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

Conference Finals Begin Today; Our Predictions

Only four teams remain.  These two series will determine who reaches the Stanley Cup Finals.  Here are mine and Adam's Predictions.


THE WEST:

                 (#1 Seed Canucks)                  (#2 Seed Sharks)


Evan's Prediction: Sharks win in 7.
Adam's Prediction: Sharks win in 6
Our Take: We both figure that the Sharks are simply a stronger team. Carried by the momentum of their series with Detroit, the Sharks are simply better prepared for a tough series with a capable team like Vancouver.

THE EAST:

                  (#3 Seed Bruins)                      (#5 Seed Lightning)

Evan's Prediction: Lightning win in 6.

Adam's Prediction: Bruins win in 6

Our Take:This series could prove to be a battle of the elderly goaltenders. Adam thinks that the Bruins Tim Thomas has the stamina to outlast Tampa's Dwayne Roloson.  The Lightning have offense on their side, but Boston has experience and a grittier defensive core. This will be a great series.

Canucks Advance; Detroit Faces Elimination

After last nights game, the Vancouver Canucks join the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins in the Conference Final round.  They defeated the Nashville Predators by a score of 2-1 last night and take the series 4-2.

There is no doubt that Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne kept them in this series.  He had an unbelievable series for the offensively challenged Preds.  Without him, Nashville could have easily been swept.

Washington Chokes on Ovechkins Empty Promise

Tonight the Tampa Bay Lightning did what nobody thought they could do.  They completed a four game sweep of the Washington Capitals.  What makes this sweep taste all the more bitter for Caps fans is the fact that yesterday star forward Alexander Ovechkin promised reporters a series win out of a 3-0 deficit.

 “It’s not over. We don’t give up. We’re gonna win... They win three, we can win three.” 

The Lightning overall outplayed the Caps in every aspect of the series and just seemed to want the wins more than Washington.  The Capitals become the first number one seed since conference playoff format started in 1994 to be swept in first or second rounds.

Also tonight in playoff news, the Bruins increased their series lead over the Flyers to 3-0 with a 5-1 win, and the Sharks won in Detroit in overtime to go up 3 games to none on the Red Wings.

Sharks Bite Kings in OT; Advance

It was do or die for the Los Angeles Kings last night.  Win and they force a game 7, lose and they're done until October.

Sharks 4 vs. Kings 3 (Overtime)

The game was a constant back and forth battle as both teams traded goals until overtime.  Kyle Wellwood, Jason Demers, and Dany Heatley scored for the Sharks while Justin Williams, Ryan Smyth, and Trevor Lewis scored for Los Angeles in regulation.  In overtime, the Sharks looked to their leaders, and Joe Thornton did not disappoint:

Avoiding the Sweep

There were only two games last night, but neither of them disappointed.  The Canucks were going for the sweep in Chicago, and the Sharks took on the Kings in a thrilling game 3.

Chicago 7 vs. Vancouver 2

(VAN leads series 3-1)

-The Canucks were unable to take game 4 as the Blackhawks proved that they wouldn't go down without a fight.  Chicago got goals from Bryan Bickell, Duncan Keith, Michael Frolik, Brian Campbell, Dave Bolland, and Patrick Sharp in this scrappy game.  

Niemi Signs Extension

The San Jose Sharks seem to be happy with goalie Antti Niemi.  Happy enough to give him a 4 year extension. 

Niemi, now signed through the 2014-15 season, is 23-15-3 with a 2.44 GAA and a .919 save percentage in 42 games.  He has 5 shutouts this season and has secured the #1 starting job on the Sharks after the departure to Evgeni Nabokov.

Niemi won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010 so the Sharks are hopeful that his veteren presence can guide them deep into the playoffs this year.

“This guy has a ring on his finger, and it’s very important that he continues to be part of our organization,” said GM Todd McLellan.