Sharks Gameday: Uncomfortable
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 3:00 AM PDT
in Sharks Game Previews
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7:30 PST
48-27-5, 101 points
49-20-11, 109 points
3rd in Western Conference
2nd in Western Conference
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Watching the games unfold last night, I was put in a situation that made me feel uneasy.
I was rooting for the Detroit Red WIngs... and damn it all, I'll be rooting for them to win until the regular season comes to a close.
A few things happened last night that cleared up the playoff picture, and more importantly shed some light on which team the Sharks will face in the first round. Although most of us have been pulling our hair out dreading the possible draw of the Winged Wheel, tonight's events make that matchup seem much less likely. No, Chicago didn't lose, even though the Blues mounted one hell of a third period comeback with nothing left to play for but pride. Instead, the Hawks take over the first seed in the West and hold all the tie breakers against San Jose. Unless Chicago loses their last two games, I'm assuming they stay there.
Detroit, however, helped us out. With a win tonight, they jumped back into the fifth seed in the West, and have a game in hand over sixth seeded Nashville. Even though the Predators have the same amount of points as the Wings, Detroit has one more game left to play. That makes Nashville's road to a top six seed even more difficult.
The Predators sit a point ahead of the Kings (who have three left to play), and four points ahead of a Colorado team which has two remaining after losing tonight to Edmonton. (Speaking of the Oilers, they've really held their own as of late, playing much better hockey than they did earlier in the season)
That drawn out explanation of the standings leads us to this: If Detroit picks up one more point and Nashville loses their last match against the Blues on Saturday, there's no chance that the Sharks will face Detroit in the first round. Needless to say, I'll be pulling for St. Louis and Detroit in the coming days. Hell, I'm even hoping LA finds a way to win two out of three. I'd take Nashville or Colorado over any of the other teams in a heartbeat.
That being said, the Sharks shouldn't spend tonight or Saturday scoreboard watching. Yes, it's ok to rest Dan Boyle a bit. Yes, Greiss should maybe get a look in the next two games. However, taking it easy on the opposition should remain out of the question for a San Jose team that has had difficulty establishing momentum post-Olympics.
If they end up with the two seed, it's probably not the end of the world (as explained above). However, every Sharks skater should be working for that one seed. It's not a necessary goal to achieve, but damn it would be nice to see.
Prediction: Sharks win 3-1. Goals by Couture (x2) and Thornton. Joe is extra careful around the boards.
Go Sharks.
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Sharks are actually 49-20-11
Also, go Sharks!
"Shave it, and you will score." - Randy Hahn
Proud member of the "Lifetime Contract for Marleau" Club
Nice update of the potential playoff scenarios
I’d take Nashville or Colorado over any of the other teams in a heartbeat.
Nashville’s the only western playoff team that currently has a negative goal differential. While this can be viewed as a good thing for opponents, it also means they’ve managed to amass a 46-29-6 record by grinding out close games, which is more often the type of hockey found in the playoffs. Nashville’s also playing better down the finish, while Colorado is kind of sputtering. So if I still had to choose between the two, I’d still prefer Colorado.
So… GO SHARKS! You can still take the 1 seed!
"Who were you rooting for in the Olympics?" - Drew Remenda
"I wanted Team India to go all the way." - Manny Malhotra
Last night I was doing the same thing, trying to work out the different combinations and how they might come about. Almost put it all in excel format and then told myself to relax, just let it all happen as it’s going to.
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Apr 8, 2010 7:15 AM PDT reply actions
Thanks, Kit. I had a presentation this morning and therefore couldn’t prepare for this as much as I liked.
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions
more than anything
I was expressing my excitement. Because now I don’t have to watch the game online.
Although lately ive been connecting my computer to my new tv and watching the games on the big screen. Still, Versus will be a better picture. And I can pause it!
I shouldn't have said anything.
Playoff Opponent Likelihood
Using the number from this morning at http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Western.html
The Sharks Playoff Opponents are:
Kings Red Wings Predators Avalanche
Blackhawks 6% 15% 15% 64%
Sharks 11% 24% 30% 36%
Canucks 22% 37% 41% 0%
Coyotes 61% 24% 14% 0%
oh joy, the canucks get to travel significantly during the 1st round….
Nucks Misconduct's Official Ambassador, Title Fuhrer, Troll Hunter, and Resident Trucker Mouth Puck Bunny.
GO CANUCKS GO!
You and the rest of the western conference.
