BoC Gameday—Time to see the new guys
by Earl Sleek on Mar 15, 2009 11:50 AM PDT
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PrintSan Jose Sharks (44-13-10, 2nd in west) at Anaheim Ducks (32-30-6, t-11th in west)
To satiate your Huskins Time withdrawal, head over to Fear the Fin.
Aloha, friends. I'm a couple of days back from my globe-stomping adventures in Hawaii, which was actually mostly rain, but there was still enough time for me to bring home a sunburn. I haven't really watched a hockey game in more than a week, though, and I have zero opinion on any of the Ducks' new acquisitions (even Cotton Gin), so I'm headed to tonight's Shark tilt to essentially get my first taste of the new-look Ducks.
I'll be wearing the lucky green shirt up in the nosebleeds -- section 435, Row H -- and I'll even be tagging along with good ol' Spade. He can fill me in on who's looked good or bad in the last week-plus, plus I'll now have a chance to start judging guys for myself. Feel free to offer your opinions in the comments, too -- I'm probably pretty gullible.
Perhaps it will look a little bit like this (cartoon by Spade himself).
Prediction: Ducks 3, Sharks 2. Goals by Ryan, the Omen (puts it past Nabokov for us), and whoever that guy is wearing Pahlsson's number.
Go Ducks.
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26 - Christensen
Good, he deserves one after he was robbed of one last game.
And I’ve always wondered why, when drunk, your left eye gets way bigger than your right eye. It’s just so odd. Glad to see that captured in Spade’s drawing.
Nobody cares about your opinion.
Has E.C. been any good? I know Atlanta bloggers were glad to be rid of the guy, but that’s about all I know.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
He’s got potential. I like hoe excited he got after his no-goal.
Hiller in goal, I hope he plays his backup goalie little heart out.
hooked on quack
He has been way better
The first two games were a disater. He actually has moments that make you hold your breath
Chicks dig the ’stache, I guess
not all chicks … or maybe chicks do, but not all women. (shrugs)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
by ang6666 on Mar 16, 2009 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m waiting for the day that he reveals that he was wearing one of those fake Parros’ Staches that all the fans wear, and that he actually hasn’t had a real mustache all season.
Nobody cares about your opinion.
wasnt last nite….the stache handled girls name “jody” pretty well…gave a a KO with a great uppercut
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 16, 2009 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Shelley likes to use his face to fight your fists
He sure likes to throw down, but his w/l record is shoddy at best. Meh, at least he skates better than Parker.
From the SJ Merc:
Long-time antagonists Jody Shelley and George Parros got re-acquainted during a first-period fight. But it was Parros, Anaheim’s moustached enforcer, who got the better of this encounter with a combination of punches that included a pair of quick, right-handed uppercuts.
“We just enjoy each other’s company,” Shelley said.
I'm a happy seal
by SwisherThresher on Mar 16, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions
One freak goal decides this game. Tough loss. Ducks probably outplayed the Sharks and if Nabokov isn’t both good and lucky, they would have won.
Nobody cares about your opinion.
Unfortunately, as Spade and I discussed, there really was no more room for moral victories. Simple truth: we got omen’d.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Yeah that’s true. And no matter what the other team does right or wrong, scoring 0 goals is not going to get you a win.
Nobody cares about your opinion.
No, but 82 ties could get you pretty close to the playoffs. Maybe like 72 ties, and then 10 1-0 victories. Thats 92 points!
Go get Giguere, circa 2003, trade all your forwards for defensemen (5 man defensive lines!), and Anaheim’s making the playoffs next year. Book it.
I tell you — I am starting to get worried about next year. We’ll see what the summer rebuild holds, but seemingly the same personnel will exist on the scoring lines, more or less — Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan, Selanne, Ebbett, maybe E.C., and the goaltending will be the same, but I don’t see how the Ducks don’t get worse on the blueline and who knows what they can do with their 3rd and 4th lines.
The troubling part is that even when all the pieces were in place this year, the results were at best mediocre. Next year? Who knows, but there’s not a lot of success coming if all these scorers and puck-moving defensemen aren’t going to produce actual goals.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
the argument your making is its the players who might not be the right fit and might need to be changed…im still leaning towards coaching..because…it seems like the players are never in good enough position to score…meaning…there always shooting from bad angles…always on shot and its out the zone…maybe RCs positioning and entries need to be tweaked…(esepcally on the PP)….the sharks seemed to get more quality shots….the ducks seem to trying to run up the shot count…and just shooting from everywere hoping for a deflection all the time…that might be RC’s MO i dunno
im grasping for straws here…maybe the players just cant aim and hit a barn…u remember ebbet shooting for the net…hehehe…it way offf…embarrassing…and it wasnt no pass cuz there was no ducks close to where he shot it
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 16, 2009 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions
I like RC
but I would not mind seeing a new Anaheim team that’s willing to open it up a little, and that would require a new coach.
I think having the young forwards we have it might be time to change the game plan a bit.
its gonna intresting to see what happens….whats gonna be the command form the owners on this one?…..I assume status quo is not in the cards….depends i guess if there still losing money..
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 16, 2009 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Shit, Sleek, that actually looks like you. He could be your twin.
Fuck you, Denis Gauthier. You deserved that 5-game suspension.
Oh, and as for short-term impressions
I like all the new players — everyone impressed me at some point in the night.
