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BoC Gameday—It’s about damn time…

Anaheim Ducks (16-10-3, t-3rd in west) at San Jose Sharks (22-3-2, 1st in west)
SBN’s first glimpse of a true Battle of California!

Aboutdamntime_medium

Mike Chen and I agreed to do another combined-forces post for today’s chapter of the BoC (apparently I didn’t learn my lesson from teaming with Chen from the season opener).  This time our theme is the opening phrase, "It’s about damn time…" Essentially we’ll just be taking turns describing some generally overdue occurrences about our teams – Sleek on the Ducks and Chen on the Sharks. Note that Sleek wrote up his answers before yesterday’s Blues game, which of course backfired.

Before we get into that, though, some links to share: first off, I was the first-ever guest on the Dudes on Hockey podcast to help preview tonight's game -- feel free to give that a listen.  Also, I did contribute a PuckToon today at FanHouse that pokes fun at Joe Sakic's latest injury.  Lastly, our Sharks buddies at Fear the Fin will be running a game thread for tonight's game -- you're welcome to stop by.

Enough link-dumping, though -- it's about damn time this post got started!

Star-divide

Sleek: It’s about damn time that Brendan Morrison was a useful even-strength player (Ed. Note: Whoops!). I’ve cut B-Mo a ton of slack this early part of the year, mostly because I’m acutely aware of how much the guy used to kill Anaheim back in his Vancouver days, plus I know the guy is coming off a pretty big injury. Still, B-Mo has played some 342 even-strength minutes (sheltered minutes at that) and produced but 5 even-strength points, last among Ducks forwards. Morrison could also use some help on the power play (+1, -1 in 50 minutes of man-advantage time),but let’s worry about even-strength play first. We also shouldn’t neglect Teemu Selanne, who hasn’t scored an even-strength goal in his last 25 games (!). If these two could get scoring, then the Ducks become a very interesting team, perhaps one that could give the Sharks a run for their money.

Chen: It's about damn time Jonathan Cheechoo scored some goals again. There's no guarantee that Cheech will be in the lineup but he's at least skating with the team again. If he wanted to pick a perfect time for a return, well, now would be it. As we've covered in BoC before, nothing gets Cheech out of a slump faster than playing his Ducks. If he's in the lineup, all of the planets will have aligned to get him a hat trick along with some regular power play time again. Now, don't get me wrong -- I got nothing against Devin Setoguchi and Ryane Clowe (the two guys who essentially supplanted Cheech in the top-six mix). However, I gotta think Setoguchi will slow down at some point and Clowe's an even streakier player than Cheech (healthy Cheech, that is; injured Cheech is about as effective as playing a guy from my beer league). Get Cheech rolling and then see how things shake out when Torrey Mitchell is back and healthy. Maybe you'll even have three scoring lines at that point.

Sleek: It’s about damn time that a visiting team beat the Sharks in regulation time. The Sharks of course are 14-0-2 at home this year, and even dating to March 3rd of last season, San Jose hasn’t lost in regulation in their last 25 regular season home games. They have a 22-0-3 record (16-0-9 through regulation), and have been murdering teams in pretty much all areas. They’ve outscored visitors by an average score of 3.6 – 2.0 (1.1 – 0.6 on the power play), and outshot them by a whopping 37.0 – 23.2. The Ducks have already handed the Sharks their worst loss of the first 1/3 of the season, but can they do it up in mean ol' San Jose without the lucky green shirt in attendance?

Chen: It's about damn time that a visiting team beat the Sharks in regulation time. Yep, I'm going negative here. One of the worst things about being a Sharks fan is that you have such inflated expectations that anxiety comes with every touch of the puck. All of this seems too good to be true, and while we're certainly racking up a lot of pizzas (an update to the MVPP tracker is coming soon), I think we're all a little nervous about when the bottom falls out of everything. However, if a visitor comes in -- especially a heated division rival -- and beats the Sharks, that might actually be a positive in a big-picture perspective. We've seen this team pull rabbits out of their proverbial fins all season long during periods where they've looked out of it, but I want to see how the team bounces back from a defeat in an important game. Not saying that I want them to lose, just that it wouldn't necessarily be the worst thing in the world and it'll happen eventually. (Ok boys, time to prove me wrong and get a point in every game for the rest of the season.)