It’s not like Nashville is nearby
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
I was just thinking the same … ugh!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Apr 8, 2010 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Just think: if we get Detroit, not only do we have to face, well, Detroit, but we’re THREE HOURS DIFFERENT besides being around 2000 miles apart. That would suck.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Color me surprised
All these years I thought Detroit was in the Central time zone.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Nope, both Detroit and Columbus are in the Eastern time zone.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Is it wrong..
That I want to finish 2nd overall?
Since it’s less likely that the Dread Wings finish 7th overall, if we finish 2nd that means we could only face one of Chicago or Detroit and even then that wouldn’t be until the 3rd round.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
Yeah, I’m pretty comfortable with finishing second, assuming that Detroit finishes in the top 6. A first two rounds of Nashville, Vancouver doesn’t scare me nearly as much as any of the other options…
"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott
by ZeroIndulgence on Apr 8, 2010 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Why go through the Maginot line when we can cut through Belgium?
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
by Evilducks on Apr 8, 2010 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Because it’s always fun to embarrass the French? Bring on the Habs!
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
Is there a reseeding in the second round?
I forget…
Hansel: "Who are you tryin' to get crazy with, ese? Don't you know I'm loco? "
Every round reseeds
if memory serves
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
so really the higher a team like Detroit finishes, the better…assuming you are trying to avoid the hottest team in the west.
Hansel: "Who are you tryin' to get crazy with, ese? Don't you know I'm loco? "
Well...
Anything can happen. In principle, the higher you finish, the better, because you get home ice. That’s really all you can go for. The higher you finish, the less likely you are to face the teams close to you in the standings.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Which works great in the east where the top teams far outclass the bottom teams… the west is a whole other ball of silly putty.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
I wonder if anyone has ever looked at that historically
Are there more “upsets” in the west than the east?
I’d put a penny on the answer being yes, but I haven’t the time to verify that.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Since the lockout there most definitely has been.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
That’s way too small of a sample size. The west has been the deeper conference in the last several seasons but I tend to think this stuff is cyclical. The east has more young stars and when they all reach their prime I think the east will be much tougher.
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
High draft picks tend to do that
But I think the cycle is going to be a lot quicker too. The “window” these days pretty much only lasts while the young guns like Crosby and Malkin are pre-RFAs. Once you have to start paying your core like they are your core, the salary cap is going to make it a lot tougher to keep great teams like that together.
But you probably are still correct. The influx of the Ovechkins, Semins, Greens, Backstroms, Crosbys, Malkins, Staals, and other talents back east are going to make that Conference look a whole lot better; especially given the way the bottom might fall out in the west (Edmonton, Calgary, St. Louis, Anaheim and possibly Dallas all looking at major rebuilds).
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
And then EDM, CGY, STL (already well on the way), and ANA are going to get great picks and then they’ll be the next wave. You’re definitely right about the cap making it real hard to keep teams together. The Caps are going to lose Semin and it’ll be real hard to even keep AO/Green/Backstrom long term.
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
I have a theory
That some of the Russians are going to make a temporary bolt for the KHL so they can play in Sochi, and then come back to the US after the games in 2014. But I figured none of them would do it for more than year.
And my tin-foil hat is very comfortable and stylish.
Do you think there’s any truth to this notion, given your greater familiarity with Semin? And possibly with Kovalchuk given that he was in the division?
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Well Semin will be UFA before Sochi so he may bolt to the KHL. I think that’s a definite possibility. Kovalchuk, I think wants to stay in the NHL, but I’m not positive. What I do know is that Ovechkin can’t play in Sochi without the NHL’s approval. The IIHF won’t let players that breach contracts play in international tournaments. So if AO breaches by going to the KHL so he can play in Sochi, Russia would have to forfeit any game they dressed AO. That obviously defeats the point. I’m pretty sure the NHL will participate in Sochi, but they will use it as a bargaining chip for the next CBA. After Sochi I could see the NHL pulling out of the future Olympics because of the logistical problems.
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
That’s way too small of a sample size. The west has been the deeper conference in the last several seasons but I tend to think this stuff is cyclical.
Maybe you interpreted that wrong, but I never intended to say the West has always been the deeper Conference— however, it’s pretty plain to see the playoffs have been a much tougher fight in the first round compared to the East.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
I know that’s not what you were trying to say. But given the question asked “historically” I just figured I’d clarify and throw my two cents in. The West has definitely been deeper, and more entertaining since at least a few years before the lockout.
