So close. (The score, not the actual play.)
For a while there Antti Niemi was stealing the show; making great saves and keeping the Sharks in the game. The problem for Niemi, though, was that he could only weather the storm for so long before he returned to his old self – and the Sharks offence just couldn’t get the job done again after the second goal.
Neither backhand goal – not the 2-2, or the 3-2 goal – was fantastic, and I love Pavel Datsyuk so I’m not taking anything away from the guy. Both should have been saved – and Niemi actually tracked the Datsyuk one, which blew me away, but still failed to make a stop.
We can argue and defend Niemi for keeping the Sharks in the game long before those goals but that was a chance where a good goalie makes those two saves and steals the win. The Sharks just don’t have that option and they remain on the outside looking in. Enough of badgering Niemi for being himself. Let’s spread the blame around to where the majority of it should go: from the goal line forward.
After the first period the Red Wings completely dominated the game. They definitely deserved the win they left with, that’s for sure. Detroit turned San Jose into Worcester in the third period when there was a 13 minute, 42 second, span between 5v5 shot attempts for the Sharks. 13:42(!!). The Sharks did spend four of those minutes 4v5, but that still leaves 9:42 of 5v5 play.
That is exponentially ridiculous.
The Sharks had 11 shot attempts in the third period. 11. Only two of them actually got to the net. They were outshot 31-8 over the last two periods.
If you are trying to lose a hockey game, that’s how you do it.
Shot attempts for the 2nd/3rd were 64-24 in favor of Detroit. Detroit = Team Canada, San Jose = Team Madagascar.
The final forty minutes of that game for San Jose certainly didn’t look like a team that had any desires to push themselves back into the playoffs, nor did it look like one that even had the capability if they wanted to.
The Wild won last night, pushing them into the second wildcard seed at 71 points and three up on the Sharks. San Jose remains two points back of the LA Kings for the 3rd divisional seed in the Pacific. The Wild have one game in hand while the Kings hold two – not good news for the Sharks.
Calgary is also still ahead – by two points – but they are on the outside as well and a potentially devastating injury to Mark Giordano should all but put the nail in the coffin on their season. The Sharks are chasing the Kings/Wild right now and need to start getting results.
San Jose now plays host to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. The Sens coming to town would have been a welcome sight a week ago, because they were awful, but they’ve decided to win four games in a row and get some confidence so it’s not such a hot date anymore.
Sportsclubstats.com % Update:
The Sharks playoff chances have taken a nose dive to 23.9% (down 8.7%) with the results of last night’s games.
If we’re going to assume that 96 points is the cover charge for the dance, the Sharks need to go 13-5-2 over the last 20 games to get there. If it’s 97, they’ll need to win 14 of 20. Let’s just say I have my doubts – especially after the 2nd/3rd periods last night.
San Jose has created a mess for themselves down the stretch and climbing back into a playoff spot over the Kings and Wild will not be an easy feat.
Thanks for reading.
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