Takes and trash talk from both ALL sides of the NHL's most obscure PATHETIC* rivalry

* Thanks, Kevin Lowe!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Sharks Gameday: Do or Do Not

It's Game 7, and really, what else is there that's left to say? I think every angle's already been covered. There's the good (Ryane Clowe, Patrick Marleau, Evgeni Nabokov), the bad (Brian Campbell, Milan Michalek), and the putrid (Game 6). In between, you've got hit-and-miss performances from Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo, as well as the entire Sharks defense.

The funny thing about Game 7s is that one team can completely dominate but a single bounce can do them in. You can look at percentages and trends and hot streaks and all that other stuff, but it really won't amount to much. Anyone remember Colorado and Patrick Roy imploding against Detroit a few years ago?

So where do we go from here? Logic tells me that based on the Sharks talent and their ability to bounce back from crap performances so far, they will win. Of course, the problem with this team is that they don't follow patterns and they aren't predictable. I think having Jeremy Roenick back in the lineup (Ron Wilson already said that he was going to play) should help put some spark back in the lineup, but you just never know when the tentative bug could strike.

All I can say is this (in my best Yoda voice): Do...or do not. There is no try.

Go Sharks.

34 comments:

Earl Sleek said...

All I can say is this (in my best Yoda voice): Do...or do not. There is no try.

Mike, I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I swear I had this quote involved in the first draft of my G6 gameday post, but near the end I decided to pull it before hitting "Publish".

Hopefully it was me pulling it that cursed the Ducks, not me thinking of using it.

jamestobrien said...

I tried to write a Joe Thornton/San Jose Sharks piece, but I've come to the realization that the Sharks leave me completely baffled.

Seriously, I have no clue what's going to happen in Game 7. I look to my gut for a reaction and it only says "feed me."

Anonymous said...

I hate reading articles saying that the Sharks are happy, thrilled to have a game 7. They are playing ping pong, they played well all year and can take the positives from that.

I want the players to be angry, to be pissed off frothing mad there is a game 7. They not only should want to score, they should want to run over a defenseman, score and then flatten the goaltender in the process.

Was Marty Turco happy someone tried to steal beer out of his fridge? No. Like Chuck Norris he chased them down and stomped on them. How did his beer taste after that? Damn good.

I am going to have a beer before Game 7, and a beer after. After the last 3 playoff exits, the latter beer better taste damn good.

Anonymous said...

Given how nervous the Sharks have looked in the 1st period of each game (aside from Game 3), I don't think Game 7 bodes well at all. They'll be tentative and Calgary will be aggressive and then the Flames will score 1 or 2 goals on a strong forecheck/turnover. How many times have the Flames hit the post or missed an open net in the 1st period this series? This scares the heck out of me tonight.

Mostly because I'm afraid their response will be like what happened after Langkow's goal in Game 6. They gave up.

Sqb. said...

It's really true. It's seemingly impossible to predict how the Sharks will play in this game.

My gut tells me they'll lose tonight. But with the Sharks, you might as well consult the 8-ball.

Earl Sleek said...

You know, it's very rare that you start missing a guy like Jeff Friesen, but that guy was Game Seven money in the bank.

His only problem was games 1-82, and then postseason games 1-6, but that was a small price to pay once d-day rolled around.

Who can channel the Freeze tonight?

heed said...

GO SHARKS! i guess. seriously this brian campbell fella is he really a "top" defenceman or did marc andre bergeron get a nose job and put on a clown wig. he's been brutal. can you please put a nail in the coffin of the flames' season. as an oiler fan, it would be greatly appreciated.

RudyKelly said...

You guys know you're not THAT good, right? I always hear San Jose fans complain that their team never shows up, they have no heart... maybe they're not as good as you think they are. I mean, you have Thornton and Nabokov, who are awesome, but Michalek, Cheechoo, Marleau... they aren't that great a lot of the time. The other guys on your team are like 12 and your best defensive defenseman is Craig Rivet. Seriously, I like the way the Sharks are built, but I don't think that if they lose tonight that it's because of them; it's probably because the Flames played better than them.

Matt said...

Do...or do not.

Count my vote for "do not", please. Wait, is this a reader poll?

walkinvisible said...

they don't follow patterns and they aren't predictable.

i think the reason that this series has been so even "in every category that you can categorize" (thank you, ron wilson, for one of the best soundbytes of all time) is that the flames and sharks are built alot alike. each team has an obvious 'core group', a handful of mostly-useless vets, a hot goalie and a sprinkling of youngsters prone to making mistakes.

the flames are equally as unpredictable, and the only pattern i can see is the one where each game this series they've looked a little tougher.

tonight will be about luck and bounces, methinks....

