San Jose loses second straight, fall into 2-0 series hole against Chicago
by Mr. Plank on May 19, 2010 12:33 AM PDT
in 2010 Playoffs
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The Sharks dropped to 0-5 all-time in HP Pavilion during the Western Conference Finals tonight, succumbing to a quick Blackhawks team that managed to capitalize on their opportunities throughout the course of the sixty minute affair.
The tale of the tape was similar to game one-- the Sharks came out strong and put the pressure on Antti Niemi during the first period, but the Finnish goaltender once again proved his critics wrong and managed to make eleven stops in the period to stonewall San Jose. After that the Blackhawks carried the play for the majority of the game, with brief pockets of Sharks chances falling to the wayside under a steady Chicago defensive presence in front of the net.
Patrick Marleau had a pair of goals for the Sharks. Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Jonathan Toews, and Troy Brouwer chipped in for the Blackhawks during the 4-2 victory.
Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, who was victimized on at least two bad goals, made 18 saves in the affair; his counterpart across the ice slammed the door shut with 25 of his own.
The first period began with a 2 on 1 for Chicago, as an errant dump-in was gobbled up by Patrick Kane. Kane sprung Toews and Byfuglien on a two on one into the Sharks zone as Dan Boyle made an ill-advised line change with the puck headed up the ice. Douglas Murray was able to make a strong play on Toews due to Byfuglien's lack of skating ability, and the chance was averted.
San Jose's first great opportunity of the game came six minutes in, after the fourth line (who looked great tonight in their increased minutes) threw their body around in the offensive zone and allowed the second line to come in for a quick change to capitalize on a tired group of Hawks. Ryane Clowe sent a centering pass to the front of the net where Devin Setoguchi, who had leveled Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson seconds beforehand, was stymied by a magnificient kick save in tight to keep the score knotted at zero.
San Jose continued to push the pace in the early first, with Joe Thornton looking strong in the corners and fighting off Keith and Seabrook, who were paired against him all night. He continued his strong play as of late by setting up his teammates, but as has been the case this entire postseason, both Marleau and Heatley were unable to cash in on those opportunities during the early going.
San Jose had a chance to take the lead when Patrick Marleau leveled Kris Versteeg down to the ice at the blueline, setting up a potential two on zero with Dany Heatley. After gaining control of the puck amidst Versteeg's flailing limbs, Marleau attempted to push the puck into some empty space in order to a) retrieve his own pass off the boards or b) get the puck to Heatley who was covering the far-side defenseman at the point. Whatever the case may be, Marleau's attempt was unsuccessful, and led to Chicago's first goal.
Managing to get up and beat both Sharks to the pucks after finding a faceful of ice greeting him after his fall, Versteeg climbed back into the play and chipped the puck to Duncan Keith, who quickly found Andrew Ladd breaking into the Sharks zone.
With a toe drag reminiscent of Ryan Getzlaf's heartbreaker last year during San Jose's series against Anaheim, Ladd changed the angle on his shot and beat Nabokov high far side to give the Blackhawks a lead they would never relinquish. There was a slight screen set by Niclas Wallin on the play, but that should not play any part in the analysis of the goal-- Nabokov was aware of the puck's location, evidenced by his glovehand just coming up half a tick too slow, and a shot from above the circles will be one the Sharks goaltender would like to have back.
Immediately following the goal, Ben Eager drew a hooking penalty behind the net from Wallin. Eager initiated the contact from behind and spun Wallin around, seemingly grabbing his stick to procure the penalty. The Sharks managed to put in a brilliant kill immediately afterwards, and avoided another as Joe Thornton committed a huge slash on Dave Bolland in front of the linesman as Chicago was entering the zone.
Chicago continued to push the pace of the game, and once again reduced the Sharks ability to control the neutral zone by sending a winger aggressively up the ice on the breakout to push back San Jose's blueliners. It is a gameplan Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators has used with moderate success against the Sharks over the years, and one that was effective again tonight.
The second period began much like the first, with Chicago's defensive group blocking shots and tying up sticks in front.
It would take them seven minutes into the period to capitalize.
Patrick Kane entered the zone, pulling up at the circles to find a trailing Brian Campbell. Using the speed Sharks fans know far too well, Campbell dangled down below the circles and threw a puck to the feet of Evgeni Nabokov. Sprawling to keep the puck out (replays later showed it was on the goal line), San Jose eventually knocked it out of harm's way behind the net and around the boards.
However, the Blackhawks weren't done. Campbell flew in from the point with a solid, physical pinch on Joe Pavelski, a player who he had undergone some extracurriculars with earlier in the game following a post-whistle scrum. That pinch was instrumental in keeping the puck in, and likely contributed to the eventual Blackhawks goal.
As we mentioned in the series preview, Chicago loves to use the high cycle to generate scoring chances. No player is better than this than Patrick Kane, who took the puck up from behind the end line to between the circles, whipping a shot at the net that was deflected by big Dustin Byfuglien in front. Evgeni Nabokov was caught standing upright when the puck hit Byfuglien's stick. It was similar to the first goal of game one in that Nabokov did not recognize the shot and failed to fight through the traffic in front of him, resulting in a situation where the puck was on him too quickly before he could make a save. Utilizing the butterfly in that situation to take care of the lower part of the net would be beneficial, as it is very rare a high shot from the point will get through the massive upper torsos crowding around the crease.
The period continued onward, and the first signs of Sharks frustration began to creep through. John Madden got a chance in front of Nabokov, who made a great sprawling save to keep the puck out. During the ensuing post whistle scrum, Douglas Murray took a swing at Adam Burish laying prone on the ice, an extremely ill-advised penalty to take at that point in the game.
As it turns out, it would come back to haunt the Sharks.
Duncan Keith capitalized on the power play, ripping a shot from the point as Torrey Mitchell was just slightly off his angle and unable to get into the shooting lane. Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews fought to the front of the net and deflected the puck past Nabokov, with Byfuglien also playing a big role and helping to generate traffic in front of the net.
San Jose would fight back however, after David Bolland was called for a hold behind his own net. According to an unsubstantiated rumore, Joel Quenneville was trying to get Versteeg into the box but Todd McLellan would have none of it. The ensuing power play saw a great pass from Joe Thornton through the aforementioned Versteeg's wickets, finding Patrick Marleau who blasted a sick wrister past Niemi short side to cut the lead to two.
The buzz after that goal was notable, but unfortunately, San Jose could not capitalize and headed into the third period down by a pair.
Antti Niemi caught a break early in the third, making a potentially momentum changing save when Duncan Keith tried to Alexei Semenov a shot from the point. The deflection rocketed towards the net where it was always meant to be, but Niemi's stick handle barely caught the edge of the puck and pushed it just wide of the far post.
Chicago began to focus on clogging up the neutral zone, keeping their shift shorts by dumping the puck in and changing. However, what was usually a one or two man forecheck in deep did an excellent job of cutting down San Jose's breakout, combining aggressive individual play with team-wide defensive responsibility.
That defensive responsibility was not prevalent on San Jose's end of the ice however, as Niclas Wallin committed an egregious turnover behind the net when the defensively underrated Marian Hossa picked his pocket. Hossa sent the puck up to Hjalmarrson, who hjalammered* the puck into the Sharks net. There was contact with Nabokov on the play, but the replay showed Evgeni well out of his crease and a conscious effort by Troy Brouwer to avoid contact. There was no doubt that it would count, and there was little doubt that the goal would be the one which broke the Sharks back.
*I'm deeply sorry for that.**
**Come to think of it, it is kind of catchy in a morbid sort of way.
Patrick Marleau would add another with five minutes in the game, but it would not be enough, as San Jose would go on to drop their second straight at home and dig themselves into a rather large 2-0 series hole.
- For all of the accolades San Jose has received for their calm heads during these playoffs, accolades that were definitely well deserved, that type of calm headed approach was not visible tonight. Between Douglas Murray's aforementioned penalty in the second, and Joe Thornton's terrible slash on Dave Bolland with eleven minutes remaining in the third down by three, responsibility and composure were not there. I would also liked to have seen Rob Blake avoid the box and rely on Nabokov to make a clutch save with two minutes left in the third, due to the fact San Jose was down a pair, but that's probably nitpicking at this point-- the game was likely over anyways, and that just sealed the deal.
- I'm one of the biggest Marleau apologists around-- I still want him back next season for the right price, and truly believe that he is an unfortunate scapegoat when it comes to Sharks fans. That being said, despite his two goals tonight, he needs to be better and more aggressive in his play. Constantly getting bodied off the puck down low, not being strong with his stick on second chances and centering feeds, choosing to stick to the perimeter on odd mans instead of lowering his shoulder and driving hard to the net-- all these are symptoms of the Sharks as a whole right now, but Marleau sticks out due to expectations. As well as Heatley. He's been getting his chances, but just isn't burying them right now. San Jose needs these two guys to score big goals when the score is close, not when a 3-0 deficit is already in the bag.
- Again, a two goal game from Marleau is probably not the best time to bring this up, and probably clashes with conventional critiques, but it's a point I feel needs to be made.
- I thought Joe Thornton had a really good game in the offensive zone. He's setting the table for his scorers and playing with a lot of gumption out there. Very little I have to complain about the big man.
- Nabokov was bad tonight. Not much more you can say than that.
- He's definitely not the only one to fault here. It just was a generally poor performance after the first period from San Jose, and the giveaway numbers tell the story. 20-6 in favor of the Hawks. Yikes. Just an all around porous defensive game, and I'm not sure you can look at one player and say he was the worst offender.
- Todd McLellan will have an even harder time getting his top line away from Keith and Seabrook on the road, and that phenomenal pairing is going to be a huge hurdle for San Jose to jump over in these next two games. All the more reason to break the top line up in my eyes. They just aren't getting it done in the defensive end, and need to spread out their output in order to get away from Keith-Seabrook.
- Tonight was a near must-win, and it's a huge hole the Sharks have dug themselves into. Taking two in Chicago will be an extremely tough task, especially with the United Center screaming for blood on Friday night. Should be quite the atmosphere.
- Coach McLellan did a better job of utilizing his fourth line tonight, and I thought they brought some bright spots to the game. He started shifting his big guns (Thornton, Marleau, Heatley) with them intermittently as the game went along, and they generated some energy and chances. Whether or not he'll be comfortable playing them that much on the road is another story.
- Logan Couture, least amount of ice time amongst forwards. No clue what that is all about. Literally, I couldn't tell you.
- Speaking of atmosphere, I find it very interesting that the boo birds have returned on some level or another to HP Pavilion. It truly boggles my mind how you can boo a team that has gone to the Western Conference Finals. Just fucking can it. It's annoying, and makes us all look like idiots. Bringing it out during the Colorado series was bad enough, but against Chicago, this deep in the postseason, suck it up and save it for the car ride home. It's probably a small conglomerate of people, but regardless, they're all fools.
- We mentioned that special teams would be a key in this series, but I have to say, I did not expect the Sharks to be outscored by such a wide margin at even strength. They're literally getting killed out there...
- ...in terms of results. Chances have been there however, even amidst the muck that was tonight. That being said, at this point in the season, it doesn't matter. Need those chances to go in, and need that presence in front of the net with strong sticks, and bodies willing to take punishment.
- Dark days on the Western front. Things get brighter on Friday at 5. Bring your A game from the couch.
Go Sharks.
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Period One
Period Two
Period Three
Postgame
"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
If I forget to do these after games from here on out, let me know.
"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 didn't jump off the bridge
We can hope, all the way to the end, whichever end, knowing that our team hasn’t choked this year, no matter what anyone else says.
Besides, there is a safety net under the bridge :-P
It’s bedtime now, and a long 2-1/2 days until the next game.
"Marleau spanks one off the pipe!" --VS Commentator, game 5 vs Det. 20100508
"Nice Save!" --Nabby, to Blake
What I would like to be able to do
…More than anything else, is to say to other fans, “Sharks won, CHOKE ON THAT!” What’s frustrating is that the Sharks are good enough, and they’ve played well in the last two games. It’s insane to come this far and not take the next step. They’ve got it in them, they can damn well do this!
-Maybe even more importantly, they can give me the ability to tell the fans of other teams to choke on the Sharks victory for an entire summer! The Sharks can give that to all of us in the next couple of weeks!
-This last game was frustrating as hell, even I wanted to slash people, and things, or just whatever was close to me. The Sharks aren’t beaten yet though, and I think they’ll rebound. This is some serious adversity, the kind of adversity you need to face in order to know for sure that you’ve really earned it. The Sharks can prove that they’ve really earned it now, if they climb this hill.
-I’m still with them, Sharks can do this….Sharks can make the rest of the league choke on a win no one else thinks we can get. It’s our time now, this year is the year.
-GO SHARKS.
Ozolinsh should have shot the damn puck, and Cheechoo should have hit Korolyuk's pass out of the air... but they'll get there.
+1,000,000,000
BERTUZZI: "Getting tired, Nabby? You've got another five and a half minutes of hell coming."
NABOKOV: "You've got another five and a half minutes left in your season."
by sharkiesgirl on May 19, 2010 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
What's with all the "choke on this" stuff?
Was there some kind of league-wide Sharks bias that I missed during the regular season? I’m a Hawks fan, and I don’t remember hearing or seeing anything in the media (not that ESPN counts as media these days, more like a sports version of TMZ) that would elicit that kind of response.
Not trying to needle you guys, or troll, just honestly curious.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions
It's been a phenomenon for about 3 or 4 years now
If you read hockey bloggers or commenters, they all can’t stop talking about how the Sharks have choked in post-seasons past. Or else they’ll just say that San Jose has had excellent regular seasons but have failed to perform in the playoffs.
We’ve become a might sensitive as you might imagine.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
That makes a bit more sense to me.
And I can understand that type of bitterness. It’s my favorite.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions
We’ve become a might sensitive as you might imagine.
We’ve probably become one of the most sensitive fanbases in the league when it comes to this type of stuff. We love playing the underdog card, and love to complain about other people complaining about our team and fanbase.
"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
So, I went and jumped off a bridge...
But it was like one of those kiddie bridges at a playground. I got a little sand in my shoe, and that’s about it. And now I"m back. A few points, before I go to sleep and try not to have nightmares about the game I saw and the money I spent to see the Sharks shit the bed.
the Sharks came out strong and put the pressure on Antti Niemi during the first period, but the Finnish goaltender once again proved his critics wrong and managed to make eleven stops in the period to stonewall San Jose.
I thought the Sharks were good in the first for the first 8 minutes or so, but not the whole first. They were pressuring, and getting chances. They still weren’t getting to rebounds, and they weren’t getting pucks up (which they said they needed to do…everything was still low). And then Chicago scored, and the Sharks seemed back on their heels a bit, and never really recovered.
The buzz after that goal was notable, but unfortunately, San Jose could not capitalize and headed into the third period down by a pair.
This is about that first pp goal, and yes, I can attest that it did indeed bring the crowd to life. If they could have capitalized for one more, and went into the 3rd only down one, it was a whole new game. The fans seemed to sense this, and tried to rally behind the boys and get another one in the net. But when you don’t control the puck at all, take stupid penalties, don’t get traffic in front of Niemi, and then shoot the puck into the big indian head on his chest…well, you aren’t going to score too much. When the 2nd ended, and we were still two down, the building deflated quite a bit.
Speaking of atmosphere, but I find it very interesting that the boo birds have returned on some level or another to HP Pavilion.
Did it sound on the broadcast that the fans were booing the Sharks off the ice after the game? Cuz if it did, at least from where I was, it really wasn’t as bad as you make it sound in that bullet point. There were a few people booing. A lot of people were booing annoying Chicago fans. But from where I was (top of 225) I barely heard any boos. I was cognizant of boos being there, but they weren’t the majority of the people there, and they weren’t all that loud. I agree that its dumb to boo this team in the WCF. I mean, shit, the Sharks aren’t perfect, and Chicago has owned them this season. So, I mean, it sucks, but its not a bad season or a letdown by any means at this point.
All the more reason to break the top line up in my eyes. They just aren’t getting it done in the defensive end.
