Kings stomp Sharks 4-0 to knot the series at one headed back to Los Angeles
by Mr. Plank on Apr 16, 2011 11:28 PM PDT
in 2011 Playoffs
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It was a textbook road game for Los Angeles and a sleepy effort for San Jose as the Kings came into HP Pavilion fresh off a 3-2 overtime loss on Thursday. Jack Johnson and Kyle Clifford split a pair of goals and Drew Doughty added two of his own to systematically dismantle San Jose by the tune of 4-0.
The opening salvo was strong for the Sharks, but after an early power play came up empty the parade to the penalty box began. In a matter of six minutes Ryane Clowe took a pair of penalties and Ben Eager took one, with two of those three coming in the offensive zone. It isn't a particularly effective way to win a hockey game, and as Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan mentioned following the tilt, that sequence was a defining moment for his club.
"We had the first seven or eight minutes of the game we wanted play. We got on the power play and lost a little momentum there," McLellan said. "We were very undisciplined as far as penalties go and we can't do that. We have to understand where we are at this time of the year."
"I thought they were a much more competitive team than we were. We can talk about systems and what we did well and didn't do well on the power play, penalty kill, and faceoffs. It has to start with competitiveness."
That competitiveness was severely lacking for San Jose, much as you would expect a 4-0 score to indicate. Although the Sharks would manage to amass 34 shots by the time the game was complete, the Los Angeles blueline did an excellent job of limiting second chances and protecting Jonathan Quick in front of the net.
Quick, who registered his first postseason shutout in his career, struggled with rebound control early in the game. However, the play of Los Angeles' vaunted blueline, specifically newly acquired Willie Mitchell, stunted any sustained attack San Jose could conjure up throughout the first frame. As the game progressed Quick improved and began to regularly swallow up any chances San Jose managed to get to the net.
"We were a little short with key players out of the line-up. That requires a really competitive attitude by everyone that's playing," Kings Head Coach Terry Murray said following the game. "Guys have to really dig in and play hard for each other. They dig in when they have to, and to me, that is what defines a gritty hockey club."
Although game one was decidedly less physical than game two, Los Angeles continued to push their strong cycle game on the Sharks in game two. With players such as Ryan Smyth and Wayne Simmonds controlling the boards in the Sharks offensive zone, San Jose had a lot of issues getting their breakout moving up the ice. Furthermore, since San Jose's forwards were presented with a quandary of sorts-- pinch down to the corners and help support the puck but give the Los Angeles blueline some good looks at the net, or cover the point and watch the Sharks defenseman get worked over along the boards as the momentum of the game gets sucked out of the building-- there was a distinct lack of flow for San Jose all throughout the night.
And then there wes the penalty kill, which continued to struggle with the immense issues that plagued the unit down the stretch run. The Sharks gave up two shorthanded markers early in the first period, courtesy of big point blasts by Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty respectively, and the Kings blueline accounted for nine of the team's twenty three total shots throughout the night.
San Jose's forwards gave the Kings defenseman far too much time with the puck in the early going, playing off their man by sending only one forward to the point to pressure the puck carrier. With the weak side defenseman able to move himself into prime shooting position due to the lack of pressure by the second Sharks forward, Los Angeles was able to dominate their man advantage situations by moving the puck briskly along the perimeter. And with players such as Smyth running traffic in front of the net, those point shots proved to be deadly.
Although McLellan justifiably chose to highlight his team's competitive nature as the biggest reason for the loss, San Jose's X's and O's in this situation did not go untinkered with following the first intermission. San Jose began to pressure the point much more effectively as the game wore along, contributing to three straight successful kills in the second and third.
"We went back to the drawing board and changed it up a little bit (during the first intermission)," Nichol said. "You want to take time and space away. It's the best League in the world and if you're going to give players time they're going to get shots through."
Even with the successful changes to the penalty kill approach, there's no doubt that the Sharks "compete level" was not up to the standards that the coaching staff expects of them. McLellan had some choice words for his entire team following the game, choosing to highlight the collective as his principal source of concern. However, it should be noted that the top line has contributed zero points throughout the first two games of this series.
As we mentioned in our game preview earlier today, Willie Mitchell and Drew Doughty, who have been tasked with Thornton's line in the first two games, have done a bang up job of controlling the Sharks top players.
Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan has never been one to pay too much attention to line-matching throughout the postseason, and history has shown that he's content to go power for power even with the last change at home. The Kings managed to get the pairing of Drew Doughty-Willie Mitchell out against Marleau-Thornton-Setoguchi for the majority of the night, something that paid off dividends for Los Angeles-- although San Jose's top line didn't bleed very many shots in their own zone, they were contained for large portions of the night and had difficulty generating consistent scoring chances. The bulk of the Sharks' offensive opportunities came from lines centered by Couture and Pavelski.
If San Jose is going to take advantage of their superior scoring depth, it's imperative the top line manages to find a way to solve LA's top pairing. Mitchell had an excellent game one tasked against the Sharks big guns and showed just why he is one of the most dangerous and effective shutdown defenseman in the League.
Tonight was no exception. The top line did have a few notable scoring opportunities of course, with Setoguchi accounting for a team-high five shots and Marleau-Thornton adding two and one respectively, but those opportunities did not generate the results San Jose is counting on them for.
However, laying the blame at the feet of an individual line or an individual player clearly has no place in a sensible review of tonight's sloppy outing. The Sharks, as they have shown since January 16th, are a team that relies on every single asset of their lineup to produce. It's a team win and a team loss, the nature of a fickle sport such as hockey, and regrouping after a disheartening performance tonight at home will require each player and position to elevate their game when the series shifts to Los Angeles for game three on Tuesday.
"Tomorrow is a new day. In the playoffs you can't look back because you play so quick," Ryane Clowe said. "We were in this position before, we were in this position last year. We're going on the road and we're good on the road."
"It's up to us now to come back."
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I ended up going to some dive bar in my neighborhood meeting up with a bunch of a friends and they happened to have the game on
However, both times the Sharks have gotten their asses handed to them when that’s happened. What happened last time I went to that bar? Anyone remember a 7-2 bashing at the hands of Chicago? Yea. That one.
I expected a better effort and the team really let me down on this one. However, I refuse to admit that the sky is falling and say the series is done, especially when a win at Staples Center evens out the series.
The team is too talented, too good and has too much depth to let this series fall apart. Make the adjustment and go from there.
Go Sharks.
"Release the stone of shame!"
"Woo-hoo!"
"Attach the stone of triumph!"
"D'oh!"
The team is too talented, too good
I seem to recall hearing this the past three years…
by kiwi93 on Apr 16, 2011 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
I think the new piece of the puzzle this year
besides Nemo… is really a developed and consistent strategy that perhaps the Sharks have gotten away from recently. They’ve been through a lot already though, so I wouldn’t expect the team to not show up in the next games. Although, it’s hard for me to talk about past seasons, as I only really started following the regular season Sharks this year.
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 12:49 AM PDT up reply actions
And that's not at all a bad thing
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
After sobering up a bit, let me re-state something
I think the team still has enough of solid talent to get past a Kings team that most people thought the Sharks were just going to steamroll over. Obviously the playoffs are an entirely different beast and although this loss leaves a bad taste in all our mouths, I’m confident enough to say that they will take one in LA and be able to make the defensive adjustment due to the absence of White and get through this series. Alot of our forwards haven’t made much of an impact, like Heatley, Thornton and Marleau and I think that’s due to change sooner rather than later.
"Release the stone of shame!"
"Woo-hoo!"
"Attach the stone of triumph!"
"D'oh!"
by Alex Houston on Apr 17, 2011 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions
sounds like you can never go to that bar again...
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
GO SHARKS.
by MiniMiteMom on Apr 17, 2011 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ian White gets injured
and we’re back to square one? Hopefully not for long. Come Tuesday let’s take the lead back in Los Angeles.
I've been posting this all over FB whenever SJ Sharkie posts a quote from a disheartened sharks player.
DO IT SOUTH TROY STYLE!
Show up at their house, Steal their women, drink all of their beer; Or in this case, Storm into the Staples Center, steal all of their passes, score all of the goals, and take one in front of their fans!
Feel free to spread it.
Born in SOUTH TROY, NY, Sharks Fan since '91.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free. "-Denis Lemieux
by Scotty Ace on Apr 17, 2011 12:03 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Too bad joe thornton is sitting back with that stupid smile on his face not really caring about whether they win or not cause him and the rest of those rich babies are getting payed millions to stand on some ice with a piece of wood in their hands, fucking pathetic. They will be to busy planning their off season vacations to win a staples because it sure seems like our team checked out early in the playoffs yet again. Nabby must feel great right now
by Montyburnz!...1 on Apr 17, 2011 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions
I never really understood how a person can display such an intense and deep seated hatred for people they have never met, all due to a sports game that the angry person has absolutely no control over. Loving sports is one thing, but having the outcome of one game dictate your feelings on life in general for a night seems unhealthy to me.
If its the amount of money these guys are paid then why do you continue to watch the sport? There seems to unresolved issues you harbor with the economics of professional sports, and while that’s completely fine, feeding the beast by continuing to read sports blogs, buy memorabilia, and attend games is feeding the beast of this machine you seem to oppose.
I don’t think I have to tell you that I feel as if you’ve crossed the line tonight with personal attacks, even if they’re not directed at readers of this site. Consider this your last warning, and an opportunity to contribute to the discussion in a reasonable manner, before you are banned.
"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
by Mr. Plank on Apr 17, 2011 12:20 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions 8 recs
I wasn’t in the Game thread, so I’ll admit I don’t know the history, but his above post just sounds like he’s letting off some steam. It’s frustrating that we Sharks fans get so passionately involved every year during the playoffs but don’t always see that same passion from our team.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:44 AM PDT up reply actions
^
this :(
although i tend to agree with him in principle. if they’re getting paid millions of dollars a year, the most basic thing you’d expect is hard work, motivation, and dedication, all of which were lacking tonight.
Fair play. The compete level was severely lacking tonight and was immensely frustrating. As I said below though, I felt his/her comments strayed from that analysis and took a more personal and hostile turn for the worse.
To get back to your point though, the organization’s event staff might want to reconsider handing out white rally towels before playoff games. Maybe the Sharks got confused and thought the entire arena was waiving 18,000 white flags in the air before the game even got underway (/rimshot).
"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
by Mr. Plank on Apr 17, 2011 1:45 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
It was largely in response to both comments he left— the one above, and this one below. In terms of key words we’ve got “stupid smile”, “rich babies”, “lazy bastards”, “shitheads” littered throughout his/her posts— I feel as if these deviate from an analysis of the game to a personal attack that, while not directed at any individual on this site, severely detracts from any discussion occurring in the comments section.
Fact of the matter is, I expect more from the comments section than that.
It’s definitely not an issue of overly negative “the sky is falling” comments— as much as they grate the nerves, they’re well within the bounds of what I feel is reasonable discussion. It was the hostile display of personal attacks those comments displayed that required action. And it’s going to be that way going forward.
The Sharks played like crap tonight, there’s no doubting that. But let’s leave the personal baggage at the door before coming in with guns blazing about the validity of these athletes as human beings.
"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
Tonight’s performance was inexcusable. And we’ve got two days to sit on it, which makes it worse. But all “the sky is falling” rhetoric will dissipate once people sleep on this game and regain perspective. One thing is indisputable, though. The Kings have clearly shown up to play. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this series go the distance, and with the momentum and confidence both residing about 400 miles south of San Jose right now, I don’t think the idea of an upset is as unimaginable as it was 24 hours ago.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 2:29 AM PDT up reply actions
I concur with Mr. Plank.
additionally—no reason to give up on your team yet… I’m they feel pretty down, or felt pretty down, about tonight. We’re there to cheer them on, by and large.
