, 2010 10:37 AM PST up reply actions
Huskins,Blake,Setoguchi
For Jovanovski
I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.
by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Jan 5, 2010 12:58 AM PST reply actions
That Blake turnover was classic...
and by classic I mean it was exactly how he played during his 2 year return to the Kings. You know the Sharks better than I do… but I blame Slappy for your loss tonight.
Joe did not get the puck right in front of the net like Slappy told them to give it to him.
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" club.
Fear the Fin: Where Sharks Fans Aren't Like Other Sharks Fans.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Jan 5, 2010 10:41 AM PST up reply actions
You know how many people on this blog remember the three weeks of Chris Kontos?
Well, aside from myself.
I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.
by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Jan 5, 2010 5:21 AM PST reply actions
That Rob Blake turn over was absolutely hilarious!
And I would love to see the Kings in the first round…better than a Detroit team that’s just getting healthy or a Calgary or Vancouver team (well, maybe Vancouver would be OK).
On that note, I want nothing to do w/ the top seed in the West this year considering how hard the teams are going to be competing for that number 8 spot.
I was telling my dad this last night.
If we draw LA in the first round, I will be scared. And I feel Demers makes a huge difference on the team. Even if he is only on the second PP with Pavs manning the point, it is a boost to the team. That and Malhotra’s absence last night somewhat hurt the Sharks.
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" club.
Fear the Fin: Where Sharks Fans Aren't Like Other Sharks Fans.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Jan 5, 2010 10:44 AM PST reply actions
some over at the BoC are hoping for this … just so they can see us kicked out and enjoy another year at our expense … ugh!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality? (boycott Hollywood!)
by ang6666 on Jan 5, 2010 1:22 PM PST up reply actions
That would stink.
I will be scared, but if the Sharks can outshoot them like they did tonight and play not so shoddy defense, we will be fine.
Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" club.
Fear the Fin: Where Sharks Fans Aren't Like Other Sharks Fans.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Jan 5, 2010 5:01 PM PST up reply actions
Sorta puts into perspective just how bad the Oilers are right now
We didn’t really play any worse last night than we did against them and won 4-1.
Great, now look what you have done......... we will draw LA in the first round.
I'm warning you! I have ADHD and I know how to use it!!!
Yes, I’m also afraid to get the Kings in the first round, but not as afraid as for example Detroit or even Anaheim if they continue to climb. Remember last year how we were all dreading Columbus or the Blues in the 1st round since they gave Sharks so much trouble and then Detroit and Vancouver simply walked over them? Yes, they’re good now, but playoffs is a different story. Lack of experience, lack of fan support (Lakers playoffs), etc etc – I don’t expect Kings to do too well. Not this year at least.
Bottom line, it sucks that we play in the Western Conference. All teams will give Sharks hell.
This.
Bottom line, it sucks that we play in the Western Conference. All teams will give Sharks hell.
I don’t think it really matters who we play in the first round. All the teams that make the playoffs (and even a few that won’t) would be tough first round draws for the Sharks. The Sharks will just have to man up and do what every great team does…win.
Sometimes the impossible can become possible if you're AWESOME!
by ZeroIndulgence on Jan 5, 2010 4:22 PM PST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Fear The Fin
Related FanShots on Fear The Fin
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Wednesday’s Three Stars: Jokinen’s trick; Kiprusoff’s scorpion save; Red Wings push streak to 18
- Ryan Miller admits he ‘got the benefit’ on Boston’s goalie interference call
- Does the Columbus, Vinny Prospal ‘gentleman’s agreement’ violate NHL CBA?
- Puck Previews: Bruins vs. Sabres; Sedin streak in jeopardy; Doan talks trade
- Where hockey and nerdity combine: introducing Dave’s geeky hockey sweaters
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
