The Sharks continue to bring the suck, losing 2-3 against Blue Jackets in O.T.

The San Jose Sharks began the season by steamrolling opposing teams through disciplined puck possession, rapid fire shots, and four rolling lines.

Yeah, too bad we haven’t seen much of that lately.

Team Teal lost 2-3 in O.T. in Columbus tonight, losing their third straight game for the first time this season.  Unfortunately, it had to come on a day of dual milestones – Mike Grier’s 900th career game, and Jody Shelley’s 33rd birthday, coincidentally while at his old stomping grounds.

Reasons for our loss?  What’s required to break out of the funk?  Read on for more.

FIRST PERIOD

Ryane Clowe gets pulled into a fight with third line winger Derek Dorsett for a rough check that our man dished out – pretty crafty of Columbus, as the Sharks were without their gritty second line winger / power play go-to man for five minutes, while the Blue Jackets only forfeited a low scoring, high PIM man.  Good trade for Columbus.

The Blue Jackets got on the board first when the recently-improved Alexei Semenov showed signs of his old ways creeping back, by turning over the puck near Evgeni Nabokov.  Surprise – a (soft) goal by Jason Williams, unassisted at the right circle, at 1:46.  First Columbus shot on goal, too.  Minus-ones = Ehrhoff, Semenov, Goc, Grier, and Cheechoo (side note – Cheech played left wing tonight while Grier played right).  Plus ones = Christian Backman, Jan Hejda, Jason Chimera, Jason Williams, and Fredrik Modin.

Manny Malhotra drew an interference call against Mike Grier at 4:25, and the Blue Jackets went on the man advantage first.  No shots on goal for the BJs, BUT a scare off San Jose’s goalpost with seconds remaining.

Joe Thornton drew a roughing call against Columbus defenseman Rostislav Klesla at 7:06 – Klesla hit Thornton in the face, dropping him to the ice, and then seemed remorseful of his deeds (“Hey man, you ok?” he appeared to say to Jumbo).  Repentence aside, it was time for San Jose’s first power play of the night.

One shot.  Several blocked.  Yawn.

Twenty-seven seconds after the penalty was killed, Dan Boyle allowed a turnover of the puck at the boards, from whence it was sent to Rick Nash.  Nabokov’s attempt at coming out of the net to stop Nash’s rush was for naught, as Columbus’ star left winger wristed it past Nabby from 14 feet out.  Kristian Huselius and naughty boy Klesla had the assists, at 9:33.

Columbus up 2-0… on two shots on goal.  Minus-ones = Murray, Boyle, Cheechoo, Setoguchi and Thornton.  Plus-ones = Nash, Huselius, Klesla, Christian Backman and Manny Malhotra.

Later in the period, Joe Thornton drew another penalty, this time a hooking call against Fedor Tyutin at 16:23.  The Sharks would manage 2 shots on goal, but most regrettably allowed a significant shorthanded attack from R.J. Umberger.  Fortunately, Nabby decided his honor was too great to allow yet another goal, so he managed to block the shot.

Faceoffs = 8-8 for the period.  Hits = 14-14.  Shots = 8-3, San Jose.  Takeaways = 2-1, San Jose (BUT the takeaway by Columbus resulted in a goal).  Giveaways = 1 by San Jose (Claude Lemieux).

SECOND PERIOD

Jan Hejda called at 0:29 for interfering with Ryane Clowe.  The Sharks lose no time in scoring, when Devin Setoguchi is set up in the slot for his first goal since January 20th.  Christian Ehrhoff and Joe Thornton earn the assists.

Milan Michalek drew a hooking penalty against Kristian Huselius at 2:18 for yet another Sharks power play.  Just one shot on goal for San Jose.

Much later, at 13:49, birthday boy Jody Shelley and Jared Boll earned 5 minutes each for fighting.

That’s the bulk of the excitement for the second period.  Score = 2-1, Columbus.  Faceoffs = 7-9, Columbus.  Hits = 17-15, San Jose.  Shots = 9-6, San Jose.  Takeaways = 1 by Cheechoo.  Giveaways = 1 by Jan Hejda.

THIRD PERIOD

Fredrik Modin was given a two-minute penalty for high-sticking Joe Pavelski at 0:30.  The Sharks went on their fifth and final power play of the evening, generating just one shot on goal.

Flash forward to 15:55 = Marcel Goc wins the faceoff in the Blue Jackets end, and 7 seconds later his countryman Christian Ehrhoff lets his slapshot be heard, tying the game at 16:02.  Dan Boyle and Mike Grier earn the assists.  Plus-one = Goc, Cheechoo, Grier, Boyle, and Ehrhoff.  Minus-one = Malhotra, Chimera, Nash, Klelsa and Tyutin.

The Sharks hold on to force overtime.  Faceoffs for the period = 9-9.  Hits = 11-7, San Jose.  Shots = 9-7, San Jose.  Takeaways = 1 by Chimera.  Giveaways = 2 for San Jose (Boyle, Grier) and 1 for Columbus (Hejda).

OVERTIME

In O.T., San Jose managed 4 shots, before Columbus’ fourth entered the net.  R.J. Umberger fired a shot that trickled past Nabokov, unbeknownst to our goaltender.  Meanwhile, Christian Backman found the puck and quickly swept it in, winning his team’s second straight game in O.T. against San Jose, as well as putting an end to Columbus’ 3-game losing streak.

Not to mention sending our team further down the road of their losing streak.  Much credit is due to #1 star of the night Dan LaCosta, who made 28 saves in his first NHL start.  That Columbus – after Leclaire and Norrena, who knew they could rely on clutch goal-tending?

Before we have another 5-game losing streak like last February, here are some general areas that I think we need to (re)focus on =

• Crisp passing.  It’s a thing of the past, and needs to be a part of our future unless we think we can keep blasting in pucks from the blue line.
• Stronger forecheck.  Make them fear us (again).
• Better positioning to neutralize opposing teams’ odd-man rushes – like Nash’s tonight, and Matt Cullen’s on Thursday night.  This also applies to our power play – a shorthanded goal by Kris Versteeg proved that last Saturday.
• Unpredictablility.  Teams are onto us – note how they forced us to dump and chase repeatedly.  A predictable offense will result in a predictable response.  I can’t say I know how to solve the problem – but I’m going to go on a limb in terms of identifying it.
• Lastly – willingness to play a full 60 minutes.  The final frame against Carolina crippled us.  The opening one tonight threatened to do the same.  When I mention unpredictability above, I also want a degree of consistency./

Is that too much to ask?

The Sharks head to Boston for a potential prelude to the Cup Finals a really important matchup of conference heads.  Mark yer calendars.

GO SHARKS.