I must confess- I am often a pessimist when it comes to the Sharks.  I want them to win so badly, when they start playing like crap, my mood swings the other way and I say to myself, “that’s it.  They’re done.”  Time and time again, this team proves me wrong.  Even though the season is only 15 games old, the number of games the Sharks have come from behind or pulled ahead after giving up a lead is pretty long.  Kings, Philly twice, Columbus, Detroit, Minnesota, St. Louis, and now Dallas.

The Sharks had every excuse to lose last night.  Zubov just came back this week, and their new pickup, Mark Parrish, had a hat trick in his first outing, beating the Ducks convincingly.  Turco has found his groove again.  And although I’m a homer, there seemed to be a number of non-calls going the Stars’ way.  They (the Stars) were aligned to hand the Sharks their first home loss.

And my pessimism kicked in again once Luko made two horrible plays in the space of five seconds to give up the tying goal.  It looked like the momentum had all moved Dallas’ way.  But you know what?  Again, they didn’t panic.  Again they didn’t turtle up into a defensive shell to try and get the point.  Again they played as if they knew they were better, and a win was just inevitable.  And again, they found they were right.

How gratifying was it to see the Sharks, even strength, attack over and over in the last five minutes?  Sure, smart money was on seeing the game in OT, but coughing up a point to a division opponent just sucks.  It was Dallas that were on their heels, trying like mad to extend the game and escape.  But Marleau stepped up again and didn’t allow it to happen.  Turco’s flashy moves with the puck bit him right in the ass, and Dallas will have a bitter taste in their mouth for a long time to come.  The best thing is, only Turco is to blame.  The other 29 goalies in the league would never have tried to make the play he did, and now I get to say with relish: Suck it.

And I also get to say, with no small amount of bewilderment, that this Sharks team is for real.  The 13-2 record isn’t just a mirage.  They are the best team in the NHL right now, and it look as if they want to keep a vice grip on that moniker, up to and including the playoffs.

Make sure to call in tonight to the ChompTalk radio show (9pm on 1220AM or stream here, phone number 1-800-516-1220) with all your questions and opinions on the Sharks.  We’ll be giving stuff away, so polish off the corner in your brain that holds all the Sharks trivia answers too.