Realistically the Caps shouldn’t be challenged by anyone in the first round, and it would be a surprise if they are challenged in the second round by anyone but NJD or PIT. The Caps should have a pretty smooth road to the ECF, no team in the west can say that.
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
Noted.
WSH-PIT: Can Pittsburgh even really hang with Washington this season? You’ll know the answer to this, but I seem to remember the Capitals staging three or so 2+ goal comebacks in the third period against the Pens this season.
I’m still not sleeping on Philly. I know the goaltending situation is up in the air (as always), but Boucher is the kind of guy who can get super hot for elongated periods of time. Enough to do some damage in a couple of rounds before he falls back to Earth.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
On paper the Caps are the better team this year. They are better than last year (significantly better) and the Pens are worse (how a team loses their top D pair and nobody talks about it is beyond me) but the Pens OWN the Caps in the playoffs so as a Caps fan I’m still awaiting impending doom. The Caps definitely came back on the Pens all year, and basically against everyone else as well. In the last 8 regular season games the Caps are 7-0-1 against PIT (and the loss was a SO) but they went 3-4 in the playoffs, so we’ll see when it matters. I’m hopeful, but need to get over that hump before I can believe it.
The Caps dominated PHI this year. I’m not that worried about them. Sure, on paper PHI can be great if all their players show up. But they don’t play like a team and haven’t been consistent all season so in a 7 game series I don’t think they can handle us. They beat us once and it took an atrocious goaltending performance by Varlamov. We’ve scored on them almost at will. If Boucher gets/stays hot he could make the series interesting, but I don’t think PHI can knock us out. I’d say only PIT or NJD can do it in the East.
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
still awaiting impending doom
ha! I think this is something all hockey fans feel … least around here everyone is holding their breath hoping our doom isn’t around the corner
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Apr 8, 2010 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions
On a very related note
Anyone going to the game tonight? I’ll be in section 101, and I’ll be there for warm-ups.
..:Fear The Fin:..
My next game is game 1 of the first round. My SharksPak ended with the Colorado game, and I had to make a financial decision…extra playoff game, or more regular season games. It really wasn’t much of a debate…
"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott
by ZeroIndulgence on Apr 8, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Nah … but I will be at Saturday’s game … it will be a hectic day too … taking the boys to see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Broadway by the Bay, then drop them off and head to SJ.
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Apr 8, 2010 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Patrick, no one cares.
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
(jk)
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
221
resident cartoonist @CouchTarts Lightning is seven times as hot as the surface of the sun.
That’s still not as hot as Douglas Murray. -mymclife
Woo!
So excited for this game! I love the fact that the Sharks are finding themselves in big games this week with playoff seeding riding on the line. This is what we need right now.
I want to see some scoring though from HTML. I’m pretty damn sure Heater wants to get to the 40 mark… maybe another Heater Hat Trick in the Tank?!
Staying positive
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
and the rainbows return
i’m still drawing a shark pooping a rainbow while eating an octopus. It’s pretty epc even thought it’s just black and white right now.
"Sleep is for the off season."~ Randy Hahn. Never question why the man is up at midnight.
by ZombieSkittles on Apr 8, 2010 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
and the rainbows return
As does my drinking habit.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
rofl
You know you love the rainbows, Plank.
"Sleep is for the off season."~ Randy Hahn. Never question why the man is up at midnight.
by ZombieSkittles on Apr 8, 2010 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions
taste the rainbow
by live every week like it's shark week on Apr 8, 2010 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
i've had that before
and i must say I LOVED it. You have to filter it more than they say though.
"Sleep is for the off season."~ Randy Hahn. Never question why the man is up at midnight.
by ZombieSkittles on Apr 8, 2010 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
haha should have guessed from the name :) i’ll keep that in mind…trying to get more people to agree to drink it with me.
by live every week like it's shark week on Apr 8, 2010 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions
haha
Skittles vodka is one of those drinks you can probably tempt people into drinking with you.
"Sleep is for the off season."~ Randy Hahn. Never question why the man is up at midnight.
by ZombieSkittles on Apr 8, 2010 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m going to have to err on the side of negative, but post away if it helps you get through the day.
Just know it’s not helping me get through mine ;)
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Aw don’t be too negative.
"Sleep is for the off season."~ Randy Hahn. Never question why the man is up at midnight.
by ZombieSkittles on Apr 8, 2010 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions
OMG
Freaking amazing!!!!
