Is It Possible to Lose More Players?
March 23rd, 2009, 12:21 pm
Don’t answer that. Yesterday, with Clowe, Goc, Lemieux, Grier, Blake, Plihal, Roenick, Huskins, and Mitchell all out of the lineup, Cheechoo gets an arguable game misconduct call, and the Sharks have to play the rest of the game with 11 forwards. Three of whom played most of the year in Worchester. And that made the rest of the lines a complete shambles, with Marleau again centering the third line for a while, McGinn getting the call to play beside Joe Thornton, and Ryan Vesce and Travis Moen getting power play time. Shift chart here.
By the way, Vesce’s power play efficiency is pretty great- he’s on the ice for 200 goals per 60 minutes.
I’ll say here what I did on the radio show last night- having so many players out is definitely not a good thing, but if you were to put a happy face on it, it would be that the Sharks can explore their depth for the playoffs. Some say you need 8 or 9 defensemen and at least an extra line of forwards for an extended playoff run, and the Sharks are now in a position to evaluate that.
Speaking of 7th or 8th defensemen, Semenov certainly had a great game last night. I was going to make a joke here about Obama’s comment on Jay Leno and how his staff’s reaction to bowling a 146 is comparable to the Sharks’ reaction to Semenov making 1st star, but I think I’ll take it easy on the big guy. He deserves some props.
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It’s pretty amazing to think about how many injuries this team has had this year and will still be recording the franchise best record for the regular season! I am realizing that injuries have been the major thing that has slowed them down over the 2nd half…
At this point though I am getting worried that Roenick might be done for good. Roenick is the type of player who would play forever if his body allowed him to. Some players are forced into retirement, but I just hope J.R. isn’t done because I think he is a MAJOR part of this team and brings something that no one else on the roster can.
This team has held together nicely.
With this many injuries they have not folded or given up. Granted, their play after the All Star break had been spotty, but, they have managed not to drop out of the top of the NHL. Pretty damned good, if ya ask me.
Props to Semenov. Just wish this was the norm and not the exception.
Goooooooooo Sharks!!!!
Yes. Yes it is.
-Dallas
Tom,
I think JR will play in the playoffs on will alone, if need be. He wants the cup so bad, I think he’d staple his hand to the stick if he had to.
And Brad, touché.
Marleau is taking the night off tomorrow (something about his wife giving birth). I blame you of course.
What can I say? Marleau may be a better skater than me, but I was on my game 9 months ago.
I really hope we get to see a full lineup a game or two before the playoffs. Imagine this squad with a full lineup. I tried to put together 4 lines, and its impossible to decide who to keep out if everyone is healthy.
Assuming Marleau-Thornton-Seto-Clowe-Pavs-Michalek-Cheechoo-Moen-Grier are locks to play, that means only 3 out of Goc-Mitchell-McGinn-Plihal-Roenick-Shelly-Staubitz-Claude get to be in the lineup. Surely, at least one of Goc/Mitchell has to be in the lineup to center the #3 line, and I would be shocked to see JR sit come playoff time. That leaves one spot left. Do you go with another center from Goc/Mitchell? Play the young kid who has grown by leaps and bounds and is starting to provide a scoring touch (McGinn)? The steady guy who can play anywhere (Plihal)? An enforcer (heavyweight-Shelly/middleweight-Staubitz)? A pest (Lemieux)? The Sharks literally run 5 lines deep if they are healthy, and have every type of player you could want.
Personally, I hope McGinn gets most of the opportunity. And if him and Cheechoo bust out on that top line with Joe? That would mean a third line with something like Marleau-Seto-Roenick! And a FOURTH line of Moen-Goc-Grier! Talk about being able to roll lines.
Considering we were down 1-4 in that game I’m pretty happy with the 1 point. Shootout is always a crap shoot with this team anyway.
Thornton’s drive to the net for the tying goal was a thing of beauty, I hope he brings that desire to win to the playoffs.
Oh, on an additional note, Petreki has been signed by the Sharks and will join the Worcester kids if time permits after classes.
http://www.sharkspage.com/2009_03_01_archive.html#7491288063411814973
If you see it before you record the podcast I’d love to hear your thoughts.
That first looked pretty bad by the D.
Semenov 🙁 .
I agree with evilducks that I’m happy with the 1 point considering even before the game started I wasn’t expecting even that with the depleted lineup and Marleau on paternity leave for a day.