Reconstructing the Western Conference Playoff Standings
by Mr. Plank on Mar 16, 2010 10:50 PM PDT
in Statistical Analysis
56 comments
[Ed. Note]: Auto-post once again is playing tricks with me. Before continuing on, make sure to read TCY's very succinct and in-depth recap of the Stars game here.
A brief note before I get into this.
The tendency after some big losses is to pile on the team, bury them in criticism and state that all hope is lost when it comes to performing in the postseason. I understand that anger as well as anyone, and one thing that I have learned over the years covering this team is that burying your head in the sand when it comes to trends only results in getting blindsided. I have admittedly become much more jaded as time goes by, specifically this season, where youthful exuberance for the start of hockey led to hand-wringing a mere six games later.
It's the nature of the beast really. This fanbase has been burned so many times before, on so many different levels, that we have become a nation of whiners and malcontents. You, me, the dude playing guitar on the far side of West Santa Clara Street following every home game. We are spoiled by regular season success. We look forward to nothing more than the playoffs, and take every victory during the first 82 games with a grain of salt.
My hope is that today's discussion does not fall into name-calling and blanket statements that "the same ol' chokejob" is a foregone conclusion, because it truly is not. San Jose has struggled since the Olympic break but there needs to be a realization here that thirteen games do remain in the regular season; and while this article does point out some rather middling trends against the Western Conference elite, April is ultimately an unknown.
We have no idea what will happen, only previous performances to guide us when speculating on what will. Nothing is set in stone.
Let's not forget that.
The Sharks record against Western Conference playoff teams has been an issue for awhile now, and it's an area of the team that has me concerned going forward. Whether or not this means anything substantial to the masses is likely up for debate.
This post attempts to provide some context for that debate to take place.
The playoffs are a funny thing. Extremely volatile in terms of matchups, especially in the ever-deep Western Conference where a first round draw isn't going to be a walk in the park no matter who you end up facing. Although the term "parity" has become quite the modus operandi during Gary Bettman's reign as Commissioner, it's hard to debate that notion when it comes to the final seedings out West-- by and large all eight clubs are fairly competitive on some level or another, with each one bringing a different type of skill set to the table. You have your veteran teams with experience on their side, young clubs who have played above their head all season, hot teams, cold teams, fallen short of expectations teams, physical teams, freewheeling teams-- just about every crayon in the box is represented.
Detroit is the white Crayola; no one wants it around. But lo and behold it always ends up in the box, unblemished, standing above all others after two months of use.
56 comments | 4 recs |
Listless effort leads to worst game of the season, Sharks look for answers.
by That'll Cheech You on Mar 16, 2010 8:36 PM PDT
in Gamedays Review
65 comments
Hard to explain this one.
It's difficult to write wrap-ups after losses, but even tougher to write them during a streak of losses. I really didn't want to have to write an article with this tone tonight, especially when playing the Stars.
I actually thought the Sharks were going to control this game after watching the first few minutes of the first. They were strong on the forecheck, were generating chances, and had a good amount of flow to the offensive game.
And then the penalties, oh, the penalties.
Setoguchi's double minor was understandable, as he prevented an almost sure goal off the stick of Loui Eriksson. However, as the period wore on, and more Sharks went to the box, it became apparent that the momentum that the Sharks generated early in the period was going to be wasted.
65 comments | 0 recs
Just sayin'
by Mr. Plank on Mar 16, 2010 8:36 PM PDT
in Gamedays Review
13 comments
Does San Jose actually give up the division lead when all is said and done? Hard to say definitively, but I don't think they will. Phoenix has been on a six game tear and San Jose struggled pretty extensively since the Olympics. Common knowledge probably states the Coyotes cool off a bit and the Sharks regain their form.
And for what it's worth, San Jose holds the head to head tiebreaker as of this posting, with wins being equal.
As bad as the game was tonight, this is a good thing for the Sharks. They need a kick right in the rear, and boy did they ever get one tonight. It is one of the last wake up calls the team will get before Chicken Little officially opens up shop smack dab in the center of HP Pavilion.
