In their previous 16 seasons, the San Jose Sharks have never won their first four games. The last time a coach won his first four NHL games with a team was 2001.
But the only first I am interested in is the Sharks' first Stanley Cup Finals.
On Tuesday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets came into HP Pavilion with a 1-1 record, which included an overtime road victory over the Sharks' Pacific Division rival Dallas. The Blue Jackets have undergone an overhaul in an attempt to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Columbus features a couple of good scoring lines, one of which includes one of the world's most dynamic goal-scorers in Rick Nash. They also boast a goalie in Pascal Leclaire who was among the league leaders in shutouts last year.
The Jackets jumped out to an early lead with a power-play goal by Kristian Huselius just nine minutes into the game, and the first period ended that way. Shots and penalties were even, but the Sharks were playing more sloppily and had more giveaways.
The Sharks' giveaway deficit continued in the second (12-4)—but as has been the case in their previous three games, they took control of the game in the middle period. Despite one more penalty and one less shot, they outscored Columbus 3-1.
One of those goals came short-handed, as Leclaire's clearing pass along the boards was intercepted by Joe Pavelski. He found Jonathan Cheechoo open in prime real estate between the faceoff circles, and Cheech showed that he does not miss from there when healthy.
However, on the very next shift—and still on the power play—Columbus' Christian Backman found the back of the net to regain the lead. In all, the Sharks dropped to 82.4 percent on the penalty kill for the season, but they have scored as many short-handed goals as they have yielded power-play goals (3).
The Jackets' lead lasted less than three minutes—a shot by Ryan Clowe rebounded to the side of the net, and Milan Michalek poked it in just beyond the reach of Leclaire's left skate. Just a minute and 17 seconds later, on one of only two Sharks' power plays all game, Patrick Marleau swept in a rebound of a Devin Setoguchi shot to give the Sharks their first lead.
By the third period, the Sharks higher number of giveaways (5-1) were no longer a factor—it was much more important how big they were. Leclaire gave the puck away behind the net to Mike Grier on a Columbus power play, and he found Patrick Marleau in front of the net unguarded. Leclaire made the first save, but Marleau punched home the rebound.
The scoring ended when Joe Thornton found Marc-Eduoard Vlasic pinching in for a shot through traffic. Thornton finished plus-2 with two assists, giving him four for the year.
Vlasic was plus-4, and his defence-mate Rob Blake was plus-3. Christian Ehrhoff added an assist to keep multiple defencemen involved in the scoring for the third time in the Sharks' four games.
However, the Sharks were outshot once more (33-25) and their blue line only contributed seven shots from three players. This is certainly one of the things the team needs to work on, and get back to the way things were after their first two games.
In addition, coach Todd McLellan cited the turnovers, slow start (prevalent in all four games), and even the ability of the Jackets' first line to get shots on goal (19). In this game, penalties were a problem—taking too many and not drawing enough.
In short, the Sharks have failed to show championship form in any of their four games. They have simply taken advantage of opponents who did not play well.
In the first game, Anaheim lacked any semblance of discipline and handed the Sharks too many advantages. In the second and third games, they were playing the cellar-dwelling Kings, and still needed goalie Brian Boucher to steal one.
This one was simply a sloppy performance by the Blue Jackets. I expect the bigger tests to be coming up now—an angry Ducks team in Anaheim Friday, followed by an angry Flyers team in San Jose Saturday. Both should be better than their record, and the Sharks may not be as good as theirs.
If they win them both, it won't matter how—they will place themselves in the driver's seat.
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about 1 month ago
It's pretty difficult to find a championship form in 4-games... I haven't seen it in any other team either, but what I do know is teams that capitalize on opponents that do not play well, invariably begin to develop a sense of themselves... often that translates into a swagger, which becomes a championship form.
from about 1 month ago
TRue, but I want us to look at the flaws and get into championship form as early as possible and stay in it as long as possible, because we cannot settle for smaller successes anymore.
about 1 month ago
Good article. The Sharks definitely have to turn the puck over less, especially early in the game, or better teams will take advantage and put them in a hole in the first period.