"Sleep is for the off season."~ Randy Hahn. Never question why the man is up at midnight.
by ZombieSkittles on Apr 8, 2010 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions
That's what porn is for
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I’m pretty confident we’ll end up taking 1st in the west.
Both Phoenix and Vancouver are already locked into their seeds so they’ll be taking it easy, plus Erhoff is out for vancouver until the playoffs. Meanwhile Chicago has to play Detroit, who are still fighting against the kings/preds for the 5th seed.
Although like you guys mentioned above, doesn’t getting the first seed mean that we’ll likely be playing Detroit in the 2nd round? Blegh.
Also sweet...
As part of winning my Fantasy league this year (thanks goes out to Dany Heatley and Dan Boyle for their stellar performances on my team) the loser had to put the winner’s favorite team’s logo as their Facebook profile pic and profess their new found love for that team. Just so happens the loser was a friend of mine who is a die-hard Canucks fan from Vancouver… how sweet.
Anyone go to practices?
When do they say if the practice is closed? I was thinking of bringing the boys to practice tomorrow but since it takes about an hour for us to drive to SJ I was hoping they’d would say it is canceled in time for us to abort the mission. I know they start at 11 but when do they release the info that it has been canceled?
AND…do they hold open practices during the playoffs?
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
I'm going tomorrow!
I’ve gone about 3 or 4 times and they’ve never canceled practice so I’m not exactly sure how they notify people. I think you can check here, but I don’t know how often they update it. And practice are closed during playoffs.
"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen
Facing Detroit
We keep talking about avoiding Detroit. This Detroit.
They’re not afraid of anybody, and we’ve seen what happens when you show fear against them.
Barring the unthinkable, this season, if we’re even going to smell the Cup, we have to face Detroit and/or Chicago. In all likelyhood, probably both.
I know why we should be afraid to face the Big Red Machine, but seriously, it’s time to stop being afraid of them. If we can’t beat them, we don’t deserve the Cup anyway. Bring them first round, second, third, whatever. Wanna be the best? Beat the best. If you can’t, you were pretending and teasing the whole time anyway.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I don’t think there’s any shame in looking for a weak first round opponent, especially since we had such a tough draw last year. For a team that’s one postseason flameout away from total obliteration, the last thing we want to do is face one of the toughest teams in the West in the first round. As the one seed, we deserve to face a weaker opponent. That’s all I’m asking for.
I know it’s inevitable that we face either Detroit or Chicago if we want to win this year. However, I’d rather it not take seven games in the first round against Detroit (I’m guessing it would be that), since it would completely wear the team down.
There is no pride lost in this. It’s just the honest truth.
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
*As the one or two seed
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Fair point on the first round
I honestly don’t see Detroit falling to 7th, so I think there’s no shame in breathing a sigh of relief in avoiding them in round one (I have done so myself).
But assuming Detroit beats Chicago on the final day of the season, that would put us first (assuming we can beat Vancouver and Phoenix, no sure thing), and Detroit 5th. In that case, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion we play them in round two.
I think we just need to come to terms with that.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Which I have no problem with...
I just don’t want to see them in round one. I’d rather the Sharks put the hurt on COL or NSH and gain some confidence before they play Detroit.
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Crunching numbers again though
If we lose tonight and tomorrow, and Chicago only loses to Detroit, then they are one and we are two, and Detroit is 5. In which case, we’d need for Vancouver to lose in round one to avoid Detroit in round two. So pretty much, I see us playing Detroit if we make it to round 2, one way or another.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
If Chicago is the first seed, they’d play the lowest seeded team which would be Detroit in the second round assuming they beat phoenix and Vancouver doesn’t lose their series as well.
I can’t wait till this is finalized on Sunday.
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
haga yeah after i typed out my last post, i just told myself, “dude this is ridiculous to talk about right now, get back to work.”
"get back to work."
Why?
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I think everyone knows we’ll have to face them, we just don’t want to do it right off the bat.
(last year still hurts)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Apr 8, 2010 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
what happened last year?
Hansel: "Who are you tryin' to get crazy with, ese? Don't you know I'm loco? "
the world briefly ended … best to not remember details of the event tho … it was horrible!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Apr 8, 2010 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't know what you are talking about...
