First off, my lovely wife sang the national anthem at the Sharks/Blues game on Saturday night and it was a highlight of this big kid’s life. The Sharks staff was extremely gracious, allowing us to sit in the penalty box during warm ups and I got the best seat in the house to see our boys up close and personal. I took a ton of pictures, got a smile and got a “what’s up” head nod from my boy Jody Shelley. My wife was awesome, even waited for the “Hey St. Louis, You Suck” to pass by before launching into the anthem. I was so proud of her.

Things remain sunny in Teal Town. The Sharks are the first to 50 points, still undefeated in regulation at home and they continue to show the makings of a Stanley Cup threat…..but as the weather changes here in the Bay Area this week, could the prospects of the Sharks winning streak get rained upon?

The Sharks are entering an uncertain stretch of five games in eight games with Pavelski banged up, Cheechoo’s “injury” status up in the air and J.R. out indefinitely with shoulder surgery. It is quite possible we could see the Sharks drop their first back to back games and it’s not impossible to imagine a reason why the Sharks could lose any one of these five games. LA is average at best, but very tough at home. Columbus gave the Sharks fits last week and Detroit is well, Detroit. We know they are waiting to take their shots after the first meeting and this time on their turf. The Sharks then draw the Rangers, who could be making their first appearance in the Sundin era and top it all off with the Northwest Division leaders, Vancouver. Rough stuff. A challenge. With the injury bug hovering, could the Sharks go sub .500 for the first time in a stretch this season? I think it hangs on Pavelski’s health and effectiveness tonight, if he’s able to go in LA. Without Pavs, the Sharks are turning to Kaspar, Goc and Plihal to be the offensive juggernauts we know they are NOT – and that could spell trouble until Pavs comes back. Let’s hope, as currently reported, he’s able to go tonight.

Sharks win in LA tonight, but it’s not pretty. Sharks 3 Kings 2.

A FEW OTHER NOTES
Early season cast off Lukas Kaspar, who looked good on the 2nd line on Saturday night until he almost lost the game for the Sharks by taking a penalty in the final minute and allowing the Blues to go 6 on 4 at the end of the game, might finally get his shot tonight at playing extended minutes on a scoring line in the NHL. Given he must clear waivers to be sent back down again, is this Kaspar’s last stand?

Are the Sharks really in on Sundin? Um….no. I think not. One irrational, JFK conspiracy side of me thought, for a fleeting moment, that the Sharks are holding Cheechoo out in order to trade him for a pick then use his cap number (3.5M) to sign Sundin. Um…no.

Check out the podcast tomorrow when we have our 2nd guest in Dudes on Hockey history. Tune in to hear who we got!