If You Want to Give Up, Then Get Out UPDATED/AND UPDATED AGAIN
April 19th, 2009, 9:57 pm
If you watched the game tonight, you know these things….
The Sharks should have won this game, but they ran into a goalie playing the hockey of his life. Everything I hoped the Sharks would do, they did (except win). They dictated their style, forcing the Ducks into a run and gun game that normally plays right into the Sharks hands. Coach McLellan made some surprising line adjustments that gave the Sharks three regular lines that created consistent scoring chances. Cheechoo got completely under Pronger’s skin, forcing him into penalties….but the Sharks power play could not cash in.
So, do I feel terrible. Yes. I feel horrible. Everyone is ready to jump off a bridge and throw the season away. The numbers say the Sharks are finished. The experts will call the Sharks “the Chicago Cubs of hockey”. Many fans will throw this team away and give up….and to you I say – Get Out. Give Up. Don’t watch on Tuesday.
In my opinion, if you say the Sharks suck and they were terrible tonight – you didn’t watch the game. I’m not taking away anything from the Ducks, they have earned both of these wins….but they could have NEVER done it without the amazing play of Jonas Hiller. End of story. The Sharks were not an embarrassment tonight, they played hard and ran into a brick wall.
So, will Hiller keep it up and the Ducks roll to a four game sweep? Maybe. It’s possible. I say unlikely.. As Mike pointed out on the podcast, the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006 after losing both Game 1 and 2 at home against Montreal. The Boston Red Sox came back against the New York Yankees in the biggest miracle finish of all in the World Series. This is why they play the games. There could be injuries on Tuesday, Pronger could come down with a case of “I’m an ass*$%&-itis”, Selanne could get deported or Brian Burke could return unannounced and mess up the whole team again. Who knows? What I’m saying is….let’s just wait and see what happens Tuesday.
We can talk about being disappointed, talk about ways to improve, curse the terrible draw of the Ducks and the amazing play of Hiller…but if you want to give up – here’s the door. Don’t come back if we win Game 3.
UPDATE: IF YOU’RE INTO NUMBERS, HERE’S A STAT FOR YOU OF RECENT CUP WINNERS.
2002: RED WINGS (Lost Game 1 and 2 at home….Won Cup)
2003: DEVILS
2004: LIGHTNING
2005: Lock-out, No Cup
2006: HURRICANES (Lost Game 1 and 2 at home….Won Cup)
2007: DUCKS
2008: RED WINGS
2009: ??????
Every three years this decade, someone has pulled this off. All is not lost.
UPDATED AGAIN:
We’ve been on the wrong end of this sucker, remember back to the Edmonton series in 2006? Now granted we won Game 1 and 2 at home (both games very close results at 2-1) BUT as we remember – it is definitely possible for the team up against the wall (the Oilers) to catch fire and rattle off four straight….and then run all the way to the Cup.
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For the most part I agree with you, theres not much else you could ask for from the guys. They played a solid game. But that’s almost my concern. In post game interview Big Joe is still responding to questions in a very mellow, even-keel tone of ‘we played well and it’ll all come together next game’. Well, news flash, we’re not in the regular season anymore and judging the team based on the quality of the game they played doesn’t mean anything anymore. W’s and L’s. Thats all that matters, and we’re currently down by 2.
We all know that Joe plays his best when he’s mad, can we please get him a little worked up about the fact that he’s about to be permanently labeled a playoff failure (merited or not is irrelevant).
“but if you want to give up – here’s the door. Don’t come back if we win Game 3.”
Poetry man.
righto you are. this was the kind of effort I like to see. It’s too bad Sharks sucked in the first game and made this series so hard on themselves, cuz playing the way they did tonight, they were clearly the better team
“Brian Burke could return unannounced and mess up the whole team again.”
??? He went out of his way to bring Hiller to this team calling him the “real deal”. I think he knows a thing or two.
At this point, this Canadian has a long list of players he wants to see on the Olympic team before the names Thornton or Marleau turn up. The only way that will change is if they both show up for the rest of the series and demonstrate that their attitude is “Not this time. There’s no bloody way we’re losinig this series…” and then carry the play and dictate the game EVERY shift they are on the ice. This team is not supposed to have any weaknesses and it’s time for them to show it. It’s true that Hiller is playing fantastic but good teams are supposed to be able to get by hot goalies in a seven game series. Cheechoo had a great game now the other leaders on the team have to take off too.
From here, the only people I was disappointed in were Nabokov, Ehrhoff, Marleau, and… McClellan. None of those guys played (or coached) poorly, but none met expectations. How many times is Nabokov going to get out played? Can someone put a web between his legs, these 5-hole goals are getting ridiculous. Ehrhoff had a couple of posts to go along with a couple of horrendous giveaways. McClellan played Goc less than 5 minutes, Cheechoo less than 12, and a clearly amped Lemiuex less than 7.
