Sharks Being Sharks; Choking on a Great Start?

The world continues to turn.

The sun continues to burn.

And the San Jose Sharks choked on a great start to the season.

The pain... it Burns.

After kicking off the season on a dominant 7-0 tear, the Sharks have now dropped five games in a row bringing their record down to 7-3-3. While a record like that is good enough to earn them the fourth spot in the West for now, further struggles could see the Sharks drop down the standings, and fast.

Critics have said it time and time again, but it bears repeating; the Sharks big guns need to come up huge for them to win big, including goaltender Antti Niemi. Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton both got off to a fast start, but in the Sharks four losses, they've been held to only one point, both of which came in their second most recent 2-6 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This team has mad potential. Cup winning potential even. But before that they need to get their shit together, big time.

In Marleau's Eyebrows We Trust

Patrick Kaleta Headbutted a Guy. Shit Got Real.

Buffalo Sabre's forward Patrick Kaleta has been suspended for 4 games following an incident in the Sabre's November 2nd game against the Flyers, and by incident, I mean Kaleta headbutted another player for the second time of his career.

In a National Hockey League where hundreds of players and coaches are concerned with concussions and head shots, Patrick Kaleta stands alone.  What a ballsy move, endangering another player's head and his own head in a single play. What an over-achiever.

Around the League: Season's Greetings

Hockey season started and stuff.

Sorry guys, we really dropped the ball for a while there.

Really though, this season is off to a solid start, and for what its worth, we're coming back to blogging with a vengeance*.  Some points of interest from this young season so far after the jump.



*Vengeance is subject to change.  Make the jump, like a boss.

Season Preview: Evgeni Malkin

″I hope people understand this is (a) new me,″ Malkin said. ″I've changed my workouts because maybe I was lazy before. Maybe I just played hockey, and that (was) good enough, but (there) is more for me to do."
″My motivation now is very good.″ Additionally Malkin stated that he was, "coming for foreskins," and that, "he forgot his sense of mercy back in Chernobyl."

The other 29 teams better keep their heads up, because it looks like this season Evgeni Malkin is taking over.  From watching him play and reading his interviews, it looks like Malkin is taking his game to a whole new level, and taking no prisoners.

This article by Pittsburgh Trib writer Rob Rossi, confirms what Pens fans have been waiting all off-season to hear. Malkin is coming back from injury with a vengeance. In that article you can find Malkin's daily schedule, which is notably missing his half hour "Mock Gretzky" sessions, and his favorite two exercises ("Team Lifting: Literally Putting the Team on His Back" and "Kicking Down Doors Into Business Meetings").

Believe me, I hate to come off as a homer by writing Malkin's praises before the season starts, but he just looks so solid that it's hard for any analyst to not take notice.