Sharks Return Nabby’s Favor
December 14th, 2008, 2:58 pm
When the Sharks played Columbus on the 4th, Nabby bailed out the Sharks with a stellar performance. Last night, the Sharks returned the favor. I though Nabby looked off against the Blues and it happens- you can’t have your A game every single start. I though Boyes’ goal and Winchester’s second were both of the weak variety, and Nabby made at least a couple of ill-advised long passes into the neutral zone. So be it.
This time, Marleau answered the call with an All-World play to give the Sharks the lead late in the 3rd. Imagine you’re skating hard to a loose puck, it gets caught in your skates, but you have a breakaway. And you overskate it. And you have 17,000+ people watching. And you have two 200-lb guys skating hard to pound you into the end boards. What does Patty do? Stops, gathers the puck behind him on his backhand, waits for Chris Mason to go down, and then roofs it. Amazing composure and skill, just unbelievable.
As I’ve said before, Sharks opponents are getting up for the league’s best, and the Blues did their best to be the first team to unseat the Sharks at home in regulation. And again, the Sharks wouldn’t let it happen. Drink it in, Sharks fans. This is certainly the best I’ve ever seen them play, and I’m with Randy Hahn– it’s ok to enjoy it.
In other news, be sure to tune in to ChompTalk tonight at 9pm at 1220kdow.com– we are giving away 12-week skating lessons to the winners of a Sharks trivia contest. The number to call is 1-800-516-1220.
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Having his “A game” is a problem for Nabokov on more nights than it should be.
He’s allowed 4 or more goals on 6 occasions this season out of 20 starts. That is 30% of his starts. That’s a bit worrisome to me if I’m a Sharks fan.
Vesa Toskala has allowed 4 or more goals on 10 occasions in 26 starts. That’s 38% of his starts, and he plays for the LEAFS.
If you compare Nabokov to other top goalies, he’s actually pretty damn average frankly.
The fact that the Sharks have won 4 of those 6 games means to me the Sharks bail him out more than he bails them out. He’s got two wins where the team has scored 2 goals or less, and only one shut out. That’s not really a good sign for you guys come playoff time.
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Steve, part of that is definitely Nabby having bad games, but most of those came earlier in the year when the Defense was still learning the system and giving away far too many breakaways.
He’s been solid since his return from injury.
Maybe that’s why I don’t think its that bad to boo a power play for a team that has been on fire… If I can cheer for the ups wildly, I’m going to let them know when I think they are dogging it. Unfortunately, its not possible to bank cheers and use them when things aren’t going bad. Just enjoying the roller coaster…
Mike, PLEASE post a link to the audio from tonight’s Chomp Talk for those of us who missed it… I’d loved to hear how Garner “inform”ed you…
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Ryan-Garner/Dont-Count-Them-Out/59/18382
(The last line of the blog is precious, in case you missed it)
Since somebody brought up the booing I thought I’d point out that when the Sharks fell down 1-3 the fans didn’t boo, they cheered, and they continued to cheer, and the louder they got the better the team did.
By the time the 5-3 penalty kill was done I thought the Tank was going to explode and the Sharks followed suit. You don’t see many goals as pretty as the game winner from Marleau.
Good job Sharks, and good job Sharks fans.