And Marleau… oh captain. I have defended you so often from the Ryan Garners of the world, and this is how you play? I know you have it in you, on the PK you look dynamic out there. Is it because there is no pressure on you on the PK, the other team is supposed to score, so you let loose? Are you saving it for bursts because you are injured? I know you have it in you, only Iginla has scored more goals in the playoffs since 2003 or so.
But honestly, the Sharks were better. Its why I still believe. Play that way 100 times, and the Sharks win 90. This was just one of those 10. Joe sees what we all see… its a game of inches, and the Sharks are thisclose to breaking this open. I’m still in it to the end, you can close the door for me grier…
I have to admit, I was pissed last night and ready to cast them off. After a night of reflection I realize that they did out play the Ducks and it is possible for this team to come back… I believe they can do it over any other Sharks team in the past.
But I completely agree with many of you that Nabby needs to step up his game. He has been incredible on the “highlight worthy” saves, and for that we are all grateful. But, particularly in the latter half of the season, he’s let in the soft goals. I know that it’s taboo to get on your goaltender, but Hiller is outplaying the All Star, Venzina finalist right now. We need him to be more dependable.
BTW, did you guys at the game last night see Torrey in the pregame skate? How did he look?
They had 35 shots in Game 1. 44 shots last night. But it seemed like 90% of them were from the perimeter. Not gonna get it done.
But tealfan, this has been the strategy all season – firing bombs from the point and cashing in on rebounds has lead to the record setting year from our D-men.
I agree with Ruben, if Game 2 was played 100 times, the Sharks would win it 90. It was San Jose’s style – we have just run into an out of his mind goalie….which seemed to happen a ton to the Sharks since the New Year.
As for Mitchell, McLellan seemed to make it clear that if he was ready, he would be playing. So…I guess he’s not ready….or McLellan is bluffing and Torrey could show up tomorrow. If he’s ready at all, there’s no holding back now….
They mentioned on the Sharks pregame last night that Mitchell was taking the pregame skate… just wondering if anyone saw him skating… saw that quote from TMac as well, but running him out there in the Teal jersey, to me, is a good sign.
I just wonder who gets sit if Mitchell does make a cameo. My first inclination would be CL, but he actually played good last night. Grier? He got less than 7 minutes last night and hasn’t played with his usual energy (though he hasn’t looked “bad” out there). Goc? He is only getting PK time anyways, same as Mitchell would, and obviously Goc’s faceoff skills aren’t that important if he only plays 7 minutes. I can’t imagine JR, Moen, or Cheechoo getting sit, and that would be a huge indictment if any of the top 6 got sat down.
What concerns me (your token Ducks commentor):
Hiller cannot play any better (his play can only go down). The Ducks have been lackluster at home. And, I’m not convinced Carlyle won’t try the wrong match ups. Your history lesson is also pause for concern, but I don’t think the veterans on the team will count any eggs early.
What ought to concern you:
The Power Play! Ducks is still on fire, and yours has gone cold (silver lining is that you can only get better). Faceoffs! Being less than 50% at home does not bode well. Pavs is getting schooled; while Marchant is 80% on the penalty kill. And officiating – it was sub-par for game 2. You got your share of home team calls, and that shouldn’t happen again for a couple games. (How Cheechoo didn’t get an interference penalty before scoring is beyond me.)
“Every three years this decade, someone has pulled this off. All is not lost.”
Hey at least that’s not as silly as last year when the Sharks were down 0-3 to the Stars and more than one or two analysts pointed out that “every 33 years in the NHL, a team has come back from down 0-3 in a best of seven series.”
Great to see you guys continue to back your team and not jump off that bridge. Fans in the Bay Area bail on their teams too easily. So much fair weather fandom goes on here. (See: Warriors, 49ers, Giants)
I have cheered the sharks on through worse and I won’t be done cheering for the sharks this season until they are shaking hands with an opponent at center ice because they have been eliminated or its just before Bettman is about to hand our captain the cup. Sure the later seems like its a pipe dream but there is at least another 120 minutes of hockey left in this series which in my opinion is alot of hockey. Yeah I am heartbroken to see the Sharks down 2-0 in the series but to just walk away now is pretty sad. Shame on those who left the arena when there was over 6 minutes left on the clock!
The good:
Cheech was awsome he played his ass off instead of taking stupid penalties he got Pronger taking stupid penalties and his goal was amazing.
Pav’s Michalek and Clowe have also been great for the series.
Lemiuex was good, there was not very often a time when he was on the ice that you didn’t know he was there. The Ducks definatly knew when he was on the ice and I think he should play in game 3.
The Bad
Nabby has to stop being average and steal a page out of Jonas Hillers playbook, he has been alright but if the Sharks are going to come back and win it has to start with Nabby.
I thought Joe played better but he was still not playing close enough to his potential.
