Can it Get Any Worse?

I’m speechless.

Sports can break your heart worse than just about anything in life. Sports can ruin your day, your week, heck, they can crush your spirit completely. Last night the Sharks, and every person who cheers for the teal and black, suffered through the worst loss in the history of the team, and that is saying something for an organization that has suffered one playoff defeat after another – some being catastrophic in nature (for my take on last years epic playoff failure you can read When is Enough, Enough?). Here’s what happened lat night in Game 3 of the Sharks first round series with the Avalanche (the series was tied 1-1 going into the matchup).

The Sharks outshot the Avalanche 21-3 in the second period.
The Sharks outshot the Avalanche 21-4 in the third period.
The Sharks outshot the Avalanche 42-7 in the second and third periods.
The Sharks outshot the Avalanche 1-0 in OT, yet still lost the game.

How is that possible? In actuality the shot clock will say that the teams matched each other with one shot apiece in the overtime period, but the truth is that Sharks’ defensemen Dan Boyle, :51 seconds in the extra frame, accidently backhanded the puck past Evgeni Nabokov when he attempted a hard wrap around behind the net (after further review, it appears that an angle from a camera in Colorado shows that the puck did glance slightly off Ryan O’Reily’s stick). With that one errant shot of the puck the Sharks, in a game that they totally dominated, ended up losing 1-0.

This is the worst loss I have ever seen. More than that, it’s the worst loss I can recall ever hearing about in my 37 years on Earth. To completely dominate a game only to lose when your own player, your best defensemen mind you, accidently shoots a puck in his own net – catastrophic isn’t a strong enough word. It couldn’t have happened to a better guy either. Dan Boyle always stands up and is accountable for his mistakes. He talks openly and honestly to the press, never shying away from the painful truth, so it was no surprise to see him talk to the media almost immediately after the conclusion of the worst game of his life. His willingness to take responsibility for everything makes the stinging pain of this loss even harder to deal with since he is such a good guy.

So what do the Sharks do?

* They have outshot the Av’s a mindboggling 103 to 39 the past two games.

* They have scored three “own goals” in three games (the other two weren’t on shots like last night, but two pucks have gone in off of Sharks’ d-men Rob Blake and Marc-Edouard
Vlasic, the one off Blake being the deciding goal in the Game 1 loss). “We didn’t beat their goalie, we found a way to beat ours,” HC Todd McClellan said. “We’ve been beaten by some bad bounces

* They are behind 2-1 games to a team they were expected to beat by nearly ever expert in Hockey (the Sharks had the best record in the Western Conference which obviously makes the Avalanche the #8 seed).

Can the Sharks rebound from this loss? I don’t think a team, an organization, a fan base, can get any lower than this. Year upon year of disappointment was summed up expertly last night on one errant backhand pass that unfortunately is a microcosm of the history of the franchise, one filled with almost unsurpassed highs as well as crushing lows. Will the Sharks slink off meekly into the abyss or will they rally from this devastating loss to avenge themselves in the eyes of the hockey world that roundly regards them as papier-mâché champions? For once and for all, the Sharks will have the chance to prove to the world that they deserve respect and admiration for their determination, expertise and ability to rebound from catastrophic failure. Either that or it’s time for every Sharks fan in the world to pack their bags for the last time and move on from a franchise that breaks their hearts anew every year.

I mention the proverb that we have all heard at one time or another as it is one that the Sharks would do well to heed — it’s always darkest before the dawn.

By Ray Flowers

Sharks 2009 Wrap Up

Every once in a while I leave the diamond for the ice, and as we get ready to flip the old page on the calendar once again, I thought now would be a great time to review how my hometown team San Jose Sharks, are doing so far in 2009.

Overall, the Sharks are leading the Pacific Division with 47 points, the second best total in the Western Conference (the Blackhawks lead the way with 49 points). However, the club is just 4-3-3 in their last 10 games as they have struggled to win at home for the first time since Todd McLellan took over the club at the start of last season (they have still lost only two of 16 home games in regulation going 9-2-5 despite the recent rough stretch).

Now on to the player report cards.

Joe Thornton – Grade A: Leads the NHL with 39 assists and 48 points. He could shoot the puck more frequently, but why quibble with greatness?

Dany Heatley – A: Tied for fourth in the NHL with 21 goals, he is second with 10 on the power-play in his first season in SJ.

Patrick Marleau – A: Stripped of the captaincy, he has lit it up this season with 21 goals (tied with Dany H.) leading to 37 points in 35 games

Dan Boyle – A: A fiery leader, Boyle has been beat up all year but still has 29 points in 35 contests.

Scott Nichol – A: A putrid fantasy performer with only four points and a (-7), his effort has brought the right amount of spunk to a team in need of energy. He is also dynamic in the face-off circle with a 61.9 percent mark, the second best total in the league.