Be cool, man. :)
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 12:53 AM PDT up reply actions
You should just ban me right now
If Joe Thornton thinks it’s cool to be a minus 24 in the playoffs, that’s great for him. I guess people enjoy when he sits around with some half smirk on his face while providing stumbling excuses on why they always seem to just get destroyed in the playoffs. Win or lose, I will be a fan of this team but I’m also not going to pretend that the top played players on The Sharks don’t consistently get dominated during the most important period of their calendar year as it pertains to their employment. He’s not the only problem as I said in my other post. I don’t think it’s cool that clowe comes out earlier in the season and calls out his teammates only to let them down at a crucial moment. This team deserves harsh words and swift kick in the ass right now, because as i said before, this is a habit for them. I don’t feel like that was particularly hateful but maybe a bit venomous and certainly extremely frustrated, with a team that i have been following for a long time. I am usually the one standing up for these guys but after all the playoff breakdowns, 4-0 loss to a wounded team like LA at home is something I can’t stomach, considering how talented this team is. A win like that changes a series without a doubt and when i see a Shark team that plays with no fire or all fire and no focus, I get doubtful in thinking that they can swing it back in their favor. Joe Thornton needs to remove his head from his ass because he has done nothing but confirm what people thought when he left Boston; great player, but not a big game guy. If he proves me wrong it wouldn’t be a surprised, but if he never does then I wouldn’t be surprised either.
by Montyburnz!...1 on Apr 17, 2011 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
To be fair
Plus minus is a completely useless stat.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
I don’t see how it’s useless but I always hear the players saying that. Never anyone else inside the league
by Montyburnz!...1 on Apr 17, 2011 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I’d expect that “league insiders” are more likely to use advanced metrics like CORSI or advanced Corsi (I hope I used those acronyms/names correctly) to determine a player’s worth. Not sure how widespread it is, but it’s much more telling.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"-Wayne Gretzky"-Michael Scott.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Apr 17, 2011 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I say it’s useless because it tells you absolutely nothing about a player. Lidstrom was a -2 this season. Does that make him a terrible player this season, considering that he’s a +20 or +30 consistently?
Having a minus just means you were on the ice for a goal against. It doesn’t in anyway indicate whether your play was the reason for that or not.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
This is about the playoffs, and a thornton/lidstrom comparison in the post season is laughable. I think the captain is a great asset but he needs to prove himself now when it counts. Joe is a +154 in the reg season and lidstrom is in the mid-300 i believe. He has a lot to prove before he gets into lidstrom territory if you want to be objective about it. I think joe is content to linger and i hope he proves me wrong
by Montyburnz!...1 on Apr 17, 2011 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s not completely useless. It’s useless in small samples sizes, but, over time, it can reveal trends. Going 25 over 93 career playoff games for Thornton? That’s not just a bad start or a couple outliers affecting his average. That’s a long history of under-performing. Lidstrom’s playoff +/? +55.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure why half my post has the strikethrough effect…
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions
cuz you put in a dash somewhere SBN autoformatting strikes again!!
dashes with no spaces
- dashes with spaces -
FtF: Welcome to Opposite Season!
McC: Don't get it? Try the McWiki wiki.
Thank you for a post that is more angry than hostile.
I was at the game and I too am a bit frustrated with Thornton. He does have a habit of not showing up to the playoffs. But lets give him some credit he has shown up during the playoffs (i.e. the semis v. Wings last year). I don’t know what it will take for him to show up in game 3, but I certainly hope he does. Perhaps some “Slap Therapy” might work. And I am willing to volunteer my services to any or all Shark players if they need it going into Tuesdays game.
I don’t have a problem with this comment at all and think you raise a lot of points that can spark some meaningful debate. If you keep it on this end of the spectrum and avoid using the keywords mentioned above, I’m happy to have you as part of the community.
"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 lazy bastards
I have been watching you for 20 years, i went on a field trip to san jose arena when it first opened in like first grade, i was born in SJ. Sharks will always be my team, that being said: Thornton, Marleau, Heatley and that big baby Clowe are a huge fucking embarrassment. The best thing about Sharks games on KICU36? You couldn’t see them all. Fix urselves u shitheads
by Montyburnz!...1 on Apr 16, 2011 11:56 PM PDT reply actions
I hope you don't address your friends and relatives after they make a mistake...
…with the kind of hostility that you have displayed in your posts. If you are, you must be a real drag to be around. Seriously, lighten up, it’s just one game.
dude
i dont say this to many people, but you’re making yourself sound like an absolutely pathetic and terrible fan. fix your own personal issues that seem to have seeped out (or come out like a rushing river, more so) before you go off on rants like that bud.
by tealstherealdeal92 on Apr 17, 2011 4:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Honestly...when it's the real shit aka playoffs...I expected more out of this team.
Fix your problems for Tuesday as best you can – T-mac…get on their asses please >_>
Go Sharks.
Go Sharks!
Tonight was painful to watch
But honestly, why would you throw in the towel for the team at this point? The series is tied 1-1. This team is not the team of past years. This team has shown time and time again that they can rebound stronger in a game after a bad loss. Yes, I’m a little worried, but thats a natural human emotion. There were a lot of negatives in this game (unable to stop the LA cycle, unable to sustain any offensive zone pressure and cycle, unable to get quality shots, lackluster penalty kill and power play, etc. etc.) But it was only one game out of 7. This team will have some hard practicing over the next few days, which will benefit them and strengthen them. It will be an interesting and up and down series for sure.
Hockey is like a box of choclates. But not really, hockey is way better.
"Who throws an umbrella!?" - Randy Hahn.
This team has shown that they are capable of fucking anything up, that’s it
by Montyburnz!...1 on Apr 17, 2011 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions
All teams are capable of doing that at this point in the year. Its the team that comes together after a loss like this that can be even more dangerous than before. The Sharks took LA for granted and they are most likely looking at themselves in the mirror, seeing what they can do to get stronger. Yes, it is really annoying seeing this team give an effort like that. But thats hockey, thats the playoffs, you never know whats going to happen. One team comes out on top, and tonight, it was LA.
Hockey is like a box of choclates. But not really, hockey is way better.
"Who throws an umbrella!?" - Randy Hahn.
by Pavsisaninja on Apr 17, 2011 12:14 AM PDT up reply actions
I here ya. And the foolish part of me expects the Sharks to be fully motivated in Game 3 and dominate an inferior team. But that’s the problem exactly — it shouldn’t take an embarrassing loss to motivate a team at this point int he year. If you’re not already motivated by the fact that this is the f***ing playoffs, go home. I would be shocked, absolutely SHOCKED, if, in any of the next five games, the Kings played as poorly as the Sharks just did.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions
where have you been all season?
you are free to go and root for another team… and it’s one game… and losses happen. 4-0 isn’t the worst score in the world either… perhaps having other things in your life to keep you somewhat happy when sports disappoint you might be good? I hope you feel better soon, bud.
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 12:54 AM PDT up reply actions
I have been here the whole time and while i may get angry at players i dont feel the need to play amateur psychoanalyst on sports messaging boards either. If you want to act like this team doesn’t have a habit of messing up and checking out early then go ahead. I can’t see how shutting out a rival at in their own building 4-0 isn’t going to have a huge effect on this series, especially since they get to go back home now but I’m going to keep watching. I would thank you to not get personal with your comments though if you are so sensitive.
by Montyburnz!...1 on Apr 17, 2011 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Dude look at Boston they lost both games at home. I think we need to be thankful that this series is tied at one a piece.
Also similar—the way Montreal and the Kings are playing. That’s the real issue for teams like Boston and San Jose.
The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo
by Timorous Me on Apr 17, 2011 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
We should be thankful that we’re having loads of trouble with L.A. and might lose this series if we don’t shape up, because some team three thousand miles away is having more trouble than we are?
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions
I have but one thing to say, then I'll shut it:
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
Bleeding teal since 1997
Noctro is a HORRIBLE stenographer...but he's a GREAT SJ Sharks Fan!!!
Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own.
My Twitter
I am in no way shape or form despairing
And I’m confident we will still succeed in this series and beyond but…
It’s fucking aggravating to see this ever-so-familiar display of no-show from our boys. It’d be nice if the players would want this with the consistent intensity of the fans. Really we’ve all discussed it to death over the years but this pattern of apparent apathy that seems to be able to strike at any time makes it seem like it’s a flip of the coin as to whether or not Sharkies are coming out to play.
Blarg.
We havent lost this bad in a while.
last time we did? we came back and won a lot of games… so i’m not too worried.
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
I rushed the farm's crappy field in 2009
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
I don’t know how you can see their penalty kill and not be worried…
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions
to me...
the pk is either good, or bad… when it’s good, it’s great (the other team gets one or two shots), when it’s bad… well, yeah… I do hope that TMac makes some adjustments… I think it’s when the high guy follows the puck around too much and doesn’t keep his position… (Bret on CSN drew my attention to that) maybe they’ve been coached to play that way. I don’t know. I’m choosing to not worry about it though… :)
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 12:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Their PK has been in the dumps for quite awhile. I doubt there’s anything TMac’s gonna tell them in the next two days that’s going to magically turn things around. The coaching staff is not out on the ice. It’s up to the players to start competing.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 1:02 AM PDT up reply actions
A lot of terrible penalties last night. Not only does that lead to goals against due to the fact that their PK is in shambles, but it tires them out and destroys their rhythm. What a game. Keeps you humble.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
This post-game write-up literally sounds like it could’ve come from any and every single one of our playoff losses in the past five years. Calling out the top line, questioning the team’s “compete level,” bemoaning our special teams struggles… The 2+ months of dominant play that brought us from last to first in the division seem like a distant memory…
Considering what’s at stake, I was genuinely expecting to get the Superman version of the Sharks. Instead, I got to watch three hours of Clark Kent laying an egg.
Can someone please explain to me how a professional hockey team can go into an NHL PLAYOFF game against a DIVISION RIVAL and be that unprepared, that unmotivated, and that lackadaisical? I mean, if you think about it, we’re one overtime goal away from being down 2-0 headed into L.A. This team that we all assumed had no offense, this team who was all but written off by everyone including their own fans, this team that’s missing it’s best center, just thoroughly dominated us. Before the series, we were all in here laughing, thanking our luck at drawing the Kings, trying to sound modest as we claimed that “Quick might be able to steal them a game, but this series will be over in five games.” Ha! This thing’s going seven, and if things don’t change fast, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Kings “upset” us.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:26 AM PDT reply actions
but...
the Sharks didn’t get where they are by being supermen… they got here by playing tight, close games, with team D, and finding ways to win close games. That is the style of game we should hope they keep playing in the playoffs. I don’t think we should let ourselves get distracted by our desire to see huge routs and such… this team has rebounded by putting a priority on stinginess… if anything, they need to get back to that, in my humble opinion. We won’t win the Stanley Cup with a “total domination” mentality. If you think that way… that’s when teams surprise and humble you… I think the Sharks may realize this more than we do… if so, good.
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 1:00 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m not saying they should think they are going to dominate every game. I’m saying they should play like they believe they can dominate every game, and, more importantly, like they want to dominate every game. I saw zero desire tonight.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 1:04 AM PDT up reply actions
well said.
this seems a good example of a non- ponies and rainbows view of the team.
and i agree with all of it, especially this:
This post-game write-up literally sounds like it could’ve come from any and every single one of our playoff losses in the past five years. Calling out the top line, questioning the team’s "compete level," bemoaning our special teams struggles…
this is the same team, regardless of significant changes in key positions, like goalie and depth lines. the core is the same, the philosophy is the same.
it seems 2 things had changed over the past few months though: scoring depth emerged, and will to win permeated the team’s success. neither were on display last night, and we are left with what has been this fan bases undoing for 3+ years now: great expectations and bigger disappointment.
meeeeow -cats everywhere
by Jay Fin Anderson on Apr 17, 2011 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Can someone please explain to me how a professional hockey team can go into an NHL PLAYOFF game against a DIVISION RIVAL and be that unprepared, that unmotivated, and that lackadaisical?
This is my biggest concern. After all these years, after all the poor postseason play, and after getting called out year after year in the media to the point where you are a continual laughing stock…how in the world do you come out and allow yourselves to get dominated, in your own home, against an opponent who is vastly inferior to yourselves in almost every way???