Can someone put Marleau’s face on a milk carton or somthing so we can find him?
The powerplay…
If the Sharks are to win this series they have to be able to actually have a lead in a game which means they need to get to Hiller early and then often and some of that offence has to come on the Power Play.
All is not lost. I am the most diappointed in Joe Thornton. We pay him all that money and he always looks invisible in the playoffs, this is not the first time he looks like this.
I stay up late, I live in the Eastern time zone, to watch the Sharks play even on nights before I work and get 4 hours of sleep. All the games in April except for last night didn’t seem worth missing out on much needed sleep. I hope the next five games are worth staying up for. I had faith in them last year against Dallas behind 3-0 and stayed up til what? 2:30 to see the end of OT and the end of their season.
I love my Sharks and missing seeing them live all the time but they need to find a way past Hiller. He has faced so many shots and that doesn’t include all the wide shots and blocked shots. God, please have the D hit the net! Play Claude more (he annoyed EVERYONE and drew penalties), Marleau was looking good in the second half of the game and let Cheechoo play with Michalek on the top line again, Nice goal by him btw.
BreAnn also being in the eastern timezone I feel your pain. lol
A friend of mine who’s a Flyer’s fan said, “if Hiller was playing against the Flyers, they would have run him by now.” I’m not saying the Sharks should try to injure Hiller, but maybe a well-placed interference call could rattle his cage a bit. Worth a shot- the PK has looked pretty good.
While I still have hope and I’m keeping my head focused on how the Oilers won 4 in a row to knock us out after we were up 2-0, I do not think the Sharks played that well last night. Ehrhoff needs to be benched game 3. Grier is still off his game and made probably only one decent play all game. I love my Sharks and I’ll keep rooting them on and having hope but the Sharks didn’t dominate. Hiller did and the Ducks PP did. The Sharks need to work on crisper passing and moving around during the PP instead of standing still. Nabby needs to get back onto his clutch style of play and get in position. It’s a team effort to win games but I think only about 50% of the team is in a “go all out” mentality. I just pray and hope (as always) that my boys bring it together and play like I know they can play- faster, crisper, and just plain better! GO SHARKS!
There is zero chance Ehrhoff is benched because the alternative is Semenov or an untested Huskins. I don’t think Ehrhoff carries as much blame as others seem to for Game 1 and 2, and clearly McLellan doesn’t either – he was 2nd on the Sharks in ice time….
Both Washington and Calgary bounced back. Our turn tomorrow.
WTF, people?!? Since when is it a crime to rip your team when they’re not performing to expectations? That’s part of being a fan. So what if I say the Sharks suck? At this point, it’s the truth. This is not Little League. This is the freakin’ NHL and our #1 seeded Sharks are down 2-0 to the #8 seeded (and hated) Ducks. Is there a chance for them to come back in this series? There’s a chance it could rain in Anaheim tomorrow, but the likelihood of that is as good as the Sharks chances of pulling off a minor miracle to win this series. Heck, even Mike said before Game 2 that it was a MUST WIN. It’s meaningless that the Sharks dictated their style of play because they still lost. It’s actually worse because the Ducks beat the Sharks when they were supposedly on their game at home. It just looks like the Ducks want it more than the Sharks right now. That’s why I think it’s over.
Can everyone stop talking about how the Ducks “want it more”? It’s a tired cliche and I didn’t see any evidence of that in game 2. Sometimes it’s not about your “grit” and “heart”, sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. Playoffs are unpredictable by nature. It’s not over till it’s over
It’s always easier to rip the team when they’re down, because if they lose again tonight – you can say, “See, I told you so”.
That is not how I roll.
No, Grier. It’s not easy to rip my team. It’s actually quite painful. If they lose again tonight, it’s NOT “I told you so.” It’s, “How did our team fall short AGAIN? How did the most talented team in Sharks history get upset by an 8th seed? When are they gonna get over the hump?”
As the great Ricky Bobby would say, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”
Keep on writing and cghugnig away!
2E3hW1 qkuuakorhcho
Edmonton went home down 2-0. We are going to Duck land down 2-0.
I will continue to not make any predictions this year about the Sharks, I haven’t since the end of last season after the Sharks lost in Dallas in OT. Every previous year I have, we went out in the most disappointing way. GO SHARKS! Make me proud tonight boys!
So uhh in the interest of me actually seeing part of the game could the Vancouver vs. St. Louis game please end. lol
Wow I thought VS had bad coverage. I pretty much didn’t see the first half of the game due to CBC showing the Blues lose to the Canucks at the VERY end of OT. Oh well atleast the Sharks get shown more than the Stanley Cup winners from last year. They are the team shown in parts over on TSN.
I don’t know who’s going to win tonight, but it’s been a helluva game so far. It’s about f’n time the Sharks showed up with this type of intensity.