(laying on floor bangin head repeatedly against tile)
Hansel: "Who are you tryin' to get crazy with, ese? Don't you know I'm loco? "
I think LA has a decent chance of beating VAN though, which would mean we would face LA and CHI would face in DET. That would be ideal for me.
Yeah i do too. Otherwise i’d be saying fuck the 1st seed. Ideally we get first seed, and we beat Colorado in the first round and then play the Kings (who could likely upset vancouver) in the second round. While Chicago plays Nashville in the first round, and Detroit in the second round (IF they get past Phoenix, who i hear play pretty well against the wings).
I think it's okay to be afraid of them. We're fans, we don't effect the outcome of games.
Now if the actual Sharks are afraid…
"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
I HAVE NO EFFECT! I’LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT SECOND GOAL AGAINST CALGARY WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY CHEERING!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I'd put it a different way
Whoever the Sharks face, I want them to win in 4 or 5 games, then rest. I don’t care if the games are close, but put away the series, then rest. I don’t want to see any “go up by 2 games, then back off, and the other team tie up the series” nonsense.
This I think is the key to the whole avoid-Detroit thing. Most Cup winners get an easy series somewhere along the way. And by easy, I mean short. Detroit, no matter how well we play them, will not be a short series. Colorado or Nashville could be. We all know we’ll probably have to play Detroit at some point. Might as well be later down the road when we have some series won confidence and they’re as tired as we are.
But, on that note, say Detroit loses to Pheonix, and LA beats Vancouver, and then the Yotes also beat Chicago…and the Sharks end up facing Colorado, LA, Pheonix on the way to the Shiny Trophy Finals…will we be somehow less deserving? Will it not be a “real” Cup appearance because we didn’t have to face the perceived best? Fuck no. If we don’t have to face Detroit at all, even better! It diminishes nothing.
"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott
by ZeroIndulgence on Apr 8, 2010 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
This I think is the key to the whole avoid-Detroit thing. Most Cup winners get an easy series somewhere along the way. And by easy, I mean short. Detroit, no matter how well we play them, will not be a short series. Colorado or Nashville could be. We all know we’ll probably have to play Detroit at some point. Might as well be later down the road when we have some series won confidence and they’re as tired as we are.
Exactly.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
I made this comment a while back, but I don't think anyone saw it 'cuz I'm always too late
The number of games it took for each Cup winner going back to ’89:
’09 Penguins: 24
’08 Wings: 22
’07 Ducks: 21
’06 Hurricanes: 25
’04 Lightning: 23
’03 Devils: 24
’02 Wings: 23
’01 Avalance: 23
’00 Devils: 23
’99 Stars: 23
’98 Wings: 22
’97 Wings: 20
’96 Avalance: 22
’95 Devils: 20
’94 Rangers: 23
’93 Canadians: 20
’92 Penguins: 21 (first round 7 game series)
’91 Penguins: 24 (first round 7 game series)
’90 Oilers: 22 (first round 7 game series)
’89 Flames: 22 (first round 7 game series)
The last time any team’s come back from a first round 7 gamer was when you could purchase Hypercolor shirts, and Kris Kross would make you jump, jump.
i love that you know about Hypercolor shirts.
recently saw them rebranded in a high-end clothing store in coeur d’alene, Idaho. weird.
interesting stats, guess thats what makes this next 2 months sooo exhilarating.
"Devin Setoguchi’s haircut has released the dragon" ~Drew Remenda
For some reason I have a feeling Jumbo is going to be a goddamn beast this year. Sharks are going to be tied 1-1 in the series going on the road for game three in the first round, and five minutes into the second he is just going to take over. ~Plank
"He (Iginla) thinks he’s a pretty tough guy, so why not?" ~ Ryan Clowe
by Jay Fin Anderson on Apr 8, 2010 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow. Crazy numbers. Thanks for posting.
Haha Hypercolor shirts.
They didn’t work after a few washes. : (
"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.
by SwisherThresher on Apr 8, 2010 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Damn
Mirtle just reported that Tyler Ennis won the AHL’s rookie of the year. STALOCK WAS ROBBED!
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
FUCKING HORSESHIT!
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, someone’s upset.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
BOOOOOO
Ennis is a stupid (funny) name.
"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen
(P)Ennis.