If it’s “the wake up call”, then WHY do they still NEED wake up calls to motivate themselves to actually show up in a postseason series? Do they learn nothing from the years before? Why can’t they just come out in the playoffs and play talented, inspired, motivated hockey just because thats what you do in the playoffs? Why do they always have to shit the bed and then talk about “wake up calls”? I just don’t get it…
"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 Apr 17, 2011 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agree...
…they blew an opportunity that should have given them an EASY win last night.
While I didn’t agree with a single game suspension for a call that banned players on our line for two, you make use of the opportunity.
This one was squandered.
Do I think we will lose the series? Hell no.
But like ZI, the team really should know by now that blowing opportunities like this is not a way to ensure opponents, “Fear the Fin.”
IMO.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
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Noctro is a HORRIBLE stenographer...but he's a GREAT SJ Sharks Fan!!!
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WHY do they still NEED wake up calls to motivate themselves to actually show up in a postseason series?
That, my friend, is the $64,000 question. And it’s one that I remember asking last year in the first round, against Anaheim in the first round the year before, and at numerous points not only during the playoffs, but the regular season as well. These guys are professional athletes, you don’t get to their level without being internally motivated. That just makes it all the more frustrating.
by Chicago Shark on Apr 17, 2011 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Rhapsody in Teal, for this posting you should change your name to "Gloominess in Teal"...
…did the Sharks lay an egg in game 2? Yes they did. They were terrible in the pp, pk and in general called it in instead of showing up to the game. But there is an explanation, I think the absence of Ian White was a huge problem. Yeah, yeah, yeah….the Kings didn’t have Kopitar or Stoll. True, but White is a huge piece to our defense and with him gone Boyle played 35 min in game 1 and high 20s in game 2. Yes, Justin Braun is good, but he’s no Ian White. I’m glad the Sharks have 2.5 days before game 3. They’ll need it to work on the problems that they have. I think that everyone here needs to chill out and have faith the the Sharks will show up in game 3 and kick jewels right out of the King’s crown.
WTF?
I was livid after watching tonight’s game, especially with all of my friends who are Kings fans and all of my asshole bandwagon riding friends texting me, telling me to ditch watching the game and come out to some stupid hipster bar with them. When I told them to fuck off, they started Jeering on the Sharks. Thanks, shit for brains…now i really want to hang with you guys-NOT. Anyway….
My g/f and I talked about it for a bit after the game, she said it definitely wasn’t the same team as last night, but she thinks it’s fluke win for LA. I tend to agree with her.
On the drive home, I cooled. Soon as I got on FB I saw Sharkie’s repost from Couture’s twitter: “Frustrated, and disappointed. Best of 5 now. Time for us to rebound and show what we are made of. Stay behind us fans!”
Granted, That was some dog shit play tonight, we were in it for about 8 minutes at the start like Coach TMac said, then The penalties started. Once again, the officiating sucked. I don’t want to sound accusatory, and it certainly is no excuse for lack of firey play, but it seemed like those purple morons were going down faster than a cold beer on a summer day, with all the dives the kings were taking. I think Terry Murray had a little convo with them, especially after the Stoll suspension and the “no call” on that Demers hit last night. I noticed a lot more Kings embelishing… maybe to draw penalties and exploit the weak San Jose Penalty Kill? Perhaps. Either way, nothing we can do about it now.
Regardless of what happened tonight and how bad it was, it’s important to let the boys know: as long as you’re in teal and black, we’ve got your back.
One more important thing to think about: This little losing streak started when the Sharks got stomped by the ducks 6-2. It was awful. Sharks won two games (coyotes @ SJ, and Game 1).but got lit up tonight. Now they’re going on the road. Last time they had this pattern and went on the road, it was preceded by that nasty 6 game losing streak. From then on Team Teal was pretty unstoppable, going on that little tear that lead them to rise and eventually clinch the Pacific Div title. Sound familiar now? Yeah…They’re good on the road when they lose at home for some reason. Sharks fell behind last year to the Avs- the fucking Avs, the team that sucked worse than the Kings do this year, and still bounced back and took care of business. It ain’t over yet.
KEEP THE FAITH- GO SHARKS!
Born in SOUTH TROY, NY, Sharks Fan since '91.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free. "-Denis Lemieux
sorry guys....
i wasnt able to be online tonight… hopefully that didnt throw off the mojo :(
still watched, and wow was i ever disappointed. sloppy as hell, no urgency, and totally out of sync.
time to take this in 5, lets get to work in LA!
by tealstherealdeal92 on Apr 17, 2011 12:43 AM PDT reply actions
i got way too many texts tonight saying.....
Chokers.
Its completely ridiculous to say that based on last year, but if the Sharks pull an 09-10 playoffs, then I personally would facilitate such texts.
Its only one game. I thought the sharks looked slow tonight besides not moving their feet, not playing physical as the leagues biggest team, and being completely off sync. Any chance of McGinn or Ferreiro coming into the lineup for Game 3?
And to think, once upon a time, the Sharks were habitual overachievers. Three times more heart than talent. The teams leading up to about 5 years ago never disappointed me. They always left it all on the ice, and I was always proud of them.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:59 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
my thoughts after the game... forgive me if I sound repetative
I posted this on Yahoo… gonna do it again here, and maybe on the next article as well. It’s my "mojo" contribution.
"I do want to say this, however (I already extended congrats to the Kings on their win): it isn’t about how many goals you score, or how many points you get in a win. Sure, fans love it when it happens. Players love it when it happens. Even coaches love it. My point is this (and I’ve made it off and on over the second half of the season): winning is what matters, and close games are often better for a team than winning via blowout bc it keeps you on your toes. Granted, the close win in the opener didn’t do too much for the Sharks tonight, but I think that was because the team has gotten sort of used to scoring over the past few weeks and is now relying too much on offense. What turned their season around wasn’t offense: it was team defense. The goals will come—just pinch in your own zone and lock down the other team with team D. The Sharks were very good at this for about two months until mid-march when they started winning via blowout… They kept the team D for awhile, but lost it against Anaheim (and one or two games over the previous few weeks). It’s time to get back to that. When they do that, they win (for the most part, and I do mean most). And I believe that that is also how you will win consistently in the playoffs. Play stingy and find ways to win close games. The Sharks best strategy this year has really been Team D, keep it close by not allowing the other team to run away with it, wear them down, then come on strong at the end. I think this is how the team can go all the way this year. If they do this, I think they have a very good chance… but as I said, the high number of high scoring games in march kind of got the Sharks away from this style and strategy.
"So, as I said, the important thing isn’t winning by lots of goals… the important thing is having a strategy in place that you can implement night after night. If that strategy involves even INTENTIONALLY playing close games (by focusing on defense and realizing that your chances on offense will come), then do that, and do it consistently. I myself am responsible for getting away from this mindset… I started listening to Sharks fans (bless them) who wanted to win by more than one or two goals. I became one of these fans. I must now "repent" of that. :)
"On the Kings side: you have some good strategies in place as well, particularly when it comes to the way your team positions itself on the ice. It should be a good series from here on out. If the Sharks can get back to the style of play that they discovered after their skid in January, I’m fairly confident. See you all in LA."
I’m honestly not that worried about the Sharks, as long as they get back to that tight game style they were playing throughout all of Februeary, and some of January, and some of March. They can beat any team in the league when they play that way. I still believe it.
And yes, I do think that, as SJ fans, we’re a bit spoiled because of the offensive weapons on the team. We “expect” wins by large margins… but you don’t win that way in the playoffs, I don’t think, and “we” didn’t win that way in the second half of the regular season, for the most part (if offense was enough, we would have beaten Chicago in the conf. finals last year). And yes… I do think that expecting, or possibly demanding, blowout victories, is detrimental to the team insofar as that mentality leaks through to the team. I don’t think we want to be sending them that msg, because it takes away from the strategy and the game style that got them where they are now, and lifted them out of the basement of the Western Conf. Cheers, all. And I hope we hogtie and stifle the Kings in LA.
I have another callsign on this site btw...
just made another with my theme for the night, week, season as my callsign.
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions
so yeah...
I’ll take the Raiders slogan… it doesn’t work for them (because they genuinely have very little raw talent, and they are mismanaged): just win, baby. We don’t care if it’s by a little, or a lot.
(And, to reiterate one more time: I actually prefer winning by a little, as it keeps the team sharp. A win is a win. In fact, the positive spin on tonight’s game is that LA might be a little too comfortable going into the next game. If the Sharks get back to their winning form—wearing teams down and not allowing many goals via team D, goaltending, and great communication between goalie, d-men, and “forwards,” then they should have an extra nice chance to take the next game, and the ones afterwards as well—consistency is key—consistent strategy, play, and therefore teamwork and expectations between team members). Why am I saying all this? Do I think it will somehow help the Sharks? In a roundabout way, yes, because I’m a fan with a fan’s mentality. :p I also think it helps the fans… to not be down when the Sharks lose, and to maybe understand why I think they lost… and to realize that goal differentials aren’t the important stat, and really have nothing to do with winning… beyond getting the winning goal). Ok. I think I’ve said enough. May repost my theme again before Tuesday… but I PROBABLY won’t (in long form). Don’t want to spam. :)
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 1:16 AM PDT up reply actions
So many Buttercrunch-type posts by brand-new FTF & SBN members.
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
Shameless plug for my music.
yeah
I noticed the same thing. My money is on stingy-teamD
Proud member of the "Bring Back Semenov" Club
"The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly." - Jamie Baker
"You are down with the homies, my friend." - Randy Hahn
Kent Huskins cares.
stingy-teamD is also anduriliam and Puckhappy
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
ElvisVF101 is also buttercrunch and boyledshark
Fear The Fin's Fifth-String Moderator !!
by idunno723 on Apr 17, 2011 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd.
This is coming from a moderator, so it must be true!
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"-Wayne Gretzky"-Michael Scott.
by SharksFanEst.1994 on Apr 17, 2011 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Who has that much time on there hands?
TBH, I didn’t read about 95% of the posts on this thread.
Proud member of the "Bring Back Semenov" Club
"The only crying allowed in hockey is when you lose a playoff series, retire or JR is speaking publicly." - Jamie Baker
"You are down with the homies, my friend." - Randy Hahn
Kent Huskins cares.
I appreciate your positive spirit and uplifting perspective, and I agree that team defense is very important — and yes, when they started committing to team defense, they turned things around. At the same time, this is a team whose strength is its offense. They’re not going to switch to a defense-first game plan. I mean, a third of their payroll is being wasted on tied up in their top three forwards.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 1:21 AM PDT up reply actions
yeah...
but I think that the committment to D really was the key—the forwards did it too…
The chances will come if you’re playing a controlled game, and I think that’s when the forwards of SJ capitalize. The forwards are good enough to win any close game. If they keep it close, the forwards almost always find a way to win.
It’s something special about this team: when they’re up by one, tied, or down by one, they simply can taste victory more than the opposing team, I think.
So in answer to your question or statement, I think the “switch” as you put it, was already made this Spring. Team D became the focus. We’ve gotten away from it a bit, because I believe the controlled game mentality actually started paying off with huge wins… but those are gift games… I don’t think you can hope for huge wins. They come, or they don’t come. But if you control your game and keep it close, you give every chance in the world to your forwards to win it down the stretch—every single game. Eh, just my two cents.
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 1:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I'll say one thing more...
:p
Since I expect and hope for a locked down, controlled game from SJ—I can’t very well expect to “win” a discussion outright, either (although I’m really on here to just make some online friends and share Sharks love with ppl). tongue in cheek comment.
I understand the point about the offense… but the forwards are paid to be players first.
So, offense itself isn’t a constant (I don’t think), so you can’t really make it your foundation. Offense is intermittent, and it’s foundation is strong goal-tending, good D, good breakouts, and then good entries into the O-zone.
