Sharks Gameday: Russian Wackiness
San Jose Sharks (25-8-7) at Phoenix Coyotes (25-13-3), 4:00 PM PST, or right when everyone should start drinking tonight.
Just a quick one today, as the early game time and the holiday are making it tight. The stars aren't exactly lined up in the Sharks favor, as they played at home yesterday, there's an early start, and last night's game against Washington was quite physical. Add in a streaking Coyotes team (at home) and Dave Tippett's successful shut-down system and all logic points towards a letdown.
On the other hand, Joe Pavelski looks like he's trying to prove something to his old buddy Ron Wilson, and the Jed Ortmayers and Manny Malhotras of the world are giving a little extra jump when the big guns aren't clicking. I'm expecting a lot of controlled shift changes and a little more conservative play, probably with more ice time spread out to the third and fourth lines. I haven't heard anything about Torrey Mitchell's apparent hamstring injury from last night, but he finished the game and looked like he had a spark, so let's just hope it was a freak occurrence.
The Coyote I'd Like On My Team: Ilya Bryzgalov, because I bet he and Nabby would have some really entertaining conversations in Russian -- Nabby with his dour serious demeanor and Bryz with his wacky "I'll say anything" sensibility would make for a perfect Russian reality show, especially if they also lived with this guy:
(Any of you watch The Soup? I couldn't find the clips of it online, but that's the angry Russian model from some reality show that they used to make fun of on The Soup; he'd go off on rants about how American models were so weak and his explanation for his attitude was "I'm Russian!")
Prediction: Sharks 2, Coyotes 1. Everyone's tired and wants to go home and party, so the teams play a much more boring game compared to the one a few nights back.
Have fun tonight and be safe. Spade, I'd love to see some pictures from whatever drunken madness you participate in during New Year's Eve, I'm sure it'd be entertaining. As for me, my wife and I are foregoing are usual foray to San Francisco for a quiet night of cold medication and champagne, not necessarily in that order. See you in 2010.
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cold medication – I’m out to the store in a moment to get some of that for myself. I could feel it coming on for days, but in normal Angieness, I ignored it. There is no ignoring it today. I dont’ think it’s going to go away quietly either.
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality? (boycott Hollywood!)
by ang6666 on Dec 31, 2009 12:38 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well, hopefully it’s just a cold and not a Calder — I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
by Earl Sleek on Dec 31, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Holy crap, that’s Bret Hedican? Good to see the guy still employed around hockey, and hey, his analysis ain’t so bad — better than his on-ice play at the tail end of his playing career.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
by Earl Sleek on Dec 31, 2009 4:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I have no idea why he’s with the Sharks broadcast team other than they live in the Bay Area. He’s better spoken than most player-turned-analysts.
by Mike Chen on Dec 31, 2009 5:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good crowd tonight in Phoenix. I think they had a really good crowd against LA too. Maybe they just love the BoC.
by Mike Chen on Dec 31, 2009 5:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good game… nice win for the Sharkies. In both this and the US-Canada World Juniors game, though, I found myself thinking… oh, going to overtime so it won’t be real hockey deciding the winner.
by Dave Stark on Dec 31, 2009 10:12 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

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