Sleek: It’s about damn time that these teams had a seven-game series already. Seriously, the BoC storyline since this blog started has been about the parallel dominance of these two teams, plus their stunning inability to meet in the postseason. In 2006 and 2007, the Sharks failed to advance to the conference finals, and in 2008, the Ducks failed to advance to the 2nd round – any one of those wins would have meant California’s first all-inclusive playoff series. Even though there’s an absolute probability that the Sharks would murder the Ducks this coming spring, I’m still enthusiastically behind the idea of seeing a Ducks-Sharks playoff series – I’ll take my chances. The first-ever postseason BoC been so long in its build-up that I can’t help being all for it. Let’s make it happen.

Chen: It's about damn time Patrick Marleau got some respect around this league. Strike the 05-06 Red Wing series and the first half of last season from the record and Patrick Marleau's been consistently a great player in this league since 03-04, both in the regular season and the post-season -- and that's despite butting heads with Ron Wilson, breaking in rookie linemates, and generally being shifted around all over the lineup. Look at his playoff totals and you'll find few people who've put up as good of numbers. This year, he's become a fixture on the PK, one of the best backchecking forwards, and pretty much the best overall Shark for the entire amazing run. I'm glad to see that a few hockey blogs and even mainstream sites have whispers of Marleau as a sleeper Hart Trophy guy; he may never get that far, but let's get him out of the shadow of Joe Thornton and acknowledge he's pretty damn good in his own right already, ok?

As always, feel free to leave your own "It's about damn time" contribution about either team in the comments.

Sleek’s prediction: Ducks win 4-2. Goals by Pronger, Morrison, Pahlsson, and Ryan. Todd McLellan gets fired immediately following the loss.

Chen’s prediction: I'm going squarely against points 1 and 2 because I don't know if Cheechoo will be in the lineup and I don't want the team to lose. Sharks 5, Ducks 3. Goals by Roenick, Marleau, Pavelski, Boyle, and Ehrhoff. And an assist for Nabokov. (What the hell, why not?)

Go Dark Shucks.

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Comments

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Go Dark Shucks.

That’s like the perfect line.

Anaheim Ducks (16-10-3, t-3rd in west)

The Ducks can’t be third in the West because the Sharks are first. The Ducks can’t be higher than fourth because they aren’t a division leader. But I understand what you’re getting at here.

Interestingly enough, I’m not as much into this matchup as you two are, Chen and Sleek. Usually I have a lot of interest in this matchup because they are two good teams. But I don’t know, something about the Sharks being 22-3-2 this season just makes me thing that they have to win…

If I’m not mistaken, the Ducks won the last meeting between the teams at Honda Center. But still, tonight my focus is around the Kings/Blues game. Thank you, Quackers, for beating the Blues last night, wearing them out for us. We need all the help we can get after that 6-1 loss Tuesday. I’m still having nightmares about it (seriously, I just woke up from a nightmare about it!!)

Kings hockey: where everything matters... except the hockey.

by Kevin Y on Dec 11, 2008 7:56 AM PST reply actions  

The Ducks can’t be third in the West because the Sharks are first.

Yeah, that’s true, but if you look over my Game Day posts, my intro records always ignore (a) games-in-hand, (b) divisional set-up, and © tie-breakers. Generally, it’s just to get a feel for how a team’s points total ranks in the western conference. By the time playoffs roll around, the things I’m ignoring will play a greater role, but for now it’s just a strict points ranking.

Thank you, Quackers, for beating the Blues last night, wearing them out for us.