SJ’s forwards seem to play best when the goal differential is small—when they can taste possible victory or fear a possible defeat. Since games are long, play the team D, trust the forwards to make the most of chances, and this ensures that the players in the forward most position can win it over 60 minutes (or the d-men—who are also players foremost). The fact that SJ’s players in the forward position are so good only makes the scoring chances all the more likely to succeed, and only makes a victory down the stretch that much more assured.
This is a strategy… one I think that SJ has already used this season to great success (you can disagreewith me on that point if you wish—no harm done—I think it is the point we were actually in disagreement on). I think it is a way to “calculate” victories, and I think that SJ wins 80-90 percent of the games they play in this way, precisely because, as you might say, their forwards are so good (they close out the close games very well).
Well, all the best. I look forward to reading any and all responses… :) wishing you all the best!
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 1:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Really hard game to watch.
Not to take anything away from the Kings, but the Sharks just didn’t show up to win tonight… Looking forward to a better effort on Tuesday.
This is my first post here. I usually read the recaps, breakdowns, etc and move on. I came here tonight thinking that after such a horrible game I would find some words of encouragement, something to dull the pain, but instead I’ve been shocked by some of the negativity (with some exceptions). Everyone has a right to their anger and frustration. What I can’t believe is that some people have written off the team already. LA is putting up a fight: good. I’d hate to beat a team that rolled over and died. That’s not going to prepare the Sharks for the next round (and I believe there will be a next round). It’s one game. I don’t know about you all, but I picked the Sharks in 5, so as far as I’m concerned, they are right on schedule.
As for the game itself, yeah I wish they would have lost 4-3 or 2-1, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what the score was, the series is 1-1. The score is an indication of some issues, but they are fixable issues. I wish the Sharks were perfect and learned everything they needed to in the regular season, but these are the Sharks and sometimes they have to be kicked in the face before they remember to show up. If that didn’t happen every now and again, I wouldn’t recognize them. I’m not an expert and I don’t pretend to know much about anything, but I wanted to say something. Go Sharks!
most of the time it's not that negative...
but yeah, some of the negativity was, or maybe is, a bit embarrassing…
Thanks for stopping by and saying something! I run my mouth with opinions and statements on here… so you certainly can! Come again, please.
by stingy-teamD on Apr 17, 2011 1:59 AM PDT up reply actions
You have to show up to get kicked in the face…
We’re not concerned because we think the Kings are better than the Sharks. We’re concerned because the Sharks should never play with such lack of discipline and motivation in a playoff game. As for us fans, give everyone a chance to sleep on it, and I guarantee you 90% of the people in here still think the Sharks will win this series. But they absolutely cannot play another game like the one tonight (last night, technically). If they give away a game against a team like Detroit of Vancouver, the series could be over. You can rarely afford to give away playoff games.
With all that said, welcome to Fear the Fin.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 2:20 AM PDT up reply actions
The reaction here is expected
If the Sharks lost one of the first two games in this series, people would be freaking out. The sky seems to fall after a single playoff loss, no matter when.
Things to consider going forward are:
1) The Kings are playing a suffocating-style of game that is not crowd pleasing or entertaining. They might dull their own crowd to death so much that being in LA won’t matter the next two games.
2) I didn’t watch the game, but from comments it seems to me like LA played an absolutely perfect game tonight. Have to give credit to them for pulling it off; I can’t just look at “Shark failure” as the only thing. That said, the Kings have been up-and-down all year in bunches….
3) The 2 day layoff comes at a good time. If the game outcomes were swapped, the Sharks could lose momentum during the extra break day. Gives a little more time to work on a few things as well.
Win or lose I don’t really gain any tangible benefits from all this apart from a short term adrenaline rush. On the other hand, the players do, and it’s in their hands to do that for themselves.
If the FTF members want to blame anyone, blame me! After I put together that “WINNING” quote photoshop three weeks ago it seemed to mess everything up. I failed to post it after the 6-1 win against LA and after game 1. The Sharks lost the next game both times.
Please don't eat the unicorn.
Winning: n. "An ongoing cycle of competence and achievement in various endeavors. You cannot win; there is only the continuous action of winning."
Suffocating style
in order to play a this way, you need to skate hard off the puck. Something that the Sharks aren’t prepared to do.
I'm with you PavsGal!
Here’s what I wish I could do to Thornton and the rest of the team before game 3. I think that will wake them up. GO SHARKS!!!!
I was in Jewels from the Crown the other day cringing, because 90% of their comments were writing off their own team. Reading their game thread from tonight’s game is hilarious. How quickly they’ve changed their minds… LOL.
The comments about how not a single one of their players had a bad game were particularly interesting considering we were all in here saying the same exact thing after the Sharks stomped them 6-1 less than two weeks ago. We lost the next two games…
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 2:40 AM PDT reply actions
That's because Kings fans, like Sharks fans and probably everyone else
frequently act like whatever just happened is the only thing that ever happened and is the thing that will continue to happen.
That, and the fact that going ape-****apocalyptic after every loss is a win-win. If the teams craps out, you were right. If they rebound, they “showed you something.”
Wait till this year.
by Quisp on Apr 17, 2011 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Honestly
I think that the rest of the league/fans use the choker label to get into the heads of the Sharks and their fans. And look, it’s working: The moment someone calls the Sharks a choker, don’t you feel yourself get riled up, a little flustered, your emotions unstable? It’s exactly what they want to do, make you feel unbalanced and insecure. I think that both the team and the fans need to take a hint and ignore the labels, the hype, the media, everything. Just calm down, play the game, and cheer the team.
That’s not to say that we should ignore the problems we had tonight (we had plenty). But if we want to get anywhere in this series, it’s definitely not gonna happen if we all sit around whining while looking in the rearview mirror. Game 2 was awful, but it was a learning experience: We have some severe holes in our D that need to be addressed, and our forecheck needs to step up if we want to get anywhere in the postseason.
I’ll conclude by saying that the series is still where I want it to be; I wasn’t expecting a sweep (I believe most said Sharks in 5?). We don’t listen to the trolls, the idiots yelling “CHOKE!” outside the arena. We keep our heads up, and we move on.
Go Sharks.
"He's like a swedish bear"- Randy Hahn, during the Sharks-Canucks brawl on 4.8.2010
by Joeface on Apr 17, 2011 3:03 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
What did we learn? You have to compete? You have to skate? You have to be prepared and disciplined?… We haven’t learned these things yet?
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Sharks fan did that to themselves
Permanently applied the choker label based on unreasonable expectations and a lack of understanding of hockey.
Being a hockey fan and living in the Bay Area for the last 15+ years I have been amazed at the level of arrogance and entitlement. What I see is an attitude – that because the Sharks have put good teams on the ice and been able to net world class talent through trades the Sharks are automatically going to be a sucess in the playoffs. It’s childish.
The Kings are a great young hockey team. They have played some of the best defense in the NHL this season. All four lines execute their system competently. Had a couple of breaks gone in the Kings favor during the season they would have won 50 games and the Pacific Division. I don’t get why any Sharks fan would believe that the Kings are a patsy. If you do then you are not really paying attention to NHL Hockey.
I hope this San Jose fan’s delusion of greatness has afflicted the Sharks locker room. And if it has the Sharks are going down once again.
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 17, 2011 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree that we have applied the “choker” label ourselves. At least we have bought into it more than anyone. I think sometimes it’s easier to believe the team has choked than to think they might just have lost.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
The Kings Are anything but young.
Unless you were born in the 60’s
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
Bleeding teal since 1997
Noctro is a HORRIBLE stenographer...but he's a GREAT SJ Sharks Fan!!!
Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own.
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by Noctro on Apr 17, 2011 11:49 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
6th...
but were 1st or 2nd most of the season before the trade-deadline dumps.
http://www.nhlnumbers.com/teams?sort=average_age&order=asc&year=
Sig-na...ture
Sharks need to stop having so many mental lapses or there gonna lose the series.
hey everyone I’m new here, I’m a huge sharks fan and I enjoy talking about them. I’m happy there’s a blog where I can talk about the team I love. I was over at golden state of mind and all they do is argue about who is better monta Ellis or steph curry. I needed a break lol.
by GSkush on Apr 17, 2011 3:13 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
i think there is always this false perception that the Sharks would win every game if they just played with “heart” and “desire.” They’re the more talented team, but that doesn’t mean they win every night. Kings are a great team as well. Sometimes the other team outplays you and makes you look foolish. I think that’s what happened today, but it doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen every day from now on.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 3:30 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Heart and desire don’t make you invincible — but they help you to not lose 4-0 in a playoff game in front of nearly 20,000 people that probably paid an average of $400 each in tickets, food, beer, paraphernalia and parking, and another some odd million watching on T.V.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t think that’s true at all. You can have all the heart in the world and still get blown out by a team that is outplaying you on the day. The sharks were very plainly desperate to score a goal in the 3rd period, just for pride. Are you telling me that if they had just had “heart,” the hockey gods would have smiled upon them and let one trickle in?
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
not exactly, I’m just saying that I don’t think heart is the magical answer for why a team wins or loses, scores or gets scored on.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Nope. It’s not. But it’s part of the formula.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Didn't someone say earlier in the thread that the Sharks team...
…during the Owen Nolan era had heart. They never got past the 2nd round in the playoffs either. And I seem to remember some pretty bad losses during a few of the PO series back then.
rec'd
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 17, 2011 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Jumbo and Marleau were MIA in the first round of last year's playoffs
Unlike most teams, our top two stars don’t always earn their money.
Lack of Compete
If your coach has to call you out for a lack of competitiveness in a Stanley Cup playoff series when you’re at home and up 1-0 on a fortunate OT win in game one, then you have some major flaws as a group/team.
The Sharks Penalty Kill is not good enough to stop LA’s D-men from the point (we’re not fast enough) so it would be best of SJ could stop taking stupid penalties (Ben Eager & Ryane Clowe).
Although we did generate a lot of shots and some good scoring chances, Quick was fantastic and will be all series long. Discipline, patience and a high compete level are what will win this series. I really hope the guys weren’t thinking this was going to be easy and looking past LA? Boy what a mistake that would be. I still say we have the easiest draw in the West because of the close proximity to LA and because Kopitar is out.
Yes, the Kings have a fantastic Defense, but I’m still not worried about our chances. In every series you face adversity, we had ours last night, no Ian White, and a flat performace at home. Now things are even and we all know that Patty, Jumbo and the boys do not want to bow out in the first round again. So I think we’ll see a nice bounce back effort and we’ll find the back of the net with a much higher compete level.
If the Sharks play smart penalty free hockey, we can and will win this series. It just won’t be in 5 games, but who really cares as long as you get r done!
GO SHARKS!!!
Facing a team that’s tougher than people expected when you’re down a defenseman is adversity. Going into a Stanley Cup playoff game with no motivation and no discipline? That’s something a lot scarier than adversity.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions
One game...
Does not make a series. For people to act like the sky is falling because the Sharks stunk it up (give LA some credit for that) is why many fans lack perspective. If however, we lose both games in LA and are down 3-1 then the odds are we will lose the series. Or, better put, LA beat us.
Try not to put all your emotions and feelings for this team into one bad game, that is rediculous!
Forwards on the PK
I just don’t like how the Sharks forwards defend the blueliners on the PK. A lot of the times a defenceman passes the puck along the blueline to the other side the weak side forward stays back and the strong side forward switches sides. The puck always moves faster than the player so the defenceman on the other side has lots of time to set up a shot or a pass. Yes, it is a shot from far out but it can lead to goals and juicy tip or rebound chances with traffic in front of the gaoltender. I haven’t seen other teams defending like that. Good PKs usually try to pressure the defenceman as soon as he gets the puck to deny a shot, take away time to pass or force him out of the zone in the best case.
