Regarding last game:
The headline on the Sharks website linking to the summary of the Los Angeles game said "Sharks Crown Kings." Hockey writers use this phrasing every time the Kings lose, so it happens a lot. Rudy and I have discussed this before, but it bears repeating: this doesn't make any sense. Hockey writers: please stop using the word "crown" like this. At BEST it's nonsense. At worst it sounds like you mean the exact opposite of what you are trying to say.
According to dictionary.com "crown," when used as a verb, can mean the following things:
35. to invest with a regal crown, or with regal dignity and power.36. to place a crown or garland upon the head of.
So the Sharks literally placed a crown on the head of the Kings? No, that's not what happened.
37. to honor or reward; invest with honor, dignity, etc.38. to be at the top or highest part of.39. to complete worthily; bring to a successful or triumphant conclusion: The award crowned his career.
Three more definitions that seem to go against the writer's intended meanings.
40. Informal . to hit on the top of the head: She crowned her brother with a picture book.
This one is stupid and obscure, but it is also the only one that means anything CLOSE to what the writer wants it to mean. None of the other definitions of "crown" imply violence or domination or victory towards the object of the verb in any way. So I guess the Sharks hit the Kings on top of the head? Hooray?
41. to give to (a construction) an upper surface of convex section or outline.42. to cap (a tooth) with a false crown.43. Checkers . to change (a checker) into a king after having safely reached the last row.44. Knots . to form a crown on (the end of a rope).
Oh, my bad. Clearly the writer just really wanted us to know about his love of knots.
In conclusion: stop it. It's stupid.
Moving on.
Coming off their brutal crowning of the Kings, the Sharks play at home against the Vancouver Canucks. The Sharks are better at home than on the road (10-5-3 vs. 11-8-2) and are a respectable 6-3-1 in their last 10. The Canucks, meanwhile, have gone a ridiculous 9-0-1 in their last ten to take the conference lead.
Joe Pavelski and Torrey Mitchell will probably both be out again tonight, which means we should all be treated to another Tommy Wingels outing tonight. I'm going to go ahead and pronounce 2011 The Year of Wingels.
The game against the Kings was weird but satisfying, much like (WRITE YOUR OWN PUNCHLINE IN THE COMMENTS). It was an important victory and Antti Niemi looked great. The commitment to defense was there all game long. Now the Sharks just have to find a way to stay responsible on D while also scoring a few more goals.
Prediction: Sharks win 3-2, with goals from Couture, Marleau, and WINGELS!
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