Depending on how the Blues’ goalie Mason plays tonight, be sure to thank Ryan Carter for kneeing Manny Legace in the head. Legace left midway through the first period and didn’t return.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 11, 2008 8:07 AM PST up reply actions  

No, he didn't return...

and Ben Bishop is called up…this “0 for California” thing is ridiculous…we gotta get a win tonight because it don’t look so good for Saturday..

by tbell61 on Dec 11, 2008 8:33 AM PST up reply actions  

hey earl

might start early preperations for another famous 0-3 california cartoon…

or i might have just jinxed it…

El Spade-o

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Dec 11, 2008 8:39 AM PST up reply actions  

I’m still waiting for the “rape” cartoon after the Blue Jackets went 0-for-California.

I hope the Kings aren’t the team to blow it. Can’t the Sharks lose to the Blues this go-around?

Kings hockey: where everything matters... except the hockey.

by Kevin Y on Dec 11, 2008 9:20 AM PST up reply actions  

No the Sharks can’t lose this go-around. We are perfectly happy with the Kings keeping that role. :)

by ang6666 on Dec 11, 2008 12:19 PM PST up reply actions  

wtf?

I leave on a short vacation and all the sudden there is a new Boc website?..Earl your killing me softly earl….why you do huh…why you do?

I got to see the game last night and the carter knee…yikes..

good to see the stache score…that 4th line looking good

love to make a statement tonite and beat the sharks at home…Ill have to pour some JD tonite

p.s.
the jury is still out on morrison…well c if he can be consitant…Im crossing my fingers

El Spade-o

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Dec 11, 2008 8:28 AM PST reply actions  

Glad to see you made the jump, Spade

Sorry for the short notice, but SBN likes to keep its secrets.

the jury is still out on morrison…well c if he can be consitant…Im crossing my fingers

Oh definitely. One goal-mouth scramble that produces a game-winning goal doesn’t redeem a lost year so far. Still, there’s hope yet. Then what would we complain about?

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 11, 2008 8:32 AM PST up reply actions  

It’s about damn time for another Parros-Shelley tilt. That shit never gets old.

by mepex on Dec 11, 2008 8:43 AM PST reply actions  

Normally I’d second this, but with Parros scoring three points in his last two games, perhaps he’s too valuable to get in these petty fistfights now?

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 11, 2008 9:26 AM PST up reply actions  

Parros has more even-strength goals this season (3) than Selanne (1). Does that mean that Parros is more valuable than Selanne?

Kings hockey: where everything matters... except the hockey.

by Kevin Y on Dec 11, 2008 10:24 AM PST up reply actions  

That’d be awesome if Carlyle told Selanne to fight Shelley because they needed Parros’ scoring hands.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 11, 2008 10:27 AM PST up reply actions  

the legend of the stache grows!!!

El Spade-o

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Dec 11, 2008 10:29 AM PST up reply actions  

It's about damn time ...

Corey Perry got out of his perpetual hangover and start crashing the net again.

Maybe he needs to stop hanging out Sharkeys with Parros so much.

Don't bRuin your life. Make love with a Trojan

by Morbo on Dec 11, 2008 3:12 PM PST reply actions  

Corey Perry got out of his perpetual hangover and start crashing the net again.

Has this been an issue lately? I have to admit — my viewing’s been cut into the last couple of games, but I thought he was still at least picking up goalie interference calls.

Maybe he needs to stop hanging out Sharkeys with Parros so much.

Well, maybe that helps him tonight. He might confuse the Sharks goaltender for a Sharkeys bartender or something.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 11, 2008 3:39 PM PST up reply actions  

pointing out the obvious…i take it carter took some lessons from perry about crashing goalies….glad i got tivo..i got watch carters knee connect about 10 times till i got bored with it

El Spade-o

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Dec 11, 2008 3:55 PM PST reply actions  

fuck that made me laugh dude.

by Mike in OC on Dec 12, 2008 4:17 PM PST up reply actions  

just noticed

looks like “ralph” the duck has been hitting the gym…must hit those dumbells pretty heavy

El Spade-o

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Dec 11, 2008 3:56 PM PST reply actions  

Mostly the muscle build-up comes from having to carry Brendan Morrison around for so much of this year.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 11, 2008 4:01 PM PST up reply actions  

Bloody faced woman last night?