At this point (and I mentioned this in the postgame fanshot, so I"ll just reiterate it here to hopefully provoke discussion), I’d like to see Marleau stay with Thornton…and then move Seto up to that line. The Pavs line hasn’t been clicking either, so breaking them up isn’t as big a deal anymore. And with the way Thornton has been playing (awesome), he could use a finisher who can find the net…maybe Seto can be that guy. I’d move Malhotra up to the second line with Pavs and Clowe. Malhotra will drive the net, can win faceoffs…this would put two faceoff guys on the line, so when Pavs gets kicked out, we aren’t completely doomed at the dot…and has been pretty solid at both ends of the ice, IMO. Move Heatley down with Couture (who should be on the ice way more, I agree). Put Mitchell with them, or Nichol, or McGinn. Actually, I’d like to see McGinn with them. I think a Heatley-Couture-McGinn line could score, and would give us a solid third line that would be tougher to defend against.
Then, I’d bring Ortmeyer back, and bench Wallin. He was out for so long…I just don’t think he has his legs under him…and now is not the time to be trying to get back into the flow. Let Demers play with Huskins, protect their minutes as best you can…and then put together a 4th line of Mitchell-Nichol-Ortmeyer, and let them run around 6-8 minutes a game or so just hitting people and being pests. Chicago is so deep, the top forwards are just going to get worn out if they don’t get some more rest throughout the game.
That’s my (rather long, sorry about that) 2 cents on the game and looking forward. The Sharks need to win 3 in a row, IMO, if they want to win this series. Tall task with the next two in Chicago. If there’s any hope to be gleamed from this at all…Chicago has not been great at home this postseason. Steal Game 3, and maybe take some momentum into Game 4. Winning 2 in the UC will be tough, though. I"m not holding my breath.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 1:07 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I have to admit, I was really impressed by the way the Blackhawks responded after Marleau’s PP goal. Lots of poise with the crowd boiling over, and they stuck to their game and didn’t waver.
A couple points regarding your line-changing discussion:
- I was really disappointed in Wallin’s play tonight, but I don’t know the best move for Game 3. I worry about the Hawks—especially with the way Queeneville has been so aggressive with matching—really targeting a Huskins-Demers pairing, really overwhelming Demers at times in that environment. The question McLellan has to answer is whether or not Wallin really does have his legs, if he just had a bad game tonight. Because Game 3 is the EXACT reason why Wilson traded for Wallin in the first place, to have his veteran guile on a back-end pairing in a hostile environment.
- I agree with the idea of breaking up the Pavs line at this point. They’re not generating goals, so no harm done, presumably. I could definitely see the staff keeping Mitchell on that line; he’s really played with some great energy and created some chances; I just wish he’d have more success offensively at this point. And who knows what to expect with Couture after he was basically MIA tonight, but he’s got the offensive skill the Sharks need right now, so getting him some meaningful minutes with Heater (or on the wing on the 2nd line) seems imperative, especially since he has been successful amongst the supporting cast in potting a few goals this postseason.
I wanted to see Marleau/Thornton/Seto too, but I think I remember seeing Mclellan put that line out there together at one point (i can’t remember if it was Heatley or Marleau out there) and they never saw the offensive zone. I remember seeing Seto make some not-so-strong plays against the Kane/Toevs/Buff line that made it so our top line never left the defensive zone; the next shift he put Mitchell up there on the top line and it had better results. So i dunno, maybe that has something to do with why Mclellan doesn’t put Seto up on the top line more often.
I definitely agree with benching Wallin too. A month ago i would’ve thought that having Demers play defense against the Blackhawks outside of the PP would be a death sentence, but he’s played really well lately and I wouldn’t feel any less confident with Demers out there than Wallin.
Lines
I totally agree with you on the line recommendations. Mc’s unwillingness to split HTML is what could very well spell disaster for us. Heater cant get anything going on that line, (broken sticks and all) and would look wicked on a line with Couture and McGinn. The 4th line of Mitchell, Nichol and Ort’s is making me giggle just thinking about it!
This series is not over yet, but unless we get some sort of line shake up, the prognosis is not good.
Put Ferreiro in
Agree with the line changes. Maybe put in Ferreiro (or Ortmeyer) in. We need to roll 3 (even 4 lines). The supposed top line of HTML getting 22-23 minutes is wearing them out, unfortunately. Their lack of endurance is noticeable.
Also, Demers will be fine in the UC – or rather, can’t be worse than Wallins in Game 2. Demers did score 2 goals at the UC this year.
by IsThisTheYear? on May 19, 2010 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Did it sound on the broadcast that the fans were booing the Sharks off the ice after the game? Cuz if it did, at least from where I was, it really wasn’t as bad as you make it sound in that bullet point. There were a few people booing. A lot of people were booing annoying Chicago fans. But from where I was (top of 225) I barely heard any boos.
There were boos throughout the entire game, and as I mentioned in the bullet point you cropped, “It’s probably a small conglomerate of people, but regardless, they’re all fools.” I hate how HP Pavilion has become this place where it turns into a damn near road game when the Sharks aren’t playing well. Sometimes this fanbase makes me so pissed off.
As for breaking up the first line, I don’t think either of us have ever been a fan of HTML— I know I haven’t at least. And really, I don’t think it matters if Marleau or Heatley drops down to the third line either. The fact is that McLellan needs to get some of his scorers away from Keith and Seabrook on the road, and that’s that. Both Marleau and Heatley haven’t played up to expectations, and both would fit well on the third line. Marleau is one of the most dynamic players on the team, and Heatley could use some softer competition. There are positives to putting them both down.
Ortmeyer, as we’ve known for two months now, is playing injured. He isn’t coming back. I like rolling seven defenseman on the road, because protecting Huskins and Demers as you alluded to is extremely hard when Chicago has the last change. I wasn’t a fan of the Wallin trade from the beginning, and he had a bad game yesterday, but as Timorous Me mentioned above, he is more defensively responsible than Demers. You can just try and roll them on shifts on the fly, but then you’re shortening your bench even more.
Chicago has had fairly even splits from their top three in these two games, while the Sharks have not (although McLellan leaned on his fourth line a lot more yesterday, which I enjoyed).
Chicago has been inconsistent at home during the playoffs, but they were a good home team throughout the year. The Sharks came into the series playing great at home (which was cited by many here, including myself, as a huge advantage in this series), and proceeded to lose two in a row. Who knows what home ice means anymore. I don’t think going into Chicago with them playing .500 hockey against Vancouver and Nashville in the UC really makes me a whole lot more confident about winning two in a row. If the Sharks are going to do this it’s up to them to finish their chances, because they have been there all series. Road games are tougher than home games.
"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
"It’s probably a small conglomerate of people, but regardless, they’re all fools."
It must have been a small group of people near a microphone, because from where I was sitting, I didn’t hear any boos until the end of the game, and even then, it was scattered and muffled. But I agree, booing the hometeam is a classless move. Especially since we’re in the WCF finally…and playing a team that’s owned us. Just being here should be a treat, and we should be cheering them louder than ever to try to get them to the next step. We’re definately in agreement here. I just wasn’t watching on TV, so I have no idea if it came across as if there was loads of loud booing or not.
Oh, of course there were the Brian Campbell boos…but even those died away by the end of the game.
And yes, we’re in agreement on splitting up HTML. It makes us so much harder to defend, I have no idea why none of the coaches seem to realize this!
Winning 2 in a row on the road is a tall order, indeed. But it’s not completely out of the question. They can do it, they just have to play smarter, and play tougher in front of Niemi to get to those second chances lying around there.
Thanks for the good, thoughtful reply. It’s tough trying to wrap my head around the two different Sharks teams I’ve seen between last round and this round.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
If the Sharks are going to do this it’s up to them to finish their chances, because they have been there all series.
Yep.
Derek over at Copper & Blue has been doing a great analysis on scoring chances and statistically, we’ve had more than the Hawks in both games. I was surprised. I don’t know if his method filters out false positives (like a soft shot from within the scoring area that turns out to be an easy save).
by IsThisTheYear? on May 19, 2010 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Chicago has been inconsistent at home during the playoffs
I’ve actually thought that was somewhat of a coincidence. To me the Hawks are an endurance speed team as opposed to an out of the gate one. They have struggled over long layoffs but have been dominant in second games of back to back. I view the Hawks as 1 & 2 in first games and 6 &1 after that on the road and 3 & 1 after that at home.
To me the other issue with the Hawks has been that first goal. If it is soft there is a total team letdown. In the second game when Nabby gave up that first goal it looked like the Sharks got deflated. When that type of goal happens for the Hawks I think they get deflated even worse. They just lose that adrenaline rush.
Chicago
The Hawks are the opposite type of team these playoffs. During the 2nd half of the regular season, they could dominate a 1st period like no other, only to find a way to fold in the later periods. Perhaps they got bored?
During the playoffs, they’ve been decent in the 1st, good in the 2nd and generally lights out come the 3rd period.
As far as to what type of home advantage Chicago will have in the next few games, I don’t claim to have a clue. If the ice is all sorts of shit (like it was vs. Vancouver), they’ll have problems. If Buff doesn’t perform well at home (which is generally the rule so far), it’s less of an issue against the Sharks then against Lu. I wouldn’t use their home ice success rate as a gauge to what might occur this round. Sharks have to play hard. Hawks need to play harder.
This is going to be one hell of a long week
waiting and waiting for Friday night to finally come. The Sharks definitely need the extra break; this is going to be a real test for the coaching staff to figure out how to solve some of the problems that have plagued the team—especially tonight.
Reformatting the top three lines is really crucial at this stage because of how, as mentioned by Mr. Plank, matching will be even easier for the Blackhawks at home. Of course, if Heater can’t get it going—not to mention getting a timely goal here and there from some other supporting cast members (guys like Malhotra, Mitchell, McGinn—some of whom have been generating good chances)—utilizing three lines in this way won’t matter, but it gives us hope.
And the Sharks need to start controlling things better on several levels. Right now, the Chicago coaching staff, with all the matching and some of the strategy employed, is controlling much of how the games have been played. And on the ice, Chicago has been controlling the puck and the action for too much of the time.
There’s still hope here, certainly, but it’s going to take a serious, multifaceted turnaround for the Sharks to even consider themselves back in this series.
I totally agree on Marleau
He did have 2 goals, and that was a SERIOUSLY sick wrist shot, but most of the time he does not look good at all.
I had sooo much hope after the first goal by Marleau. That play was a beautiful glimpse of the greatness we all know Thornton and Marleau are capable of (although Jumbo has given us more than just that one glimpse, unlike Marleau) and I thought Marleau was finally starting to turn it around; but then he continued to look like he was playing with his eyes closed and his stick up for most of the rest of the game.
That wrist shot was a beauty.
"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
And one the rare ones we’ve had upstairs on Niemi within the scoring area. Imagine that. Hopefully, the Sharks bear down and play a solid road game. Be smart w/ the puck; not dumb/nervous as Boyle alluded to yesterday during his interview after the 2nd period.
by IsThisTheYear? on May 19, 2010 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
When I saw that shot
I thought three things:
1)Marleau looks like a hobo clown with that beard;
2)The ’Hawks might be in trouble here;
3)Why oh why didn’t we get him when the rumor mill said we could? We could’ve had a hat trick of Patricks (see what I did there?)
In all seriousness I, and the other knowledgeable ’Hawks fans out there, are in mortal terror of the Sharks hitting their stride. T
Occam's Razor keeps the cutting clean.
by russellguldin on May 19, 2010 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
As much as I probably should be concerned right now, I'm not.
For some reason, being down 0-2 just doesn’t seem like the end of the world. For some reason, a lot of people were claiming that Game 2 was a “must win” for San Jose. Chicago has been beast on the road. Fantastic. But I think it’ll be much easier for the Sharks to take two in Chicago.
The top line is a little disappointing, but I’m sure McLellan will split them up (at least for some time). Personally, I think Marleau needs to be put with faster players. He’s damn fast, but playing with Heatley and Thornton requires him to slow it down too much.
Also, I’m still anti-Niemi. He’s played two great games, but I just don’t see him sustaining that play. He’s now at home. The pressure undoubtedly swings onto him now. He HAS to play well, because he knows that Chicago fans will not excuse going back to San Jose with the series tied at 2. Well… sucks for them.
I dunno— the pressure is all on San Jose, really. They’ve lost any semblance of home ice advantage until they can win two in the UC. I don’t think Niemi has any more pressure on him at all. He’s put in his work to take all that pressure off of his shoulders.
"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
Demoralizing
is how I see this loss. We dominated play for the first 13 minutes until the Hawks scored, with Niemi again shutting the door repeatedly. Can’t focus on his early brilliance, though, because the Sharks high-powered forwards should be finding ways to put the pucks in that are on the doorstep. I agree, this was one of Nabby’s worst games this postseason, and I hope he gets his head out of his rear soon. Maybe two days off will help.
I say demoralizing because now that I have my Marleau jersey hanging in my cube, I’ll have people talking shit who have not watched a single Hawks game before Sunday. I can take it from coworkers I know have been watching all season, but for some bandwagon jerk to come in and try to rub it in after not acknowledging hockey all season, I’ll have to try really hard not to snap. Oi, Sharks, why do you put us through this crap?
hey at
least your not down 3-0. wouldnt count anyone out this year until the fat lady sings. I know i stayed pretty calm until the very end for the wings. I think the sharks will bounce back..,to good of a team this year not to.
That's true
some of the knowledgeable Hawks fans around here are kinda scared to be going back to the UC. I for one think we can steal a couple games in Chicago, judging by our play there in the past. Excited for Friday, but the two days off will suck.
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions
I dont think
so.. it seems like everytime you guys got a rest vs us you came out strong. I Dont think rest is something that hurts this sharks team… For everyone sake in the central… Win Sharks Win!!
I think the two days off is gonna suck more for Sharks fans than the team. For the next two days were gonna get to hear about how the Sharks are “choking” out of the playoffs yet again. Same thing as after the Red Wings walloped the Sharks 7-1 until game 5 all I heard was about how the Sharks are gonna choke out of the series.
"Hes like a Sweedish Bear" -Randy Hahn 4/8/10
Dont boo your team!
Yea
you’ll get that every year until you lift lord stanley… hell i got it real bad. Personally I didnt mind the early exit this year.. gives us plenty of rest. Dont count the sharks out. This all-star verteran team knows how to handle their buisness. This is where their expierence will come back against a young team. Mark my words.
Oh Im not counting out (see below), Im just saying why I hate the extra days of rest. Im sure if the Sharks win the cup it will still be marked up as a chokejob for not doing it fast enough. Losing playoff games happens to every team and this series isnt over until the Hawks win 4, so until they do I have 100% faith the Sharks can pull this off
"Hes like a Sweedish Bear" -Randy Hahn 4/8/10
Dont boo your team!
I am hearing more that Chicago is the better team. a 1 v 2 matchup in this leage should balance on the tiniest twists of fate…an injury or 4!, a turnover or bad bounce that turns a game or 2.
besides the critics are too busy crappin on Ovechkin, patting themselves on the back for predicting Flyers/Hawks in the final, an seeing just how retarded they can time some of the WCF games so that the fewest fans possible can actually watch.
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
Yeah, I was talking from my point of view
2 days off sucks, mainly because I have 2+ full days to ruminate and stew on being down 2-0 in this series. That’s what sucks, my mind with too much time to think = bad news
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions
It;s worse for you, probably, because of where you live. I’m gonna watch the Lakers tonight, and hope they win. And I’m gonna watch the ECF tomorrow, and just laugh because the East is so terrible. And then this weekend I’ll be in San Diego, so I may or may not even catch the road games! Sigh…I guess I’ll deal with it.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Same thing as after the Red Wings walloped the Sharks 7-1 until game 5 all I heard was about how the Sharks are gonna choke out of the series.
I’ve seen this thrown out multiple times in the comments over the last two weeks by numerous people, but did not get that feeling at all. Does anyone have any links?
"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'm sure Game 5 proved to be a slight catalyst for the detractors
You’ve probably already heard this audio clip:
News Talk 650, 18min+ mark
With Drew defending against the ‘Sharks most likely to choke vs Det.’ comments
"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.
by SwisherThresher on May 19, 2010 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions
That was a big one…and one we all listened to after Swisher (and a few others) linked the audio clip.