I agree
additionally, with the added time kings are able to skate down and towards the center of the goal, take a shot, then move back to the blue line. Maybe the PK should try to shut down one side, even though it gives a little more time on the other side for the kings, at least nemo can focus on the one side of the O zone
Everyone agrees, including TMac. That’s why, after the first two penalties, both of which resulted in goals, the Sharks started pressuring the blueline and killed the rest of their penalties.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Without a doubt. With the series tied 1-1, I actually have to give the “tiebreaker” to the Kings so far this series. They dominated us for the second half of the first game as well as the majority of overtime, and they absolutely destroyed us in Game 2. When the Sharks start playing hockey again, the Kings will get more than they bargained for (see first period of Game 1), but at this point, my nod goes to the Kings.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
we could easily be playing the blackhawks or the ducks. We could easily be wearing teal instead of black. We could have easily drafted Dustin Brown instead of Milan Michalek.
The series isn’t 0-2, it’s 1-1. Who cares what it could be or what it “deserves” to be.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Crazy-ish theory time.
I think all the shit talk from Murray got into the Sharks heads between games. The “FIVE TIMES,” “it’s gonna be bloody,” “we’re gonna make them pay,” “expect physicality,” etc. etc. got them all riled up (especially Clowe and Eager) and they started doing stupid crap. If Clowe isn’t thinking for two days “they’re gonna run my partner in crime, I gotta be ready to throw down” does he take that elbowing penalty? I tend to think not. A lot of Clowe’s penalties this year have come because he’s amped up, and I think this is no exception.
The Sharks let Murray define their game for them. They’re listening to the wrong coach and once they realized they’d screwed up, they retreated instead of getting into the “fuck you, we’re coming back” mindset. So now they’ve got to decide; is Murray going to determine their play in LA with his talk or are they going to raise the middle finger and show LA where they can shove their mind games?
If what they’ve said so far is true, it sounds a lot like the Boyle own-goal from last year. If they follow through, the Kings are in for a world of hurt.
Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!
Dude are you going to do this all day?
Because I think you need a hobby that involves less crying into spilled milk.
Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!
I think we should just ignore him
He seems intent on moping about here. He’ll probably bolt as soon as the Sharks start playing well.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
Is this place only for people that are rosy all the time? He’s not attacking anyone, going overboard with foul or offensive language, or trolling in any way. Let’s not start attacking each other. A dangerous precedent is being set in here with all attempted controlling of how people should act and what they should say…
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions
People don't have to be rosy
But rationality would be nice. Negativity is not at all banned over here at FtF. A good portion of this season was spent being negative.
But people who have been commenting relentlessly about how this season is over (or at least implying that) with no legitimate points of argument? Yeah, that’s no good.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
We all deal with shit differently. I’m just as tired of being told I should be losing my shit as you apparently are of being told not to be angry. And I don’t appreciate my attempts at actual conversation being shot down with comments that barely touch on the subject matter of what I said in order to just shit on the team for yet another time in this thread.
Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!
This seems like a stretch to me. I admit, it’s possible, but you’re giving Murray a friggin’ ton of credit. Considering the fact that the Sharks are typically accused of being unmotivated and emotionally uninvolved during the playoffs, I wouldn’t think Murray would want to wake the sleeping dragon. If his intent WAS to try to get inside their heads and steal a game, and he chose to do it with “this is war” rhetoric, then, like the rest of last night’s game, everything went absolutely perfect… too perfect. He runs the risk of motivating a team that is extremely difficult to handle when they play motivated hockey. Our last perfect game was against these very Kings, the last time we met in the regular season, and we went on to lose our next two games.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree that it’s a bit of a stretch, which is why I called it a crazy theory. I don’t think he’s in the head of the entire team. But a few guys? Maybe. And it may have also gotten into the heads of the refs, who didn’t want a repeat of Stoll and Demers from the first game and wanted to crack down as hard as they could and were watching for any signs of aggression from anyone. We just got caught first.
Personally, I don’t think the Sharks started the game unmotivated. They were flying around the ice until they took three stupid penalties in a row and got beat on two of them. Then they became tentative at the same time as the Kings went into “trap, trap, trap, and then trap” mode, which is perfect for their D. From there, I think the team got progressively worse as the night went on, with a few exceptions (Couture, Braun, and Pavelski, mainly).
Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!
by Auth0r on Apr 17, 2011 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
This
The game started off extremely well. But, after those penalty calls and missed PKs? The team completely changed, and just seemed to shift their game plan.
They looked amped up at the start, and that lead to some stupid penalties. They just need to calm down and not get frazzled. This series is far from over, and IMO the Sharks are still the better team. One bad game/good game doesn’t define either team.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
Agreed!
People are completely discounting the first part of this game, where the Sharks WERE screaming around the ice, crashing the net, and pushing people around. They looekd good, and I got to thinking “man, the Kings are in for a real ass whooping tonight”… then the penalties started. by the 3rd or 4th one Sharks started to fade and it started to look like they were shell shocked, so to speak. Didn’t want to do anything to draw another penalty. And once those two Kings Power Play goals went in, they started tripping over their own team mates and even their own feet. And the game was pretty much over.
Terry Murray was talking some pretty hard shit, and given the fact that the first part of the game looked like it did, I think you’re right- the missed PK’s really did a number on the sharks and after the 8 or whatever (lost count) penalties I had to start thinking, “man these refs really have a kill boner for calling… everything.” It’s not like the calls were false, they were pretty clear when they aired the replay. I think it was one of the calls on Clowe against Doughty, they had the replay and Doughty went down pretty easily. The more I think about it, the more it seems the Kings players were a little too easy to down. Anyone else see this or am I imagining things?
I really don’t care how much shit Terry Murray or Kings fans talk- even if they pull off the upset (not likely), they don’t have a turbo charged snowball’s chance in hell for the race to the cup. Literally, ANYONE could knock them out next.
Born in SOUTH TROY, NY, Sharks Fan since '91.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free. "-Denis Lemieux
the moment early on that was really heartbreaking for me was when Marleau nearly corralled the puck for a shorthanded breakaway, but couldn’t quite get a hold of it. Kings went to the other end and scored…the game was never really the same after that.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't believe that
It’s a nice theory, but has no basis in fact. No one gives a shit what a coach from the opposing team says, he’s not on the ice. There is NO excuse for Eagers stupid and obvious slash (did he even bother to think about it first?) he has a rep for taking bad penalties and Clowe plays with his emotions on his sleeve. If we had a decent PK, and we don’t, then we could kill off some of these penalties. We’re making LA’s PP look good, and it’s not. This team is flawed and Niemi, like his predicesor, covers them up a lot with his outstanding play, but in the playoffs these flaws are exploited and magnified. Losing White does hurt a lot and may be the difference in this series. But let’s be honest, if we can’t even beat LA, how are we going to beat Detroit or better yet Vancouver? We’re not, unless the team is ALWAYS willing to play McClellan’s system. I never get down if we lose, as long as I know that maximum effort was given, and last Saturday it was not.
I'm not at all concerned
It’s a disappointing game, for sure. But if those two early PP goals don’t go in? I’m guessing the Sharks would’ve won. It threw the guys off completely, and they didn’t recover.
I don’t expect this sort of play continue. I don’t buy any of that “lack of heart”, “don’t want it enough”, “weak minded”, “chokers”, etc. talk. That’s just nonsense that fans/media spout in an attempt to rationalize whats happening.
The team is more than well aware of the crappy effort that they put out there. Sometimes, it just happens. Onto LA. I wouldn’t be surprised if the series comes back to LA with the Sharks up 3-1.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
I've seen a few people blaming the refs...
…but I completely disagree.
The Eager and the Clowe penalties, the ones that lead to the first two goals for LA, were pretty blatant. Especially the Clowe one. It was impossible not to call them. You cannot blame the refs for undisciplined play. And what’s worse is that both were committed in the offensive zone, working to kill any momentum. I refuse to blame the refs for making the right call on stupid plays by our players.
by Old Kentucky Shark on Apr 17, 2011 8:55 AM PDT reply actions
I’m usually hard on NHL refs, because I think they’re awful. They call to the score and to the situation, and they’re highly inconsistent. However, last night the refereeing seemed fair. I wanted to bitch about their calls, but when I saw the replays, I couldn’t. Another thing I couldn’t do? I absolutely couldn’t believe the Sharks were so undisciplined.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions
The more things change...
Yeah, I know it’s only one game, but it feels too familiar.
A couple thoughts.
First: How many people were incensed that they’d wasted a hundred bucks (or more) to see a lackadaisical effort by a team which – given the absence of major talent on the Kings – should have won the game easily?
Second: Could the problem be from the top down – that either the mild mannered tone/communication set by this GM, and/or the type of players valued (high talent/low intensity; i.e, “Slappy”) don’t have what it takes to win it all? Talent can get you through the season, but intensity is needed to win the cup. And it may be that the players who need it most (Jumbo, Patty, Heatley) don’t have it. There are a lot of highly talented players who didn’t have it, and couldn’t win the Cup unless they were supported by many who did.
Thornton’s attempt at intensity – picking a fight with Getzlaf – looked awkward…and didn’t accomplish anything. It’s not a knock on any of the above; some leaders have that quality (e.g., Messier, Iginla, Nolan, etc.) – and enough of it to carry the team on their shoulders – and some guys don’t.
I’d be happy to have Patty, Jumbo or Dany as my sharpshooter, but I wouldn’t follow them into battle.
It’s only one game, but it should be the easiest series that the Sharks will face, and it sure doesn’t appear to be.
Could the problem be from the top down?
That has always been the knock on Jumbo Joe and to a certain extent Patty Marleau. Whatever the reason, and this may be part of it, if we do lose to LA in round one, then Doug Wilson will need to change the format or leadership group on this team. He has some major parts that are extremely expensive, and if they cannot deliver a cup, then it will be time to re-tool, because we will know without a doubt that this core group will not, can not get it done. Let’s hope this becomes a mythe and that SJ gets it together and proves to the hockey world that Joe and Patty really do have what it takes to take this team on their backs and bring us a Stanley Cup!
Don't get the money talk..but whatever
I picked them to win in 6. So did the majority of posters. WelI knew they’d lose a game. Who cares HOW they lost, they lost. Why are you surprised now? Shit happens—shit happened tonight. I doubt it will again.
Was there a run on tinfoil? Man.
GO SHARKS.
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
GO SHARKS.
We were expecting Quick and the Kings’ D to steal a game or two. Based on this, I, like you, picked the Sharks to win in 6. No one expected (at least, no one admitted that they expected) the Sharks to revert to the level of play that earned them disappointing playoff exits to lower-seeded teams in each of the last five years.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
It doesn't surprise me much that all of the new posters I've seen here on the thread have come out to vent
After seeing such a tough loss, who could blame them. But to be overly pessimistic in all this doesn’t do us, nor anyone else, any good. I said the same thing to the guys watching the game with me at the bar last night. It was a bad game from the start, one of those games when the puck wasn’t going to go their way. The passing looked constipated, Quick was making some really solid saves and the Sharks were one step or behind any rebounds they had.
Like I said in the first post, convention wisdom is to analyze the film, look at your weaknesses, adjust accordingly and you’ll likely do better. Hell, we know this team has just as much, if not more talent, so a ticket to Round 2 is very much in reach.
"Release the stone of shame!"
"Woo-hoo!"
"Attach the stone of triumph!"
"D'oh!"
by Alex Houston on Apr 17, 2011 9:18 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
If they want film of themselves being unprepared and outworked, they’ve accumulated plenty of it over the past five years in the playoffs.
But, I agree with you. We have to find a way to stay positive. It’s just difficult when we’re seeing the warning signs that nothing has changed with this team.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
I guess it's our fault...
You know those car flags they gave out at the last regular season game? We put those on our car. It must have screwed up the vibes or something.
My concern with the Sharks is that once again, they just don’t seem to have the ability to flip the switch, ramp up the energy levels and consistently play playoff hockey. By the time they figure it out it’s often too late. I’ve not played hockey, but I did play soccer and when you get to the playoffs you’ve got to dig deep and pull an extra ounce of ooomph out of somewhere. When it comes to playoff games the Sharks always seem to get out ooomphed.
I haven’t given up on them, I just hope they can finally figure it out.