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Imagine growing up with that name…
"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen
went to high school with a kid named
Joshua P. Ennis. he was whasian
"Devin Setoguchi’s haircut has released the dragon" ~Drew Remenda
For some reason I have a feeling Jumbo is going to be a goddamn beast this year. Sharks are going to be tied 1-1 in the series going on the road for game three in the first round, and five minutes into the second he is just going to take over. ~Plank
"He (Iginla) thinks he’s a pretty tough guy, so why not?" ~ Ryan Clowe
by Jay Fin Anderson on Apr 8, 2010 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions
ANOTHER REASON WHY COUTURE IS A BUST
HE DIDN’T EVEN SCORE OVER 9000 GOALS FOR WORCESTER!!!1
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 Apr 8, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions
EAST COAST BIAS!!!
…oh, wait.
"I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." ~Michael Scott
by ZeroIndulgence on Apr 8, 2010 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Well that stinks.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Now there’s an American I can get behind. One of the prettiest goals of the year.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
On a side note, “pretty” and “an American I can get behind” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Ha. I thought it all worked well together. Carlson has been on a meteoric rise since he got drafted. PHI traded us their first round pick for… Steve Eminger on draft day. That was awesome. I can’t wait for PHI fans to realize how good Carlson is so they can understand how bad they got hosed on that one. Then they gave up Sbisa as well! Hahaha.
And yeah, that Carlson goal was insane. How do you have the balls to go with a no-look shot in that spot? Ice cold.
(Another hero from that US team, Derek Stepan, has a goal and 2 assists today for Wisconsin as they dominate the hell out of RIT.)
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
making sure no one questions your intentions huh? :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Apr 8, 2010 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions
BTW, how funny is it that Mclellan is playin Demers as a forward lately? I know he’s not planning to play him as a forward full time or anything, but do players ever change positions in the NHL? I never hear about D-Men turning into forwards or Forwards turning into D-men AFTER reaching the NHL, but it seems like it could make sense for certain players. Mike Green maybe?
Staubitz played forward a little this year.
Hansel: "Who are you tryin' to get crazy with, ese? Don't you know I'm loco? "
Staubtiz is a forward. I’m assuming you mean defense, though, right?
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
I think Boyle has played a couple of shifts at forward since he’s been here as well…
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
This will be a good one.
Fear the Fin: Sharing Joe Thornton's love of wooly mammoths since 2009.
by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 8, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
McLellan makes a good point there with this gem.
"Let’s face facts, irregardless of who we play in the first round, we’ve got our hands full. When you look at the wins alone, I think you’ve got a team at 50 and after that it’s 47, 48, 46, 47 – I really don’t believe there’s much distinction between one and eight this year, maybe the tightest it’s ever been.
Detroit or not, Sharks will have their hands full against anybody.
The only upset that is possible in the first round is if Detroit loses in the 1st round. Anything else is not an upset in this conference.
Fear the Fin - all Evgeni, all the time.
Eh those numbers aren’t right, and number of wins hardly tells you much about how a team will be playing going into the playoffs. Plus different teams have different styles of play. For example, i’d think i’d rather we played the Canucks than the Kings cuz i think we match up well against the Canucks even though they are probably the better team.
I think the point he’s trying to make is that Western Conference is really good this year.
Look at the # of win – the difference between seed #1 and #4 is 2 wins. The difference between 4 and 8 is even closer – almost none in terms of win.
Also, the numbers are deceiving somewhat. 14 of Detroit’s losses came in OT. If they were better in that category, they’d be fighting for no. 1 spot in the Western Conference. As bad as they were all season, notice that they actually have more points than Penguins.
Phoenix got that figured it out – I think they have 14 SO/OT wins this season last time I checked.
Then look at the Eastern Conference. The difference between WAS and BOS is 17 wins, and both will make playoffs.
Boston would be 10 points away from making playoffs in the West.
Eastern Conference is as week this year as Western Conference is good.
Fear the Fin - all Evgeni, all the time.
Well we all know the West owns, but matchups are still important.
TMac is just trying to be political. Obviously he can’t come out and say, “GOD I hope we don’t play detroit, me and all the guys have been PRAYING we get the Avalanche in the first round cuz they suck and we could seriously use the confidence boost of getting out of the first round.”
I don’t think he cares as much as we do.
We all thought the Ducks were a great match up last year.
It’s more about how Sharks come out and play. If they play like they did a couple of nights ago in Denver, we won’t beat anybody. If they play like they did against Calgary or against the Wild recently, we’ll beat any team. Yes, it’s important how the other teams play too, but of all the playoffs series we lost since the lockout, I think in only one (Detroit) the other team was unbeatable. In all others Sharks could have won it if they just played how they played earlier in the season.
