Part 2

Well, let's see how the boys do for the remainder of the season. Plihal was called up today to add a bit of depth to the forward corps and because of the opening created when McClaren went on the IR. We'll see if he makes his NHL debut...Will we still have a goalie rotation? I think we will, at least until one totally disintegrates consistently over several games. (No, Nabby, while not great, did not have total melt-downs...some of it was a team effort). Can we overtake the Ducks for the Pacific Division lead? The poll on the SJSharks website was an overwhelmingly "YES," but the Ducks have some of their players coming back from injury. It should be a great second-half, barring ill-fated things.

PS - I have always rooted against Marty Turco and booed him as necessary at the Tank and at the Pond. However, after listening to him enjoy himself at the ASG and his willingness to talk during the game, I find that I like him. I respect his goaltending ability, though he can feel free to "tank" anytime he plays at the "Tank." He appears to have a good sense of humor (see ASG and his NHL commercial) and is fun to watch....as long as he isn't playing the Sharks...then I'll just have to boo him and heckle him as necessary.

At the Break - Random Musings

Well, I haven't been able to access this as much as I'd like. Ok, I've been too busy watching hockey and playing WoW. But just when the Sharks started to go on a slide, they got their @#$ kicked by Phoenix. Since then, 7-1. Too bad the All Star break came up but then again, time to get over some of those little nagging injuries.
*Marleu has just been flying lately. He's stepped it up as leader too, evidence by his first fight in 4 years. He seems to score every game and is picking up the points.
*Erhoff had his firs NHL fight a few weeks ago and picked up the Gordie Howe hat-trick. He's been a good threat on the power play.
*Speaking of the PP, oh, my, God....incredible. What, over 50% for several games and still over 26% for the season. Teams know not to make a mistake against the Sharks.
*While there has been a shortage of 5-5 goals, the Sharks have showed, at times, they can manage to accomplish these too.
*Cheechoo is finally starting to hit the back of the net again; hopefully he'll continue to regain his confidence while remembering to work hard and play defense.
*The rookies, Pavelski, Vlasic, and Carle have helped stabilize this team. Ryan Clowe's emergence as a scorer on the line with Thornton and Marleu has been great too.
*Bernier's broken foot bites, but at least the Sharks have depth. Hopefully he'll have the hunger to score and play a hard game when he returns in 6 weeks.
*Nabokov and Toskala have been great, with like a 2.16 gaa. Not bad for a platoon. I'd like to see more consistency from Nabby who's had some rough outings, and it will be interesting to see if the rotation continues.
**Anaheim's Andy McDonald scored a nice goal in the All Star Shoot-out competition last night. Not bad for a last-minute replacement who had to borrow Selanne's gloves and where brand new equipment thanks to his stuff getting lost on the flight from LAX to DAL...I'm guessing it was non-stop, so how do you lose that?
**Anaheim's had a chance to try and recoup from a bunch of injuries to some major players: Pronger, Neidermeyer, Giguere, Beauchemin...let's see how they play once they start to get some of these guys back. Sharks have moved within 4...can they pass them by? We'll have to wait for Part 2 of the Season.

Marleau and Club set Franchise Records

Congrats to Patrick Marleau for his new points record with the SJ Sharks, as well as the team for its 9 unanswered goals and 6 power-play goals, both franchise records set last night.

Sharks start to rise from the dead

Wow, what a crazy end to the old year and a great way to start the new year. First, the Sharks lose 2 to Phoenix, the second time in an 8-0 drubbing in front of many of the players' fathers. That resulted in several meetings the following day, a change of lines, and ultimately the send-down of Carle and the Bear to the AHL. The Sharks came out the following day and in an inspired 1st period of hockey, threw their weight around and shot the puck at Turco, chasing him out of the goal. The result, a 4-0 period and Turco having been replaced by Smith in goal. The next two periods were OK, but the Sharks let Dallas score 2, but held on to win the game.

The Sharks returned to San Jose where many, but not all (see Carle & Bear), celebrated the New Year. I was afraid the Sharks would have forgotten the results of all those team meetings last week by the time they played the Red Wings. And, when they started play last night, it appeared I was right. The first shift was great and then it went downhill from there. The Wings quickly took a 3-0 lead and I thought all the shifting around and shake-ups had gone for naught. Nabby was chased from the game again, for team psychological reasons more than his play according to Ron Wilson, and Toskala came in to finish the game.

Boy, was I wrong about the way the game was headed. Josh Georges, whom I've read many malign on several boards, finally scored his first goal in the NHL. The Sharks went into the first intermission down 3-1 instead of shutout. They came out for the second period and Cheechoo and Pavelski showed some good work together, getting Cheech a score to close it within one. Soon after, Ryan Clowe, back after what, 12 games on IR, scored to tie it up and we had a whole new game. In the end, the Sharks scored 9 unanswered goals, chasing the "Dominator" (Hasek) from the game after 8. The Wings scored one with a few minutes left in the 3rd, but this game, after the middle of the second period was a route.

Thanks for making me wrong guys. Great game and great way to show some heart and grit. Now KEEP IT UP!!