Sharks look to continue success against Jimmy Howard

by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 28, 2011 2:00 PM PDT in 2011 Playoffs

The Sharks have faced plenty of good goaltending over the last three postseasons.

2009, the year of San Jose's stunning first round exit, Anaheim Ducks starter Jonas Hiller was able to hold their offense to just 10 goals over a six game period. In 2010 the Sharks saw Craig Anderson, then of the Colorado Avalanche, put up a .933 save percentage in six games. Incredibly, Anderson was able to stop 223 of the 239 shots San Jose threw at him, despite his team losing four of six games.

And even though Antti Niemi is now in the crease for the Sharks, he didn't do them any favors last year. In the Western Conference Finals, Niemi allowed just seven goals on 136 shots to lead his Chicago Blackhawks to a four game sweep.

This year, Jonathan Quick took his turn being the first round thorn in San Jose's side. His numbers don't quite tell the whole story, but Quick and a stingy Los Angeles defense gave the Sharks plenty of issues.

There has been one goaltender, though, that the Sharks seem to have figured out, both in the regular season and in the playoffs.

Luckily for them, that goaltender happens to be employed by their second round opponent.

Jimmy Howard is can be a very good goaltender, as his .916 career save percentage and Calder Trophy nomination last year suggest. However the San Jose Sharks appear to have his number; their past successes against him attest to that.

Last postseason, the Sharks started hot against Howard and his Red Wings, scoring four goals in three straight wins to start the series. His performance in game two was likely his finest of those three, stopping 41 of the 45 shots he faced.

With Detroit then facing elimination, Howard definitely tightened up his play, allowing just three goals total in two games. That proved to be plenty for San Jose though, who beat Detroit 2-1 at HP Pavilion in game five to close out the series and advance to the Western Conference Finals for only the second time in their history.

San Jose continued their successes against Howard this regular season, going 2-1 against the Red Wings with Howard in net. The record only tells half the story, what's more telling is his 4.08 GAA and .887 save percentage against team teal.

How has San Jose beaten Howard? Rookie forward Logan Couture, who has three goals in eight career games against him, walked through his team's historical approach against the Detroit netminder after Thursday's practice.

"He's a good goalie, playing on a great team," said Couture. "He's good down low, I think with the goals we've beat him on they've been to his glove. He takes out the bottom of the net well, he's quick... really quick feet."

Joe Pavelski, who had four goals in five playoff games against Howard last year, also commented on the goalie's strength with the pads.

"He's really good down low," agreed Pavelski, "so you have to be ready to pounce on second and third opportunities. He's on the top of his game, so we're going to have to get traffic in front of him and pucks to him."

Pavelski is right; Howard has been very good so far this postseason. A .915 save percentage was enough to get his team through to the second round, with a sweep no less. Sharks coach Tod McLellan has noticed. His comments about Howard today echoed much of his diatribe about the series in general; if San Jose expects the same Red Wings team as last year, they're going to be in for some dissapointment.

"There again, that's a change from last year," stated McLellan when asked about Howard. "He's a year older, a year stronger, he's been through some playoff series. Jimmy has had a very good season. His team is very comfortable playing in front of him and I know he has some very good coaching over there. He'll be ready to play."

San Jose, including their own netminder Antti Niemi, will also be ready to play when the puck drops on Friday night. Although this series against the Red Wings may be miles different than last, you can bet that the Sharks would love to have the same results.

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Really enjoying all this coverage

Keep it up Plank & TCY!

by TnSD11 on Apr 28, 2011 2:38 PM PDT reply actions

Let's start Beat Detroit chants!

"Keep a positive outlook, even when things are looking bleak. Remember, nothing is impossible."

Small-market crowds > Large-market crowds

David Stern and Associates - Bailing out the Lakers since 1984.

by DaT3rmin8r on Apr 28, 2011 2:42 PM PDT reply actions

You guys are crankin' this stuff out!