Kind of a strange game last night. The Sharks tie the game with a short-handed goal, then they allow a goal 20 seconds later. They were also out-shot, yet Columbus had to pull their starting goalie. San Jose isn't going to score two short-handed goals every night either. But Columbus didn't score at even strength, so if the penalty kill can do better and Marleau can keep shooting aggressively, the Sharks should be on the way to a division title. (Although this year, that's obviously not the only goal).
from about 1 month ago
I'll tell you what, though, I don't mind of our PK gives up goals if it scores the same number. A SHGF gives more momentum than a PPGA yields.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah a short-handed goal really gets the home crowd into it/silences a hostile crowd.
A great start either way, and it looks like a more aggressive approach is definitely working so far. And you're right, the PK unit is even, 3 GA, 3 scored. The Sharks already have almost half as many SHG's as all of last year.
If the PK can stay at the level it was last year (#1 in PK% and goals allowed, i think), short-handed opportunities could end up being a factor in a playoff win.
about 1 month ago
Isn't defense spelled with a "s" and not a "c"? I'm not sure what games the writer watched of the Sharks this year, but to say "the Sharks have failed to show championship form in any of their four games. They have simply taken advantage of opponents who did not play well," is plain stupid. Good teams beat the teams they're supposed too. The Sharks did just that. Anaheim on Friday will show us more about this team. I like what I've seen so far. To complain about a 4-0 start is dumb.
BTW- If the Sharks beat Anaheim on Friday, they'll have a 10 point lead over them. What other team that's failing to show championship form can say that?
from about 1 month ago
The Canadians, whose game hockey is, spell it defence and offence. Before you go calling other people dumb and stupid, you might want to get an education yourself.
The Sharks beat the teams they were supposed to last year. Beating a bunch of patsies and sloppy teams doesn't prepare you to win the Stanley Cup. THe Buffalo Sabres started 10-0 a couple years back and were not in championship form--they couldn't even win the East. So that happens a lot. Any good coach will look at the flaws and keep players from getting too comfortable. Vince Lombardi won five titles because he would point out what wasn't going well in games the Packers had won/were winning.
I am most certainly not complaining that we are 4-0, I am complaining about areas of our game we need to work on. If you wanna be satisfied with just winning instead of playing at a high level, I feel that is much more "stupid" than pointing out areas that need improvement of we are going to finally get past the second round--isn't that why the guys play the game?
from about 1 month ago
I totally agree with MJ and pointing out our flaws in the midst of a 4-0 start.
McLellan's system forces unfamiliar roles onto players (e.g., Patrick Marleau on the penalty kill) since the Ron Wilson era. Yes, there are new players with outstanding resumes, statistics, and capabilities. But everyone needs time to get used to each other's tendencies and styles. Everyone is trying to get accustomed to each other and new roles within a new system.
Trent Yawney put it in a good way (paraphrasing): you have to earn points where you can because there are nights where you won't play so well. Those points will help you as you figure things out.
I would rather take a few losses if it helps to correct our flaws, like our power play, which has yet to click.
Based on your comments, I'm not sure how long you have been following the Sharks or understand team sports.
from 25 days ago
Defence is spelled wth a "c" in more of the world than it is with an "s". This is very typical of what I have experienced since being in this country--looking down one's nose and completely dismissing the rest of the world, just like the invasion of Iraq!
You are not very bright, John: I have played a lot of hockey, and the worst thing is a team that thinks it is so good another cannot beat it. The Russians were complacent against the USA in 1980, that's why they lost. You have to always strive to be better in order to be the best, and if you had ever competed for any title on an organized level, you would know that!
And yes, MJ listed some teams that built big leads and obviously didn't have championship form, or they would have won championships. Ever heard of Google? You could have at least checked that stat before putting it out there so as not to look uninformed, but everything about this comment was uninformed, and you were as lazy as the idea of "we won, so how we played deosn't matter" would indicate.
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