And Spade’s a good ticket buddy — he’s not afraid to call out Getzlaf when it’s deserved.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
yea man
getz as we witnessed live was the worse player of the night…the blind magic johnson passes to the sharks players was unbelivable..
one of my new favorite ducks mike brown was invisible…wich isnt like him…werid…
me and sleek were discussing….we like the makeup of the team….just wish they could bury there chances…like selanne off the post…or on some of those scrambles around the net….what a bummer
side note…..sleek got jewed (apologies to our jewish readers) on his 20 dollar double shot of jack n coke…..dude didnt even fill the measuring cup all the way..bastard.!!!!
I drank sierra nevada by the way…yummy in my tummy
p.s.s.
me and sleek were trying to remember who was the last duck player to wear 13..anyone know without looking it up?
p.s.s.s.
yea ill make a new spade-ralph the duck-sleek cartoon….sleek cut his hair and gianed some weight….but ralph aint gonna change…matter of fact need to show him more hammered somehow….the way the ducks are sinking into oblivion…i got some ideas on what to do with himm…..stay tuned
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 16, 2009 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions
whoops i meant i gained some weight….sleek still a skinny-tall muthafucka
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 16, 2009 7:02 AM PDT up reply actions
.just wish they could bury there chances…like selanne off the post…or on some of those scrambles around the net
Ironic thing here, few years ago, I think when the Sharks lost a playoff round to the Avs, I forget the exact situation, but I think it was near the end of the game, last in the series, and Selanne was standing near the far side post, and had a chance to bury a puck into an empty net from the post. For whatever reason, he couldnt finish it, and then the Sharks ended up giving up the GWG or something, and then from there, the entire series turned back against the Sharks. Point being, Selanne scoring a goal right there would’ve probably got the Sharks through the series.
This lost me 50 bucks I think. I was in high school at the time, and always ran a playoff pool with a bunch of guys at school. Prizes were 50-25-10, and the Sharks failing to advance from there kicked me down from 1st place to out of the top 3.
From all accounts, Selanne is a swell guy
But the aforementioned situation is why many Sharks fans are not too fond of the ‘Finnish Flash’
It was the 2002, semi-finals. The Sharks had built a 3-2 series lead, but dropped game 6. In game 7, the Sharks trailed 1-0 on a Forsberg goal in the 2nd. In the final minute of the game the Sharks were awarded a power play (tripping on Blake) and subsequently pulled Nabokov for the 2-man advantage. The Sharks were unable to solve Roy and the Avalanche advanced.
San Jose had multiple chances to close the deal, but failed. Selanne’s whiff on the empty net wrap-around (early in that final game) stands as the epitome of missed opportunities. He more or less became the poster boy for all that went wrong.
I'm a happy seal
by SwisherThresher on Mar 16, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
thats how the world turns….hnidy was our goat for a while….this year?…maybe getz?
its a lame way to look at things…but its human nature i think….and kinda fun to have a goat
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 16, 2009 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the real reason is because Teemu was not there long enough to build up enough credit to make up for those rare missed opportunities. The only place he really has that kind of lee way is Anaheim and Winnipeg. But in my estimation he more than makes up for it in the long run. He was also playing injured back then if I remember.
It’s kind of funny that SJ fans remember that and have a bad impression of Teemu when they put up with the disappearing acts of Marleau & Cheechoo. I’m not complaining, the end result is Anaheim winning the cup with a rested & healthy Teemu for damn near League minimum.
Amen..hell be the first duck to go up in the rafters….not so much in san jose
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 16, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions
There was a slight drop off in his performance during his 2 season stint in SJ
He was considered the Sharks first real ‘superstar’, but sadly he wasn’t able to answer the hype. Then he signed with Colorado as a free agent (to reunite with Kariya in hopes of winning a Cup). His production continued to decline. During the lockout he opted for knee surgery. After a lengthy rehabilitation, he rejoined the Ducks…and returned to form.
So yes, he was dealing with injuries at the time. But as Spade pointed out, every team as their goat(s). It’s just the nature of fandom. Hell, for every loss Halos Heaven chastise their “Goat of the Game”
So kudos on winning the Cup with a cheap, healthy Teemu. He’s a great hockey player and it was nice to see him finally get a ring.
Again, unfortunately he wasn’t the savior the Sharks had hoped for. With such lofty expectations, there also comes the possibility of immense disappointment – whether truly warranted or not, bitterness remains. It happens.
Current Sharks are not exempt. Many proposed Marleau be traded last year and the situation surrounding Cheechoo has been frustrating – from Rocket Richard to oft-injured grinder. Right now Joe Thornton is playing like it’s May and a few have called for him to be benched. But as long as they don the teal, we hope for the best.
I'm a happy seal
by SwisherThresher on Mar 16, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
o yea….good call mike…
i remember that well…..
El Spade-o
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Mar 16, 2009 9:29 AM PDT reply actions
You guys should trade that loser Getzlaf before he sinks your whole team.
The West Coast is the Best Coast.
Fun game
I was sitting in section 223 row P with my girlfriend surrounded by ducks fan. This was only the 2nd time I’d seen a hockey game live and it was really fun, especially considering the Sharks won. Would of liked to meet you sleek but alas you were cast to top. Maybe next time.
by TheRobberBaron on Mar 16, 2009 11:48 PM PDT reply actions
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Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose
|
51 | 29 | 16 | 6 | 64 |
|
Los Angeles
|
54 | 26 | 18 | 10 | 62 |
|
Phoenix
|
54 | 25 | 21 | 8 | 58 |
|
Dallas
|
52 | 27 | 23 | 2 | 56 |
|
Anaheim
|
53 | 21 | 24 | 8 | 50 |
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