I think of all the positions the RW offer I’m least concerned about their net minder. Not saying he’s a pushover or anything but jeebus Jonathan Quick was just stellar. Also, as good as DET’s defense is, I think they may be more penetrable than LA’s right now.

Is it tomorrow yet?

There's blood in the water and now it's frozen.

by theneverman on Apr 28, 2011 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

Great song

By some metal band I used to listen to lol

by ImRudyUrNot on Apr 28, 2011 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

If Jimmy Howard's strength is covering down low

Then I’m glad the Sharks had to go through Jonathan Quick first. Seemed like they had to go high on most of his goals against that weren’t the result of second chances. The Sharks should really be primed to shoot high now.

"Bobby Orr was available, but we couldn’t fit him in under the cap." - Todd McLellan
"BEAT DAT BEAT!!!"

by DownRUpLYB on Apr 28, 2011 3:00 PM PDT reply actions

Quick actually helped us...

He kind of helped us in such a way as to, like you said, “prime” us for Jimmy Howard. Thanks to Jon Quick, we gained a good amount of extra experience to prepare us for our slaughter of Howard and the Wings. Can’t wait for tomorrow. Absolutely excited that there are two games at home this weekend right off the bat!

Let the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup begin!!! GO SHARKS!

by SharkMonster on Apr 28, 2011 5:21 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Sharks have beaten Howard before...

And I’m sure they won’t have trouble scoring against him again in this series.

"All that means is that I'll be 783 years old when I catch Scotty Bowman." - Kevin Constantine

by DumbPuck on Apr 28, 2011 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions

is it just me or are Detroit Fans extreemly Trollish and whiney this year

it seems Worse this year then last. I just read puckdaddys preditions and half of his staff is pulling for sharks and other half detroit. but the comments are all about the sharks picks not the other 6 teams lol.

by Justboo on Apr 28, 2011 3:48 PM PDT reply actions

The PD Detroit crowd is always this Whiney

And they’re always this vocal

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.

by ElvisVF101 on Apr 28, 2011 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Very true...

Let the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup begin!!! GO SHARKS!

by SharkMonster on Apr 28, 2011 5:14 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Rule of Thumb

Avoid Yahoo Comments in general. Not just Puck Daddy, but news articles too (reading them makes me really glad I live in a diverse community like the Bay Area).

As for FTF, no Detroit Trolls here (thus far, come puck drop tomorrow, who knows =J…)

"Bobby Orr was available, but we couldn’t fit him in under the cap." - Todd McLellan
"BEAT DAT BEAT!!!"

by DownRUpLYB on Apr 28, 2011 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

You must have missed yesterday, because a few Wings trolls did stop by.

American Heroes: Joe Pavelski, Buster Posey, Charlie Coyle
Fear the Fin - NEEDS MORE DOVES

by mymclife on Apr 28, 2011 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions

The link on NHL.com probably contributed

Once Plank re-instituted the 24 hour waiting period, the trolls stopped showing up. Imagine that!

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.

by ElvisVF101 on Apr 28, 2011 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I guess I spoke too soon.

"Bobby Orr was available, but we couldn’t fit him in under the cap." - Todd McLellan
"BEAT DAT BEAT!!!"

by DownRUpLYB on Apr 28, 2011 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Sharks TV

I’ll ignore those anti wings fans comments – I try to keep it civil…

I was wondering how often does Sharks TV update their videos? All these player/coach quotes gotta come from somewhere. I was hoping to catch some McClellan comments today but Sharks TV still only has pre-game stuff from the first round.

Any help?

by yzguy on Apr 28, 2011 6:09 PM PDT reply actions

CSN Bay Area’s video page is your best bet for video. They have a bunch of stuff up from today and yesterday.