I remember reading some things on ESPN and PD talking about, uh oh, is this where the Sharks revert back to their choking ways? If they don’t win game 5, the pressure will be immense…I don’t have any specific links on me, though.
Overall, it wasn’t an overall sense of “the Sharks are GOING TO choke,” and more of a “well, if any team can choke, it would be the Sharks, we’ll see how they respond in game 5.” And we’re a pretty sensitive fanbase to anything in the choking area of sports journalism. A little overly sensitive, perhaps…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions
If I remember correctly, both you and I were ones who were saying that game five was a high pressure game. And it was, for the reasons I wrote in that piece and you reiterated in the comments.
Agreed on us probably being too sensitive to these things. Maybe I’m overcompensating for our sensitivity by giving the media a pass.
"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
Thanks for linking that— I actually didn’t listen to it when it was posted. To me though, that’s only two huge morons spouting off and Drew absolutely handing him their lunch and punching them right in the babymaker. I guess I haven’t really seen much other than that which would indicate “everyone” was writing the Sharks off— from what I read.
Maybe I have my head in the sand when it comes to this, who knows. Thanks again for posting that.
"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
we don't want to jinx our team
so yeah….no way in hell we’re going to be too over confident. Losing two at home is very possible.
Yeah, this crap sucks.
But I honestly can’t see myself being a Chicago/Detroit(no offense bond021.. you’re cool)/Pittsburgh/Anaheim fan.. or a fan of any other team for that matter.
Ordinarily, I’d start to worry about our chances of getting to the Finals at this point. But the guys seem to have the right attitude. Thornton was pissed off on the ice, but that seemed to be the turning point for him in the Detroit series. Marleau scored two goals but his game wasn’t all that great.. a line chance will do him good. Nabokov hit rock bottom (Round1 Game2, Round2 Game 4), and his play seems to hit a high after that until the end of the series.
The Blackhawks are playing well. I’d say that anyone who thinks that the Sharks are “once again choking” are obviously not watching the series. It’s been a good effort by the Sharks, but it’s not been GREAT. I think we still have yet to see the best hockey this team is capable of. I’m sure will get a heavy dose of it during the remaining games of this series. They won’t go down…
Damn I hate being in the East Coast (Atlanta of all places)
Means I’m up posting, and all of you guys in California are sleeping (or working… lucky bastards).
on the flip
the hawks have been playing okay hockey. The one area where they’ve improved is getting #7 and #2 to play extremely good defense.
it’s more difficult to play GREAT hockey when you’re playing the best teams as we’re seeing in this series.
Punch the bandwagoners in the face. It will make you feel better!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I had a photo of someone knocking down Couture on my chair this morning
with the caption: “Sorry Charlie, San Jose ‘Tunas’ get a whoopin’ Chicago style!” Then the dude came by later in the morning to try and get a reaction, but I was able to hold it together and just say good morning. Toughest thing I had to do all day
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions
wow....you're nice
sounds like they’re hazing you…be like look here buddy I thought we were in a professional working environment not a frat house. If you wanted a frat house you can go down the street and find one and haze the hell out of them As for me we’ll see who gets the last word.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
I had all kinds of comebacks like that in my head this morning
because I was expecting some crap from a few Chicago bandwagon people. One guy was actually kinda funny about it, but I think the picture and caption was a little much. I’ve kinda mellowed out, mostly because I expected some of it, but still makes it tough to hold it together
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions
sneak in some alchy in your coffee ;)
hazing edge goes away much better that way.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha, I'd just fall asleep
My boss razzes me for not going to bed before 12:30 on game nights, and the guy in the next cube keeps telling me to go home early and take naps. Any more depressants and I’d be face down on my desk by noon.
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
well then we’ll grab you a few uppers then :P
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha, our first rule at work:
Don’t end up in our own databases (arrest records, prison admissions).
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Harsh. You have a much cooler head than I do…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions
I love talkin' crap as much as the next guy
But that’s just plain classless. I will not pass judgement on an entire fanbase by the actions of one guy, and let’s face it, we’ve talked plenty of crap on this board, but that’s just plain bullying. Pure and simple. Your co-worker is a first class douche bag. If I ever met him in person, I’d say that to his face. Guy has no place in the real world.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
The Chicago bandwagon is a haven for douchebags…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
It bears alarming similarities in that regard
To our anti-bandwagon…
…sigh… I weep for humanity sometimes.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
True, true. Sigh. I’m as tired of our anti-bandwagon as I am of the Chicago bandwagon. Coming back from an 0-2 hole to win the series should cure me of both ailments.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
As a Hawk fan who endured the Mike Smith “yay Russia” days, with 24 people in the 300 level at the UC, I’m just as irritated with the bandwagon as you guys are.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions
The difference between the bandwagon and the true fans is always astonishing. You can tell between the two immediately upon talking to them. I’m sure you real Hawks fans are as tired of the bandwagoners reflecting bad on the fanbase as we are of our anti-bandwagoners talking shit about the Sharks when they lose, and disappearing when they win.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish some of these people would disappear when the Hawks win.
Rolling through Facebook these days drives me nuts. Where were you mooks 3 years ago? I remember after we drafted Toews, I was telling anyone who would listen the Hawks were about to turn it around. All I got were blank stares and a bunch of “shut up, the Cubs are 2 games below .500”.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions
No matter how well the Sharks do.
I remember after we drafted Toews, I was telling anyone who would listen the Hawks were about to turn it around. All I got were blank stares and a bunch of "shut up, the Cubs are 2 games below .500".
The local sports talk always seems to devolve on how the Giants this, Giants that, so I feel you there. Granted, the big sports radio station is basically on the Giants payroll so…
I used to go to games with college friends
and we’d have a whole section in 300 to ourselves. Back then, I wouldn’t get shit from Hawks fans while wearing my Marleau jersey because they weren’t assholes and respected the teams and the game. Now, I get shit from some dude wearing a brand new Kane or Toews jersey because those are the only two guys they know on the team. Like I said earlier, I can take shit from people who know the teams and the game, but it bugs me to no end when assholes with no ties to either come out and talk shit.
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I saw plenty of brand new jerseys at the Tank last night. Towes, Kane, and no one else (literally).
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
i have my...
hjammer alt. jersey. and i havn’t seen nebody else with one, i have him and a soupy one
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I love my Campbell jersey.
I have a Toews one too, but I got it right after he got drafted (and I had him sign it up at school)
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
hjalmersson is a good d-man. Well played on that one.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
i love everything about him....
nothing crazy flashy about his game, he just does everything really good,
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Reminds me of a bigger Vlasic
you know he’s doing well when he’s quiet and unnoticed, but can make the occasional big hit/play
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions
exactly
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s completely underrated. He’s a good shot blocker. He’s solid defensively. And he can chip in some hits. If yall don’t want to resign him, I’m sure he’d look good in Teal! :-P
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
We knew this coming into the series, and he’s proved it in these first two games. Great player.
"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
We knew this. You guys posted in the preview about him being really good. And I remember him standing out in other series about him being good. No one in the national media really talked about him, though…which is where the underrated label comes in.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions
definitely underrated.
and yeah, he’s the kind of swede we could use on our D
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions
hjalmersson
looked very good last night
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
To be fair, I wouldn’t want a Hossa jersey if I was a Chicago fan…what a waste of 7.9 million in cap space…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
That's BS...
Hossa hasn’t been putting the puck in the net but he’s one of the best fore and backcheckers on the team, and it is a team game. The guy is not afraid to take a hit or dish one out and that pass that ended up in the net last night was a killer for the Sharks.
But is he worth 7.9 million in cap space for the next decade?
No one is disputing that Hossa is a good player. But he’s also one of the main reasons Chicago is in salary cap hell this coming offseason.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions
To answer your question
Yes
Get off my Land!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 19, 2010 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow, ok. If you guys are happy with Hossa at 7.9, far be it for me to complain about it, lol.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Hossa's cap hit...
… is 5.23 M/year. It’s not what they make it’s their average cap number that matters…
I was certain it was less than 7.9
But really ha no motivation to check. Just a lazt tired day here on the East Coast (stayed up watching the whole game until nearly 1:00am, work at 6:00am)
Get off my Land!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 19, 2010 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Shit, you’re right. I got my numbers mixed up. 5.23 is much more reasonable for him.
I still think Hossa is overrated, but that’s just my opinion. 7.9 was way way too much for him…5.23 isn’t nearly as cap crippling.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
still think Hossa is overrated
Problem with the Hawks is that there are two LWs that need to be on Toews’ line. Thing is neither plays well as a LW.
Long term I think Hossa will play with Toews and somebody else will eventually play with Kane. When that happens I think Hossa will produce better…
I love having Hossa
the guy is a f*cking monster (he even comes with his own caddy, #82). But $7.9 mil is a bit much IMO. I’d much rather have the cap to sign Sharp + Hjammer for about that same figure, and carry the depth into future seasons.
I don't think his cap hit is 7.9.
His cap hit is 5 something but he is actually making 7.9 until the numbers start to go down.
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 May 19, 2010 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I think Hossa has looked really good in this series despite his low counting numbers, and is very underrated defensively. $5.2 probably looks worse considering Chicago’s cap situation, but it’s a pretty damn good contract for a guy with his talent.
He’s seventeenth in points/game since the lockout for guys with at least 150 GP, and 29th during the postseason with at least 20 GP. Those are good numbers, and in line with his monetary compensation.
"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 remember the old
“Show your college ID and get an $8 ticket” days. I used to show my gym membership after I left college, and they were so happy just to have me there they didn’t give a shit.
Now? I had to buy season tickets just to make sure I could still go.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
i was still in Jr. high and HS then...
but i do remember that, they would come to our school and just offer up tickets
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Yup, $8 for a whole section
I actually won a laptop at a game because no one was there to sign up for the promotion
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Two years before Toews and Kane showed up
I was at a preseason game, and Tyler Arnason and Mark Bell (who you guys know pretty well) were sitting up in the 300 level just relaxing. They were stunned when I sat in front of them and actually knew who they were.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha, Mark Bell. What a bust.
I’m always on the lookout for Hawks wandering around, but I doubt many of them live in the city, let alone anywhere I’d hang out.
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
a lot of them...
and the the sox when they are in town go to Houndstooth, on sunday nites, i’ve seen burish, bolland, steeger often there, and about half of the white sox show up often when they are in town
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd punch Mark Tehan/Kotsay in the junk.
This whole season is his/her fault.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Aww, I liked Kotsay when he was out here playing for the A’s. The A’s, as it so happens, used up his last good years, and then sent him elsewhere. Now the Sox have his remains. He’s still a classy guy (with a smokin hot wife).
Actually, I really liked Teahen as a prospect when he was with the Oakland organization, too.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I did too.
But not for the money that Kenny Williams is stupidly paying them.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Billy Beane likes trading with Kenny Williams. Then again, Williams has put together a WS winning team, and Beane has not…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions
My favorite quote from 'Moneyball'
“My shit doesn’t work in the playoffs. My job is to get us to the playoffs. What happens after that is the fucking luck.” -BB
"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.
by SwisherThresher on May 19, 2010 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I'll always love Belly
If only for the reason that it was his trade that brought Jesus Christ Havlat to Chicago…stupid Ottawa.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Ugh…you have some thick skin my friend. Fortunately I don’t have any coworkers that are ’Hawks fans and they know better than to screw w/me when it comes to our team.
The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda
by 408SharksFinatic on May 19, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm getting bandwagon crap from a family member
It’s so ridiculous. I’m not even responding to his emails anymore. Nothing I say matters, Sharks are always chokers as far as he is concerned. Whatevs. When we win game 3, I’ll feel better.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Beat him up! It relieves stress!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Also might lead to jail time. Besides, he lives far enough away that it’s sooooo not worth the drive to his fancy gated community.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Ooooooo, the fancy gated community. Also, would anyone convict you of assault? You’re tiny! Just hide the baseball bat and use the “look at me, do I look like the kind of person who can dish out this kind of punishment?” defense. Golden!
The driving and spending of money on gas is the bigger issue. I guess that’s a fair point! :-P
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
tiny but I do know karate. /ROUNDHOUSETOYOURHEAD
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
/ouch
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Which head?
You are short after all…
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I'm not THAT short
In fact I am average height for a woman of European decent. So suck it. I AM PERFECTLY AVERAGE, YO!
But just for that, I’ll be sure to kick you in both.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Your next charity shirt
Your old avatar with you sticking out your tongue.
Caption:
I AM PERFECTLY AVERAGE, YO!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
but if it's anything like the current charity shirt
it will suffer less than average sales.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Well
Average is relative. How many other things have you put up there, and how well have they sold?
Also, I note that there are other designs I’d be more likely to buy … just sayin’.
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
well
I have made multiple sales of the mugs. I have made 1 sale on the shirt and that was to myself. I have a lot fo folks say they’d buy it if it came in color x, but I can only sell what Zazzle offers, which is not teal or, oddly enough, flyer’s orange.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
maybe 2 shirts
I have to go double check. But seriously it’s made all of like $5 for the food bank. Depressing.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Heh
Well, I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can say this much: I’d buy Wizard Shark on Black.
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
Well I might have to add him then
I need to add some more stuff and rearrange things. But other priorities keep getting in the way.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
(BUY a shirt now!)
Reason number fifteen why Couch Tarts doesn’t have a message board commenting system.
Sorry, had to do it ;)
"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
Sure sure. But the real question is
Did you buy a shirt?
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
:D
When I can Abide in teal, I’ll probably buy a shirt.
'Like' my band. I mean, it'd be awesome if you did that.
you'll have to talk to zazzle
I don’t order the shirts they use, I just provide the designs.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Even the shark blimp died last night
Frustrating. They were really taking it to them in the first. Tons of energy in the building and on the ice. Niemi was stoning them again though, and when they scored, ALL the energy went out of the place. There was an audible ‘oh oh, here we go again’.
After that it just got bad. Even the damn helium filled shark blimp broke – went straight to the ceiling and they a had to rescue it. It was symbolic.
Friday night...
…is a game the Sharks can/will win, if…
1) The Hawks follow their pattern and start showing complacency after 3 good games (it’s held the entire postseason, and Friday’s the due date). Also, count on at least one meatball fan showing up Friday with a broom. You’ll know if I’m at the game if said meatball is using the broom for a tail.
2) The Sharks regain their composure. Bolland’s pest thing is pretty new – he was straight-out brutal in the Nashville series, then was Thing 2’s worst nightmare vs. the Canucks. Let the yapping go, and just play hockey.
3) Clog the crease. Keith and Seabrook, good as they are, haven’t had to move anyone away from Niemi. See how Byfuglien and Brouwer are keeping their asses in Nabokov’s face? They need to do that.
4) Nabokov has to stop letting in airmail goals. No team should be able to count on getting one 30+ footer in a game, and the Hawks have 3 in 2 games.
All told, I still think this series is going 6-7 games.
HOCKEENIGHT.COM...home of FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS and the HOCKEENIGHT PUCKCAST!!!
Clog the crease. Keith and Seabrook, good as they are, haven’t had to move anyone away from Niemi. See how Byfuglien and Brouwer are keeping their asses in Nabokov’s face? They need to do that.
We’ve been telling the Sharks to do that all season, and it has yet to sink in. They just seem to flat out refuse to keep a man/traffic in front of any goaltender. I don’t know if they’re afraid of being hit with the puck (Marleau certainly looks jumpy when in front of the net). I don’t expect things to miraculously change on that front by Friday.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
It’s not going to change. Like you said, this has been a complaint all season (multiple seasons, really). When things are going well we ignore this talking point, and when things are going poorly we focus on it.
"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
It's times like these I miss Reech
"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.
by SwisherThresher on May 19, 2010 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
I would give up a Sammi Salo to have Ricci back in teal.
"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
DUDE
Stop giving away our secrets!
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah, which side is he on?
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on May 19, 2010 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions
A LOT harder....
against a better team than detroit.
the whaaaambulance is on its way.