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Well said. I don’t think they have a problem “pressing the switch” and kicking up their energy level; but, doing it on a consistent basis, which is what you have to do to succeed in the playoffs, they’ve had continual issues with that in the past. The Sharks that showed up last night seem to show up at any time.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Some of the things I have read here are some very strong words. I think it just shows that people have had it with this team and one more early exit will do a lot of damage. I guess one thing that stings a lot is the fact that they did not show any emotions. I mean you lose one of your team mates and Terry Murray calls out your other team mate and you come out with this kind of effort. Had they dominated and lost then it would have been fine because they left it all on the ice but the way they played last night was a slap to the face. On the other hand I don’t think this series is over because LA in my mind does not have the firepower to go the distance but we have given them a lot of confidence and have turned them into a beast. We have given them life, so we have got to take it from them and show them who the boss is. The Sharks have come out firing when they have taken a night off and lost a game like that, so they can come out and dismantle the Kings and I think they will. Once again game three is a must win because we don’t want to feed these guys so much confidence.
this heart thing is a myth
do you really think all the players get together before the game and say “ok guys tonight, let’s take it easy, I’m ready to go golfing!!!” That doesn’t happen. Just because you don’t dominate a game doesn’t mean you weren’t trying to win. There are a lot of factors. LA got on a roll early and Sharks never recovered. They got outplayed, that’s it. Let’s see what happens game 3.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions
They don’t talk about it but all of them decide to take it easy at the same time and end up having a mess like they did last night.
They don’t talk about it…so they communicate telepathically then?
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions
You seem to be in a good mood. When someone calls you out and you come out and don’t do shit about it, it shows that you don’t give a shit about it.
They tried to win the game and failed. It’s not like they sat there throwing pucks into their own net. I don’t understand everyone’s desire to assume they know what the players do/don’t give a shit about.
I don’t care if Murray “called them out,” he was playing childish media games, and I don’t expect the players to fall for it. I would hope they could put that stuff behind them when they play, just like I hope they put this loss behind them.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions
That was not trying to win the game. At the end of the day the kings wanted it more then the sharks, we didn’t show any desire to come back and that’s very concerning. We came back in the dying seconds against nucks during regular season. Giving up after being down by two in the first period in a series, is concerning.
so how come you know what the sharks players were thinking and wanting during the game? “wanted it more.” “heart,” “desire,” these are all hockey cliches that don’t mean very much. If the Kings win the series, then maybe we can look at it. As far as I’m concerned, the sharks majorly screwed up a game. Let’s hope they don’t do it again.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
They mean something just they way momentum and confidence mean something. They’re just difficult to measure. But you know it when you see it.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
what does momentum mean? Sharks have won every game leading into the playoffs and sharks have lost every game leading into the playoffs. It doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. What means something is outplaying your opponent in the game, and 4 times over a 7 game series. If the Sharks can’t do that, then we can all be disappointed. Right now it’s a 1-1 series with every chance for them to turn it around.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I see your picture, I just don’t agree with it.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I think they made a bunch of boneheaded plays, the game got away from them and they never found a rhythm at all. They weren’t executing. I think they got totally outplayed, and it was really awful and disappointing. I just didn’t feel it was because they lacked a bunch of intangibles.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Exactly, why did Clowe take that stupid elbowing penalty? They weren’t focused and ready to play. Why? I think its because of the reasons I mentioned. We have seen this movie every year for the past four or five years and I think it shows that you lack something.
I see your point, but to play devil’s advocate- what if he was unfocused because he was too distracted by Murray’s comments and was so fired up that it affected his decision making? I don’t necessarily think that’s what happened, I’m just saying there’s any number of reasons why he might have taken those dumb penalties, and I don’t really think they mean he didn’t want to win the game as much as the kings did.
I agree on awful decisions and awful play, I guess just don’t agree that it necessarily reflects a lack of motivation.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
perhaps. I definitely agree with you on #1
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I meant momentum within a game. It doesn’t show up in the box score, but you can just feel it when it happens.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
It implies a lack of strong leadership. Of course they want to win, and of course they don’t get together in the locker room and decide to mail it in. But what would happen to an army going into battle if it didn’t have strong leadership guiding them into that battle? The army would look a lot like the Sharks looked last night. Uncoordinated, unprepared, out of sorts, overwhelmed…
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree with you on the lack of discipline. Don’t know if its because of the leaders or what. Hope it changes
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Well put
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
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Will vs. Skill
It looked to me like the Sharks think they’re the better team so they don’t need to put in the effort. Fortunately, an embarrassing game like that usually reminds them that that’s not the case.
Saw Owen Nolan at the game – told him they missed his heart…he smiled and said “ya”.
Gotta think they come out w/ a much better effort on Tuesday.
Yeah, remember how he led us to the Cup?
Wait. Remember how he led us to the WCF?
Wait. Remember how he led us to the 2nd round? Yeah!
Liftetime president of the Darren Turcott Q-Tip Dexterity Awareness Foundation
finally caved in, as @shampeon on the Twitternet
by ievans on Apr 17, 2011 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
They had way less talent in the Nolan era. I don’t think any Sharks fan would argue that they were HUGE overachievers in those days.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Sure, and we were more inconsistent and frustrating to watch night in and out. Time has maybe softened the actual experience of watching the Sutter-era Sharks to a lot of you. They overachieved occasionally, but were easy pickings for actually talented and hard working teams.
And Nolan, while a heck of a player, was a morose and introverted guy. The teams he wore the C with weren’t very cohesive, and there was a huge divide between the vets and the younger players. He played angry, which is I guess what the self-hating Sharks fans want after a bad loss.
It’s one bad game. I wish it didn’t happen, but it did. If you all think sewing a letter on one players jersey would have turned last night’s blowout into a win, you’re crazy.
Liftetime president of the Darren Turcott Q-Tip Dexterity Awareness Foundation
finally caved in, as @shampeon on the Twitternet
I remember those Nolan-led teams being very cohesive, and I don’t at all think of Nolan as being introverted… But I was looking all the way back to the Makarov-Larionov-Garpenlov-Ozolinsh-Irbe days. Yes, they got beat by teams that were hard-working and more talented. No shame in that.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
The -ov days predated Nolan. The Nolan era was mostly a bunch of guys playing above their ideal role, plus Ricci, Damphouse, and Owen. Jeff Friesen, 1st line left wing, where every breakaway ended with the same head-fake that never worked? Or how about Murray Craven on the power-play? Victor Kozlov stickhandling through four guys in the neutral zone, and then pulling up for a weak snap shot? Marcus Ragnarsson, power-play quarterback?
shudder They were easy to cheer for because they had to work extra hard to win any games, and they were good for maybe one upset in the playoffs before they ran out of gas.
Liftetime president of the Darren Turcott Q-Tip Dexterity Awareness Foundation
finally caved in, as @shampeon on the Twitternet
Wow.
I just love how some of the fresh blood here is willing to toss Joe Thornon under the bus.
Seriously, guys. Look at the season performance. If he hadn’t committed to codeveloping his defensive play and remain content with assists over goals, we would all be watching Baseball right now. Joe is a stand up guy. Yes, he had a shitty game, but don’t start this BS talk about how players of the past would be doing better: the won’t. Because they didn’t.
Take the loss for what it is: ONE PLAYOFF GAME. even if they scored 50 goals, it still only tied the series.
Sharks in six means we have to actually lose two games. No one expected a series shut out.
Does that mean we should be happy with the loss? He’ll no! I’m more POed at Clowe over anyone for preventing our lines from rolling smoorhy by forcing us into PKs. He was a genuine liability to the team last night: something that should NEVER be the case as a player of his experience.
All that said, again, it’s just one game. When to worry? Only if we lose both in LA.
That ain’t gonna happen.
IMO.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
Bleeding teal since 1997
Noctro is a HORRIBLE stenographer...but he's a GREAT SJ Sharks Fan!!!
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by Noctro on Apr 18, 2011 12:20 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Meh. iPhone typos. Or seething anger.
You decide!
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
Bleeding teal since 1997
Noctro is a HORRIBLE stenographer...but he's a GREAT SJ Sharks Fan!!!
Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own.
My Twitter
by Noctro on Apr 18, 2011 12:22 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
When I suggested
That SJ pick up Nolan this year to end his career here as he should and because of his leadership and toughness, I was told by may people on FTF that he was too slow and couldn’t do it anymore. We had Mayers and therefore no longer needed Nolan. Really? I guess we could use him now? People underestimate guys like Nolan and how much they mean come playoff time. We needed him this year and more now than ever.
Sharks Like to Play with their back against the wall
I recall hearing that last year, during the first round, against the Avs. A team that the Sharks should have handled easily. However, the Sharks didn’t play hard until they had to…. I’m expecting the Sharks to come out strong, in game three.
This was exactly the type of game I think many of us were afraid the Sharks would play
The ugly Sharks showed up tonight, exactly when we didn’t need them to. Sure, you can argue that the early penalties killed any momentum we could have had, but that doesn’t excuse the lack of effort they showed for the rest of the game. Two goals is easily made up, especially for this team. The Sharks we saw last night seemed disinterested, slow, confused and amateurish. There’s no excuse for professionals to not be able to string more than two passes together, even with a great D like LA has.
I’m going to add one thing to what Plank said:
It was a textbook road game for Los Angeles
This was also a textbook example of how to beat the Sharks. Disrupt passing lanes, keep the forwards on the perimeter and force low-percentage shots then control the rebounds, have your D take shots from the point, and push the Sharks to take undisciplined penalties. I told my dad during the second period that I had a feeling the Sharks would be shut out. You could just tell that the compete-level, to quote Randy and Drew, was not there.
Now, this was only one game. I don’t think many of us called for a sweep, so we’re right on track. The Sharks have had a knack for coming to play after getting their business handed to them, and I expect that to be the case on Tuesday. I think the extra day will help the players understand what they need to do to win games, but it will be torture for the fans who have to sit here stewing. I don’t think LA can keep that level of play up for an entire series, and I know the Sharks can’t keep up that abysmal level of play for a series.
Disappointing indeed, but this is kind of what I worried about with the Kings. They’re playing a team that, if you spot them a lead early (especially a two goal lead), are really tough to come back on. Murray has them playing their system to a T right now, and with the type of defensemen they have in the lineup and a pretty solid goaltender, it’s up to the Sharks to be the ones to dictate play.
In so many ways this is similar to what Montreal has done to Boston so far (and did last year to Pittsburgh and Washington). Strong defensive game plan, strong goaltending, and eventually it gets into the head of the opposition.
The Sharks have to make sure to not let that happen, of course. They need to be the ones to dictate play. It’s pretty much always the case that when a team takes a bunch of penalties early, they’re thrown off for a long while. Giving up two PP goals only exacerbates that. So my hope is that the Sharks have a renewed focus and their intensity will be able to shine through. It’s going to be a tough series, though.
The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo
by Timorous Me on Apr 17, 2011 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Very good point
Murray has them playing exactly how they need to in order to beat the Sharks. We’ve always had trouble with teams that have strong D and solid goaltending in the playoffs (Anaheim, Colorado, Chicago). These are the Kings’ strengths, and Murray knows it and is exploiting them. The Sharks have the talent and depth to overcome that, especially if they score first. I think that’s the key for the Sharks going forward. Score first, get LA to push and take more chances, which creates a more open game. I still believe that if we had scored on the first power play in Game 1 after being up 1-0, we would have won that game easily.
It still blows my mind that professional athletes in the playoffs can allow themselves to play so sloppily and without motivation. I know it’s a long series, but come on guys, you gotta show up for games! I too hope that they realize this and show up to Game 3 with renewed intensity and inner-drive that should be automatic for professional athletes.
by Chicago Shark on Apr 17, 2011 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
I kind of disagree with this because its not T. Murray or his defense that’s frustrating us. We gave up on the game after the second goal and I don’t why because this team has come back from behind in the dying seconds of a game. And if you look at the first period of game one you can see that their defense or goaltending is not the problem, we have allowed the kings to dominate by will. To be honest we have scored their goals for them, by simply not playing the way we can. We have created this monster for ourselves by not playing and standing around. Out of the 120 plus minutes so far we have played 20 solid minutes and that was the first period of game one in which we out shot the kings 14 to 3. We are lucky that the series is tied, so if they want to win they have got to be ready to play and play a full game. If the Sharks don’t show up to play, then this will be a very short series.
