Sharks face Avalanche in back end of home-and-home set
by Jon Allred on Dec 15, 2011 3:00 AM PST
in Sharks Game Previews
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| 14-16-1, 29 points | 15-10-3, 33 points | |
| 13th in Western Conference | 8th in Western Conference |
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As a result of their 4-3 shootout loss in Colorado Tuesday night, the San Jose Sharks {15-10-3 with 33 points} find themselves tied with the Phoenix Coyotes for second place in the Western Conference Pacific Division, two points behind the division leading Dallas Stars.
Tonight, the Sharks return home to HP Pavilion to host the Colorado Avalanche {14-16-1 with 29 points} in the back end of a home-and-home set and the first of a six game home stand for the Sharks that will conclude Dec. 28 against the Vancouver Canucks.
The Avalanche, who are currently in last place of the Northeast Division of the Western Conference, have lost eight consecutive road games {0-7-1} since winning their first six. The Avalanche’s last road victory was a 5-4 shootout win in Chicago on Oct. 22.
Currently the talk of the NHL realm for all the wrong reasons, the Sharks finished their three-in-four road trip 0-1-2 with two points and are 2-5-3 in their last nine games after going 12-2-1 from Oct. 21–Nov. 23.
Jamie McGinn led the Sharks in goals {two} on the road trip while Dan Boyle led the team in scoring with three points {one goal, two assists}. Michal Handzus led the team in assists {two} and now has assists in five of the last seven games.
Meanwhile, the top six Sharks forwards {Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Ryane Clowe, Martin Havlat} produced a combined four points on the road trip with one goal, which was the Marleau goal that forced overtime Tuesday night, and three assists, two of which came on Marleau’s goal via Couture and Thornton.
Over the last ten games, Pavelski, who leads the Sharks in goals {12}, has registered three points {one goal, two assists}, Havlat three assists, Marleau two goals and Thornton four assists.
Between the pipes, Antti Niemi {11-6, 2.33 goals against average, .919 save percentage} matched his season totals on the road trip, positing a 2.33 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. Should Niemi be given the night off, Thomas Greiss {4-4, 2.37 goals against average, .918 save percentage}, who last started in the 5-3 home loss to the Florida Panthers on Dec. 3, had a stellar road game against the Avalanche on Nov. 20, stopping 36-of-37 shots in the Sharks’ 4-1 victory.
A golden opportunity to get back to their winning ways has been thrusted upon the Sharks with this home stand to close out 2011. The players though, have got to want it themselves and play with a sense of urgency that has been sorely missing in their recent lackadaisical play.
The Sharks would be wise to take to heart the words of Avalanche captain Milan Hejduk, who said after the Avalanche’s 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 9, "We need to play with more pride. We didn’t execute… We have to have a hard look in the mirror and bounce back."
Prediction: Sharks will defeat the Avalanche 4-2.
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something has to change!
Please just let it be a win and a solid 60 minutes. Otherwise I feel a personnel change is due. If I’m not mistaken last year it took a bottom 6 trade to spark a turnaround.
by Justboo on Dec 15, 2011 5:23 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
The team I root for usually loses..
…I’m thinking I’ll root for the Avalanche and see if it give the Sharks some luck. The past 10 games have been pretty ugly and I’m willing to do anything for a win.
It's pretty depressing when you're top 6 forwards all slump at the same time.
"Douglas Murray is a humongous human being." – Drew Remenda
Tweet Tweet
Top 6 forwards and top two scoring defensemen.
If the 3rd and 4th lines weren’t firing, we’d have to rely upon Nemo or Colin White to get us a goal. My money would be on Nemo.
Eh, I'm seeing some signs of life from our stars.
Maybe tonight’ll be a turning point. :D If special teams continue to be terrible though, it’s time for the Elvis-proposed coaching staff shake-up.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
I think its past time really. The assistants should have been replaced after the playoffs.
Does the coach have the say-so on this, or is it the GMs place to piece together a staff the coach works with?
by sharkblood99 on Dec 15, 2011 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
After th playoffs, I would have said fire McLellan.