"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 May 19, 2010 7:44 AM PDT up reply actions
NIEMI
Up against the hottest goalie in the playoffs…good luck with that. It has been a pretty entertaining series though with the refs not determining the outcome of a game (so far)
Talented bunch of SHARKS .but its looking like Chicagos year .Hope this series goes 6 or 7 but if game 3 goes to CHICAGO the broom might come out
Wow, just wow. A week and a half later and you’re still complaining about the calls? Go (back to your foreclosed) home, dude.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
ZAP!
Your city is the taint of America!
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Actually, that’s Fresno. Or Bakersfield. Take your pick.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
I thought it was San Bernadino.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Those are the armpits and taints of California. But anywhere in CA is still better than some places in America.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
hey -- back off of Bakersfield and Fresno!
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Bakersfield’s not that bad, but Fresno. C’mon, man!!!
No, wait, Stockton.
Stockton’s pretty bad.
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Second-most miserable city in the US
According to a Forbes study, details here
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
oh shit
I forgot
my apologies (in advance), Swisher!
was just kidding
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
and I was born in L.A.
hell-hole for sure, so I shouldn’t be one to diss, LOL!
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
On the whining about the officiating...
True that.
But meet me at 56th and Cottage Grove and explain to me how fantastic your city is, Chicago boy. You bring the flak jackets.
by quasi-dynasty on May 19, 2010 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Hahaha. Well put.
Just like %90 of the Detroit fanbase, I don’t actually live in the city I root for. I’m a suburb guy, and have no plans on investing in Kevlar to prove otherwise. I get the “your city is the pits” crap from other Chicago fans because I’m a Sox fan and they play on the South Side.
Doesn’t mean it isn’t funny (or true).
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions
I've lived here (in the City)
for going on 7 years, never had any problems. I see gang bangers around once in a while, but never have I heard gunfire, etc. That crap is restricted to certain pockets of the city (Lawndale, Austin, Garfield Park, Humbolt Park, etc.), but the rest of the city (even the South Side) is sweet.
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions
The area around Comiskey is slowly getting better.
Guess they must be pushing all the poor people to Gary (or in the lake).
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Guess they must be pushing all the poor people to Gary (or in the lake).
We don’t like to talk about that. We blew up public housing and pushed them all into Cicero.
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Exactly.
You get it. Talk all the shit you want about the Wings, how could you not? (although the “Detroit Sucks” chants at the UC are a bit neurotic when the Wings aren’t there…) The Detroit-city bullshit I hear from Hawk fans (I live in Chicago near Wrigley now) pisses me off though, because 1) as you say, the city residents aren’t exactly the hockey demographic, 2) Chicago has similar issues, it’s just that half of it is rotting instead of the whole thing, and 3) the players and lots of the fans live in Oakland county, which is actually really rich.
Peace.
(until next year)
by quasi-dynasty on May 19, 2010 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
It's just fun and funny to treat Detroit like it's some kind of American version of Baghdad.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
How could it not be considered that
when you hear stories of Taco Bells with bullet proof drive thru windows
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
The things people will do
For chalupas.
I'm not superstitious. I'm just a little stitious.
by AirTrafficAJ on May 19, 2010 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Better make fun of St Louis then.
They’re worse. It’s just that they have a crap hockey team.
The South Side is about the same as Detroit.
And yeah, the Mexican food is pretty much crap in Detroit compared to Chicago.
by quasi-dynasty on May 19, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
but STL...
has Jack and the Box so they get a pass
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I like Detroit
it has a lot of problems, but it’s an interesting place to photograph. It’s also one of the few cities in the world where farm space is increasing, not decreasing due to development pressures.
Go back to your tin foil hat...
Your team lost. Go play some golf.
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 19, 2010 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought Halak was the hottest goalie in the playoffs
until Michael Leighton happened.
Thanks for the support, but um. The refs aren’t deciding anything beyond penalties here. We had no power plays in game 1 and even we don’t think it’s a conspiracy. Sorry, but you’re kind of on your own here.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on May 19, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Halak's weird
he’s either a ginormous brick wall, or horrible. I mean, they’ve had to pull him 2 or 3 times these playoffs for letting in like 4 goals in 11 or 12 shots, and then on every other night, he’s like ridiculously amazing.
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions
he's only hot
when they’re about to be eliminated.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on May 19, 2010 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions
he's going for a comeback even more epic than Philly's
and get the Montreal Canadiens to the Cup Finals after being down 4-0!
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on May 19, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Niemi's been hot *this week* but
we’ll break him.
he’s not ‘consistently’ awesome.
Leighton’s the hottest goalie at the moment, hands down.
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Nabokov has to be better
To win in the playoffs your goalie has to:
(a) stop all the shots he’s supposed to stop
(b) stop one or two chances per period that he SHOULDN’T be expected to stop
That’s playoff goal-tending.
Forget excuses about ‘quick releases’ or ‘tips’ or ‘screens’. Nabby hasn’t even achieved (a) in either game so far, and certainly not (b)
The rest of the team has played hard. Yes, there were other disappointments – I was really surprised at the number of soft/bad plays Vlasik made last night. Blake got caught doing to Byfuglien exactly what we avoided in Detroit – creating the double screen. But unless Nabby turns this around, it’s over, and we’ll go through the whole ‘team choke’ thing again (warranted or not).
Agreed on Marleau
Halfway through the 3rd, I tought to myself “he is playing awful except for his one goal.” Then the post game crew said he was the second best player in the game behind Thornton. Odd, as he wasn’t protecting the puck on the boards, he was very weak on poke checks, didn’t come back for the puck after losing it (relying on his teammates to pick him up), and except for that beauty feed by Thornton didn’t cleanly recieve pucks all night. I thought that Game 5 goal in Detroit would jumpt start him, but he has been bad except for a few spurts.
Thornton, however, was very very good. Second City Hockey keeps pointing to his +/-, but he is getting hung out to dry by his wingers. Bolland has been doing his job pissing off Thornton, but that doesn’t change the fact that the scoring chances when Thornton is out there against Bolland is something like 5-1 in favor of the Sharks.
Thornton has gotten literally zero help from his linemates. Thornton is a tablesetter…so his stats will always be shit if the people put with him aren’t finishing. +/- is a flawed statistic anyways.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
i'll agree here
I was saying on SCH that, aside from letting Bolland get under his skin yesterday, i can’t say anything bad about Thornton’s play. And without Thornton, Marleau wouldn’t have put up points yesterday (especially the set up for that gorgeous first Sharks goal). I think everyone’s just expecting him to do MORE b/c Marleau, Pavelski, and especially Heatley are not performing to expectation. And I DO feel bad for him for that.
by puppetmasterp on May 19, 2010 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, it gets really irritating when people come in from the national media, having never watched a Sharks game. But they know the name Joe Thornton, and figure, because he’s our best player (arguably), that he should be carrying this team. But he’s not a goal scorer, he’s no OV or Crosby in the being able to create your own offense thing. We all wish he was, but he’s a passer, and if his finishers aren’t finishing, well, this happens…
Heatley has been a huge disappointment this postseason. I think his injury must be bothering him a lot, because he’s proved before (with Ottawa) that he can be an elite postseason scorer.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Watch how he moves. He’s clearly skating injured. Same reason Campbell is avoiding checks. Heatley avoided them last round too and was not anywhere near as agressive as he had been prior to his injury.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Thornton, however, was very very good. Second City Hockey keeps pointing to his +/-, but he is getting hung out to dry by his wingers. Bolland has been doing his job pissing off Thornton, but that doesn’t change the fact that the scoring chances when Thornton is out there against Bolland is something like 5-1 in favor of the Sharks.
You have to feel for Jumbo. He’s literally in another zone this postseason for the first time in a long time, and has been setting the table all series long.
"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
Well, jezus, where’s Cheechoo when you need him!?!
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
Well the one we need is
stuck in 2006. All we need is a DeLorean DMC-12, some plutonium, and something that’ll generate 1.21 gigawatts into the flux capacitor.
We probably have more chance of getting 2006 Cheechoo back than finding a Mr. Fusion at this time of night.
Sigh.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
About the booing
I was gonna do a fan post on this, but no time so a comment will have to do…
My view on booing is similar to my view on weed. I don’t partake in it, but rarely do I beseech those who do. The argument that we shouldn’t boo because the team is in the WCF, to me at least, rings hollow. Isn’t this the absolute minimum we expected this team to reach this year? They shouldn’t get a pass because they reached this point. If they lose this round, I would believe they fell short of expectations (again), like most around here would think. Most of us said, they must reach the Stanley Cup finals for this team to be kept together. Anything less us unacceptable.
Now, there is a very good team on the other side of the ice. From what I’ve seen, most of the team is putting in 100%. But fans are paying $100-$400+ to see these people play hockey. That seems justification for me for the fans to reserve the right to not only cheer when things are going great, but to boo when the team is not performing aspects of their game within their control. Entries into the zone failing because of lack of movement, the goalie whiffing on wrist shots from the blue line, forwards failing to elevate their shots time and time again against a goalie whose book is clearly known, high turnovers… shit, I get yelled at at work when I screw up a clients case, the Sharks should get yelled at when they aren’t doing their job.
Agreed.
I don’t do it myself, but there were definitely some boos at the end of the game. Not a lot, but some. At $112 a ticket (minimum) the fans have that right.
At $151 a ticket
I expect a better effort. I mean it just didn’t look like the were in the game at all.
by Gotthelife4u on May 20, 2010 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions
At least the nettled game 2 crowd made a stamp. Prefer that over the shivery “it is written” silence of the game 1 crowd.
by ToddMclellan'shair on May 19, 2010 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions
You havn't seen Chicago Fans have you?
Not specific to one team, but if ANY of team is not showing heart, it is going to get ugly! If they are losing but show the desire and want to win, it is okay, but if they give up, well not so much.
Get off my Land!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 19, 2010 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
People can boo all they want— like you said they paid their money to go to the games. Doesn’t change the fact that I think it’s stupid, and makes them look like entitled idiots.
It’s a good point, but my mind is pretty firmly set on this, especially because San Jose made it to the Western Conference Finals.
"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, I agree
To boo at this point???? They are a final four team, no matter how it ends this season has been nothing to boo about for the Sharks. I have not seen the Sharks give up once. They have always put the effort in, even with 10 seconds left, what more can you ask for?
Get off my Land!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 19, 2010 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
BTW
I’m talking fans in general, not specifically SJS
Get off my Land!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 19, 2010 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Too many Sharks off their games
After game 1, my co-worker was talking about how Clowe let someone get in his head in the first period and it took him out of the rest of the game. Last night it was clear that Jumbo had something going on with Bolland, and again Clowe looked preoccupied. It’s hard to make the good plays if you spend your time looking at the other team’s numbers. Hopefully TM will remind them that the best way to hurt them is on the scoreboard.
Sharks D becoming a liability
I think it’s clear at this point that SJ’s defense is finally being exposed for what it is by a slightly superior Chicago team who is playing a better complete game of hockey.
As hard as it will be to part with Nabakov, it’s clear to me that he will not be able to bring a championship to SJ, so it’s time to take that $$ and try to get a top notch D-man.
Marleau is really a judgement call. It would great to keep him, but I have a feeling someone will offer him a rich contract for more years than SJ can afford. Plus, it’s time to bring up more guys from the minors and develop them to be our future.
This team is old and slower than Chicago, so I’d like to see them get younger, faster and more skilled on defense. That way, if you let Nabakov walk, your younger goalie, like a Niemi won’t be left to fail in net.
Congrats to Chicago for getting it done in SJ. No reason to drop the hammer on the Sharks, they’re just losing to a slightly better team right now. I do hope game 3 has a different outcome to make it more interesting?
My view as well
Really hard (and inappropriate?) to discuss next year’s team now but I agree.
Let Nabby and Patty walk (unless Patty’s willing to sign for a $3.5-4m cap hit).
As for top 4 D, I’m not sure who to go for via FA or trade. Ideally, it’s a real #2 – good size (and knows/willing to use it), good shot on the PP (Boyle can handle the QB-ing), solid in the d-zone, especially on the PK. On the trade route, Brent Burns seems to be a decent target. Possibly Coburn as well. If Hjamarsson (sp?) is willing to take an offer sheet, he’d be interesting as well – double whammy, since the Hawks would lose a top 4 dman.
by IsThisTheYear? on May 19, 2010 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions
DAN BOYLE IS MY HERO (and our future captain?)
"The good news is that everybody thinks we’re done," defenseman Dan Boyle(notes) said. "We’re going to go to Chicago and try to disappoint everybody. I’m not quitting and no one else in this room is going to quit. You can throw the stats out the window. I don’t care. The task is going to be absolutely very difficult. It can be done and it will be done."
Link.
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
by Mr. K. on May 19, 2010 8:39 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs
whoa
You can throw the stats out the window. I don’t care. The task is going to be absolutely very difficult. It can be done and it will be done.
love the entire thing. and that last sentence reminds me of the part in the movie, Pearl Harbor, when FDR stands up in front of his cabinet and says, “Do not tell me, ‘it can’t be done’”
MeThinksSports hasn't been updated since 2009...i think...
by serrapadre716 on May 19, 2010 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Just check out the teams playing on East side of the bracket
Montreal-Down 2 games to none and 1-0 in the third period to Pittsburgh: Won in 7
Philly-Down 3 games to none…won in 7
Habs were never down 2 games to none
they were down 1-0…2-1 and 3-2…never 2-0 though
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
by TuLoRocks2008 on May 19, 2010 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
They were down 1-3 to both the Caps and then the Penguins before they came back and won each in Game 7.
Fear the Fin - all Evgeni, all the time.
They were down 3-1 to the Caps…they were never down 3-1 to the Pens. They were never down by more than 1 game to the Pens…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Reality
Philly turned it around when Simon Gagne one of their best players cam back after 3-0, and scored two game winning goals in the comeback.
Boston lost one of their best players, David Keshje, in game three.
We don’t have one of our best players coming back from injury to spark our comeback.
Pittsburgh isn’t the well rounded team that the Hawks are. They play zero defense and their goalie went south. Do you honestly expect that from the Hawks with their excellent defense?
The Sharks have a bigger hill to climb than either one of those series, even Philly down 3-0. Getting Gagne back was incredibly huge for Philly.
yep he basically told everyone to eff the eff off last night on national TV
it was wonderful. I love you Boyle! Now go win this!
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
WAS IT OVER WHEN THE GERMANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOUR?
HELL NO!
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 19, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Future captain indeed. I love Boyle.
Keeping it real. Keeping it fresh. Keeping it real fresh.
by check.check. on May 19, 2010 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Captain in my eyes
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN?
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 19, 2010 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Damn...
You go, Boyle…
Hopefully everyone in the locker room takes that to heart, and plays like they have a fucking chip on their shoulder again. You saw the chip in the Detroit series. And they were fantastic. The 8 days off seemed to have healed the chip…maybe now they can get it back and start playing competant hockey again.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Love The Boyler
This guy has captain written all over him and when Blake retires after this year, Boyle will be our capitan. We are in good hands with Boyle as our team leader.
DW needs to get him some more help on the blueline.
Sometehing Brian Campbell never will be...
by U Guys R Good on May 19, 2010 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Campbell has been excellent in this series, and has played just as well as Boyle if not better. Granted they’re in two different roles (Boyle as a number one, Campbell as a three) and playing with different partners (Hjalmarsson > Murray), but he’s been great.
"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 haven't been on here in a while,
so my apologies if this has been previously mentioned, but, does anyone else think Wallin should get less (read 0) ice time and Demers should get more. I can specifically remember a few times in these first two games where Wallin turned the puck over in the defensive zone.
WALLIN WAS TERRIBLE
It’s rare you can single out a single player in a loss like that… but… Wallin was atrocious. He turned the puck over relentlessly (almost if on purpose) in his own zone. The play where Hossa took it away from him was so, so soft, it was like a high school player. On the Ladd shot, he screened Nabokov (who was bad too), and could’ve gotten his stick in front of it (see ME Vlasic). He also took the penalty that led to the PP goal. I believe he also turned it over along the boards on the Buff goal too.
