Oh, man, where to start? I think this might have been the most intense regular season game the Sharks have ever played. That wasn't like a playoff game, it WAS a playoff game. What we learned:
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- Joe Pavelski has been known to be a gamer and it isnt surprising that he showed up again tonight.
- Does the scoresheet have Joe Thornton on it? Didn't think so. Come on, Joe. You have to show up too. Okay, that's not totally fair, he did generate a lot of opportunities or near-misses. But still, the point remains, get those points in the big games, kid. I feel like Joe needs a breakthrough moment where he just unleashes the beast in a big game to break through, yet, I know this is a pipe dream because the root of the problem isn't effort. The problem is that Joe's style of playing along the boards can't work against The Good Teams in the NHL. Those teams have very strong top-pairings who can shut down the front of the net. I covered this in a previous post.
- The fourth line deserves many kudos for being the only line to show up and deliver from 0-63:25. The pairing of Mitchell and Couture looks good and Shelley was in the right place at the right time and was an able distributor out there. Who knew Jody could dish from behind the net? Seriously, that was an extraordinary effort from the fourth line. I hope Logan Couture realizes he just reserved himself a spot on the playoff roster.
- The third line showed their importance from the second period through the end with their tenacious forecheck and hard-hitting style along the boards. There were two or three shifts where the third line handcuffed the Hawks in their own zone, hit them hard in the corners, stole the puck, and created a shooting opportunity.
- How clutch was our D? Pretty clapworthy effort tonight from the whole D corps, running half the game undermanned against the fastest and most explosive offense in the NHL. Combined with the forecheck, they were able to pretty much shut down the Hawks for thirty minutes. They played smart by closing space on the faster Hawks after keeping them to the outside as they entered the zone.
- Shut up, Quinneville: That was obviously an interference penalty. Your entire cycle is predicated on interferences in the corners. I can't wait until the NHL puts you on blast in the first round for interference penalties and you end up losing a game or four to the Kings/Wings. I hate this system how the good teams are the ones that skirt the line of interference in the offensive zone. The "soft interferences" in the zone are obvious penalties and should be called as such.
- Special MeowClaps to the best Sharks defenseman tonight (prepare yourself, GBF) Kent Huskins. He was masterful out there and made the most of his limited skills by demonstrating his willingness to leave his feet and take one or two in the ribs for the team. I like you now, Kent. Way to earn your keeps, that was a hell of an effort from you tonight. The guy looked like Bobby Hurley out there, flying on the ice, chest first into the puck, pushing guys, punching guys, doing whatever it took to keep them away from Nabby.
- Jason Demers will be good in a few years but he is the lesser-ready between him and Leach. The missed passes, getting abused in the boards and deked out of his shoes all highlight that he's a little above his level defensively. He will get there, I am sure. He did show some moxy by hammering some dudes in the second period when we were down by two.
- Once the Sharks started slamming on the Hawks' shoulders and stood them up, they were able to generate more opportunities and handcuff them in their own zone. That's how they have to play against teams like Chicago, Vancouver, and Detroit. TM always talks about how the Sharks feel like they have some need to play fancy when they are playing skilled teams. The Sharks need to learn this. I hope tonight was the night.
- In future games against teams like the Hawks, 'Nucks, and Wings, the Sharks should press them with their forwards deep in the other team's zone, then have their D-men pinch back tight to the center of rink to keep the other forwards on the outside of center, putting them in a strong position to deny the zone with speed. Slowing teams down is the most important thing.
- Dany Heatley is a playoff player. I like the slashes and interferences and the hard shots in close. They all
- I think my neighbors are all aware that I am a Sharks fan, if they weren't before. My apt sounded like a one man version of section 212.
- And, sadly, the Hawks are the better team right now.
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For your information I've completely turned around on Huskins. He's not a top 4 guy, and I still think we're paying him too much, but he has improved DRASTICALLY and is no longer a liability.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jason Demers response to your comments about his readiness: becoming the third defenseman in Sharks history to post a multi-goal game.
You'd think that if Huskins had learned from most of his mistakes he'd be a Norris candidate by now.
ReplyDeleteAnd I always said Demers could float offensively. Its his resemblance to Matt Brown that makes him a defensive liability.