Didn’t realize the ass. coaches were so… Ass.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 2:22 PM PST up reply actions
That makes no sense whatsoever...
… Seriously, fire a coach that’s brought us a President’s Trophy and successiveimproved showings conference finals?
Firing McLellan will do NOTHING to fix the problem the players are having right now.
They have to show up.
Firing TMac makes less sense than trading the entire top two lines.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
"I still say McLellan needs to roll Pavelski, Marleau, and Stetoguchi together. No one would go NEAR that line."
My Twitter
Never said McLellan, please read.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 7:51 PM PST up reply actions
I think you may be right...
Tonight would be a perfect game to start a turn around. We saw some signs of life during the past two games on the road trip. Niemi has been solid, Boyle is starting to find his game again and McGinn’s coming out party this year has been great to watch.
The secret formula lies with our top 6: We go as far as they take us. I’m sure the guys and coaching staff realize the importance of this homestand and will play accordingly.
Although I generally don’t like to see coaches take the blame for the way players play, if we continue to stink up the Tank, then it may be time to consider a shake up? I hope that doesn’t happen and that the guys figure out how to play together for 60 minutes.
Here’s to a great Sharks performance tonight and a 5-2 win (Hat trick by Havlat). Go Sharks!!!
Forgot to add…
And no stupid passive forecheck unless your up by 4 please!
by sharkblood99 on Dec 15, 2011 11:10 AM PST up reply actions
Doug Wilson: "We believe in this group and we believe in this staff"
"We look forward to this team playing up to its capabilities."
Now the players just need to translate that into goals… and to go with the Rally Dolls ^, add a dash of Princess Suit mojo!
Rated M for McGinn.
if you post both mojos
how will we know which one is working? Is it the dolls, or is it the princess suit… or is it the $20 dollars Americans are being paid to order Canadian things owned by Canadians?
GO SHARKS!
each mojo will translate into 1 goal, except the last one, which results in a parallel universe opening.
Waffles, Digimon, SETOGUCHI
STALOCK GET A ROBOT LEG OR SOMETHING AND COME BACK~WE NEED SOME LOCK STOCK STALOCK HERE!!
Like manga, sci fi, webcomics, and Metaphorical Bazookas? Check out http://firework.the-comic.org!
by YeahTommyB4ZGermansGetThere on Dec 15, 2011 6:21 PM PST up reply actions
Just a reminder to all
If you’d like to do a Pizza Night this Saturday, 12/17, please respond to this post.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
Dear Sharks,
Please score more goals than your opponent tonight.
Love,
ZeroIndulgence
p.s. If you find this to be a winning strategy, please continue to implement it in every game from here on out.
"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
Member of FearTheFin's Mod Squad and The Knights Who Say NI-emi...
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by ZeroIndulgence on Dec 15, 2011 11:38 AM PST reply actions
I know right….looking like the LA Kings out there scoring 1-2 goals a night.
by PunkRockRobot on Dec 15, 2011 12:07 PM PST up reply actions
Been a while, but breakin out the big guns.
Slappy montage for mojo.
The real terror of beholding sharks feeding is that, that may be all there is to life.
Are you a shark, or a sheep? Sharks are winners and they don't look back, cuz they don't have necks. Necks are for sheep.
"If you're not hurt right now, if you're not banged, bruised, you're not sore, you're not tired, I guess the question would be: Why?" - Todd McLellan
by CloweMyWord! on Dec 15, 2011 12:45 PM PST reply actions 6 recs
Well slap me silly, that's fin-tastic!
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 2:25 PM PST up reply actions
Love the appearance of Rogue Shark in the black-and-white pic
Fear The Fin Mod Squad's Mike Rathje
My Twitter
hey sharks watch patrick kanes shootout goal
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=49&id=142355 …. i dont get why most players shoot on the shootout rather than take all the time in the world to deke … i know players on the sharks possess these hand skills (boyle, clowe, logan)
Griess would have poke checked the shit out of him before he got that shot off.
by Briceratops on Dec 15, 2011 1:03 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs
Greiss poke checks everything.
