Shark fans are still basking in the glow of JR's 500th goal and last night's 4-1 victory, and everyone's cautiously optimistic, whispering to themselves that last night might have been the turning point for the Sharks. While it wasn't a perfect game, it was good enough to inspire a little hope and some good vibes on this sunny Sunday afternoon. Everyone's tempted to inject a little reality into it (I mean, it was a win against Phoenix - the second-worst team in the league last year - on home ice) but a win is a win. Last night will go down in Sharks lore as one of the franchise highlights, my wife is in love with Roenick and his entire family, and everything's good heading into tomorrow night's game. Anyway, with the win still fresh in our minds, here's the report card.
Offense – B+
It wasn't a great start, and I think the Sharks only managed one shot through the first 10 minutes of the game, but the team kept pressing all night long. Mitchell has really been flying the last two games, and the shot selection has gotten much better. He's going to the net with a purpose, and had a beauty goal on a play that took forever to get going. I just remember thinking to myself the Sharks had a 3-on-2 if Ehrhoff could ever pass the puck. He did, Mitchell took off, and the puck ended up behind Alex Auld.
Auld only had to make one 10-bell save, sliding across the crease and stacking the pads in the first period, but San Jose never let up. The created chances, and cashed in on the them, including a nice bounce on Roenick's goal (I swear he was going top corner.) While there were still a lot of shots that didn't produce anything, and several times when the team didn't look organized on the breakout, at least guys were mixing it up more and taking defenders wide. Michalek should have potted a couple, missing a couple corners flying down the wing. Taking a 2-1 lead also made a big difference because the Sharks were able to sit back and play a conservative style, taking chances when they presented themselves.
Defense – A
Things were a little ugly in the first period, and Reinprecht's goal was the result up some weak backchecking by the San Jose forwards. A 1-on-1 became a 3-on-2 because Mueller and Reinprecht beat people up the ice, simple as that. The defense had a couple hiccups from Vlasic and McLaren, but I thought they did a great job holding the small Phoenix forwards outside and limiting second chances.
Ehrhoff was much better after a couple nights off, pressing the puck carrier and playing physical. And Ozolinsh is the player Carle should have been this season, while Rivet had another solid night and kept things quiet in the San Jose end. The breakouts needed work, and there were too many times when forwards had to circle back around in their own end, but it was a safe game and Nabokov had an easy night after the first period.
Power Play – B-
It was better. It still isn't anywhere near the level we saw last season, but it's getting better. You'd still like to see more movement in the slot, but they were able to control the zone for long stretches and move the puck around the perimeter pretty well. Ozolinsh had a beauty with that bomb from the point, and finally managed to do what nobody else has done. He took the shot in motion, moving to the center of the ice and unloading. We've seen to many shots from a standing position, usually getting blocked because the shooting lane is closed off by a large defenseman and his large shin pads.
Penalty Kill – A
Phoenix only had a couple opportunities, but never really threatened on the power play. Every shot was from 30 feet out, the defense allowed Nabby to see everything, and the rebounds were swept away without any trouble. Also, the Sharks attacked well shorthanded. Michalek had a nice rush in the third period, and Grier was looking to spring people all night. Also, nice to see Curtis Brown back in the lineup. It wasn't anything glamorous, but a solid night and some hard work closing off the point men. Nice job all around.
Goaltending – A
It should have been a shutout, but Nabokov was great, keeping the team in it after weathering some of the early pressure. You know he wanted the first goal back, a wrist shot from the high slot that snuck through, but he bounced back well and never got out of position challenging the shooter. His rebound control was great, and he got a lot of help from the defense. Will he see a night off this week? With apologies to all the Patzold fans out there, I'd put the odds at around 25 percent.
Turned My Head
Jeremy Roenick – Truly the heart and soul of this Sharks team, he gives you everything he's got every single night. You want to know what hard work gets you? How about ranking second on the team in scoring, first in shooting percentage, and first in the league with four game-winning goals, holding down a five-game point streak averaging somewhere around 11-12 minutes a night. He's playing physical, he's moving the puck well, and he's motivating the troops with his play. You absolutely couldn't ask any more of Roenick, and all of it coming at a price tag of $500 grand. The difference comes down to practice. Every shot and every drill is 100%, all the time. Where would the Sharks be without this guy?
Torrey Mitchell – Two goals in his last two games, sparking the offense and building some confidence after his play had turned a little stale. You always know when the puck hits his stick, because he just takes off. It would be interesting to see him playing on a line with Setoguchi, with Mitchell taking it to the net and Seto scrapping for rebounds. In a short time, he's already become the offensive sparkplug we've expected Goc to develop into the last couple years. He still needs to control some of those passes on the rush, but he looked great last night.
Sandis Ozolinsh – Scores a goal to put the Sharks up 4-1, and then blocks a shot the next shift, playing out the rest of the shift before limping off the ice holding his stomach. That's a gamer, and it's something the blueline had missed until he arrived. That's what heart is all about, blocking a shot in the closing minutes with a three-goal lead. All the speculation and misconceptions have been shattered by now, and Ozolinsh is San Jose's best defenseman. I never would have predicted it, but that's the facts.
Turned My Stomach
Patrick Marleau – I can admit he did some good things, and he was skating pretty well last night. He also had a nice hit in the third period, laying out some poor schmoe behind the net. However, there were too many missed opportunites. Too many times when a puck was pokechecked away, or he lost a race for a loose puck, or a cross-ice pass ended up five feet behind its target. I'd like to think it's coming along, but Marleau is riding a four-game points drought, he's 10th in team scoring, and has only one point in his last nine games. One point, nine games. Ouch.
Patrick Rissmiller – Seeing Curtis Brown out there reminded us what a depth forward needs to do. Skating hard, backchecking, playing physical. Rissmiller just doesn't do it. He had a nice right hook on Daniel Carcillo in the third period, and you have to like the fact he was sticking up for Brown, who'd just been smashed along the boards. However, it was a stupid penalty that really could have hurt the Sharks. They had a 2-1 lead at that point, and a Phoenix goal could have changed the entire game. Dumb, dumb play and luckily it didn't cost the team.
Final Grade – A-
A solid night overall. The Coyotes didn't press real hard at the end, and just don't have the talent to compete against the Sharks. I liked the effort, and the end result was a much-needed two points against a division rival. The two teams square off again Monday night at the Tank, and again Thursday night in Phoenix. After last night's showing, there's no reason the Sharks can't string a couple wins together and get rolling.
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Just a quick note. The inaugural tri-weekly San Jose Sharks Hockeybuzz Talkcast will take place following tomorrow night's game at 10 p.m. Pacific. It's going to be a test run, and I'm sure we'll have a bunch of people at the game, driving back from the game, etc. so bear with me as we get this thing going. Anyway, tune in tomorrow night and we'll discuss all things Sharks. I'll have more information in tomorrow's blog.
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