He was noticeably terrible. He needs to find the bench… otherwise this series is over quick.
Surprisingly, I thought Vlasik had one of his worst games. A lot of soft/bad passes and dumps. Got beat a couple of times. Uncharacteristic.
by psantangeli on May 19, 2010 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
I dunno
I must’ve missed those cuz i thought Vlasic played great, he made a lot of great defensive plays. I remember saying to myself last night, “if only we just had 5 Vlasic’s we’d be good…”.
I thought Pickles was good on the D end, challenged shooters, made smart plays to keep play to the outside. I thought he, just like the rest of the team, had big issues as a puck carrier and trying to start the breakout, or carry the puck up ice. He was turning the puck over in that situation just as badly as everyone else was…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions
Great write-up, but I think you’re forgetting one thing. By now, most teams have figured out the Sharks need to come out and pound the opposition for the first 10 minutes. Somehow Chicago has managed to weather that storm and fight back after the Sharks start to fall back to average. Both games have started the same way – San Jose dominates for the first half of the first period and (I think) gets demoralized when the other team actually scores. There’s no doubt that last night’s game could have easily been 2-0 Sharks after the first but it wasn’t. Sunday’s game could have been 3-0 Sharks after one period, but it wasn’t.
Is Chicago the better team? I don’t think that call can be made in either way. The Blackhawks are playing better as a team right now.
Are the Sharks done? No. We lost game one because it was stolen by Niemi. We turned in a stinker for game two. It sucks to do that to open a series, but we can overcome.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
Sat not far from Doug Wilson’s box at the game last night and keep looking at his reactions as the game progressed.
The goal that Walin allowed when he lost the puck behind Nabokov may have cost him a contract in San Jose next summer. Most of the time DW had a quiet reaction to goals. On that goal he looked very pissed and kept talking to people next to him in the box. Wonder what was discussed, but that was a big upset for him.
Also, if Nabby doesn’t find his game quickly, I wonder if we’ve seen his last game at the HP in teal.
Seeing how important goalies are in these playoffs, and how they can easily be rookies, it makes me wonder if it’s time to go a different direct and invest Nabby’s cap space into another shut down d-man.
Fear the Fin - all Evgeni, all the time.
It would be sad to see Nabby go after all the time hes been here but at the same time it would be nice to see what else we have in some of our younger talent. I’m not sold on Griess being the starter for this team and I don’t think a good year in the AHL means we should bring in Stalock and hand him the keys to the car. But at the same time with Nabby wearing Teal unless something changes we won’t get to see what we have in the younger guys on the team who could have to replace Nabby as soon as this spring. I don’t think Nabby can stay at the same price and to me bringing him back could be a simple case of “The Devil You Know”….
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
I keep hearing everyone talking about Greiss not being the answer. And, really, we have no idea if he’s the answer or not! In the limited time we’ve seen him play, I think he’s been pretty darned good! And this year was kind of a waste for him, being as he got like no playing time. If he gets some solid PT as a starter (not Nabby starts, but like 50 or so), I think he could really shine. He’s got amazing reflexes…and if he reins in his overaggressiveness, he could be really tough to beat!
If we went into next season with Greiss as the starter, and a journeyman as a backup to take like 25-30 starts next season, I’d be comfortable with that.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
Its not that I don’t think he could be the answer, its that I can’t confidently say that he is based on how little we get to see of him. I thought in what I did see of Griess he has played well and I have nothing against the guy and I would not be upset to see him get the opportunity but there is still an element of the unknown with him since hes seen such limited action which makes me a bit aprehensive.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
As there will be with all new, young goalies. You never really know what you have until you throw them into the fire and test them.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
True enough
I’m glad that I don’t have to make that call though :)
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
I can confidently say...
That I lack confidence in Nabby in big games. ;-)
Seriously, I’d hate to lose Nabby as much as many fans but I’d rather spend $2m on a starting goalie and invest in a top 4 d or our fwds.
I’d say improve the D and give Greiss a chance – sign Ellis or Biron as a backup.
by IsThisTheYear? on May 19, 2010 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Dan Ellis would be awesome. He’ll probably be looking for a starting gig, though.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
I know we had this discussion before
But Ellis with 40-45 starts, and Greiss with 35-40 starts. Best Platoon since Easy Company (or Richter/Van Biesbrook).
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I agree
That would not bother me going into next season.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
I could live with that.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions
Give him the chance to be a starter.
I’d bet a chance to be a starter on a potential cup contender is > “guaranteed” starting spot on a worse team.
by IsThisTheYear? on May 19, 2010 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Where were all these "lack of confidence in Nabby haters"
during the Detroit series?
by U Guys R Good on May 19, 2010 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Hiding in our caves biding our time until game 4 and then quickly retreating back to our caves. :-p
In all seriousness I just don’t know if bringing Nabby back at 5 Million + and having him play 65+ games is in the best interest of the franchise going forward especially with so much depth in net but if Nabby was to get resigned I’m not going to lunge for the nearest window either although I don’t advocate for that.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
Check Out The High Paid Goalies
Nabby, Luongo, Brodeur, all of the highest paid goalies this year have been getting outplayed by young goalies making less than one million a year.
Let Nabby go, unless he wants to play for 1 million. That is all he is worth. Michael Leighton against Anti Niemi in the finals.
Very interesting
Uh, they don’t play for “only” $1M for long when they play like this. And I’m fairly certain there are goalies in the NHL making less than $1M that are hardly worth that.
Your argument is completely flawed.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
operative word...
was “young”. He’s got a small point.
The argument is only flawed if you realize how good the defenses that sit in front of these young, cheap goalies are (and how proficient the Hawks offense is)
The difference between a .900 SV goalie and a .920 SV goalie is almost an order of magnitude in pay, even though it equates to only a few goals per month. I don’t dislike his argument, only that he makes it sound like we can just run out and pick up Michael Leighton or Tukka Rask or any of the other young guys out there without anyone else thinking of the same thing.
We’ve got a plethora of talent in the goalie pipeline, but the psyche of some of them is fragile. They need time to season and gain confidence.
I’d rather have Nabby here making $4M and playing consistent hockey than find four young guys making $1M each, hoping one of them turns into a brick wall.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
I think it is. I keep hearing wonderful things about our Worcester goaltenders Stalock and Sexsmith. I heard Nabby has his house on the market. Sounds like he already knows what’s in store for him. Greiss has already proven to give up 2-3 goals if in net, and because of that he’s unworthy of being a starting goaltender. Yes, maybe he hasn’t been played enough to really say for sure, but the time he has played doesn’t look to have stirred up any confidence in McLellan. As much as I hate to admit, I just don’t feel Nabby has what it takes to get us a Cup. He’s mediocre at best and it seems in these high pressure situations where we need him most (or for Team Russia), his focus just drops through the floor.
On the other hand, I do agree with Mr.Plank that he’s not entirely to blame and the giveaway numbers really tell the story. Haven’t we led the league in giveaways throughout the entire postseason? Wallin looked pretty pathetic, and why on earth did Cooch get such little ice time? He’s been great for us. We need another young’n out there that brings the same energy to match the ‘Hawks" youth. My other gripe is “Heater” has gone cold. He’s just not living up to the hype. Is he still injured or is his rifle barrel jammed? I think we can all agree Jumbo looked good out there last night. Even the analysts mentioned that in the post game. Boyler is the man….I gotta say I just love his attitude. We’ve got to be better, we will be better, we will win our next game. Positive words from the guy I felt took last year’s postseason exit the hardest.
The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda
by 408SharksFinatic on May 19, 2010 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I love Nabby, but I think his career statistics vs. backups speak for themself. He’s probably gone after this year.
That being said, he’s had a great season thus far. If San Jose is going to win this series, Nabokov will have to regain the magic he lost last night and come out firing. I think he knows what is at stake, and wouldn’t be surpised to see him bounce back and maybe steal a game in the UC.
"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
Yo
I think Chicago Shark made reference to it earlier but the Sharks are completely capable of stealing Game 3 if not also Game 4 from the Hawks at home. Thus far the in playoffs the Hawks are 3-3 at home and looked terrible in the Vancouver series at the UC. I don’t know what it is, or why they’re 7-1 on the road and only 3-3 at home, but the Sharks should not get their heads down yet. That said, Niemi has been playing out of his mind. 2 full off days is going to be weird.
For me, Niemi’s play has been the deciding factor so far. I realize the Sharks got frustrated and played poorly at times last night, but still, one of those close shots goes in the net and we may have a different ball game. That kid is hot right now. It’d be fun to watch if it wasn’t against my team!
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
one of the reasons
is the Hawks tendency to “get too cute” comes out much more at home. I don’t know if that’s b/c they feel more comfortable in the UC, or if they want to put a show on for the home crowd. But on the road, they tend to keep it simple and so have better results. Toews said as much after yesterday’s game i think, that they need to go home with an eye to keeping it simple and focusing on just winning the game.
We’ll see Friday on how that pans out.
by puppetmasterp on May 19, 2010 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Listening to Tazer last night,
HE wants to keep it simple. What Captain Marvel wants, Captain Serious usually gets. I expect Johnny will be leading that charge as well.
Get off my Land!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 19, 2010 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Listening to Tazer last night, HE wants to keep it simple. What Captain Marvel wants, Captain Serious usually gets. I expect Johnny will be leading that charge as well.
Just so we’re clear, all of these names are referring to Toews right?
Yes, just wanted to add variety for fun
He is a man of many names, but simply “Captain” suits him best.
Get off my Land!
ART.I§8-11; AM I-XXVII
James Madison is my Hero!
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 19, 2010 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
By the way Plank – I did not hear any booing where I was sitting (221). The only booing was when Blackhawk fans would scream something arrogant, or when Campbell had the puck.
No boos even when Chicago scored the 4th goal, or when the game ended.
Fear the Fin - all Evgeni, all the time.
You could hear a little booing through the T.V. when the game ended. Sounded like it mostly came from the section right behind the Blackhawks goal.
"Hes like a Sweedish Bear" -Randy Hahn 4/8/10
Dont boo your team!
Well, that could very well be a case where the fans were booing the Chicago players coming off the ice. Cuz I was in 225, and I heared muffled, disjointed boos at best after the game.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Effort
There was a point in the second period, actually the play where Crankshaft took the penalty after the crease crashing, where I actually had to say “Wow, Chicago really wants this bad” Watching the expression on the Hawks faces told the story. You could tell that they wanted that puck in the net no matter what. Every guy on that team would sacrifice their own mothers for a goal, and this is why they’re beating us. Sharks need to bring that intensity, they can do it, they’ve done it in the past, and I believe that they will.
Lets take it to them in the Madhouse!
Maybe this has already been mentioned...
but if history repeats itself, we can count on the Sharks stealing game 3 and 4. The last time we were in the WCF we went down 0-2 at home to Calgary and came back to steal the next two.
by SharksFanTillDeath on May 19, 2010 9:35 AM PDT reply actions
Orty
Is he still banged up or what? I really want him back out there.
by TheSoundOfHockey on May 19, 2010 9:38 AM PDT reply actions
very very
even when he played his last few games, he could barely jog across the street when off the ice
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
Word. Orts isn’t coming back, time for us to finally accept it if the last two months haven’t.
"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 really like Orts. I’m sad to see him injured and not able to contribute. Him and Nichol worked really well together, IMO.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Where has the Nichol of old been then? Even though he doesn’t play big time minutes, you noticed when he was on the ice. Based on last night, I’d say he only played three minutes.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
you noticed when he was on the ice
Damn straight – Nichol was hustling like a motherfucker out there. I felt like a proud parent, even if he’s seven years older than me and our only kinship is our low stature.
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
Nichol is practically my favorite guy on the team. All that spunk in a tiny package, you gotta love him. And no matter now bad the game gets, even when we’ve been down 5-0, he’s still checking dudes into the boards and skating like the fastest mo-fo out there. He needs more ice time; I honestly think we’ll see a difference in our overall play if he’s out there getting more minutes and setting an example for that kind of never-give-up attitude that we need from all the guys.
by JenLovesHockey on May 20, 2010 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Since I'm still a little down in the mouth...I'll just copy and paste what I wrote on FB.
“alright all you about to be haters….just stfu. The sky isn’t falling just yet…its just a little grey out….I BELIEVE in my Sharks and they will come back. We’re only in uh-oh territory. We’re playing fine we just need to step it up cause the Hawks are looking hot. So if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it all all. GO SHARKS!!!”
Also, if any of you watched the post game show and caught Jumbo’s interview…it was inspirational and truthful. We just need to capitalize capitalize capitalize. We out-shot at them but didn’t get anything. Also…Nabster really needed to fight a little harder for some of those goals. Anyway back into hiding. Peace!
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 9:38 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
That
makes me want to be your friend on fb…
Mike Babcock's wife thinks Joe Pavelski's a STUD!! Enough said.
yea I have quite a few friends that are Sharks anti-bandwagoners
they’re little fucks when it comes to losing so I had that ready…the last seconds ticked by and we lost and i posted…it was a sad night for us all.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions
I feel your pain.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
i imposed the digital banwagon on one of them so far
its liberating….but I also feel like it is an infringement of free speech…just do it elsewhere not on my page. LOL
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Its funny
When the Sharks win… no one says anything but oh when they lose….
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
wowza good call
no matter what, a very good team will win the west.
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
nods....I sure hope it is us though.
the hawks man…they’re fast…way faster than we can keep up with. I wish we were playing with a little more thrash less caring about penalties and beat them to pieces finish our checks and punish them for getting goals against us. Even if they win they sure won’t be happy about it when they’re sore from all the hits…they won’t be grinning We need NEED to pepper Niemi which we have been doing but we also need to be more aggressive and finish our checks. NO MOARE WIMPY I PUSH YOU INTO BOARDS crap. THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET SHARKS!!! If you don’t this will be it for you…and off to golfing we all go. :(( //cries.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
golfing is more fun than I thought.
Chic is the team picked this season to rep the west. So they are living up to the hype. They are pretty f’in deep and right now are dictating the style of play. Sharks will win if they impose their strengths, and won’t if they keep chasing and setting up the transition game. entertaining series so far and while its been disappointing it has not been a disgusting post season like the anti sharks crew typically predicts!
there is no shame in going down fighting to a better/equal team
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
just dont want to go down.
i know i know twss.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
birthdays and such I guess
haha
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions
We’re only in uh-oh territory.
+1
by SharksFanTillDeath on May 19, 2010 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions
yep that was my first thought after goal #3...was uhmmmm uhoh.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Nabokov was bad tonight. Not much more you can say than that.
I love what Nabby has done for this franchise, but I’m done with him. If he isn’t resigned after the season, I won’t be saddened by it. I agree with Ivano, use Nabby’s cap space on another shutdown defenseman. .
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
read somewhere that we are at the end of the big time goalie era
quoted as saying Brodeur’s numbers in front of NJ are not particularly impressive and are basically comparable to his backups numbers…same conversation here earlier comparing Nabbys numbers to his backups.
Big argument that the quality of the the team d in front of the goalie is the bigger factor and frankly isn’t Niemi supposed to suck? Goalies do steal games and series BUT…Nabby has not. SO if the earlier statement holds true, I agree that his cash may be better dispersed in fortifying the D.
And no The Greiss is not greener.
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
There is some truth to that.
Look at Philly and how good is defense in front of their 3rd string goalie. Look at Halak and how many shots were blocked in front of him in the first series. It’s the defense that’s struggling now in MTL.
And you said it about Niemi.
Fear the Fin - all Evgeni, all the time.
hey, to be fair, many argued Nabby carried this team at points during the season, but more and more teams are getting good consistent goaltending sprinkled with runs of absolutely outstanding goaltending from “no names”.
I can’t see this team ever moving Jumbo, who is actually really responding well to the challenge right now. So maybe SJ needs a good solid B goalie with a good B+ defense, rather than a spotty A goalie with a C defense. Not dumping on Nabokov, just thinking big picture (no matter how this post season plays out). He could steal the next 8 games and it would still make more sense long term.