Kent W. said...

Well, whatever happens tonight, it's been a hell of a series.

Cheers Sharks fans.

Sean Zandberg said...

Roenick is back in tonight. That should help! :)

Die Flames Die!

Earl Sleek said...

:) Die Bart Die!

antro said...

:) Die Bart Die!

Huh?

I agree with Metrognome that it's been a helluva series. I missed G6, but in G5 it looked like the Flames were beatable as long as the Sharks kept at them b/w the Flames' face-off circles and the center line. The Flames just coughed up the puck time after time, and that led to great Shark opportunities. Once the Flames got past the center line, they actually could keep the pressure on. So that's my little "key to the game."

Oh, and the fact that the Sharks' D dither with the puck waaaay too much in their own zone.

Alright Sharks, let's work on tomorrow's slick, pun-oriented headline: "Sharks take a bite out of and douse the Flames."

Earl Sleek said...

:) Die Bart Die!

Huh?


It's German for "The Bart The!"

Aw, just some Simpsons/Sideshow Bob nonsense to lighten the tension.

"Sharks take a bite out of and douse the Flames."

Let's hope it's something silly like "Flames outchoke Jumbo Joe."

Kent W. said...

It's German for "The Bart The!"

No one who speaks German could be an evil man.

RudyKelly said...

Yeah, Joe Thornton can score a goal in the 1st period of a game 7, but can he score one in the 3rd when it really matters?

Anonymous said...

The superstars and the greybeards so far, eh? (I'm not convinced Seto touched that puck).

Yeah, I'd say these teams are pretty evenly matched...

Earl Sleek said...

Setoguchi unleashes his inner Yoda.

Earl Sleek said...

Wow. In the "whodathunkit?" category, when it comes to G7, JR > AO.

Anonymous said...

Thank god Buffalo wanted Bernier for Campbell and not Pavelski...

Earl Sleek said...

Just wow. Keenan.

I do have to admit I have an ulterior motive for rooting on the Sharks tonight. I'm the guy that's supposed to write the Sharks' eulogy over at Wyshynski's new Yahoo! blog if/when they get eliminated (here's one for the Wild and one for the Preds). I'm mainly linking them so I can go find them later.

But yeah, I'm feeling pretty lazy tonight, so hopefully a Sharks win will give me the night off.

Anonymous said...

Aahh...who cares if the Flames haven't scored a goal off their sticks this game. The hockey gods have seen that Vandermeer decked his own player and denied the power play.

Lady luck is still with us!

Anonymous said...

As the young folks say: Boo-yah.

Mina said...

Wow. Just wow. I'm not sure my little heart can take the stress of another series. But I am so glad it is here. God bless JR.

RudyKelly said...

Fuck yeah, I didn't realize Wyshynski was writing a Yahoo! blog now. With him doing hockey and MJD doing football, I think Yahoo! may be creeping up on The Fanhouse, Earl.

Anonymous said...

Why can't they play like that every game!!!Thats the best I have ever seen them play.

Roenick!!!!
Bring on the Stars!

Sean Zandberg said...

"Roenick is back in tonight. That should help! :)"


Aha! Called it! What a game. So happy the Flames are gonzo!

brokeyard said...

Wait wait wait, let me get this straight...

There's a "Bleed Teal" blog AND a "*We* Bleed Teal" blog? Come on!

Earl Sleek said...

C'mon, brokeyard. I dare you to start a blog called "We Bleed Teal Blood".

Earl Sleek said...

A little business:

The Sharks-Stars series starts on Friday.

And JavaGeek says the Sharks are a 54% favorite.

antro said...

Aha! Called it! What a game. So happy the Flames are gonzo!

Actually, I think I called it:

in G5 it looked like the Flames were beatable as long as the Sharks kept at them b/w the Flames' face-off circles and the center line. The Flames just coughed up the puck time after time, and that led to great Shark opportunities.

What led to the PP on which JR scored to tie the game--Regehr coughing the puck up at the half boards after a hard forecheck, I can't remember whose. Erikson coughed it up there, Phaneuf, Hale, Vandermeer, and a bunch of flames forwards. The only one I didn't see do for the D was Sarich, but I missed the 3rd period when I fell asleep (it was late where i live).

good job sharkos, you took a douse out of and bited the falmes!! for all i care, you can now go on and win the stanley cup.

brokeyard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
brokeyard said...

You dared the wrong person, Sleek.

http://webleedtealblood.blogspot.com

You should have dared someone more cowardly, by which I mean someone less immature.