Caught Looking Ahead
March 26th, 2008, 7:46 am
The Sharks got caught with their playoff pants down last night in Phoenix. No excuses, even without Cheechoo and Rivet the Sharks should have beaten Phoenix. The Coyotes are no joke anymore, they have improved vastly since the beginning of the season and if they can get develop or acquire some top scoring talent, this is going to be a tough team to play against in future seasons, no doubt – and the Sharks still overlooked them. With two huge games coming up against Dallas and ‘Da Ducks – San Jose took the first two periods off – but I do believe there is a silver lining in this OT loss. The Sharks could have checked out but JR and Thunder Joe wouldn’t allow it – they clawed all the way back from down 3-0 and got a point out of this mess. I think the team and the coaching staff have to take Sunday’s game very seriously against the Yotes. With the Pacific Division all but in the bag, it is possible that the Sharks will draw the streaking Canadian version of Phoenix, the Edmonton Oilers, in Round One. While I think it’s a long shot and the Oilers will cool off in the next week and fall just short of Colorado and Vancouver, IF the Sharks get Edmonton – they better be ready for more of the same business they got last night. Young team. Tough coach. Hard play all night. The Sharks, once they got their act together, were able to put a beating down in the final period, outscoring Phoenix 4-1 (and the Phoenix goal was all Nabby’s fault – he deserved to be pulled). Consider this a warning shot Sharks. Learn a lesson from last night.
A few minor observations. Ron Wilson has no confidence in Matt Carle. Only twelve minutes of ice time last night. I have a sneaking suspicion that Carle will not be a Shark next year, if Ron Wilson is still the coach. Also, it looks like Ryane Clowe might be shelved until next year, and I think it’s the right call. Maybe he will be on the playoff roster and if a top line player goes down, they might run him out there – but it appears Clowe just isn’t ready for action yet. Why rush an important part of the team’s future when he isn’t needed right now. Where would he play anyways? Do you bench Jody Shelley? Setoguchi? Rissmiller? No, no and no.
Big game Thursday. A little taste of revenge for San Jose after Dallas has man-handled us this season. Look for a big win at the Tank.
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As someone who owns a Matt Carle jersey, I think he should not be with the team next season. I don’t think that he couldn’t become a very good defensemen, even an All-Star, but the Sharks do not have the roster space or the cap room to let him develop. If Campbell didn’t come to town I might be singing a different tune.
Wow Mike – I’m a little stunned. You have been a staunch Carle defender all year. I agree that Carle could, and probably will, be a good defensemen but the Sharks are not in a position to develop on the NHL level – not with Wishart, Joslin and Petrecki all in the system. Ehrhoff, as much as we’ve blasted him this year, has improved mightily since Campbell arrived and is looking like a top priority to keep in the offseason.
I’m hearing that Clowe may be returning to the line up as soon as Friday.
I called the game lastnight being a “trap”, and was surpised to see the Sharks pull a point out of it. I wasn’t even expecting that much before the game started.
This guy is Sofa King We Todd Did…
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=14355
I think we should keep Carle around. Not sure how long can Mac play at a high enough level to be a 5 or 6th D. Carle main issue is along the boards – he almost never comes out of it with the puck. He has good vision in the attacking zone but too many turnovers in general. If he concentrate on his +/- first – forget scoring that will come easy for him.