Big time post coming tomorrow morning, big time back to back against Calgary and Vancouver on Thursday and Friday.
Go Sharks.
13 comments | 0 recs |
Gameday Thread: Sharks @ Stars
by Mr. Plank on Mar 16, 2010 5:17 PM PDT
419 comments
Go Sharks.
419 comments | 0 recs
Sharks Gameday: 129 Days Without a Shutout
by Ivano27 on Mar 16, 2010 3:00 AM PDT
in Gamedays
100 comments
@
5:30 PST
43-15-10, 96 points
29-26-13, 71 points
1st in Western Conference
12th in Western Conference
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From one big rival to another, as the Sharks continue their traditional March road trip.
As we take a look at the NHL standings, the Stars are pretty much in the same position as the Ducks are at this point of the season. The playoffs hopes are all but lost, especially after the Olympic break as Dallas went through a dismal 1-5-1 stretch, with their only win coming in a skills competition, even if against Washington. While last year the Stars fans could have comforted themselves with a thought that it was the injuries that ruined their season, this year there is no excuse-- most of their best players have stayed healthy throughout the season. It is a mediocre defense (46 more goals allowed than the Sharks and only one d-man with more than 15 points on the season), inconsistent goaltending from Marty Turco, and a hideous special teams numbers (20th PP unit in the league and 27th PK unit) that led to a largely underwhelming season by what used to be one of the better NHL franchiaes. Actually, could it be the coaching?
As this season progresses and I see these kinds of results from the Stars, I keep wondering how will the club's ownership, management and fans feel when Dave Tippett gets Jack Adams Award this June?
But let's not concern ourselves with the Stars. Needless to say, with recent lackluster performances, and strong words of general dissatisfaction from Todd McLellan and Dan Boyle, the Sharks must take two points tonight.
What matters even more is what we'll actually see on the ice. We've already touched upon the general lack of consistent scoring and a wild line shuffling of forwards that McLellan is playing with, but let's touch upon another concerning trend that's been slowly emerging over the past few weeks.
100 comments | 0 recs |
How the Sharks have spent the post-Olympic break
by Mr. Plank on Mar 15, 2010 4:30 AM PDT
in Statistical Analysis
64 comments
Captain Comeback has hid some pretty porous team-wide numbers for San Jose since the Olympic break.
And it's likely going to start catching up to them. In fact, it probably already has.
Since the NHL resumed play on March 1st the San Jose Sharks have had six games to work out any outstanding issues in preparation for a postseason run-- and while they have gone 3-2-1 in that time span, an admittedly sufficient record at face value, the Sharks have not made it easy on themselves. Nor have they looked especially good in the process.
The "sixty minute effort" talking point that has followed this team for awhile now is applicable here, no matter how welcoming it may be to cast aside as a cheap blanket statement better suited for the likes of Couch Potato Paul and his esteemed associate High Chair Harry. It is a tired line that has unfortunately grown into the everyday verbiage of Sharks fans when discussing the team, one that is usually best served with qualitative analysis of individual players garnished with a broad look at what this means in the context of the season; if one wishes to be considered a reliable source of discussion, that is.
At this point however, I don't think you can label any one individual effort that has brought about the current slide, nor can you really label it a slide per se-- the scoreboard reads 7 points since the Olympics, and even if San Jose has accomplished that mark with some pretty lofty comebacks, there is a silver lining in knowing that they are able to stage these comebacks of epic proportions.
Exciting, yes. They haven't packed up shop and mailed it in after going down early. This has been another criticism of the organization over the years, a black mark that has been addressed on some level during victories against Montreal and Nashville.
But sustainable over the course of the long run? Sustainable during the playoffs when teams will be better and goals much more monumental?
No.
64 comments | 0 recs |
The Experiment of Line Shuffling Fails, as Sharks Get Stopped in Anaheim
by Ivano27 on Mar 14, 2010 8:27 PM PDT
in Gamedays Review
21 comments
Another night, another loss, as the Sharks fail to sweep the Ducks in regular season and lose 2-4 in Anaheim.