Even when he’s not playing hockey.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 2:26 PM PST up reply actions
Unce unce.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 2:46 PM PST up reply actions
That's because Greiss is amazing at everything...
And the key to winning at life is poke checking the shit out of things.
"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
Member of FearTheFin's Mod Squad and The Knights Who Say NI-emi...
Tweet Tweet.
by ZeroIndulgence on Dec 15, 2011 2:27 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
How can I use this technique on final exams?
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 2:28 PM PST up reply actions
Poke check with your pencil in the right bubble for any scantron exams.
For essay exams, use poke checks to make dots on the paper that will form letters that make up the words to your essay.
I don't write essays.
I’ll have a job someday.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 4:55 PM PST up reply actions
Pfft you and your "jobs."
And your “money,” and your “not being in debt forever.”
Soon enough, I’ll be headed to grad school to spend more money that I won’t ever earn back!
If you can't write essays
Chances are you won’t.
Then again, I’ve met some illiterate mofos with jobs…
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
I've written waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many essays in my day.
But in this program, I don’t have to. Thank god. Essays are for liberal arts nonsense.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 5:37 PM PST up reply actions
i have a job writing.
end of conversation thread
but yeah, I failed on the SAT essay. It was not my fault. You can’t give 17 year olds 25 minutes to explain “what is identity”.
Waffles, Digimon, SETOGUCHI
STALOCK GET A ROBOT LEG OR SOMETHING AND COME BACK~WE NEED SOME LOCK STOCK STALOCK HERE!!
Like manga, sci fi, webcomics, and Metaphorical Bazookas? Check out http://firework.the-comic.org!
by YeahTommyB4ZGermansGetThere on Dec 15, 2011 6:19 PM PST up reply actions
My Xmas cards say ' Happy Holidays & May You Poke Check The Shit out of the new year
I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.
by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Dec 15, 2011 5:35 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
That was pretty sick
I was watching that and thought of Dan Boyle when he scored in a SO after almost stopping first. Kane is pretty sweet, I doubt most guys would have the confidence to wait out the goalie like that.
Also, is anyone else amazed at how good Minny is playing? Seto, Latendresse, and Bouchard all out with injuries and somehow they still find a way to get a point off of Chicago and lead the league. IMO, they all play a system and are all on the same page. It doesn’t matter if they go down by a goal or two, they just keep chipping away. Impressive, although I’m not convinced they can stay on top for the entire season.
Time to turn the ship
Sharks win in OT or SO. It’s ugly but we get the two points and you know what, that’s all I really care about at this point.
Waiting for the Cup to come to SJ since 1991...
GO SHARKS!
Find me on Twitter @njahoda
Crap
Can’t watch the game tonight due to Sacramento Kings tickets. Either the NBA or NHL needs to play during baseball season. With the NBA and NHL on at the same time, its hard to follow everything this time of year. Then around June-October there are no sports to watch (can’t count baseball as a real sport since they stand around most of the game).
They need to shift basketball down in such a way that their playoffs happen in late September.
The artist formerly know as *"Sharks_Fan_In_Toronto"*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw
by Evil Stanchion on Dec 15, 2011 2:27 PM PST up reply actions
This is obviously not a must win game, but for the sake of everyone’s sanity around here, I would call it a “PLEASE JUST F***ING WIN!” game.
by Ronnibily on Dec 15, 2011 3:24 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
So
No responses yet on this Saturday. It’s looking like no Pizza night, unless something comes together last minute. Please do comment if you’re interested.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
aww it's just near the holidays people are buying hot wheels and yoga mats for A-holes instead of having a good time
We should have a ftf online pizza night. Everybody on ftf orders in a pizza, declares what toppings they ordered, complains about the service/crust being too late to make any difference although it was a nice last-22-second attempt, and then watches the game in the full flush of heartburn. Plus, we’ll all have breadsticks left over.