See, this is the thing about the defense of the Kings and the system they’re playing: it makes it look like the Sharks are playing really poorly and with little effort. And no, I’m not saying the effort was where it needed to be in Game 2, but just think back—as a most obvious example—to all those Devils teams that won and won with their trap system. They made teams look BAD.
Most people wouldn’t accuse Boston of being a team that gives too little effort, but hell if it hasn’t looked that way through two games with Montreal. But there you go again—it’s that same type of frustrating system being enacted, and it’s causing loads of problems.
I’m glad we’ve got the extra day off here. The coaching staff needs to work with the players and drill into their heads the way they need to play to beat L.A. and their defensive system. Getting the first goal is one thing, too, and staying out of the box is another. But unless L.A. kind of tanks or Quick lets in some softies, it just isn’t going to be easy.
The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo
by Timorous Me on Apr 17, 2011 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Exactly
The Kings are playing a system that makes the Sharks look silly, and they’re following the book on how to beat a superior team in the playoffs. But as I said, the Sharks have the talent to get around this system, they just need to get the compete level up to where it was in the second half of the season.
by Chicago Shark on Apr 17, 2011 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree with this. But the undisciplined penalties? The lack of “compete” on the penalty kill? I mean, there were times when we were literally standing around watching them pass the puck back and forth. The Kings’ system can be frustrating, and it can make the opposition look bad, but the Sharks are a lot better than what we saw last night.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, this is the thing. The penalties, the bad penalty killing (I understand not wanting to stand in front of a Doughty blast, but it is the playoffs), the other little mistakes—those are things the Sharks can pretty easily control, and that’s obviously the first step in beating a team like the Kings. The Sharks seriously do not need to make it harder for themselves.
The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo
by Timorous Me on Apr 17, 2011 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't know
Looks like we fumbled the puck way to much and whiffed on pucks too often. There were a lot of lazy passes and bonehead decisions imo. But their system does make other teams look bad to a point.
"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain Kent Huskins!" - Randy Hahn 2/13/11
by pooponastick on Apr 17, 2011 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Yesterday sucked for a few reasons
1) Had to work yesterday so I could only catch glimpses at my work
2) My employers are giants fans so they didn’t change to the sharks game til after the giants game was over
3) We got shutout
4) We dropped one at home
But getting over that loss is what bars are for. As much as I would’ve fucking loved to watch my boys play, it might’ve hurt even more to see them play the way everyone is saying they played. On to game 3! Go Sharks!
BLEED TEAL
It's only 1...
I knew the series wouldn’t be swept but be won in 5 games. Granted the sharks looked completely checked out tonight with horrible discipline, losing battles, and horrible turn-overs. They’ll use this embarrassment to send a message that this year they are not going to “choke”….
History will be made…
"It's a very cozy sin bin."-Randy Hahn
"Hold onto your seats because we're coming" - Ryan Clowe
"We cannot not work hard... we coasted in on the playoffs last year if we coast in then we're going to coast our way right out." - Dan Boyle
An awful game to watch,
and still pissed and frustrated. But as much as really, truly sucks, it’s just not in our hands and it’s up to our guys to step up, play smart, and show us what they’re made of. They’re not “entitled” to the Stanley Cup just because their fans are the most awesome fans ever(!). They have to earn it, and if they don’t play better for the rest of this postseason, then they just don’t deserve it. It doesn’t matter how talented you are, every team in the league’s got some talent, even the Oilers; you have to have the mental fortitude to play better when the going gets tough.
by JenLovesHockey on Apr 17, 2011 11:10 AM PDT reply actions
I just hope that was this year’s one bad game, like in the Wings-Sharks series last year…
by JenLovesHockey on Apr 17, 2011 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
We are great fans. We’ve sold out this arena since it was built, win or lose (can Chicago, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, etc. say the same? Nope). Maybe the team hasn’t yet deserved a cup, but the fans do, damn it! ;)
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
The way I see it
No one expected the Sharks to win in 4 games, myself included. So a loss is a loss. This is just a minor bump on the way to winning in 5, 6, or 7.
"Excellent use of the word cannibalize" Drew Remenda
by teal_and_orange on Apr 17, 2011 11:16 AM PDT reply actions
Concerned, but not pessimistic...
Echoing a few of you (I think?), one stat that jumped out at me post-game was 19 giveaways. Shocking for this team, shocking for any team – no other team yesterday had double digits, in fact. They had the expected advantage on faceoffs with Stoll out, but they managed to (literally) give that away. I’d like to see that change.
I wasn’t completely happy with Game 1 either, but I am NOT surrendering to my nagging feeling that they expended too much over the last 35-ish games to carry through into a deep playoff run. I have Sharks in 6 in this series, and advancing, of course, to win it all.
So, even though I just joined yesterday, please don’t call me a negative nancy-boy. Any other names, fire away. :)
Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)
OH MY GOD, PLAYOFF CHOKERS, NO HEART
C’mon people. It’s one game, the Sharks have shown maturity and tenacity this year. Step back from the ledge and get excited for some great Sharks road hockey.
Here is what needs to happen to reach the finals.
Thorton needs to be moved down to the second line.
Logan should be moved into first line to center Marleau and Seto. Our first line is missing speed in the center, and Logan will surely help in that department. This will also help the second line, since, neither Clowe nor Heater posses great speed. They won’t have forwards jumping the line before the puck enters :) Plus we all know, Heater and Clowe play better with Thorton.
We also need to use Eager more. I thought we got him for the playoffs, so lets use him. So far it seems like he is bringing lots of emotion into the game. And that’s what we need more of.
Moving Thornton down is fine
But there’s absolutely no reason to separate Clowe and Cooch.
Marleau – Cooch – Clowe
Seto – Jumbo – Heater
That works out a little bit better IMO. Clowe does what Thornton does… and then you have two guys who can finish on each line.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
Line altering at this point in the season makes me nervous. We are the superior team. If we compete as hard as they do, we should win in a seven-game series. Let them switch their lines in desperation because of us.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I think we need to reunite the big boys and bring Seto down to the second line. The second line is too slow and Heater doesn’t seem to have any chemistry with Clowe and Couture.
Heater
has only had chemistry with Jumbo. Last year he scored 36 goals while playing mostly with Thornton. This year, 26 goals while playing on other lines mostly. He needs a guy like Joe to set him up because his puck handling leaves a lot to be desired. I would reunite them, who gives a shit how it looks! You do whatever it takes to win and this will give us the best chance against LA. As Charlie Sheen might say, “Just do it”! Duh…
Line altering doesn’t necessarily imply weakness though. You alter lines to make the team better & to win; there’s nothing wrong with it. Altered lines could also make it tougher for LA’s D-men.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
I agree.
Marleau – Cooch – Clowe would be a start in the right direction. But we all know that MAC will never move Thorton to the second line. And that will be our downfall. Can someone tell me why Eager is not getting more ice time? IMHO skill wise, he is as good as Clowe.
Clowe is a better player than Eager I think. Also, Eager has a tendency to talk bad penalties and is considerable less skilled with the puck than Clowe.
And there’s no need to move Thornton “down”. Just shift Marleau & Heatley around. Line numbers are, ultimately, irrelevant. Thornton playing on a line makes it the top line IMO, regardless of which order it’s in.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
And Clowe doesn't take stupid penalties?
LOL Please…he is one of the biggest dumbasses on the team in terms of bad penalties taken…
Go Sharks!
Yes. I do think they are pretty close skill wise.
If you put Eager in place of Clowe on the second line. He will score 20+ goals.
Lol...whatever you say, man
I guess every NHL scout has been taken in and seriously underestimated the offensive force that is Ben Eager…
by BillytheSid on Apr 18, 2011 12:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Ummm...no.
These lines work great when they work. We saw that in the last few regular season games.
Tmacs lines should be left as is, and just leave Jumbo up top to do what he does…takeaways and defensive play. Moving him around or “punishing” him for game 2 will do nothing but disrupt lines with proven performance.
That and dump icewater over Clowe. No mor penalties, Ryan. Seriously.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
Bleeding teal since 1997
Noctro is a HORRIBLE stenographer...but he's a GREAT SJ Sharks Fan!!!
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by Noctro on Apr 18, 2011 12:33 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Its one game
treat it as such. We’ve been here, and we’ve done that.
"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain Kent Huskins!" - Randy Hahn 2/13/11
Yeah I was one of those "sky is falling" people last night...
and even turned off the game after 8 minutes into the 3rd period. Maybe I was a little naive and cocky (sounds like the Sharks team itself?) about the Kings’ chances in predicting a sweep. But this morning i got some perspective back. I felt in September (and even voiced this to other Sharks fans) that if this was the year that we finally would win the Cup, it would not be an easy road and it wouldn’t be pretty. And, in retrospect, I’m glad that the Sharks faced some adversity in the first half of the season to prepare them for EXACTLY what we’re seeing. They’ve proven time and time again this season that THIS team does have the heart, resiliency, and desire of teams past that has been lacking over the past recent seasons. The “never say die” attitude that they’ve displayed over the season and in Game 1 just wasn’t there in last night’s game. But you know what, it will be there in L.A., especially since the Sharks have proven this season that they’re at their best on the road with their backs against the wall. And I think that some have forgotten that the Sharks haven’t played their best hockey and they’re still competitive in this series. Don’t give up on them fans!
GO SHARKS!
by sharksfanwithajd on Apr 17, 2011 12:09 PM PDT reply actions
The Sharks are 6-3-0 in games after losing by 3 or more goals
Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain Kent Huskins!" - Randy Hahn 2/13/11
I'm still embarrassed by last night's game...
Losing in the playoffs happens. Losing to bad teams like the Kings in the playoffs happens. What should never happen, if you have Stanley Cup aspirations, is to come out and throw up a stinker like this against a vastly inferior team. Its not like when Anderson stole Game 3 against us last year…where the Sharks were dominating and Anderson held them around long enough for the fluke deflection. It’s not like Game 1 of last year or this year where the Sharks came out flat and still fought and found a way to stick around until late in the game (losing one and winning one). And it’s nothing like the blowout against Detroit last season that everyone seems to want to bring up. Detroit was a great team with their backs against a wall, and the Sharks were up 3 games to none.
This was a complete and utter collapse in a game that the Sharks had no business losing. And its worrisome. The Sharks apparently, after all these years, still need wake up calls to actually show up and play. If they had fought back, scored a few, and made it respectable, then that’s one thing. If they were skating hard and, even if things weren’t going their way, were still competing for loose pucks and pressuring hard on defense, then that’s one thing. But the Sharks did none of that. They lost every single battle along the boards. They sat back on defense and let the blueliners do whatever they wanted to with the puck. They were a step behind the Kings all night, and never turned it on to match that compete level. And that is what’s concerning. I just don’t understand how a team that apparently thinks it wants to be a SC contender would come out and so visibly be out competed by a lesser team.
It doesn’t take talent to work hard. It doesn’t take superior players to compete night in and night out. The Sharks may still win this series (although its definitely not a given anymore…which is worrisome in its own right), but I am terrified to see what they will do against a team that has the talent to go along with hard skating and hard work.
"If you can accept losing, you can't win." ~Vince Lombardi
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by ZeroIndulgence on Apr 17, 2011 12:22 PM PDT reply actions
I agree to some extent
Frankly, it does little good comparing current efforts to past efforts. But, while a stinker is worrisome, it in no way defines the remaining games this team will be playing in the playoffs.
The start of the game was far from awful. It was the two botched PK’s that screwed up this team. And they could never get into a rhythm after that, because LA stepped up their game.