Back in October when the Sharks struggled to find their game at the start to their season, I actually welcomed the idea that the team will not run the table for another year and may have to battle hard to earn a good seed in the playoffs. But once the HTML line was put together, the team started putting one winning streak after another. Before we knew it, the Sharks were once again at the top of the Western Conference schedule with a comfortable position going into March-April.
In this position, the points now start to matter less and at times we see the players put questionable effort on the ice. To battle this, we are starting to see these kinds of ideas coming out of McLellan's mouth as team is starting 6-game road trip:
"We’ll be able to play some people in different situations than we have been. You might see the big guys back together some night, you might see some lines that are different just in case we need it later on."
We sure saw plenty of that tonight. On one shift we saw HTML line together. On another Thornton was skating next to McGinn and Setoguchi (which is how the first goal was scored). Then all of a sudden we saw Heatley skating next to Clowe and Mitchell and on and on this chess game went.
21 comments | 0 recs |
Sharks Gameday: Drive Home The Dagger
by Mr. Plank on Mar 14, 2010 3:30 AM PST
in Gamedays
56 comments
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| 43-14-10, 96 points | 30-29-8, 68 points |
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| 1st in Western Conference |
13th in Western Conference |
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Following a porous end to the game yesterday against the Florida Panthers, which saw one of the most lifeless forty minute performances San Jose has turned in all year, the Sharks get a chance to get back on the horse and do something special today.
Bury the Ducks playoff hopes.
Make no mistake-- Anaheim's season is likely over already, with Detroit and Calgary making a strong push towards the final two spots in the West. But for an organization (San Jose that is) that was embarrassed last season by Anaheim in the playoffs, tonight deserves some recognition. There is an opportunity to go undefeated against the Ducks since the April Aspyhxiation*, and truly make a stamp on the season. It is one of those moments that will stick with me for a long time if it occurs, no matter how insignificant it may be in the standings column.
*Disclosure: I hate the "choke" label as much as the next guy, but the alliteration there was too much fun to pass up.
At any rate, daylight savings really threw a wrench in my gameday plans today, and with final exams approaching, I don't have enough time to wax poetic as I would like. If you're in the mood for some reading material however, this article from earlier in the year is a great one. If I hadn't written it then I would have written it today, and I think it holds up quite well-- hell, it will likely be relevant even two years from now when it comes to Anaheim.
Also, big ups to Ryane Clowe for being just about the only Shark out there yesterday who looked like he had a pulse. I have definitely extended a fair share of complaints his way throughout the season, and it's only right to acknowledge when he has a great game. Keep it up #29.
Prediction: Sharks win 4-2. Goals by Marleau, Setoguchi, Pavelski, and Thornton. The big guns show up and drive a stake through the heart of a past playoff ghost.
Go Sharks.
56 comments | 0 recs |
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Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose
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69 | 43 | 16 | 10 | 96 |
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Phoenix
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70 | 43 | 22 | 5 | 91 |
|
Los Angeles
|
68 | 40 | 23 | 5 | 85 |
|
Dallas
|
69 | 30 | 26 | 13 | 73 |
|
Anaheim
|
68 | 31 | 29 | 8 | 70 |
(updated 3.17.2010 at 5:57 AM PDT)
Sharks Schedule
Next 5 Games
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Vancouver
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Thu 03/18 | 7:00 PM PDT |
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Calgary
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Fri 03/19 | 6:00 PM PDT |
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Edmonton
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Sun 03/21 | 5:00 PM PDT |
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Minnesota
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Tue 03/23 | 5:00 PM PDT |
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Dallas
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Thu 03/25 | 7:30 PM PDT |
Last 5 Games
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@
Dallas
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Tue 03/16 | L 2 - 8 |
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@
Anaheim
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Sun 03/14 | L 2 - 4 |
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Florida
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Sat 03/13 | OT - L 2 - 3 |
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Nashville
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Thu 03/11 | W 8 - 5 |
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Columbus
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Sat 03/06 | W 2 - 1 |
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