Fear the Fin - all Evgeni, all the time.
yes, this.
"Devin Setoguchi’s haircut has released the dragon" ~Drew Remenda
For some reason I have a feeling Jumbo is going to be a goddamn beast this year. Sharks are going to be tied 1-1 in the series going on the road for game three in the first round, and five minutes into the second he is just going to take over. ~Plank
"He (Iginla) thinks he’s a pretty tough guy, so why not?" ~ Ryan Clowe
by Jay Fin Anderson on Apr 8, 2010 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions
The East being weaker is actually a benefit to whoever emerges for the Cup finals. One way of looking at the Penguins Cup win last year is that Detroit ran out of gas in game 7 due to the bar fight they had vs. the Ducks.
I don’t know if “ran out of gas” is the accurate phrase as much as “got beat to a pulp” is.
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
Are we talking about the Wings or a bar patron? The Anaheim organization did a lot of beating to a pulp that series.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Yeah, that’s ANA’s calling card. But I think Lidstrom got hurt against CHI. When did Dastyuk get hurt? I thought that was CHI as well.
Does anyone remember Rafalski’s first game back against ANA after being injured? There was a late scrum and Corey Perry makes a bee-line for Rafalski and goes right after his injured shoulder. What a scum bag. Guy knows how to sniff out the vulnerable and take advantage like almost nobody else. His dad was his coach and a cop. Could not be less surprised.
A pretty girl is like a violent crime.
Correy Fucking Perry
Did you know that’s his official full name?
"iaT"S FUCKINGE LIEK CONICO DO MAYO!!!!!111"
Mr. K. 5/5/2009
I thought that was his unofficial name
And his official name was Douche Bag
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
We don’t want him to catch on, he might run us. Keep it in American.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
hey...
Canadians don’t like the douchey way Corey Fucking Perry plays either.
I think he’s Esa Tikanen’s bastard spawn…
"I’m not asking for first-line money or top six money," Burrows said. "I don’t think it changes anything. I still consider myself a checker. That’s what I think I am first. That’s how I want to be paid. "If I can generate offence once in a while, I think it’s a plus for the team." Alex Burrows...Mar/09
He really said irregardless? :(
Drew: Fill in the blank: "When I'm on the ice with Douglas Murray, I..."
Nabby: Poop yourself.
He always says irregardless. I don’t think he knows that regardless means the same thing, and is much more grammatically accepted.
"I think I realized after the second or third punch, I should have taken his helmet off sooner." - Ryane Clowe
Proud member of the "Re-Sign Marleau" Club
Fools and Sages
Aw, no Greiss.
And it looks like WTC is ready to get rowdy.
"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen
...again
DP’s been threatening to boot someone. This is the 2nd or 3rd warning. And I don’t venture into the thread that far to see who’s saying what anymore…
Puck daddy interview with one of our prospects
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
Frozen Four on TV right now.
It’s on ESPN2 if you have nothing to do. (unintentional rhyme!)
"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen
Wisconsin's jerseys look too close to the Red Wings:
Evil JoePa!
"I think people were ready to watch some hockey. We took up enough of everyone’s time."
-Jody Shelley after 87 seconds of hockey fighting against Cam Janssen
I'm pretty sure
Evil and JoePa are mutually exclusive terms
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I forgot it was supposed to be pooping a rainbow
so I just added one
resident cartoonist @CouchTarts Lightning is seven times as hot as the surface of the sun.
That’s still not as hot as Douglas Murray. -mymclife
by CTGray on Apr 8, 2010 3:13 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
I do so love
That his bib has The Cup on it.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I love that he has a bib at all. So well mannered, yet so destructive.
by live every week like it's shark week on Apr 8, 2010 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions
wow.
careful with this life-changing art stuff. it hurts my lymph nodes.
"Devin Setoguchi’s haircut has released the dragon" ~Drew Remenda
For some reason I have a feeling Jumbo is going to be a goddamn beast this year. Sharks are going to be tied 1-1 in the series going on the road for game three in the first round, and five minutes into the second he is just going to take over. ~Plank
"He (Iginla) thinks he’s a pretty tough guy, so why not?" ~ Ryan Clowe
by Jay Fin Anderson on Apr 8, 2010 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I found this and for some unknown reason feel the need to post this
GO SHARKS
"Thats a lot of hoopage"- Randy Hahn 2/4/10
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