Sharks Gameday: The End is the Beginning

by Megalodon on Apr 9, 2011 6:00 AM PDT

Next Game

Saturday, Apr 9, 2011, 7:30 PM PDT
HP Pavilion

Amazing season, Sharks. Well, amazing second half, anyway.

Lots of people were doubting this team earlier in the season. I was definitely one of them. On January 11th, 2011, I wrote this:

2011 so far has been a disaster. The Sharks have fallen to last in the competitive Pacific division and their scoring touch has completely vanished.

Things sure have changed, huh? What an incredible turnaround for this team. The rest of the Pacific division (except for Dallas, hahaha) continued to play very well all season long, but the Sharks went on such a run that they managed to climb to the top of the toughest group of teams around.

The second half of the season has seen a bunch of great performances for the Sharks. Here, in my opinion, are San Jose's three MVPs this regular season:

3. Ryane Clowe - Clowe set a new personal high for goals and points this year, as well as contributing on the physical side of things with 100 penalty minutes (and with 12 fights this year most of those are "good" penalty minutes) He's spent much of the year on a line with Logan Couture, and hasn't hesitated to jump to the defense of the Sharks' rookie of the year candidate.

2. Antti Niemi - Which came first - better play from the Sharks' skaters or Antti Niemi? It's a chicken and the egg situation. Regardless of how it started, we all know what happened next: Antti Niemi started a million straight games down the stretch and the Sharks charged up the standings. Niemi has been rock solid since the new year began, and has provided stability and confidence in net.

1. Patrick Marleau - Patrick Marleau is a really swell guy. He's the team's leading scorer this year and has been Mr. Clutch for the past couple of months, making a habit of contributing goals exactly when they are needed. In addition his defensive play has COMPLETELY turned around since his struggles earlier this year. For much of the first half of the season Marleau was near the bottom in +/- for the entire league. Since the start of February he's a +15.

Honorable mentions: Logan Couture, Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Dan Boyle, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Douglas Murray.

Prediction: Sharks are awesome. They win 5-1.

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Of course, Marleau’s on-ice awesomeness doesn’t negate the fact that he says, “It’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use it!” every time the subject of sex comes up. Then he looks around nervously.

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Apr 9, 2011 7:32 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

the sharks lost 2 in a row!!!!!!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh run for the hills!!!!!!!!!!! were gonna get swept in the playoffs….aaaaaaahhh we suckl….oh aaaaaaahhh..the sky is falling the sky is falling I have a small dick

-signed anonymous sharks fan-

DOOH

Archer: Well, first of all, you don't have to yell. I don't have ear cancer.
Go Ducks!
www.battleofcali.com

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 9, 2011 7:53 AM PDT reply actions

Everything was going perfect until stupid McLellan gave Niemi a break! Why???

www.battleofcali.com

by Earl Sleek on Apr 9, 2011 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions

hahaha…i spit out my coffee on that one

Archer: Well, first of all, you don't have to yell. I don't have ear cancer.
Go Ducks!
www.battleofcali.com

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 9, 2011 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Nah, we’re fine. Thanks though.

I was almost going down and then I didn’t go down and then it came and it was too late to get down.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Apr 9, 2011 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Also, when Joe got his 1000th point last night in Phoenix the fans booed and they played that Cee Lo Green song.

Fuck you, Phoenix. I hope your team likes winter in Winnipeg.

I was almost going down and then I didn’t go down and then it came and it was too late to get down.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Apr 9, 2011 8:59 AM PDT reply actions 5 recs

holy shit hahaha..thats funny…

Archer: Well, first of all, you don't have to yell. I don't have ear cancer.
Go Ducks!
www.battleofcali.com

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 9, 2011 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions

It’s really a dick move. It’s a major career milestone. You don’t have to applaud, but don’t be shitheads about it.

I was almost going down and then I didn’t go down and then it came and it was too late to get down.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Apr 9, 2011 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions

oh yea im sure if perry scores another hat trick today at the staples center the staples center will play we are the champions or we are family to commend a fellow socal love haha..yea right..they show cartmen on the jumb tron in a kings jersey blugendoning a duck and saying go kings…

Archer: Well, first of all, you don't have to yell. I don't have ear cancer.
Go Ducks!
www.battleofcali.com

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 9, 2011 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions

That’s not 1000 points. That’s different.

If Perry gets to 1000 points, EVEN if it’s Perry, he should be treated with respect by the fans of the opposing team.