Ryane Clowe – B: Started out very slowly but rounding into shape nicely with 19 points in his last 21 games.

Evgeni Nabokov – B: The .920 save percentage is great, and the 2.35 GAA isn’t too shabby, but his 17-5-7 record could improve if he limited the cheap goals a bit more.

Joe Pavelski – B: Limited due to injury, “Little Joe” is death to goalies in the shootout and not to bad during the regular game either with 15 points and a +7 in 20 contests.

Manny Malhotra – B: Not much offense to speak of (13 points) but he was signed for his two-way play and face-off prowess.

Jason Demurs – B: An undrafted rookie, he has spent some time in the minors but he brings a nice right-handed shot to the power-play (13 points, six with the man advantage, in 28 games).

Douglass Murray – B: Seven points, +7 and 37 PIM. Those numbers don’t come close to striking the fear in opponent’s hearts like his thundering checks do.

Rob Blake – C: Hard to judge his first year effort at Sharks’ captain given injury, but his on ice production is down (2g, 6a, +2 in 24 games).

Devin Setoguchi – C: With nine goals in 23 games his scoring pace is that of a30-goal man over the course of a full season, but the young scoring star has only one goal in his last 11 games.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – C: Rarely makes a mistake or gets caught of position while playing big minutes.

Kent Huskins – C: You don’t usually recognize that he has played, not necessarily a bad thing for a mostly stay at home defenseman.

Jed Ortmeyer -C: One of those grinders every successful teams need, Jed has chipped in four goals and four assists for the club.

No matter what the grade is for any of the players that I’ve mentioned, the only thing that matters in San Jose this year is getting a chance to win the cup. If the club fails to advance in the playoffs it won’t matter if every guy on this list ends the regular season with an “A” next to his name. This team will be judged by the number 16 – the total number of victories needed to hoist the cup.

By Ray Flowers

Game On!

You remember the old NHL tagline of “Game On” right? Well it’s Game On as the NHL prepares to get underway on Thursday night.

To that end, I participated in the third annual experts hockey league last night, the top event of its kind on the internet (last year I finished in third place, a respectable showing, that you can read about by clicking on the link to the Yahoo! Experts League).

I thought I would take a moment to get you all in the pucking mood by listing for you my squad, with a little note for each guy.

* The first number is the round the player was taken in, the second number in () is the overall spot the player was taken in the 12-team draft.

One final note. Each club kept four players from 2008-09 (any position), and the league uses four starters at LW, C, RW, six at D, and two in G.

Fanball – Flowers

1. (1) Joe Thornton (keeper) – 86 points is a 4-year low with Sharks.

2. (24) Corey Perry (keeper) – Devastating combo of points (72) and grit (109 PIM).

3. (25) Rick Nash (keeper) – Only 25, coming off first 40-goal season.

4. (48) Marc Savard (keeper) – Has 269 points in 238 games with the Bruins.

5. (49) Marc-Andre Fleury – 35 wins and a Cup to his credit last season.

6. (72) Sheldon Souray – 49 goals, 117 points and 233 PIMs last two healthy seasons.

7. (73) Nikolai Khabibulin – 2.33 GAA, .919 SV% last year. Now in Edmonton.

8. (96) Rob Blake – 10 goals, +15, 110 PIM and 198 shots for Sharks’ captain.

9. (97) Milan Lucic – Second season led to 17 goals, +17 and 136 PIMs.

10. (120) Ryane Clowe – Ready to bust loose after 22 goals, 30 assists.

11. (121) Kevin Bieksa – Name to remember as he scored 11 goals with 97 PIM from blue line.

12. (144) Craig Anderson – First year he will be given a true chance to start in net.

13. (145) Kimmo Timonen – Steady as she goes – 40-points in 7-straight years.

14. (168) Mike Smith – Over concussion symptoms, had a .916 SV% last year.

15. (169) Bryan McCabe – Still can score a goal (15 last year).

16. (192) Justin Williams – Injured last two years, before that was 30-goal man in 2005-06.

17. (193) Shawn Horcoff – Bombed last year with 53 points after All-Star selection in ’07.

18. (216) Marco Sturm – Leg is healed and had scored at least 20-goals previous 6-years.

19. (217) Stephen Weiss – Nothing exciting but did have 61 points and +19.

20. (240) Steve Downie – Could skate on top line with Bolts.

21. (241) Segei Shirokov – Talk of Canucks camp. Could be breakout star.

22. (264) Maxim Afinogenov – Signed with Thrashers. Will he rebound alongside Kovalchuk?

23. (265) Adrian Aucoin – May be slightly boring, but 10-goals in four of last seven seasons.

24. (288) R.J. Umberger – Needed depth late. He scored 26 goals with 234 shots last year.