"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 28, 2011 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Whoops— looks like it’s just from yesterday. Regardless, throughout this series that will be your best source of video.

by Mr. Plank on Apr 28, 2011 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks!

by yzguy on Apr 28, 2011 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions

You may also want to follow @BrodieBrazilCSN and @CSNSharks: They tweet video blog entries regularly throughout the day.

"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.
Welcome to Fear the Fin...where we eat our own.
My Twitter

by Noctro on Apr 28, 2011 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions

The anti-wings comments were more towards the people who post on Yahoo (as DownRUpLYB stated above) and not as much towards the Wings fans who have ventured over here the last couple of days (although there were still 3 or 4 trolls).

by Bearodactyls on Apr 28, 2011 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions

We've had good interactions with the WIIM folks

But yesterday, we had a bunch of people sign up for SBNation and the first thing they did was join FTF and leave troll comments. No WIIM regulars were a part of that. Y’all are class (with a capital ASS! :P )

But seriously, things are much better around here. Our preview articles got linked on NHL.com and it brought out the meatheads. Probably would have happened no matter who we were playing.

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.

by ElvisVF101 on Apr 28, 2011 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions

If the Sharks are ever stuck with these refs from VAN/NSH Game 1

All I have to say is, whoa, Nellie, they had better have their specialty teams in good order. And maybe pray that Niemi plays like Rinne is tonight for the Preds.

The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo

by Timorous Me on Apr 28, 2011 7:22 PM PDT reply actions

Rinne is playing out of his Frakking mind.

Damned incredible. He’s singlehandedly keeping the Preds in this.

by Noctro on Apr 28, 2011 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Poor Rinne.

He held on like a damn champ there.

by Noctro on Apr 28, 2011 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Indeed

Maybe giving that up will wake up his team, because my word, they are playing like a team in way over their heads.

The principal supporting business now is rage. -- Richard Hugo

by Timorous Me on Apr 28, 2011 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions

More like a team the NHL wouldn't make as much profit from.

Hence the biased reffing against Nashville.

"What has two thumbs and resembles a tool shed... THIS GUY."
"Why a tool shed?"
"It's where all the hoes are at."

by Evil Stanchion on Apr 28, 2011 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Tinfoil hats aside

Bettman (that douche) is trying to grow smaller markets, so if biased reffing were the sort of thing they did, it would probably advantage Nashville.

by warning on Apr 28, 2011 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow.....Just, wow.

http://video.redwings.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=-6&id=112029

by Chi MapleShark on Apr 28, 2011 7:31 PM PDT reply actions

Easy to make a group of people look bad when you edit out the people who prove you wrong.

by Chi MapleShark on Apr 28, 2011 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions

And yes, I know this only represents a small minority of Wings fans.

by Chi MapleShark on Apr 28, 2011 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions

This is such bullshit. I’m pissed. He asked a small group of people.. the last part with the Detroit fan was so set up. What an ass. “Nobody here knows hockey”. Yes WE do, you little bitch. I’ll show Mr. Ken Kal what a cross-check is!

"What happens in the broadcast booth stays in the broadcast booth." Randy Hahn
"Pity is the drug of quitters" Drew Remenda

by hautecouture on Apr 28, 2011 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Sorry had to get that out of my system

But all that video did was try to make us look bad and discount our city as a hockey city which is in really poor taste. Obviously not all Red Wings fans are like this because we’ve had quite a few come by and they’ve been nothing but nice. But I find this video pretty damn offensive!

"What happens in the broadcast booth stays in the broadcast booth." Randy Hahn
"Pity is the drug of quitters" Drew Remenda

by hautecouture on Apr 28, 2011 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Ken Kal should come over to east side sj and ask those questions. so i can kick his dumb ass

BLEED TEAL

by FinAdic on Apr 28, 2011 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions

ICING

LIKE ON A CAKE!

UP THE PUCKS!
"This is a good time to come together and raise our middle finger in the air." - Dan Boyle

by TheSoundOfHockey on Apr 28, 2011 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions

What an asshat. That's like me going to beverly hills and asking about Lacrosse rules. Moron.