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
I would be very, very interested to see how Greiss does when given the reins. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from him in limited action this season. And if they beefed up the D with some of Nabby’s money, and gave him regular PT, I think he could really be effective for us.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
i dunno
if they thought he had any real potential don’t you think Nabokov would start less than 140 games each year?
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
No, because they let Nabby set his own schedule. And their strategy seemed to be something along the lines of “Nabby plays better when he gets no rest, so we’re going to run him into the ground,” although they said it with a more PC overtone to it. I don’t think Nabby’s playing time this season in any way shows how they feel about Greiss.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
you buy that?
I think Coach T lets Nabby set his schedule because they can’t afford to let Greiss play. nothin personal against the guy but they aren’t that confident in him.
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
I have no reason not to buy it. The coaching staff have literally no reason not to trust Greiss.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions
if i email you directly on this subject will it go through
or is your email fake?
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
Yeah, it’s legit.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Definitely
I’ve been saying that all year. The search funtion doesn’t seem to work very well but I remember making a couple posts explaining how we’d be better off slightly downgrading in the goaltending department while upgrading our D-lines.
So lets say our goalie next year has a .900 SV% (hypothetically) instead of Nabby’s .920; that only means that our new goalie would give up, on average, 1 more goal every 50 shots on net. That’s not very much, and with the extra 5+ million worth of extra cap space we could get a top 4 D-man that would more than make up for what was lost in changing goaltenders, and maybe even boost our offense depending on who we get.
Volechnikov and/or Michalek
Would be a good addition.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
I really, really like Z. Michalek. He’s gonna be looking to get PAID this offseason, though. If we don’t bring Blake back, it would be doable. Then we can just give him #9, and everyone’s Michalek jerseys would be relevant again! Yay!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Zbynek is definitely hot in a non-sexual way
we could use some o’ that
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree, and have for nearly the entire year. Bolster the D and don’t spend so much in goal. Nabokov isn’t worth it.
Again, though, he’s had a great year. Let’s not toss him to the wolves just yet this season.
"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
blame the schedule makers
for the big breaks between games and playing em all on the same night. leaves too much time to pull the loose threads.
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
1 more goal...
every 50 shots is quite a bit when you look at goals against. I for one would not want my teams GA to go up half a goal per game over the course of one season.
Well the teams GA wouldn’t even go up when you use the 5+ million you just saved to beef up your defense. Plus the new defenseman (or defenseMEN) you add could potentially help scoring as well if they have any offensive upside.
Unfortunately I was at work last night and only caught glimpses of the game
So I have to ask, how was our forecheck? Against Detroit our forecheck was really pounding and pressuring the defense envoking quick decisions. That’s one of our strengths using our size and physicality to our advantage. In game 1 I felt we didn’t do as good of a job as we did against Detroit. How did it go last night?
Oh, and the few times I watched Wallin, he stunk it up…
Mike Babcock's wife thinks Joe Pavelski's a STUD!! Enough said.
Forecheck was practically none existent
Sharks either weren’t dumping the pucks in the correct spots or getting dump-ins blocked high in the zone. When they did get the pucks dumped in, the Hawks D played to their strength and moved it out quickly.
The rest of the time, it seemed we’d turn the puck over in the neutral zone. A very frustrating, yet familiar, game to watch.
by IsThisTheYear? on May 19, 2010 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
so in response to the Ducks
the sharks got bigger and tougher…now what?
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
Speed.
DW is gonna have to think long and hard about bringing in fast skaters in the offseason.
by U Guys R Good on May 19, 2010 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
I was kinda kidding
cause it seems like this team is reacting instead of dictating things. It would be great if Chicago left this series thinking “we gotta adapt to the Sharks strengths”.
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
Well in the Sharks defense,
you can’t exactly dictate things when the Hawks are always beating you to the puck. Not from lack of effort, but just because it’s like playing against 5+ Usain Bolts on ice.
by U Guys R Good on May 19, 2010 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree
but how fast would Usain skate if he got crankshafted EVERY shift?
(probably pretty fast)
besides I was just sayin it would be nice if other teams were reacting to SJ period. I am not criticizing the general effort.
'It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.'
Well to dictate the game
our boys need to have the puck. Can’t do that with all of the turn-overs though.
Mike Babcock's wife thinks Joe Pavelski's a STUD!! Enough said.
Whilst that game was torture this isnt over yet. This team isnt going down without a fight and you can see that in the post game comments from Boyle. The Sharks are talented and can hang with any team. If the Hawks can come into San Jose I see no reason why the Sharks cant waltz into the UC and nab a couple. Being down 0-2 isnt ideal but with most people predicting Sharks in 6 or 7 so losing at least 2 was excpected. Unless the Hawks get 4 wins this series I see no reason why the Sharks cant come back and take this.
"Hes like a Sweedish Bear" -Randy Hahn 4/8/10
Dont boo your team!
Coming back in the series
A family emergency has diverted my attention recently. Went to Game 1, and watched Game 2 from the hospital. So my usual 100% attention, worrying, focus, mania on the Sharks hasn’t been there the past few days. But now that Mom is healthy, back to the Sharks… COME ON BOYS! Hate to drop the first two, especially since I felt like there was no way we should have lost Game 1, but hey it happened. This Sharks run has been an epic story already: the drama of the losses to Colorado and the emergence of Pavelski, the no-one-thinks-we-can-win so instead we dominated Red Wings series. Now, this is the next chapter. The down 0-2 in the WCF against the next best team in the league. It’s all part of the story…
Go Sharks!
Ronni and the history
Glad your mother is healthy once again!
I find it interesting that in this playoffs, the Sharks have run into all of their past demons, but have so far overcome.
Colorado started out like the past few playoff years, but the Sharks turned it around.
The Sharks kept it up against Detroit and shut up the pundits for a few days, then came back after the destruction that was Game 4 to seal it at home.
’04 – dead in the water vs. Calgary, the Sharks come back to tie the series, but then ultimately lose. For some reason, just for the story, I expect the Sharks to come back.
Get back to playing Shark hockey. At times they were physical and it seems like when the Sharks had the pressure on the post, the d-men for Chicago were hesistant to getting hit. The Sharks intensity was there and they will pull through.
Believe!
He was completely biased in Game 1 with NBC too. He’s a Hawks color guy, what else would we expect?
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions
why do you think I had the tv on but the sound off? I was radio all the way for the calls.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Yep
It was pretty painful to listin too.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
On the bright side
Now that the series is back in Chicago, we won’t have to hear about the Hawks’ field trip to Alcatraz yet again…hopefully…
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe the Sharks should borrow that mojo
and visit the prison from Prison Break. Only 40 miles outside of Chicago.
I'm thinking
It was more about being all on a boat together than the prison visit.
In all seriousness, though, it probably would do them some good to do some kind of ‘team bonding’ fun activity. There’s a lot to be said about taking some time together to just do something fun. T-Mac should consider it.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions
If they go to the Sears tower
maybe I’ll swing by on lunch. I work across the street and would buy them all lunch, and it would be awesome. If that happened, I’d shit my pants.
by Chicago Shark on May 20, 2010 5:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Heh heh. Wouldn’t that be awesome?
I wonder, what would be the possibility of the Sharks crossing paths with some douchy Hawks fans if they were to go out in public during the day. Yelling something that would make one of them snap & punch the guy’s lights out.
Now that I think about it, maybe a field trip is not a good idea.
by Invisible Air on May 20, 2010 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions
That would require a Hawks fan to know what anyone on the team looks like
When many can’t name a player outside of Kane, Toews or Hossa, I doubt they could correctly identify anyone in the Sharks organization. That being said, I happen to have my Sharks jersey in my cube, so maybe I’ll wear it out during lunch and see if I can find them :)
by Chicago Shark on May 20, 2010 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Didn't see any
Was hoping maybe on the train on the way home, but none today
by Chicago Shark on May 20, 2010 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I was watching game 2 with a Hawks fan
She sat there for about a period and then said “Are we watching the Hawks broadcast or something? These guys just talk about the Hawks the entire time”
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
did you facepalm in response?
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
I just muted the TV. Turns out the game was a lot more entertaining that way.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
We also all wished that we could turn off the commentary stream
and Just listen to game sounds.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
that would be cool
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
The Brits actually let you do that
with soccer broadcasts.
"Playing Detroit in the playoffs is like paying your taxes. You either pay now or pay later." - Suisun Dan
In fact
if you have a surround-sound set up, you can turn off the commentary. For sports broadcasts, commentary is usually directed to the rear speaker. Disable the rear channel, and you’ll just get the sounds of the game.
Of course, first you have to afford a surround sound set up and have it configured correctly…
"Playing Detroit in the playoffs is like paying your taxes. You either pay now or pay later." - Suisun Dan
Er, rather
the center speaker has commentary, not the rear speaker(s).
"Playing Detroit in the playoffs is like paying your taxes. You either pay now or pay later." - Suisun Dan
That sounds more likely…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
They even MENTIONED IT during the game
“oh yeah… so maybe a little biased here…”
I was like FUCK OFF this is Bullshit… and turned on the radio.
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 19, 2010 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Okay
So we knew this series would be tough. We knew it’d take more than our first round did, and possibly more than our battle against Detroit. This is not news.
The world isn’t collapsing just yet. There are still games to be played.
That said, we’re definitely in the territory that starts to scare me as a fan. The Sharks pretty much need to take 2 in Chicago to really get back into this series, but I’ve seen no reason to think that that’s not possible.
Come Friday, I am declaring a moratorium on mojo. There will be no lucky clothing, no “soul of the enemy” dinner, no custom followed to help ensure the Sharks win. This is solidarity, this is a show of faith in the team rather than in superstition. My off-beat traditions will never win a hockey game; that’s up to the guys on the ice. So I’m casting it all aside, throwing away distractions to allow myself to believe in the dudes that actually have to get it done.
Go Sharks — I refuse to sacrifice my positivity!
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
Sharks’ Theme: OVERCOME!
FTF’s Theme: POSITIVITY!
Winning Game 3 will make it a series again. Nabby had a bad game, but he’s been solid overall this postseason. Putting more bodies in front of Niemi needs to be a priority and I think the lines (esp. HTML) will be broken up come next game.
This shit ain’t over, 7 games for a reason.
FUCKING POSITIVITY!
I know some might call it blind faith and baseless enthusiasm and positivity
blahblahblah whatever…yes you have what helps you sleep at night and I have mine. RESPECT it and i’ll respect you. You can call me anything you want. This is my last hope and I’m hanging onto it. POSITIVITY! And yes…all my superstitions and mojos have flown out the window…7 GAMES! THERE ARE 7 games! And I hold every right to changing my mind and sinking into a pothole of depression if we lose game 3. Just throwing it out there..but I sure as hell ain’t going to bitch about it here…I’ll just go off and die in the corner. UNTIL THEN POSITIVITY!
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Back to the topic at hand
part of me wonders if this feeling of uncertainty or doom stems from not having much experience, as a fan base, being in the 3rd round. A lot of it is likely from the “once bitten, twice shy” experiences we’ve had, but I wonder how much of all this comes from outside pressure sometimes. Those nagging little voices in your head that might actually buy into what Purdy says.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Personally
I think it is more of once bitten twice shy. They have proven to us in the last 2 series that we shouldn’t be worried…but with how hot the Hawks are playing and being down two…its hard not to revert back to old habits. IMO.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Once bitten twice shy is certainly at play
But, at heart, we’re a very knowledgeable fan base, even if we are blatant homers.
We know what it takes to win because we watch a lot of hockey, and we know when our team isn’t doing those things. Most fan bases know what it takes to win, regardless of whether their team has hoisted The Most Holy Grail, because hockey fans know what it takes.
We’ve seen the team fall short before because they weren’t doing the things they needed, so when you see it happen again, especially for more than one game in a row, it makes you worry, because we’ve seen that at this time of year, “over the course of a season” doesn’t matter. It takes only a few games to undo the hard work of 9 months.
That’s why doom and gloom build so quickly.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Meh.
The Sharks just dropped the first two games of a series at home. They have to win four out of their next five games against a Chicago team that is, on paper in my opinion, better than San Jose.
A comeback is possible. But let’s not put our heads in the sand and say that the Sharks aren’t in a bad place right now. They’re in the worst spot imaginable after two games.
"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
Blackhawks guy banned and comments deleted. Refresh your pages.
To be fair though Zero, a self taken camera phone pic while wearing a corral necklace, backwards hat, snide grin on your face, and Las Vegas as the backdrop probably isn’t doing you many favors haha.
"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
wow...scary...its like we never existed.
thanks :)
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
i would just like to repost...
my cybernet, theory, only they could make that happen
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I want to take a picture with huge sunglasses glasses and pouty lips. It’d be so terrible that it would actually be amazing.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
hey wait a bit.
those are most of my pictures!! SWEET YES I"M A DOUCHE and proud to be one!
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah but I’m white, so it looks way worse for me to do it. ;)
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
trust.
theres a lot of little asian girl douches LOTS…I spent 4 days with a good majority of them. its cool haha
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I stand by the thought
That giant sunglasses look stupid on everybody :)
Sorry, I hate them.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
My excuse is that I have a small face so they all look big.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
thats cool
d-bag is once of the nicer things I have been called.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Nah
It’s mostly that I just hate fashion
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
I used to
and then I suddenly figured out I was a woman. I mean, you’d think it would have been obvious but… (and yes I know that is open to oh so many jokes)
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
o boy....
do i wish i posted more regularly at this blog, cuz the amount of jokes that i have flying through my head is amazing
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions
you can change your name to
Pavy’s spin-o-rama ;) we welcome you.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
:( but if soupy joined us
on the teal side soupy and I can be together! :P hahahhaa
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
lol....
whats with the sad face, i’m not a bad guy, i just love whiskey, and hockey, i’m not that bad. lol
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions
but the wrong hockey....
the evil side of hockey…when you love the teal hockey we’ll talk. Haha even if you become ’versteeg’s dump-in’ and sorta look like Pavy..you’ll still not be bleeding teal.
BTW what do you guys bleed anyway rastafari colors?LOL
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions
lol...
how do u know ur not on the evil side of hockey ever think of it that way? lol…
no we bleed red and black, its a little more normal then teal… lol
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions
black is pretty spooky to bleed. At least teal is kind of neat, you know?
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
yea the black is a little weird...
but atleast we also have red, which is completely normal so i think they cancel each other out…
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I dunno man
If I’m gonna start bleeding in strange colors, I’d like to think there was a total transformation. Bleeding teal is like, “Holy crap, am I an alien?” whereas red and black would be more to the effect of “Oh crap, are my veins gangrenous?”
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
o_O
if you’re not on our side…you’re not on the good side. Hahahhaha i kid…you guys have been great ‘cept that guy who came in and tore up our space time continuum in this blog. Awww Soupy…could’ve loved you long time if you only converted. LOL
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I think that may be the first time I left the joke door open on purpose and no one walked through.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Goddammit, I was trying to explain its not coral, its puka shells…bought from a little old lady on the island of Kauai when I was 10!
At least I didn’t have sunglasses on at night and my collar popped! And I always smirk like that. But I do love The Vegas. There is truth to that.
I’m a half-douchebag…at best!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Puka shells: The Rolls Royce of neckwear
"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
You be hatin, I be rollin…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Hahaha just yanking your dick man. All in good fun.
I had puka shells during middle school. I see where you’re coming from.
Okay, I’m done ;) That guy really was a douche, and got flagged up the wazoo. Not sad to see him go.
"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
Why do you yank on dicks?
"Don't even start"
by ZombieSkittles on May 19, 2010 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions
You’ve been around long enough to know that how Plank rolls. You should hear what else he’s willing to do…
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
I know its all in good fun. Hence why I’ve been joking back (keep the hands away from the promised land, though! :-P). I’m glad that guy was banned, he was annoying and probably 12. Although, I wasn’t taking him particularly seriously either…yall seemed to take care of him for me while I was out to lunch, lol.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
When you go out to lunch
The rest of us assume our secret identities and fight crime.
Although Plank keeps insisting we all wear tights like he does. It’s kinda creepy…
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
I KNEW I was missing something every day from 12-1!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions
those
aren’t tights….
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
You guys get tights?