I was almost going down and then I didn’t go down and then it came and it was too late to get down.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on Apr 9, 2011 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions

nope

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Apr 9, 2011 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions

rest my case meg

Archer: Well, first of all, you don't have to yell. I don't have ear cancer.
Go Ducks!
www.battleofcali.com

by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Apr 9, 2011 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions

If Thornton scored his 1,00th point against the Kings I’d boo the shit out of him. And I love Joe Thornton almost as much as he loves Jonas Hiller.

The West Coast is the Best Coast.

by RudyKelly on Apr 9, 2011 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t cheer for him, but he would get my hat.

by sixteen.wins on Apr 9, 2011 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Does anyone know if the South Park creators are hockey fans?

They create Cartman videos for the gondola and I distinctly remember an episode where Cartman is preaching at a mall in front of a “Marleau’s Pizza.”

by meetyourmako on Apr 9, 2011 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Well that is unclassy of them.

GO SHARKS!
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin (see profile for more info on this quote)

by Angy on Apr 9, 2011 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions

This was posted over at FTF

Thornton’s 1,000th Point

I added a comment over at the gameday thread, but since this is where most folks will be chatting today, I wanted to add it here as well…

First off, congrats to Thornton for getting 1000 points – huge accomplishment and he seems like a pretty nice guy (took a pic with a friend of mine Thursday night at Westgate even though I believe she may have jokingly insulted him while this was happening)…

The point I wanted to make was about playing Ce-Lo Green’s "Fuck You" after the goal…the Coyotes play an edited version of it after EVERY opposition goal (or a rotation of that and other similar songs). It wasn’t a slight at Thornton, and I’m guessing they didn’t even look to see who had scored before hitting the play button. Immediately when play resumed, they highlighted Joe on the jumbotron and made an announcement congratulating him for his 1,000th NHL point to a fairly large ovation from the crowd. Phoenix always handles these situations in a classy manner as opposed to a lot of other teams and last night was no exception. As division rivals, I’m sure you have plenty of reasons to dislike Phoenix (I have plenty of reasons that I don’t care for the Sharks), but please don’t add perceived organizational disrespect to your list because it is not, and never will be, how the Coyotes operate as a team. They are all class, all the time.

That’s it – good luck in the postseason, but I really hope you lose tonight…

Support Coyotes Hockey – Five For Howling
(Oh, and go Philly teams as well!)

by Jordan Ellel on Apr 9, 2011 11:31 AM PDT reply actions

by Angy on Apr 9, 2011 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions

That’s good to hear

"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain Kent Huskins!" - Randy Hahn 2/13/11

by pooponastick on Apr 9, 2011 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

I can’t think of one reason to dislike the Coyotes.

although all that howling is both really lame and pretty annoying.

by meetyourmako on Apr 9, 2011 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions

So is the shark chomp you do with your arms.

by ScottyKnows on Apr 12, 2011 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Lame: yes. Annoying: no.

by meetyourmako on Apr 12, 2011 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions

At least it’s fan participation rather than a repetitive sound bite.

And you can’t argue with John Williams announcing your power play. You know you’re jealous.

by meetyourmako on Apr 12, 2011 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

I can argue with whatever I want!

by ScottyKnows on Apr 12, 2011 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I remember I went to a game in SJ where Modano reached a milestone and we all clapped for him when it came up on the jumbotron, but I guess we’re not dicks like Coyotes fans.

"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain Kent Huskins!" - Randy Hahn 2/13/11

by pooponastick on Apr 9, 2011 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions

Uh … read the comment above.

by Angy on Apr 9, 2011 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

haha just did, you comment appeared after mine

"You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain Kent Huskins!" - Randy Hahn 2/13/11

by pooponastick on Apr 9, 2011 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions

GO SHARKS!!

God I love this team!!

by Angy on Apr 9, 2011 10:19 AM PDT reply actions

SECONDED

Waffles, Digimon, Setoguchi. <3

STALOCK GET A ROBOT LEG OR SOMETHING AND COME BACK~WE NEED SOME LOCK STOCK STALOCK HERE!!

by YeahTommyB4ZGermansGetThere on Apr 9, 2011 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Thank you for another great season, Sharks!

I just thought I’d give myself a quick pat on the back for attending a personal-best 41 regular-season Sharks games this year! Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Go, Sharks!

Now to rest up for the post-season.

Another 43 wins this season. Here’s to sixteen more!

by meetyourmako on Apr 10, 2011 1:26 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs