First of all – Kudos to Mike for a great showing on Teal Spiel tonight. It was awesome and nice to get a few shout outs for the blog from some callers. Thanks guys.

Listening to Chetan on the show and preparing myself to face the sea of Sharks fans tomorrow at work who are ready to throw themselves overboard makes me wonder what people’s expectations were of this series. We have been saying it from day one, this was the toughest possible match-up for the Sharks. The team I didn’t want them to face – yet here they are. Some guys haven’t played great (Michalek, Cheech, Grier, JR), some of the other players (Seto, Pavs, Vlasic,Clowe) have really stepped up – but in the end the reality is this series is all knotted up at 3-3. So my question is – why is everyone acting like the season is over? Talking about firing Ron Wilson, not resigning Brian Campbell – I admit, I had my doubts after the disappointing Game Three loss earlier in the series, when the Sharks blew a huge lead and appeared to be headed for an epic meltdown…but the boys responded. They have responded every time when faced with a challenge this series.

1) Lost Game One – The Sharks won Game Two in convincing fashion.
2) Total Meltdown in Game Three – Sharks showed guts and heart by coming back and stunning the Flames in Game Four.
3) Pivotal Game Five victory at home when the series was reset to a best of three.

While I agree, if the Sharks do lose on Tuesday night – changes are in store for San Jose – this season IS NOT OVER. Not yet. The “Stars” have alligend, no pun intended, for the Sharks to advance from this difficult series and battle with Dallas, a much better draw than ‘Da Ducks, who got their just desserts with an early exit. Peace out Selanne and Scotty N – too bad you wasted all that “retirement” time. The winner of the Avs/Wings is going to be so beat up – the Sharks have as good a path to the Cup as you could hope for at this stage. A win on Tuesday could mean the world. Let’s be positive – Let’s will them to victory.

On a side note, hearing Sharks Hockeybuzz columnist Danielle Marchell interviewed left me perplexed. She suggested that Michalek should be scratched? This isn’t the time to send a message. Who do you dress? Plihal? Goc? Why not throw in Frankenstein again. BRAINS!!! As for our entry in The Great Hockeyblogger on Hockeybuzz, the contest appears to have no end in sight…we are still waiting for our first blog to be published, by the way.

As for the scratching of JR tonight, I agree with Mike – this was a coaching decision and not an injury – and, in the end, it could end up being brilliant. JR must have been fuming – and he is a lock in my mind to play on Tuesday. A pissed off JR with a bruised ego and the best chance to win a Cup in his sights could be the Ultimate JR to have on the ice. Look for him to score a big goal and be involved all night. Come on big boy, bring home a win.

Sharks 3 Flames 2 (in OT)