He gave me a mask, but there aren’t eye holes. It’s very strange.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
Goddammit, I was trying to explain its not coral, its puka shells…bought from a little old lady on the island of Kauai when I was 10!
Again, probably not doing you any favors haha.
All good though man.
"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
puka shells are okay if you actually got 'em from Hawaii;
the midwestern transplants who wear them in southern Cali and know nothing about the ocean are generally douchebags for trying to pass off that look.
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Of course I got them in Hawaii…where else would I find a puka shell necklace that would hold up over 16 years? Until I lost it after FTF Night at the Tank, I wore that necklace pretty much every day for 16 years. I still have no idea where it went. I think a cat stole it.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I know someone who bought his at a touristy store at Fisherman’s Wharf and another guy who bought his on Hollywood Blvd in L.A. (that’s a douchey thing), but cool if you got it in Hawaii
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
I still have hope
But I’m terribly depressed though and avoiding reading anything with comments.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
It looked grim at Valley Forge in 1777
and they still whipped them no good redcoats.
All of humanity is counting on the Sharks.
March or die as they say.
Just a chew toy for the hockey gods
by spectr17 on May 19, 2010 1:08 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah... but they also had some help from the french...
MONTREAL? CAN YOU HELP US?!?!?!
Drew: 'Oh no.. That is certainly the meaty part alright, but it's not the thigh..."
Randy: "No... that bone is NOT connected to the thigh bone..."
www.fearthefin.com
Sidney Crosby is my Cousin
www.pensburgh.com
by SeanCrosby87 on May 19, 2010 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, there was no French on the Christmas Day raid led by Washington
That one little victory was huge. It gave our army hope. The raid boosted the low morale, it put fear into the hearts of the Redcoats. All something the Sharks need.
Just prior to launching boats from McKonkey’s Ferry across the Delaware River, Washington had an excerpt from Thomas Paine’s inspirational pamphlet The Crisis—published two days earlier—read aloud to the army. The pamphlet began: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/washington-leads-troops-on-raid-at-trenton-new-jersey
Just a chew toy for the hockey gods
by spectr17 on May 19, 2010 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
If I could rec this 50 thousand times I would. But I can only rec it once, so I did.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Oh Dan, my bromance continues, how I love thee....
From DP’s WTC blog…
“I didn’t make it to the airport this morning for media access to the departing Sharks, but my colleague Mark Emmons did. And he reports that Boyle "continued to channel his inner heavy-metal rocker mentality, saying in effect, we’re not going to take it."
Here, more precisely, is what Boyle had to say: "Obviously I don’t want to be in this position, but this is a good time to come together and raise our middle finger in the air."
The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda
by 408SharksFinatic on May 19, 2010 1:12 PM PDT reply actions
GOOD!
Hopefully that middle finger takes the form of numerous goals for the Sharks over a 4 game winning streak!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
WHOOO BOYLE!!!
Yea FUCK ALL THE HATERS!!! God I love that man more and more everyday…and not because he’s just awesomely sexy.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Soon enough, soon enough.
C changes would happen after the season, and WE AIN’T DONE YET!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions
JR's quote gave me an extra warm and fuzzy feeling..
"I can’t lose, (but) I don’t know where my heart is because it can’t be 100 percent in either place," Roenick said. "Ask players around the league, they’ll say San Jose fans are the best fans regardless of the team situation. I think San Jose deserves a Stanley Cup. … By the same token, Chicago does too."
The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda
by 408SharksFinatic on May 19, 2010 1:17 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Goalie solution for you
You guys are more than welcome to baby Huet next year for some gloves/sticks/pucks or other things you don’t want. Seriously though, Gm 3 will be huge. As a Hawksfan I have been 10x more confident with them on the road than at home in these playoffs. If they come out slow and complacent like GMs 1 w/ Preds and Nucks this is a series again. I hope Dr Jekyl shows up and not Mr Hyde for my Hawks. Either way it’s been great, nailbiting, edge of the seat hockey in the first two games….I can’t wait til Friday.
Okay, it's 1pm the next day and...
I really don’t know how to describe my emotion. Disappointed maybe. Frustrated. I could rabble rabble and shout the woulda, coulda, shoulda’s till my voice grows hoarse. Dropping both games at home is terrible, but we knew the Hawks were a damn good team and even better away from their barn.
The Sharks have been victimized by a handful of 0-2 comebacks, but have yet to author one of their own. History will be made!
Time to get some work done, go out with friends and enjoy a few baseball games before the puck drops Friday.
"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.
by SwisherThresher on May 19, 2010 1:20 PM PDT reply actions
Anyone else just want a big fat butterfly goaltender?
One where we don’t even really have to worry about whether he’s going to be “on” that night or not. A guy that doesn’t need to do much more than face the shooter to stop their shot, and can stop most shots through traffic with his eyes closed just by being there.
I love Nabby but his small size and his style of goaltending require him to have good vision of the puck, lightning fast reflexes, and fresh agile legs every game, and for pretty much every shot on net. Things like screens and traffic in front of the net make all that pretty much impossible, and so if a team plays that style of hockey they’re pretty much guaranteed a couple goals (whether they just snuck in, or they went in off a bad bounce or deflection) even if Nabby is playing 100% that night.
Goaltending just gives me a headache i guess. I’d like to know after a game exactly why the other team scored and what can be done to keep that from happening again; rather than wondering if Nabby would stop that shot next game, or whether a goal went in cuz of bad luck or something.
i'm sure we can pick a few up at
Sharks Ice in downtown…i’ve seen some of those goalies and holy cats…nothing gets past them and they barely have to move. Naw…i think nabby needs a little more confidence and agile-ness. And sometimes hes a tad slow getting up from a laying down position. Like the one last night that had him laying in the net…its like uhm…OK nabster its ok just take a breather. Take 5.
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions
u can have huet if u want....
it will help a lot with the cap
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions
No, no, no…Huet’s all yours! :-P It will be interesting to see how your GM works the cap this year with untradable contracts like Huet and Campbell tying up so much cap space. Of course, if yall win the Cup, then it really won’t matter, and will give the GM some time to work it out while fans bask in the glory of Lord Stanley’s Chalice.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions
i like the idea....
of throwing huet in the AHL and eatting that contract.
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s almost a must if you guys want to keep players like Patrick Sharp, and resign some of your key RFAs (Niemi and Hjalmarsson (sp?) come to mind). Kind of a slap in the face to Huet….and I’m not sure if its something he would have to accept or not (I’m not a contract guru or anything)…if he does have to accept the demotion, would he do it?
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Huet in AHL
That would be the way to go. save about 5.6 mil we can use to resign Niemi and Nick J, I don’t think Huey has the ability to block the send down. Pull Crawford up from Rockford as Niemi’s backup
If you can sent Huet down, that would solve the issue with those two RFAs…but a trade would still have to be made to be able to fill out the lower lines of the roster with cheaper players. It’s going to be an interesting offseason in Chicago…probably more interesting that it will be here in San Jose (where it should be pretty darned interesting as well).
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe we can send Huet to Florida with Tallon, that should have been part of the deal for Panthers to speak with him in the first place
Rofl, they’re doing just fine with Vokoun, thank you very much.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
As much as I agree Campbell is overpaid he does bring a lot to the team. The D and PP struggled without him after the Ovi hit. Maybe Soupy will take a pay cut for the good of the team….probably not
I don’t think the NHL lets you renegotiate contracts. His cap hit will stick with him until the deal is up.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Vokoun’s got one more year. Nabokov is a UFA after this season, assuming we don’t resign him before July 1.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Cap info
No you cannot renegotiate a contract.
Huet to the minor’s is still a 1.5 M hit to the cap for the summer months. And then there is the hit to the cap for his replacement.
idk, but in general
I’d prefer not to dump on Nabby, conjecture about who should replace him, etc. And I’m certainly not a Nabokov apologist (I’ve commented on the subject many times in the past). But right now, he’s our starting goaltender, and he’s the one the Sharks will stick with to the end until this season’s over, whether the result is the one we like or not. He’s played pretty well overall despite his numbers, has been a huge reason for the Sharks even being this deep in the postseason thus far. Yes in this series, he has not looked particularly sharp, but I don’t see the point of bringing it up now. Wait till the offseason, then we’ll see how it goes.
As for now, we still have to ride him, this series isn’t over, and he’s capable of playing masterfully too. Whatever.
Go Nabokov. Go Sharks.
by DownRUpLYB on May 19, 2010 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Maybe i didn't put it the right way.
but i probably am a Nabokov apologist. Maybe that’s why i want a different type of goaltender, because i have a hard time blaming Nabby for a lot of the goals that go in, although he didn’t play well last night and 2 of those were his fault.
Most of the goals against him aren’t really his fault though, there’s not much he can do when he’s being screened or the puck changes directions at the last second; but in a lot of those same situations, a larger goalie in the butterfly position might have kept those pucks from going in just because they’d cover more of the net.
True true, and I agree on those critiques
My main issue is that I just kinda think it’s pointless to bring up at this point in the season. There’s still at least 2 games left in this series, which is in my mind still too early about talking about who will be next season’s goaltender is all.
I only brought it up cuz people were talking about it a lot above in the comments and boredom at work made me want to share my opinion on the matter.
Obviously our season isn’t over yet, but i don’t see us being able to stop a lot of those traffic jam/deflection type goals; which means our offense needs to step it up so that a couple goals like that don’t lose us the game.
i don’t see us being able to stop a lot of those traffic jam/deflection type goals
it seems that the Sharks have been unable to employ the same anti-Holmstrom & Co. strategy in this department, i.e. giving them the front of the net, but taking away their sticks. Chicago’s ability to deflect pucks has been better IMO than Detroit’s was last series, which the Sharks seemed to have depended more on Nabokov stopping the first shot and then D tying up sticks to prevent rebound chances. It’s been different with Chicago getting sticks to the puck first, making the initial save harder, and thus throwing a giant wrench in that strategy.
The Sharks’ strategy last round was designed for one person standing in front of the net. When the Hawks send two people to the net (like they did on two of the goals with Toews and Buff), the strategy needs to change, and they did not adjust last night.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions
"[Nabby] has been a huge reason for the Sharks even being this deep in the postseason thus far."
[Nabby] has been a huge reason for the Sharks even being this deep in the postseason thus far.
Bingo.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Nearly every player been a huge reason for teh Sharks making such a deep post season run.
But who’s to say we couldn’t have done as good, or better, with another goalie?
Without Nabby, we wouldn't have gotten to this point. Wouldn't have beat Detroit.
So stop picking on Nabby.
What has happened in this series is that we have hit a wall — whom I like to refer to as Buffy. Or Fugly. Or Fuggs.
He parks himself in the paint and no one can move him. He can also make 250-lb hits and be none the worse for wear. And he can handle a stick and shoot.
As I said earlier today, what we need is a Vampire the Buffy Slayer. Stat.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m not picking on Nabby really, maybe i’m picking on his style of goaltending or something. Like i’ve said though, other than last game Nabby has played great imo, and thats the problem. Even when Nabby is playing awesome there are certain types of goals that go in that you can’t really fault Nabby for and you can’t really expect the defense to do much about, and that’s what’s so frustrating to me.
I'm frustrated, too
Not by Nabby. By the two bodies that are permanently parked in front of him these past two games.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
GVT
Your nabby’s GVT numbers are up there in the Ovie/Crosby/Miller stratosphere. I know its frustrating after a loss but that Nabby’s been pretty good for you guys…
Thank you, Dale
Whether Nabby stays or goes, it seems we need to beef up our D.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
BTW, in Game 1
did anyone else notice hawks dropping like flies to the ice in front of the net when the puck came that way?
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Glory killed Buffy
or well, Glory opened a dimensional rift that Buffy threw herself into, but the point is, she was a god, I don’t know if there’s anyone in the NHL that matches that description.
Watch it with the jinxing!
Time for some thrillin' heroics!
Yup, see the real problem is that
We apparently need to rewrite the whole darn script.
What was it one of the announcers said yesterday? I think he called Fuggs “The Disruptor”. Perfect description. He’s like the little black box that sits on the dashboard of the Maserati and jams the radar. Or in the Sharks’ case, the sonar.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Butterfly goalies struggle in the playoffs too
Luongo’s rise and fall in Vancouver is as remarkable as that of the Roman Empire’s.
Marc-Andre Fleury couldn’t stop a beachball this postseason.
More than anything, it’s about positioning. A goalie like Miller, Giguere or Ward, who are all elite at their positioning will continue to stop pucks regardless of how “on” they are. The day and age of reactionary goalies is coming to an end: Brodeur, Nabokov, Turco are a dying breed.
Patty Marleau: An Erotic Life
Picked overall #2
Adored by the faithful
Trade rumors abound
Turns-around career
Year of the Cup?
Joe Pavelski: Real- American Mojo
by Will Bulldozer on May 19, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Well Luongo didn’t get a lot of help from his defense, and butterfly goalie’s seem to live and die by the D-men in front of them, more so than reactionary goaltenders imo.
ALL goalie’s seem to live and die by the D-men in front of them
I’ve totally bought into the Scum approach. IMO, its the total package that counts, not just one of the pieces…
Well yeah obviously
But I think butterfly goalies depend on them even moreso than reactionary hybrid style goaltenders. I gave some reasons why below.
Luongo still couldn't stop a beachball
butterfly goalie’s seem to live and die by the D-men in front of them
Not sure what sort of factual basis supports this comment, but I’ve observed the opposite. I also used to play a standup style before switching to a hybrid style, and with the latter I had a lot more control over where I put the rebounds. With the former, I had to rely more on my defensemen being able to clear away shooters for second chance opportunities. It boils down to a difference in the goalie’s positioning.
Patty Marleau: An Erotic Life
Picked overall #2
Adored by the faithful
Trade rumors abound
Turns-around career
Year of the Cup?
Joe Pavelski: Real- American Mojo
by Will Bulldozer on May 19, 2010 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Exactly
Nabby is a hybrid goaltender, and he’s also good at controlling rebounds.
Butterfly goalies generally just try to face the puck and get in it’s way, and they’re prone to giving up bad rebounds which makes it so much more important for them to have good defensemen in front of them to eliminate second chances. Also Butterfly goaltenders are usually bigger and slower than hybrids/standups so they are generally less agile and less mobile, so they depend on their defensemen to cut off cross ice passes and to prevent shooters from being able to cut in and force the butterfly goaltender to have go post to post.
Have you played goal before?
Something tells me you haven’t, because that’s a lot of generalizations about goaltending in one paragraph.
No one on this board is going to slam Nabokov. It’s blasphemy. But one of Nabokov’s weaknesses is that he is particularly vulnerable to back door plays and five-hole shots. When was the last time you saw a butterfly goalie beaten five-hole? It just doesn’t happen all that often. When Marty Brodeur sees a shot going five-hole, he puts his paddle down. No other goalie in the NHL does that even more.
Butterfly goalies fundamentally try to get as much of their body in front of the puck. But butterfly goalies are NOT rebound machines. As far as rebounds go, any goalie by necessity has to be good at punching rebounds to corners or holding a puck in his gear to prevent the rebound. Pretty much any NHL goalie, regardless of his style, has by requisite the tools to prevent giving up bad rebounds.
Butterfly goalies are not necessarily less physically agile than hybrid goalies, they just aren’t required to be. Look at Francois Allaire for example, who currently is the goaltending coach for the Maple Leafs. The Allaire school heavily emphasizes proper positioning, and that’s why you rarely see a goalie like JS Giguere out of position. It’s not necessarily that Giguere’s less acrobatic than a Brodeur, it’s that he doesn’t have to be. See the difference? Another student of Allaire’s teachings— Patrick Roy.
The problem with playing a reactionary style is that you try to get any kind of piece of equipment on the puck, but that has the downfall of leaving you out of position on the rebound chances.
There are plenty of very acrobatic butterfly goalies: Anyone GM will tell you that Marc Andre Fleury is one of the most physically gifted goaltenders in the NHL. Same goes for Ryan Miller, Cam Ward, Mikka Kiprusoff.
You’re making the mistake of concluding that just because you haven’t seen a butterfly goaltender be acrobatic, that they are necessarily, unacrobatic. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Finally, FYI, butterfly to be more exact is a type of save selection.
