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San Jose Sharks Blogger •
It should be an interesting night as the San Jose Sharks roll into Nassau Coliseum to take on the New York Islanders. Logic would suggest an easy victory against the winless Isles, although the Sharks have lost two straight and looked sluggish in both losses to the Coyotes and Capitals.
Todd McLellan is shifting his lines again tonight, moving Scott Nichol to the top line with Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley. Obviously the move is both a reward for Nichol's hustle and an attempt to spark his two new linemates. I'm not sure what it says about the Sharks, the fact that a career fourth-liner has been the best player on the ice the last two nights and they need him to motivate over $14 million in salary, but that's reality. Devin Setoguchi slides back to the second line, and his scoring touch will be welcomed on a line that his stunk out loud lately.
Just as puzzling is the fact that Evgeni Nabokov is getting the start tonight between the pipes. He's been outstanding each of the last three games, stealing points against Minnesota and Phoenix, but he's making his eighth consecutive start, meaning he's currently on pace for over 70 starts this season. Obviously Thomas Greiss significantly reduces the probability of a victory, although you have to see him at some point and the Islanders would seem to be the most obvious opponent. McLellan just might be waiting until Nabokov gets injured before tossing Greiss to the wolves.
Word is that Jamie McGinn will be a healthy scratch tonight, and the Sharks are opting for a more physical lineup with both Jody Shelley and Brad Staubitz suiting up. I'm not sure if McGinn is in the doghouse or what, but he was demoted to Worcester after the Sharks' first game of the season and called out by McLellan, who said the second-year player had to earn his spot. Now he's gone from the second line to the press box, and you have to wonder if McGinn isn't becoming the scapegoat simply because most people expect him to be in the lineup each night.
While I felt McGinn was one of the best Sharks the last two nights, Steven Zalewski's two-game stint with San Jose came to an end today, as he was returned to Worcester. Ryane Vesce has gotten the call, and will line up on the fourth line tonight between Shelley and Staubitz. Vesce was Worcester's leading scorer last season, notching 71 points in 66 games, but didn't record a point in ten games with the Sharks. We'll see if he can make an impact tonight.
Vesce is one of those guys who can't help but root for. He went undrafted, and opted to play in Sweden after four years at Cornell University, but he's made a strong impact playing in the American Hockey League three of the last four seasons. Vesce is only 5-foot-8, and should bring some offense if he can avoid being pushed off the puck. Hailing from nearby Lloyd Harbor, New York, he should have a bunch of friends and family in attendance tonight. At least I'm assuming he will. If I was starting an NHL game 20 miles from my hometown I would have everybody there, from my family doctor to the mailman.
Obviously tonight is the closest thing the Sharks have to a must-win game early in the season. They currently sit last in the Pacific Division, having lost four of their first seven games. They lost four of their first 17 games last season, and they'll need to collect some points to keep pace with the rest of the division.
***
I'm a little under the weather, coughing and sneezing and groveling to my wife, but the show must go on. The SharksBuzz Postgame Show will go live at approximately 6:30 p.m., breaking down the game and taking your calls at (724) 444-7444, talkcast ID# 74909.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
Todd McLellan is shifting his lines again tonight, moving Scott Nichol to the top line with Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley. Obviously the move is both a reward for Nichol's hustle and an attempt to spark his two new linemates. I'm not sure what it says about the Sharks, the fact that a career fourth-liner has been the best player on the ice the last two nights and they need him to motivate over $14 million in salary, but that's reality. Devin Setoguchi slides back to the second line, and his scoring touch will be welcomed on a line that his stunk out loud lately.
Just as puzzling is the fact that Evgeni Nabokov is getting the start tonight between the pipes. He's been outstanding each of the last three games, stealing points against Minnesota and Phoenix, but he's making his eighth consecutive start, meaning he's currently on pace for over 70 starts this season. Obviously Thomas Greiss significantly reduces the probability of a victory, although you have to see him at some point and the Islanders would seem to be the most obvious opponent. McLellan just might be waiting until Nabokov gets injured before tossing Greiss to the wolves.
Word is that Jamie McGinn will be a healthy scratch tonight, and the Sharks are opting for a more physical lineup with both Jody Shelley and Brad Staubitz suiting up. I'm not sure if McGinn is in the doghouse or what, but he was demoted to Worcester after the Sharks' first game of the season and called out by McLellan, who said the second-year player had to earn his spot. Now he's gone from the second line to the press box, and you have to wonder if McGinn isn't becoming the scapegoat simply because most people expect him to be in the lineup each night.
While I felt McGinn was one of the best Sharks the last two nights, Steven Zalewski's two-game stint with San Jose came to an end today, as he was returned to Worcester. Ryane Vesce has gotten the call, and will line up on the fourth line tonight between Shelley and Staubitz. Vesce was Worcester's leading scorer last season, notching 71 points in 66 games, but didn't record a point in ten games with the Sharks. We'll see if he can make an impact tonight.
Vesce is one of those guys who can't help but root for. He went undrafted, and opted to play in Sweden after four years at Cornell University, but he's made a strong impact playing in the American Hockey League three of the last four seasons. Vesce is only 5-foot-8, and should bring some offense if he can avoid being pushed off the puck. Hailing from nearby Lloyd Harbor, New York, he should have a bunch of friends and family in attendance tonight. At least I'm assuming he will. If I was starting an NHL game 20 miles from my hometown I would have everybody there, from my family doctor to the mailman.
Obviously tonight is the closest thing the Sharks have to a must-win game early in the season. They currently sit last in the Pacific Division, having lost four of their first seven games. They lost four of their first 17 games last season, and they'll need to collect some points to keep pace with the rest of the division.
***
I'm a little under the weather, coughing and sneezing and groveling to my wife, but the show must go on. The SharksBuzz Postgame Show will go live at approximately 6:30 p.m., breaking down the game and taking your calls at (724) 444-7444, talkcast ID# 74909.
ryan.garner@hockeybuzz.com
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