Round One: Anaheim @ San Jose

Neely4Life wrote:I dont see how people cna blame Thornton here, he was all over the ice, was doing other things to help the team win and tried to create. Its Marleau that is the no show, the captain, and the under achiever.

If people say this is Thornton's fault they need to watch the game a little more carefully.

I'll say it again, Marleau the future Hab.

If Celine buys Le Canadien you can take that to the bank LOL

Neely4Life wrote:Thornton isnt the choker, the guy who wears the "C" in SJ is. All skill, no grit and this is why I said in November to a few people here is why SJ would be out latest in the 2nd round, and it might even happen in the 1st.

Ottawa Senators of the West.

For a while, Marleau was tied with Iginla for most playoff goals since something like 2001-2002.

Also, he had 100 hits this season. He's a good player. Sharks also have grit in the form of Vlasic, Murray, Clowe, Grier etc.

The series ain't over yet.

Here's what the Sharks' "Fear The Fin" fan blog has to say:

Honeymoon's Over, Folks

by Mr. Plank on Apr 16, 2009 10:44 PM PDT in 2009 Playoffs

If anyone is Chicken Littling right now you don't even know how to tie your shoes.

Get a grip. It's called a seven game series for a reason.

Frankly, I don't think the Sharks played too poorly. We get a crossbar to play ball and help us out? We're sitting pretty. Momentum changes.

I didn't like our power play's entrance into the attacking zone however. No speed in the neutral ice- that forced San Jose into either chipping the puck deep (where the Ducks defensemen did a great job of shutting down our low cycle) or getting caught at the blueline (where the Ducks forwards would get into passing lanes and pounce on the puck carrier). We made life easy on the Ducks in that department.

As for matchups, I hate to play coach. There's a reason Todd McLellan guided the Sharks to a Presidents' Trophy and I'm a writer with an obscene amount of body odor.

However, I think that our top line needs to see easier minutes, especially when we have the last change at home.

Roll out a shutdown line against Getzlaf & Co. I've been an advocate of Moen-Plihal-Grier, but Goc in the center would work for me as well.

It will help to get the top line easier minutes, because they were completely nullified tonight.

Outplayed, frankly.

If Calgary taught us anything last year, it's that dropping the first game at home is brutal for the fanbase. But it's not the end of the road.

This isn't drinking the kool-aid. It's reality.

Go Sharks.

http://www.fearthefin.com/2009/4/16/841143/honeymoons-over-folks

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Thornton isnt the choker, the guy who wears the "C" in SJ is. All skill, no grit and this is why I said in November to a few people here is why SJ would be out latest in the 2nd round, and it might even happen in the 1st.

Ottawa Senators of the West.

For a while, Marleau was tied with Iginla for most playoff goals since something like 2001-2002.

Also, he had 100 hits this season. He's a good player. Sharks also have grit in the form of Vlasic, Murray, Clowe, Grier etc.

The series ain't over yet.

Marleau has also had a better surrounding cast than him than 90% of the players in this league. He isnt a captain, he doesnt lead, he doesnt get into the ugly area's.

Here is a case where stats lie in favour of Marleau. If Marleau scores a hat trick every game this series and the Shakrs lose, its still on him. Stats are meaningless when it comes to the Sharks because its about results.

Thoronton for Spezza... basically the same salaries, Thornton is a better player so... but it is a 7 game series but the Sharks looked like the Sharks last night.

Ain't over yet.

SensFan71 wrote:going into the shark tank and winning game one against the home squad, where they were pretty unbeatable this year, this is huge for Anaheim, if they only win this one, they have shifted the dynamics of the series already.

Remember the year the Sens faced the Islanders in round 1 and lost game one 3 nothing? They went on to win then next 4. Don't buy into this win to much yet.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:going into the shark tank and winning game one against the home squad, where they were pretty unbeatable this year, this is huge for Anaheim, if they only win this one, they have shifted the dynamics of the series already.

Remember the year the Sens faced the Islanders in round 1 and lost game one 3 nothing? They went on to win then next 4. Don't buy into this win to much yet.

Islanders wernt 2 years removed from the cup with good goaltending, 2 stud D men, and a solid forward group. The Ducks arnt the Islanders and they are going to give the Sharks all or more than they can handle.

Someone needs to poke a fork into Joe's side to remind him the playoffs have started.

Sharks need game 2

i think the sharks will come back and take this game they are too good of a team to go out 4 straight

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:i think the sharks will come back and take this game they are too good of a team to go out 4 straight

This one will be another thriller...McLellan is an excellent coach and he will have been working very hard to come up with countermeasures to turn the situation around...

it is what i expect but it is the playoffs so who knows the ducks do look dangerous as well so they might be able to kill the sharks

Looking for ward to this one. As soon as the wife and I are done watching Desperate Housewives

should be an exciting game tonight

game time

Do you want to follow this one in the chat room? Might be easier...

claude lemeiux is in tonight

davetherave wrote:Do you want to follow this one in the chat room? Might be easier...

sure dave

Wow... Hillier was pretty darn amazing!