Patty Marleau: An Erotic Life
Picked overall #2
Adored by the faithful
Trade rumors abound
Turns-around career
Year of the Cup?
Joe Pavelski: Real- American Mojo
by Will Bulldozer on May 19, 2010 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m specifically talking about large goaltenders who attempt to make themselves big, rely on positioning, and stop pucks using the butterfly. Generally, larger goalies are less acrobatic because they’re taller, heavier, and wear bigger pads.
Obviously though:
Not all large goaltenders are slow.
All goalies must worry about rebound control.
Having good defense men is important to any type of goaltender.
Any goaltender can use the butterfly whether they’re big, small, slow, fast, or whatever
I’m saying that I wish we could just get a giant butterfly goaltender that’s dirt cheap, and spend the extra money on beefing up our defensive lines. That way we won’t really have to depend on our goaltender to make acrobatic saves. We can just let the D-men worry about keeping play along the outside, and cutting off cross ice passes and whatnot while our goaltender just focuses on on facing the shooter (and controlling rebounds as best as he can of course, but our D should provide a lot of help eliminating second chances).
it really seems we’re on the same page, we just have very different opinions on goaltending styles which just seems fruitless to debate any further.
I have no objection to not re-signing Nabokov, in fact, I’ve been advocating for awhile now for the Sharks to grab a 1A goalie like Dan Ellis to platoon with Greiss. And then use that saved cap money to sign a top 4 defenseman.
Patty Marleau: An Erotic Life
Picked overall #2
Adored by the faithful
Trade rumors abound
Turns-around career
Year of the Cup?
Joe Pavelski: Real- American Mojo
by Will Bulldozer on May 19, 2010 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions
My nightmares grow worse as Chicago wins again
http://www.stlouisgametime.com/2010/5/19/1479323/the-nightmares-grow-worse-as
Just a chew toy for the hockey gods
Official NHL FB page
Of all the comments they could have made about the game…FUUU
(and of course he would like to have that one back, and every other puck that hits the back of the net)
"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.
by SwisherThresher on May 19, 2010 2:28 PM PDT reply actions
whatev
who cares what they all say. the media is irrelevant. most of them don’t know what they’re talking about.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I always find these comments amusing
given it was my area of study
tough field to get into (or at least, make decent $)
lots of muckers and grinders in the media
"Sorry guys, I’m not going to try and hit (Douglas) Murray anymore. It doesn’t work." - Steve Ott, Dallas Stars.
by SwisherThresher on May 19, 2010 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
I suggested to one of them today
that he should consider a career as a shrink instead of a sports writer. It was the guy on PD who psychoanalyzed Jumbo. I read the 1st paragraph…and regret I will not have those 10 seconds of my life back.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
no reflection on you, of course
FTF is the one small island of sanity
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions
It's not like hockey gets any sort of media coverage in the U.S. anyway
It’s too overshadowed by the always predictable NBA playoffs that no one except fans of the teams give a shit about hockey.
by U Guys R Good on May 19, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I've got an idea. Let's resign Cheechoo!
Even though he probably wouldn’t do much, it would still be awesome to see him make his return to San Jose.
uh no
unless he can produce, which he hasn’t shown he will, i have no room for bringing players back purely for sentimental reasons.
I love Cheechoo…but I love the Sharks not wasting what little cap space they have much much more…
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Just wishful thinking I guess, even tho I know it wouldn't happen.
But there’s always hope that he returns to his Rocket Richard days.
by U Guys R Good on May 19, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm absolutely convinced
It was a fluke, in the most positive sense. It was just a perfect storm: Thornton newly arrived. Cheechoo as his new can’t-miss muse.
But Cheechoo was never projected to ever be a 50-goal scorer. 25-30 goals was probably his projected upside before he had that monster season. Teams eventually caught on, he unfortunately got hurt with the groin injuries, and has never really been quite the same since. Without his mobility (not that he was ever the swiftest skater) to get to open spots, he can’t be expected to score at the pace he did in 05-06.
totally agree…Jumbo was dealing those hot hands, which I feel Seto sort of picked up after Cheech’s cooled off. Seto’s goal production dropped towards the end of the season, but if those two had kept pace, he could have been in the 50 range.
The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda
by 408SharksFinatic on May 19, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Yup, Cheech basked in Jumbo's reflected glory
that one good year. Not that Cheech didn’t work his arse off that year, too. But his numbers were bumped up big time by being paired with Joe.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
you mean trade for Cheechoo...
why? He’s a shell of his former self.
Patty Marleau: An Erotic Life
Picked overall #2
Adored by the faithful
Trade rumors abound
Turns-around career
Year of the Cup?
Joe Pavelski: Real- American Mojo
by Will Bulldozer on May 19, 2010 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions
You want to sign a guy that cleared waivers? hmmmkay
“On February 12, 2010, Cheechoo was placed on waivers by the Senators after they acquired Matt Cullen from the Carolina Hurricanes. On February 13, 2010, he cleared waivers and was re-assigned to the Binghamton Senators, Ottawa’s AHL affiliate. He was recalled in the post season and he played one game against the Penguins.”
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions
and registered a big fat “zero” in every column so I hear…
The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda
by 408SharksFinatic on May 19, 2010 2:39 PM PDT reply actions
Rob Blake: Stay or go?
Should we keep him or trade him?
(By bringing up the topic, in no way am I implying that the Sharks losing to Chicago is a foregone conclusion.)
we’re not supposed to talk about such things until our season is over!
The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda
by 408SharksFinatic on May 19, 2010 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s a UFA after this season. So it’s either resign him, or don’t. There will be no trading.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
I personally think he retires either way.
Who’s gonna finish this off? I am going Boyle. - FML! No more OT Predictions from me!
I think he’d retire if we won a Cup. If we don’t, I think he still wants to play.
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
by ZeroIndulgence on May 19, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Agree
If we take it all, he’s done; if not, I expect a JR / Claude Lemieux-style single-year deal (gawd I hope I’m not fecked on my details there, hah).
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
how much is he costing us?
I say we let him go, get someone new.
by Invisible Air on May 19, 2010 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions
go
he’s “good”, but I’ve been thinking all season that he’s a bit overrated.
(here come the dagger-eyes)
he’s just getting old, that’s all
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Let him go. I know its painful that we gave up a 2nd round pick for Wallin, but I would let him go too.
by In Bust we Trust on May 19, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Schedule
Why is there 2 days rest in between game 2 and 3? Any reason the NHL planned for this or was it a scheduling conflict in Chicago?
by ilooklikeafat16 on May 19, 2010 2:47 PM PDT reply actions
no conflict...
just something the NHL planned, i think it had something with wanting the sunday NBC games
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s to get the ECF and WCF back into a staggered pattern, instead of playing on the same days throughout — or something to that effect, from what I’ve read.
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
This article explains a few reasons why. Want to get the Conference Finals on a staggered schedule ASAP.
"Playing Detroit in the playoffs is like paying your taxes. You either pay now or pay later." - Suisun Dan
awesome. I thought it had to do with the Sunday games but whatever. I just hate waiting an extra day to watch the WCF. Gracias.
by ilooklikeafat16 on May 19, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Would have been a disaster if ECF games 1 or 2 went to overtime.
by quasi-dynasty on May 19, 2010 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions
it also helps both teams as a side effect
because they’ve got a longer flight to travel between cities, they get an extra day of rest. Of course, they’ll not get that later on, but hey. It’s helpful for now.
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on May 19, 2010 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions
The awesome thing about being able to comment now
is that I could potentially get absolutely nothing else done all day.
Gonna need to set a timer…timer goes off, I close the window.
Back later.
good luck with that...
we all think that way in the beginning but its like crack once u start u can’t stop
fisting barry rozner with every goal!!!
by soupy's spin-o-rama on May 19, 2010 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Yup
Between 5+ hours of meetings and FtF today, I’ve done about 30 minutes of real work
by Chicago Shark on May 19, 2010 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Impressive! 30 minutes! You got me beat.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
or the G version would be Pringles
"God save us all." - FTF Staff
by mssjsclowie29 on May 19, 2010 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I woke up this morning...
everything was going well. I had one final today and my mind was focused on that. After I took it I felt pretty good because I’m sure I did well. Than I remembered the Sharks game from last night and got sad. It also didn’t help everyone came up to me and said, “How ’bout the Sharks?” I ended up just telling everyone that it was the Sharks new strategy to lose and get inside the Blackhawks mind and give them a false sense of security. I mean, what did they expect me to say?
same boat
today sucked.
and yep, all the “How ’bout them Sharks? How are they? Is it playoff time yet for your sport?” generated a F*ck you response each and every time.
by JenLovesHockey on May 19, 2010 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Too keep my sanity
I’m considering this yet another test by the hockey Gods. We need upsets to that victories taste sweeter in the mouth. I’m really hoping i can sleep better tonight. I don’t know if it was the loss last night but it was just nightmares if i even remotely fell asleep.
"Don't even start"
The Hawks Are Better
I think the Sharks have done as well as they possibly could with this set of players. The Hawks are just a better team and they have proved it against us for the last two years, as they have consistently beaten us.
They have a much better and deeper defense, they are better in goal, and their young legs at this time of the year, are too much for the Sharks to overcome.
I congratulate the Sharks on having an excellent year and
unlike the last few years, there is no bad feeling here, like we lost to a team worse than ours.
I do hope that we can come back and make a series out of it.
The Hawks are very very good and a worthy western conference champion.
If the Sharks are going to ever going to beat this team, they have to get tougher, better in goal, and get some faster players.
I appreciate the sentiment
But the series is only two games old. As bad as it is to be overconfident after two wins, it’s also not good to be completely defeated after two games.
I will acknowledge that I believe Chicago to be the better team, but I thought the same thing of Detroit, even after we went up by a game or two.
The Blackhawks are fast, value the puck, and play great defense. When they struggle, they do none of those things. We are big, strong, can control the puck, and force other teams to take penalties. When we struggle, we do none of those things.
Four wins in five games is a tall order. It’s an even taller order against such formidable opposition. But we do a discredit to such a fine team if we declare that they can not do it.
I agree, should we fall, there is not the same sense of disappointment that comes when a talented group underachieves against a harder working group. But that does not mean the series is over.
The biggest game in Franchise History is Friday night. I look forward to it, and I hope you do too.
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Absolutely
I will be there, rooting as hard for the Sharks as ever. As I said before, I am proud of what these group of players have done and its not a bad thing to lose to this excellent Hawks team.
Detroit was older, less physical, and with a rookie goalie who was vulnerable. I see none of that with the Wings. I thought we would win this series if we could win the goalie battle. Maybe Niemi doesn’t play as well in Chicago.
I love all of the optimism by Sharks fans, but I have been watching hockey for too long to believe that the Sharks will win this series. I have been around hockey all of my life and
for the first time in a few years, I am proud of what the Sharks
have done this season, but see the handwriting on the wall.
Unless we can shake up Niemi and make him get flustered,
its going to be a very long weekend..
you still don't get it
:facepalm:
Patty Marleau: An Erotic Life
Picked overall #2
Adored by the faithful
Trade rumors abound
Turns-around career
Year of the Cup?
Joe Pavelski: Real- American Mojo
by Will Bulldozer on May 19, 2010 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions
for your other comment
in Ivano’s post, I was trying to give you some credit for some of your criticisms of the team, particularly because you got a backlash, you seem like a genuine fan, and you did have some reasonable concerns about the roster—as much as others quickly disagreed and implied that you a fairweather fan.
But to say that the Hawks are a better team than us and to give up on the series already? They are a formidable adversary, and I was here myself saying it would be a rough series before it started, as much as everyone was telling me to “shut the fuck up” and “have more optimism for the team” – true that we had a horrible start and there are some concerns about our roster – but I don’t think Niemi is better than Nabby (both are good, sometimes amazing, but inconsistent – anyone really care to disagree? c’mon it’s true), and Mitchell and Patty are faster than most of the guys on the Chi team (the exception of Kane and a couple others).
I just don’t think we should throw in the towel just yet, and I can’t stand seeing fans already calling this series over.
by JenLovesHockey on May 20, 2010 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh my god!
The Sear — you’re Tim Kawakami, aren’t you?!
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
I LOLed at this
I came across one of his articles— is he normally a “doom and gloom” type of writer?
But when it was suggested to him that Toews v. Kane seems likely to become a sidebar to every future international hockey tournament, he smiled and said: "I'd like us to win something together, too."
(Tweets @ChiBlackhawks and blogs at Blackhawks Down Low.)
by chiblackhawks on May 20, 2010 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
He wouldn’t know a good team if one bit him in the ass.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Yeah
His article today is titled “The Sharks aren’t crumbling vs. Chicago, they’re just playing a better team”.
He only writes during the post-season, really (normally he blathers about basketball, I think), and all he ever talks about is how terrible the Sharks are.
'The good news is, there's a little more room in the penalty box; there's only five Sharks in there now.' -- Randy Hahn, VAN @ SJS 8 April 2010
Tim Kawakami = Ryan Garner...
… but does it for a living
the ONE thing I have liked about Kawakami during this post-season is he writes a blog immediately after a game w/ player comments. Pollak writes a blog a day or two later.
by IsThisTheYear? on May 20, 2010 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
With DP it depends with his final print deadlines, but whenever he get an opportunity he seems to post something.
The Sharks need to play like 2 Live Crew, "As Nasty As They Want To Be" -Drew Remenda
by 408SharksFinatic on May 20, 2010 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Not
I am not Tim K. I am a long time hockey observer and fan. I would love to eat crow and have the Sharks come back and win the series. I will be happy to come back to this blog and scream to the world how wrong I was as the Sharks go on to the finals.
Its not about doom and gloom, its about observing what is in front of you, realizing that the last couple of years, the Hawks have had their way with the Sharks. Some teams you don’t match up well against. The Sharks haven’t outscored the Hawks in a period yet, since 1-0 in the first period of the first game.
I am ready to eat crow after the Sharks win the next two games.
You’re also one of the most bipolar commenters ever. Hasn’t been a middle ground since day one. When you’re that reactionary, it tends to rub people the wrong way or come across as comically uniformed. (hence the Kawakami references)
We’re all aware how things are but going from ZOMG I LUV UELVENTY to DIESHARKSTRADEVEERYONERAWR in the course of 3 games is just ridiculous.
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
"No, That's Not General Malaise, It's NHL Playoff Fever." Real Fake Sports
Be glad this isn't the Finals
In 7-game series other than the Finals, 247 teams have been down 2-0 and 34 have come back to win (13.8%). In the Finals, of the 44 teams that have been down 2-0, only three have come back (6.8%). Chicago has given up a 2-0 lead twice, once in the Finals and once in the Semis.
The stats regarding coming back from 3-1 are worse than they are for 2-0, so let’s hope we win the next two.
Admittedly I'm a Wings fan but....
The third game is always the most important. The Sharks should be jittery but not panicky. And they have not choked if Chicago flushes them. Chicago has a crazy talented team — and they’ve had that all year. They have speed and toughness and just enough playmaking to get it done. The issue has always been goaltending, which rather magically clicked into place. Annoying, but those are the playoffs.
And yes I do think the calls in the Detroit series favored the Fin, but there were bad calls on both sides and the Sharks powered though. The really problem in this series, I think, was the lay off. They got a bit sleepy waiting for the hawks. And that’s a problem. Especially since the Sharks were REALLY clicking in the Detroit series. Still Chicago is jittery. I imagine the Sharks take game 3 by a one goal margin.
I think the Sharks need a statement game win for this to boost the confidence. Not 7-1 or anything nuts like that, but I’d like to see a 4-1 final score.
I’ve never thought they deserved the choker label, but the media isn’t going to let it die if they can’t win any.
"It's a lumberjack convention out there." Drew Remenda 3/4/10
Jon Casey fan since '84
Founder of Feel the Teal.
As I said previously (and as did Boyle)
Who cares what the media/anti-bandwaggoners say? Screw ’em. They are irrelevant.
by Invisible Air on May 20, 2010 2:31 AM PDT up reply actions
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