So last post I (sort of) took it easy on Semenov, because he had a career game against Colorado.  I don’t hate the person (really!) but sometimes his mistakes make me crazy.  And last night, I had me some crazy.  In the middle of the first, he passed the puck directly to Martin Havlat behind the net, who walked right out front and left it for Andrew Ladd, who scored.  Thanks to the Chicago scorer who was chewing on a bratwurst, Semenov didn’t get ‘credit’ for a giveaway, and Havlat didn’t get credit for a takeaway.  Good work, Oprah lover.

Somehow, against Chicago, the Sharks find a way to score.  With almost an even dozen players out, the Sharks get two goals from Seto, and goals from McGinn, Vlasic, and Jumbo.  Problem is, Semenov played over 15 minutes (-1) and Vesce, Cavanaugh, and Staubitz all played over 10.  Not that McLellan really had a choice in the matter.  Like the guys said on the telecast, if you got a million guys out, you might as well play who you got, instead of putting Boyle and Joe out there for 40 minutes each.

But to their credit, the Sharks still persevered, and managed to tie it in the 3rd on a herculean effort by Joe Thornton to drive to the net.  And in case you didn’t notice, he didn’t bull his way around some scrub like  Niklas Hjalmarsson (who?)- that’s was Brent Seabrook Duncan Keith, as in, many-people-think-he-should-be-a-Norris-finalist Duncan Keith.  I’m sure I’m only about the thousandth person to say this, but Joe, booby, please do that more often.

And in case, you’re feeling a little down about the Sharks losing in overtime, just think of this this way, as grier recently put in an IM conversation with me: the Hawks at full strength couldn’t beat the Sharks without Marleau, Blake,  Grier, and Goc.  I’m happy for the point.

Oh, and this week’s podcast is here.  I’m happy to remind everybody here, but make sure to subscribe if you haven’t already.  So much easier.