Waffles, Digimon, SETOGUCHI
STALOCK GET A ROBOT LEG OR SOMETHING AND COME BACK~WE NEED SOME LOCK STOCK STALOCK HERE!!
Like manga, sci fi, webcomics, and Metaphorical Bazookas? Check out http://firework.the-comic.org!
by YeahTommyB4ZGermansGetThere on Dec 15, 2011 6:17 PM PST up reply actions
"This is a team that looks very lethargic despite being up by a goal"
VS commentator Mike Milbury during the second intermission of the Sharks-Aves game. And, with the exception of a handful of games this season, this has been the story of the San Jose Sharks season so far ladies and gentlemen.
Here’s my remedy:
You players are making millions of dollars. We all here commenting on this string would give our left arms to have the talent and opportunity that you have in life. So,
PULL YOUR FUCKING HEADS OUT OF YOUR GODDAMN SPOILED PRIMMADONNA ASSES AND PLAY SOME LIKE YOU HATE TO LOSE AND LOVE TO WIN! YOUR PLAY AS OF LATE SICKENS US AND IF YOUR LAYING DOWN AND GOING RIGHT TO SLEEP AT NIGHT THEN THERE’S A FUCKING PROBLEM. WE ARE TIRED OF EVERYONE ELSE CALLING US SOFT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY YOU PLAY ON NATIONAL TV LIKE YOU DID THE OTHER NIGHT AND ALL YOU END UP DOING IS BOLSTERING THOSE ARGUMENTS AND MAKE US, YOUR FANS WHO LOVE YOU, LOOK LIKE IDIOTS FOR RUSHING TO YOUR DEFENSE. ENOUGH, START PLAYING LIKE YOUR PAID. YOU’RE PAID TO BE A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, NOW GO OUT THERE AND GIVE US SOME HOPE THAT YOU CAN BE SUCH A TEAM.
Sincerely yours,
Sharks fan since 1994
by SharksFan97 on Dec 15, 2011 6:29 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
:D?
Waffles, Digimon, SETOGUCHI
STALOCK GET A ROBOT LEG OR SOMETHING AND COME BACK~WE NEED SOME LOCK STOCK STALOCK HERE!!
Like manga, sci fi, webcomics, and Metaphorical Bazookas? Check out http://firework.the-comic.org!
by YeahTommyB4ZGermansGetThere on Dec 15, 2011 6:31 PM PST up reply actions
KENT HUSKINS CARES!
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Welcome to the NHL, Atlanta Thrashers of Winnipeg.
But Kent Huskins is no longer a member of the San Jose Sharks' organization!
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
Changing signatures is for suckers.
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
IM RAY RATTOS MOUSTACHE AND THE SHARKS STINK
LIKE A DELICIOUS POT ROAST WRAPPED INSIDE A BAKED COW INSIDE OF A BAKED ELEPHANT AND COVERED IN CHEESE AND I THINK BARRY ZITO IS A WISE INVESTMENT CONGRATS ON GETTING MARRIED AND INVITING ME TO THE WEDDING BUFFET SO I COULD DROWN MY GRAVY TEARS IN HOW RIGHT I WAS ABOUT HOW THE SHARKS ARE THE WORST TEAM TO EVER PLAY ANY SPORT EXCEPT FOR THE WNBA WHERE FUNDAMENTALS ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS
I like my goals like I like my booze..... Top shelf.
by GhostOfLinkGaetz on Dec 15, 2011 8:22 PM PST reply actions
XD
Waffles, Digimon, SETOGUCHI
STALOCK GET A ROBOT LEG OR SOMETHING AND COME BACK~WE NEED SOME LOCK STOCK STALOCK HERE!!
Like manga, sci fi, webcomics, and Metaphorical Bazookas? Check out http://firework.the-comic.org!
by YeahTommyB4ZGermansGetThere on Dec 15, 2011 10:11 PM PST up reply actions
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