Did anyone happen to see random close-ups of a woman, who I assume got hit with a puck or something… During the broadcast, I belive in the 2nd period, random close-ups of a woman wiping blood off her face were visible, and there was no mention from the TV announcers.

It was made worse by the fact that my TV happened to flicker right at that moment, producing a horror-movie effect.

by brokenyard on Dec 11, 2008 4:06 PM PST reply actions  

I saw it

But I wasn’t paying great attention to the announcers, so I figured they did talk about it.

She was wiping blood from her cheek or something — must have been some puck to the face.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 11, 2008 4:10 PM PST up reply actions  

Maybe it was her eye bleeding from watch the Ducks play ;)

Fear The Fin: Where the second round is overrated.

by Mr. Plank on Dec 11, 2008 4:41 PM PST up reply actions  

  • watching

Fear The Fin: Where the second round is overrated.

by Mr. Plank on Dec 11, 2008 4:41 PM PST up reply actions  

Puck into the Stands

Yes, the lady was struck by a puck when one of the players cleared it over the glass into the stands last night (cleared as entering, so no penalty). The usher got there quickly and motioned for medical assistance, but it took them a little while to get there. When I looked over later, the family was gone, so I figure she got the help she needed.

by Bartcal on Dec 11, 2008 6:08 PM PST up reply actions  

Everytime Christopher Lloyd’s name gets called in this game I think of Brett Festerling.

Ah shit. See what you made me do?

Fear The Fin: Where the second round is overrated.

by Mr. Plank on Dec 11, 2008 9:14 PM PST reply actions  

Did Blake just try to remove Perry’s testicles? Spear-a-rific. Weak sauce. Come on Blake, you should have threw your size 10 ass into his face, that would have made your point much more succinct.

Don't bRuin your life. Make love with a Trojan

by Morbo on Dec 11, 2008 10:20 PM PST reply actions  

I made it to the Fear the Fin comments by the end of the game, and apparently that’s enough misconducts (or whatever) that Blake’s up for a suspension. Good work, Perry.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 11, 2008 11:09 PM PST up reply actions  

Well, that game played out pretty much like I expected. We played well at times, but failed to actually do anything productive, and San Jose, I’m not really sure they did anything, but managed two goals.

by brokenyard on Dec 12, 2008 12:28 AM PST reply actions  

weak

i pin this on the coaches…the sharks were defensivly doing the same thing over and over ..standing still like statues begging the ducks to keep shooting from the point….everytime they did it got blocked, went wide or when it did get thru the perfectly positioned sharks just swept up the rebouond…me and my buddy could not recall any second chance oppurtunities…one shot…done….one shot done…i thought i was watching a loop for awhile…..someone on that coaching staff has to make some type of adjustment…

the biggest disappointment was they didnt get physical till the last half of the 3rd perios…and hey what do you know there scoring chances increased..

im telling you earl…its the coaching staff holding the ducks back….

El Spade-o

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Dec 12, 2008 7:26 AM PST reply actions  

Even though it’s the same coaching staff that preached “crash the net” during the cup run? I dunno, maybe it’s personnel, or maybe it’s back-to-back games.

I actually only caught the end of the 3rd period when the physical stuff got crazy, so I’m talking blindly here, but as I’ve mentioned above, the Sharktank is a damn tough place for a visiting team to look good — I don’t know if I’m discouraged that the Ducks lost a close game there. Didn’t seem embarrassing, at least.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Dec 12, 2008 7:36 AM PST up reply actions  

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