Well, they won last night, but just barely.  I almost looked like a sad genius because the BJs outright dominated the Sharks for most of the game.  The Sharks were outworked, outhustled, and frankly outplayed the entire first and second periods before Columbus got themselves into some penalty trouble, which took away a lot of their momentum.

The story of the game was Nabby.  He had three or four outright robbery saves, the most flashy on Kristian Huselius coming across the crease.  One second Huselius was trying to pull the biscuit to his backhand to flip into the wide open net, the next he was coasting to the corner because Nabby stole it off of his stick.

But Bryce had a good question in the last post’s comment thread:

Many of the teams that have been coming through were running through the Anaheim/LA gauntlet before the trek up the coast. Is this how we should expect more games to be when facing opponents on the first game of their trip to the state? Or is it the Blue Jackets just played out of their minds tonight?

I think this is how we should expect opponents to play every night.  The fact that Columbus were rested and ready, and as well prepared any anyone could be, just highlighted the simple truth: whether the Sharks like it or not, they are now the measuring stick for the league.  Every team will try to play their best game against the Sharks, like we do against Detroit.  San Jose is no longer just a tough team out west- they are the standard.  Only the pundits and bloggers care about whether the Sharks can keep it up in the playoffs and whether Joe is clutch enough and blah blah blah.  Everyone else paints a huge target on the back of those new black jerseys.  The league is coming, boys.

They are now the best starting team in NHL history (sort of).  But since we’re gunning for the ultimate prize, would we have it any other way?

I’ve only missed one home game this year- the 4-3 overtime loss to Nashville.  And I’m missing the game tonight.  But Mike, you say, the Sharks are rolling and they are playing Columbus, and they stink, right?  Right?

Well, not exactly.  Columbus is one point out of the playoff picture right now, and they are definitely on an upswing.  Their last two games they beat Washington, a division leader, and Vancouver, who was leading the division until they lost to the Jackets.  I want to call them the BJs, but I think Gary Bettman would suspend me for that.

Anyhoo, this Columbus team cooks with the same kind of recipe that has given the Sharks trouble this year.  Keep in mind ‘trouble’ is clearly a relative term for a team that has had the best NHL start since 1944.  Columbus is a well coached, aggressive team that will cycle down low, something the Panthers and Coyotes did to the Sharks with some success.  If we remember the last game versus the BJs (I’m playing with fire here), Rick Nash had two breakaways, and came up empty on both.  Nash has four points in his last two games, and 10 in his last 7.  If Nash gets those same chances tonight, he’ll bury at least one of ’em.

Is it finally time for the Sharks first regulation loss at home?  I’m a bit nervous.

I saw this quote online by Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Hartnell.

Scott Hartnell put it all in perspective of what the NHL is dealing with in terms of Avery:

“Every couple months, he comes out of the woodwork and does something off the wall,” Hartnell said. “He hasn’t been reprimanded for it. Maybe it’s time he takes a look in the mirror. He’s not doing the right things. He’s not being a role model for kids. It’s time to wake him up.”

This quote is coming from the guy who, with the game on the line last night in a 3-3 tie against Tampa Bay, decided the best way to defend Ryan Malone’s one on one breakaway was to throw his hockey glove at Malone as he shot the puck. Hartnell threw his glove at him, like side arm pitched it at Malone’s head like Dennis Eckersley to distract him. It was perhaps the most childish display of non-violent unsportsmanlike conduct I can remember.

Here’s the clip if you don’t believe me.

Way to be a role model for kids, Scott. Next time, maybe you’ll pull down your pants on the penalty kill to distract the other team?

Check out our latest podcast.

Since the Sharks won the Ron Wilson and crew homecoming game, it’s time for the Dudes to enjoy another undefeated week of Sharks hockey. Between that, the Sean Avery controversy, listener emails, and new technical toys on the show, Mike and Doug have plenty to talk about.

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As a couple of our commenters noticed on the last post, our resident prognoticator grier has again made a perfect call.  The Sharks won the not-so-emotional Ron Wilson homecoming game 5-2.  After a 4-0 first period, the Sharks seemed to coast a bit, and Ron Wilson’s club continued to work as most Ron Wilson’s clubs tend to do.  But the talent differential between the Leafs and Sharks was apparent throughout the game.

As far as the Avery controversy goes, you’ll have to get our take from our latest podcast.  And if you can’t get enough of good radio programming, you can listen to the latest ChompTalk radio show here.

Quick note on the radio show- we will be giving away a big prize on December 14th.  The winner of a Sharks trivia contest will get a free admission into a 12-week beginner skating class at Sharks ice, which is worth quite a bit of money.  All you fans out there looking for a wintertime activity, time to polish off your Sharks trivia mind and lace ’em up.  We’ll take the first two callers interested and pit them against each other.  You’ll have one minute to answer up to 10 questions: 4 easy, 4 medium, and 2 hard.  You have 11 days to cram and exercise your dialing fingers.

Tonight marks Ron Wilson, Rob Zettler, Tim Hunter and Vesa Toskala’s first return to San Jose since they were all let go by our mastermind Doug Wilson. We welcome them back to the Tank tonight with open arms, I expect all of these men to get a huge ovation out of respect for their contributions to the Sharks over the years. I hold no animosity towards Ron Wilson. His system just plain didn’t match the talent Doug Wilson had in the cupboard. Plain and simple. I will give him a nice round of applause and then join my fellow Sharks fans in hoping we kick the Maple Leafs ass all the way back to Canada.

You don’t think this game has been circled on both teams calendars since the beginning of the year? This is Patrick Marleau’s chance to kick Ron Wilson in the nuts, and I have no doubt that he will show up and be tonight’s number one star. Ron Wilson will see first hand what the San Jose Sharks could have been and are this year, a legit Stanley Cup contender.

So I welcome back the former Sharks, except for Mark Bell who was here last summer serving prison time, so he’s already had a homecoming. Plus, he’s playing in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies right now. Say hi to Kyle McLaren for me, Mark.

Welcome back to San Jose boys. Now watch us kick your ass. Go sit in the corner and cry about what could have been. The Sharks are really good at bringing back former teammates, having them over for dinner and then crushing their hopes and dreams. This is my favorite quote of the year.

“I had a little dinner at Joe’s last night. It was good to see my old bedroom.” – Brian Campbell.

What are you, a six year old girl? “It was good to see my old bedroom”. Is Joe your mother? Dan Boyle makes his own bed, Brian. I heard he can even eat a PBJ sandwich, with the crust still on. I think I hear Patrick Kane honking the horn outside, Brian. Your ride is here.

SHARKS 5 LEAFS 2