In Game 1, I saw the Sharks as the better team. Sure, the Kings made a push in the 2nd half of the 2nd and the beginning of the 3rd, but I felt the Sharks were the better team overall. The second game saw spurts of Sharks puck play, but was pretty much all Kings. I highly doubt that’ll continue.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
You can't call the Kings a bad team.
We finished the season with only a few more points than them. And, they played very well against us all season. But I agree, losing games in the PO is one thing, getting your ass kicked in another.
I'm not in a mood to write a long post
So just go here and scroll down to the Carolina-Montreal series. Now remember that the same Carolina team that dropped the ball in a major way those first two games also won the Stanley Cup that year.
One poor effort – and on game 2 of the first round, no less – does not mean they are out of the running for the Cup. This is the Stanley Cup playoffs, not the BCS.
Go Sharks!
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by Nael M. on Apr 17, 2011 12:23 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I don't get it
Someone explain to me why we can’t stop the cycle game the Kings play? Is it because the Sharks aren’t a fast enough unit? The Kings have been doing this to the Sharks all year, and other teams don’t seem to have a problem with it. Not all teams, but it seems to hit the Sharks the worst.
L.A. seems to consistently get to loose pucks faster too. When we try to pass out of our zone, there is an L.A. player right next to our Dman. Every time. Also, it seems like L.A. cheats in their own zone. I used to remember, during the stretch of awesomeness a month ago, that the Sharks D would come up and hold the corners of the offensive zone. This isn’t happening, mainly because atleast one L.A. forward is already in the neutral zone awaiting a pass from behind the net. There is no respect for the Sharks sustained off zone attack. And when the D men do hold the corners, Jason Demers slides to the middle every time and misses the puck when it comes to his side. This must of happened 3 or 4 times last night. What happened to our D men sitting at the corners and chipping the puck back in? We were great at that.
by Dermal Denticles on Apr 17, 2011 12:37 PM PDT reply actions
yeah, I hope they figure that out. Watching the Kings dominate on the cycle all night long was frustrating to say the least.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions
didn't see game 2
but game 1 we were completely dominating in their own zone. In fact I remember we were in their zone for so long that we changed lines while still in their own zone. All that happened is that a different team showed up in game 2 than game 1. Too many people forget how good our team is after one bad loss. get over it, i know the players will
BLEED TEAL
I remember EXACTLY how good our team is, which is why last night was so frustrating. It was like, “Where the hell did this come from?”
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
i agree it was very frustrating
but some commenters here are losing their shit and that is annoying. one bad game does not define a team. the mark of a solid team is one that can bounce back from losses like these. So I say we wait til after the series til all the talk of whether our team has “heart” or not
BLEED TEAL
I absolutely agree. The problem is, with the Sharks, you never know when the team from last night is going to show up… It always seems to come out of nowhere…
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions
They play contained defense.
Meaning they cover the center of the ice and try to keep the opposition on the parameter. I don’t care for it, because, you spend to much time in your own zone and often end up grabbing and holding and ending up in the PB.
The game last night was bad...
but what I find worse is as I read this article, NHL on the Fly is playing the new “History Will be Made” – History takes the lead role.
Anyone see it yet? Embarrassing.
Daniel Erlich for President
\/\/\/\/\/
/\/\/\/\/\
GO SHARKS!!!
by SharksFanTillDeath on Apr 17, 2011 3:33 PM PDT reply actions
I saw it, and it made me VERY, VERY angry! Already dooming the Sharks. Unbelievable!
by sharksfanwithajd on Apr 17, 2011 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I think they made the pavelski one last year before that series was over. Seems like they just want to make a lot of them to get more people to watch their network
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Randy should sue for using his voice in that manner!!!
And what’s the advice (Murray’s grandfather, Lars [Lasse] Bjorn) gives him?
"Hit more people."
GO SHARKS.
Oh please!!! Here's the HWBM they did after game 1 for the Pens-Lightning game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQn28BQN9uM and in game 2 the Lighting kicked the Pens butts 5-1. So the creation of a HWBM that shows your team in a bad light is hardly going to “doom” them.
The day after....
I was at HP last night. I left after the Kings went up 4-0 (if you know me, I RARELY ever leave when we are losing, it takes a 4 goal deficit and in the 3rd to make me leave)… yes, my $200 felt like a big waste. Yes, the Sharks played like heartless pu**ies. And yes, I underestimated the Kings (as I think we all did).
But I am still sticking with that the Sharks are taking this series. The series is tied 1-1, no reason to jump off a cliff or whatnot. They laid a stinker and I think with the two days of this brewing, the Sharks are going to come back and stomp the Kings in LA. The Sharks are not going to win 16 straight games. We know this. So let’s put this game behind us and just start getting pumped for Tuesday.
GO SHARKS!!!!! Sticking with my Sharks in 5!
Waiting for the Cup to come to SJ since 1991...
GO SHARKS!
Im not saying Sharks blew the game on purpose...
but there is a whole lot of money to be made for the organization by bringing the boys home. Whatever way you look at it, this is a business. Win 4 in row, only 2 games at home. Lose 1 game you got at least 3 games at home. Sharks can easily beat this squad 4 straight, but it looks like they were given the night off yesterday.
"You know what they say about people with big skates......big feet" - Randy Hahn
by DrewRemendaRogaine on Apr 17, 2011 4:52 PM PDT reply actions
Seeing some similarities elsewhere
Between the Sharks and the New York Yankees of recent years. They had to miss the playoffs and get tons of first round exits the years before they won their 27th world series, and they had a completely stacked roster and were terrible the first half of the year and came surging back to win the pennant. Every time I used to watch the Yankees and want them to close the deal in 4, they’d blow it in either game 2 or 3 and then come roaring back so they could finish it off at home. Not really a conspiracy theorist on this one but i gotta say, When you put it in those terms, and you see a team with the resources and the stacked roster like that… seems very coincidental.
Born in SOUTH TROY, NY, Sharks Fan since '91.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free. "-Denis Lemieux
Clarification
*Just saying it happens elsewhere and other teams return to dominate. Not that the Sharks blew it intentionally last night.
Born in SOUTH TROY, NY, Sharks Fan since '91.
"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free. "-Denis Lemieux
I just don't want to hear
the shrug-off comments, “the goals will come,” “it’s only one loss,” “they played a better game than us,” “the game was closer than the score,” etc.
Heard enough of that kind of talk after each game of last season’s WCF.
I just want the Sharks to show up and win, and rid themselves of their dopplesharks.
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
Shameless plug for my music.
all those statements were true last year too, weren’t they? I mean didn’t we just get beaten fair and square by a better team? In this case we can hopefully turn it around.
by a10dency2ask on Apr 17, 2011 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions
That series and this one aren’t comparable, but the same comments are being used.
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
Shameless plug for my music.
The point is that you make it sound like they weren’t warranted last year and that our Sharks were putting on a similar performance in that series as last night. Which of course is not true.
Regardless, it doesn’t seem like there are many of these “shrug-off” comments coming from Sharks fans. Quite the opposite in fact.
I'm really not arguing
Like I said, I don’t want to hear or read them. I don’t want to hear words at all, I want to see the Sharks take charge and win, and not take mental days-off.
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
Shameless plug for my music.
I figured I'd just post this for the hell of it
I was over at SCH to see what their reaction was going down 3-0 (which means they’re pretty much out, since they’re not playing the Bruins). Remember all the good things the Hawks did last year that we wished the Sharks did. Apparently, things have changed:
“dear Hawks, STOP PASSING. START TAKING SHOTS, CRASH THE NET, AND LOOK FOR THE REBOUNDS, DAMNIT.” -comment on SCH
Just interesting, considering what the team was doing a year ago.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
Something I realized watching the Preds/Ducks and Rangers/Caps games today...
I don’t think any other team outright GIVES UP during the playoffs like the Sharks do. It’s amazing. Every team out there is playing hard and fighting it out ’til the end. The Sharks gave up after the first goal last night.
But as I mentioned yesterday, apparently Ian White is some kind of wizard, making this team better just by being on the bench/ice. If he gets healthy, there’s still hope. Hopefully.
It was a crazy theory I came up with during Game 2.
Sharks became a much better team when they got White during the trade deadline. They were amazing in the first period of the series, but when White got injured, they started sucking. It’s pure superstition, b’y.
by Evil Stanchion on Apr 18, 2011 6:16 AM PDT up reply actions
OT Ranger's No Goal
ends up beating Phi’s no-goal against the Sharks, for closest to being a goal when the clock runs-out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVEjggP8S7s
Amazing!
If you mention ending your life, or show signs of self-harm, I will take you seriously!
"Take a deep breath sometimes, a break, and play some hockey. Hockey is a great way to take a pause from day-to-day hard work." -- Lt Gen. D.H. Huntoon Jr. (paraphrased)
Shameless plug for my music.
Optional practice today, huh? The team loses 4-0 at home to a lesser team in the playoffs, and today’s practice is only optional? Wow.
by Rhapsody in Teal on Apr 17, 2011 8:27 PM PDT reply actions
It's okay.
They probably had really important things to do at their mansions. Maybe they went to the beach. Geez, sure is hard being a hockey player! If anything, these chaps need MORE rest. Easier to phone it in when you’re relaxed.
by Evil Stanchion on Apr 17, 2011 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Believe it or not
Todd Mclellan knows what he’s doing. Moreso than either of you.
by D Dawg on Apr 17, 2011 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah...that's REALLY what they need...
A grueling practice to tire them out even more…because the full 82-game season plus the last 2 playoff games haven’t been enough of a workout.
I seriously doubt adding one practice is going to “solve” anything at this point in the season. At this point, the Sharks’ problems are all mental. No adjusting of X’s and O’s is going to affect anything now. The Kings didn’t practice today either, btw.
by BillytheSid on Apr 18, 2011 12:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Practices are pretty much always optional in the playoffs
The playoff practices are mostly attended by lower line players and healthy scratches to get some skating in.
GO SHARKS!
They're not getting this kind of coverage at "Hockey Night In Canada" folks! - Randy Hahn
What Jay Leach is to the San Jose Shark's Defense, I am to Fear The Fin's Mod Squad.
From the picture Brodie put up, it's actually a decent turnout.
I count twenty-five guys and four coaches. Without goalies in the picture, so probably at least 27, since I bet Griess and Nitty are in either net for an up and back drill.
Believing in the Sharks, one photoshop at a time. GO SHARKS!
Remember...
…practices are completely different from clubhouse strategy sessions and tape review.
And the Sharks are very disciplined. There is a summer session that runs before the official summer camp each year…last year, Boyle ran it. I went several times and noted that about 70-80 percent of the roster showed up each day.
Coaching isn’t the problem. Ability isn’t a problem. Discipline in playas the issue on Saturday. I ima gone we will see a huge improvement today.
"Never start a fight, but ALWAYS finish it."
Bleeding teal since 1997
@TheFourthPeriod How intense with the #Bruins #Habs PO series be? || @Noctro Like K-Y Jelly lit on fire. || @TheFourthPeriod Wow. Best. Answer. Ever.
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by Noctro on Apr 19, 2011 6:11 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Oh, the doomsday bellyaching
Calm the fuck down, let our boys make the adjustments (as they have in the past), and wait for Game 3. How quickly we forget the successes after one flat footed game.
I'm with you! I can't believe how negative the comments are!
Here’s a History Will Be Made parody that I made last year watch it and get pumped up for game 3.
Just so you know, your promo is awesome. I’m totally pumped (and hoping game 3 ends better than that game 6 did)!
Good Golly!!
Wow, this is a heated thread! I just read through some of these posts and while folks have a right to express themselves, I wish that everyone would (well the ney sayers, band wagon jumper offers) would just breathe. Its not over yet!!! I will continue to believe and have faith, cuz thats how I roll.
Now everyone, POSITIVE MOJO for the next game!!!!!!! We have to back our boys in Teal w/ good vibes for a GREAT win!
GO SHARKS!
"Sometimes the only sense you can make out of life is a sense of humor!"
Lets Go Sharks!!! I still believe!!!!!!! 2011!!!!!!
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