25. (289) Nikolai Zherdev – Not on a team, but has to be the most talented 25th round pick ever.

Overall Thoughts:

* We only start two goalies but I figured I would add depth after missing out on the elite. MAF should be a horse who racks up the wins, and my other three keepers all could be considered legitimate starters. They may not be great, but some other teams will certainly be scrambling for help after I grabbed four of the top-30.

* Top-2 at center are massive in the point categories (Thornton, Savard). If Horcoff reaches his potential, and Weiss merely repeats, this is a strong group.

* I really like my LW. Not many better than Nash, and I think Lucic and Clowe could both be 30-goal scorers. Wanted to get one, but I got both. Sturm should be healthy and a 20-goal threat, possibly higher if he skates on first line with Savard.

* This is where my season might hinge. Perry is a stud, but after that, I need some luck. Zherdev and Afinogenov could surprise, but they could also be totals busts. The same can be said for Shirokov, but he has been uber-impressive this preseason, should skate on the second line, and might get first unit power-play time. Downie is a nice mix of offense and a pugnacious attitude, and if he skates on Tampa’s first line, that would be huge. And Williams out in LA, if the man could just stay healthy he would appear to be a lock for at least 25 markers.

* The D could be another strength, especially when you consider that five of my six starters scored at least 10 goals last season, while the other (Timonen) was a +19 with 43 points.

So there you have it. A solid unit that could certainly garner another top-3 finish this season, and with just a little luck from a couple of those foreign born skaters that I grabbed late, who knows, maybe I’ll have a chance to finish even higher this

By Ray Flowers

Sharks Still Circling

The Sharks almost gave me a heart attack in Game 3 of their first round matchup with the Ducks. Trailing two games to none, this after loosing both games on their home ice, the Sharks looked strong in vaulting to a 1-0 lead. Then the Ducks scored. Then the Sharks scored. Then the Ducks scored. Then the Sharks scored. Then the Ducks scored. Then, Patrick Marleau redirected a pass from Rob Blake into the net in the Sharks thrilling 4-3 victory over the Ducks to pull within one game, 2-1, in the best of seven series. Can the Sharks come all the way back to become one of the 13% of all teams that have lost the first two games of a playoff series to emerge victorious? Here are some key data points to consider.

The home team has never, not once in three games, actually had the lead.

First off, the Sharks scored on the power-play. After going 0-for-12 to start the playoffs to extend their recent power-play funk in the playoffs to an amazing 14-for-170 (8.2%), the Sharks finally scored on the power-play, twice in fact, including the game winner by Marleau. Obviously this bodes extremely well for the club moving forward.

Dan Boyle was a man who was possessed on Tuesday. He was hitting everything on ice, was pumping his fist with exuberance and was engaged in the physical aspect of the game from the drop of the first face-off. He also scored two points and dished off an assist. He truly was the first star in this outing, a great sign for a Sharks club that brought him in this off-season to be a difference maker. He was in Game 3.

Evgeni Nabokov has looked shaky all series, as evidenced by his .890 save percentage. He has looked completely lost on a few wrap around plays, and even kicked a puck in his own net in Game 3. He doesn’t have to be great for the Sharks to win, but he certainly needs to be better than average, something that he has not done thus far.

Joe Thornton is a (-1) and has just two assists in three games. Though it’s really unfair to call him a chocker, after all we are talking about a mere handful of playoff games here and there over the years, there is no disputing the fact that he needs to take his game to the next level in the playoffs to avoid being labeled as a great regular season performer. During the regular season he has 842 points in 836 games, that’s good for a point-per-game mark of 1.01. In the playoffs, his production dwindles to 50 points in 73 games, a mere 0.68 per game. It’s a bit unfair to Thornton given that he is a passer who needs others to come through for his points – perhaps the tight checking action of the playoffs means that Thornton just doesn’t have the openings he is used to finding during the regular season to get the puck to others – and for the Sharks to come all the way back against the Ducks Jumbo Joe will need to be the first star in at least one game, perhaps two, the rest of the way.

Patrick Marleau ended the regular season scoring just one point in five games as he struggled to find his game after missing some time (five games), in early April. As mentioned he scored the game winner in Game 3, his first point in three games. Unlike Thornton, he has shown up in playoffs past scoring 36 times in 89 games with a total of 25 of those goals coming in his last 53 games. He needs to come up big himself though as he has lit the lamp just eight times in his last 27 playoff games.

So can the Sharks come back? Certainly, though winning four of five games in the NHL is never easy, especially when you are facing a team filled with 12 skaters who won the Cup with the Ducks a few years ago. The old adage one game at a time certainly applies, and tonight step two in the 16 steps it takes to hoist the Cup will be the Sharks goal.