Just keep underestimating us, Redwings…

by Noctro on Apr 28, 2011 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

OMG my eyes and ears need bleach

That video was painful

by Justboo on Apr 28, 2011 9:59 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

It's actually pretty funny, because it's meant to be a joke

And technically, icing is what you put on a cake. And there is offsides in football/soccer.

Frankly, why the hell would people know who Chris Osgood is? And why would you ask for the names of Wings players in general?

To be honest, the answers would be the same if they were in Detroit.

"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club

by Bockerz on Apr 28, 2011 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Not gonna lie

I was laughing.

by Bearodactyls on Apr 28, 2011 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions

well, we can sum up detroit fans in about 1000 words (which is evidently equal to one picture)

by tealstherealdeal92 on Apr 28, 2011 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

I tried to talk to his asshat yesterday in front of the tank but he would’t talk to me. I guess because I have my playoff beard going and I was wearing my Sharks sweater he knew it would be pointless.

by Gotthelife4u on Apr 29, 2011 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Sharks should have their own Chelsea Dagger.

I suggest this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavMtUWDBTM

"What has two thumbs and resembles a tool shed... THIS GUY."
"Why a tool shed?"
"It's where all the hoes are at."

by Evil Stanchion on Apr 28, 2011 7:39 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

18,000 people singing any part of that song would be the greatest/most irritating moment ever.

by Chi MapleShark on Apr 28, 2011 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

LOL WUT?

Go Sharks!

by Dmitriy on Apr 28, 2011 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I will try to get this ball rollin'.

UP THE PUCKS!
"This is a good time to come together and raise our middle finger in the air." - Dan Boyle

by TheSoundOfHockey on Apr 28, 2011 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Had to do it.

Fear the Fin: "I've always said that if you don't have the motivation within you... It's not Doug Wilson's job to motivate me. I've got motivation within myself, especially going through some of the experiences that I had last year." - Nick Petrecki

by Matthew_Taylor on Apr 28, 2011 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

THIS IS THE BEST THING.

"What has two thumbs and resembles a tool shed... THIS GUY."
"Why a tool shed?"
"It's where all the hoes are at."

by Evil Stanchion on Apr 28, 2011 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Hahahahaha

YES

by Bearodactyls on Apr 28, 2011 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

They should play this when the opposition takes a penalty

Just for the hell of it.

"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club

by Bockerz on Apr 28, 2011 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Little bit creepy.

Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup.

Twitter! rmorse05

by sharks in oc on Apr 28, 2011 11:06 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

It's the Troolololololo song.

It’s used on the internet as a taunt.

"What has two thumbs and resembles a tool shed... THIS GUY."
"Why a tool shed?"
"It's where all the hoes are at."

by Evil Stanchion on Apr 28, 2011 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions

LOLOLOLOLOL i think i just about pissed myself. can we please do this???

by tealstherealdeal92 on Apr 28, 2011 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

What about us sci-fi nerds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qktzC8dy1V4

I'm warning you! I have ADHD and I know how to use it!!!
Good job Giants, now win 3 more world series titles and then you just might be worthy of being mentioned in the same league as the A's.
THAT IS NABOKOV IN NET NOT NITTYMAKISHUTUP!!!!!!!!!!
San Jose: Being Kept save from ferocious enemies by the Sharks and Earthquakes since 91 and 96.

by Diamondback15 on Apr 29, 2011 1:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Howard has a lot to prove

He hasn’t been as good as Osgood was, not to mention Hasek. So that’s a big plus for San Jose. Especially if we get to him early and rattle his confidence. I really think game 1 is of paramount importance to who will win this series. If we get the first one, why not take both home games?

Sharks 3, Red Wings 2.

Go Sharks!!!

by douchebags on Apr 29, 2011 8:04 AM PDT reply actions