First Two Home Preseason Games- a Pointless Report
September 27th, 2008, 10:52 pm
I don’t put a lot of stock in preseason games. Actually, about none. Neither team has all their good players in, which makes the outcome about as significant as Tila Tequila’s view on the economy. Last night, the Pavs-Cheech-Michalek line was in, and tonight they were replaced with the Joe-Patty-Clowe line. The D were also on the rotation- last night Boyle and Ehrhoff, tonight Blake and Vlasic.
Good and bad things happened in both games (you can’t get this kind of analysis just anywhere); last night a third period flurry made the Sharks look good in a 5-2 win. Tonight, the good Canuck defense and Bobby Lou prevented the Sharks from scoring until the third in a 3-2 loss.
As far as the young kids go, no one has made a really big impression on me in terms of their play. Brad Staubitz is perfectly happy to bang around with guys and drop the gloves, which the fans appreciate. In my opinion, only Mike Morris and Steven Zalewski have really shown they can compete at this level, and then only in flashes. Derek Joslin, a early pick to be a 7th or 8th defenseman, has been pretty invisible. Semenov, the guy who will likely be that 7th D, scored last night, but it didn’t make up for some ill-conceived passes, slow movement, and lack of physicality.
One thing new was the power play strategy. Sometimes it looked like a herd of cats, and occasionally you’d see a guy camped on the half boards a la Wilson, but McLellan has clearly implemented a new style. Every time the D get the puck at the point they move quickly to create a shooting lane and are more inclined to let it fly. You see more guys crashing the crease, like Joe and Marleau, and Clowe’s goal tonight was due to a redirect off his skate (half on purpose).
To be honest, the most interesting thing (other than the fights) in these two games was the realization that the new seats are in the players’ wives’ section. And tonight, that also meant a visit from some actual players. This photo was taken from my seat:
As we can see, Christian Ehrhoff and Milan Michalek decided to take in the game from the stands in some snappy suits, and conveniently situated near some hot women (not pictured, but take my word for it). The third guy was also pretty dressed up, and I figured he was a player too, but I couldn’t place him. Anybody know who this guy is?
But I did have a scintillating conversation with Ehrhoff as he went to his seat:
Me: Played well last night, man.
Ehrhoff: Thanks.
I’m not a star-chaser at all, so I just let them go about their business after that. Pretty much everyone around was clocking their every move, but they were more or less left alone. If it were Dan Boyle instead of Michalek I don’t know if I could have resisted saying something embarrassing (“I love you, man!” or “Hey, you want to go to Red Lobster?”) but luckily I was spared.
In other news, I’ll be heading to the Big Apple on vacation this week, so the podcast will be delayed until Thursday this one time. Also look for me on the NHL Network feed of the NHL Live! radio show one of these days- I’m planning on hanging around the NHL store a bit when the show is broadcast. Maybe I can induce Hradek into a rant about something.
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I think the mystery man is Cory Larose. Thoughts?
http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8468458&service=page
[…] First Two Home Preseason Games- a Pointless ReportI don’t put a lot of stock in preseason games. Actually, about none. Neither team has all their good players in, which makes the outcome about as significant as Tila Tequila’s view on the economy. Last night, the Pavs-Cheech-Michalek … […]
Pretty sure it’s not him. Looked like a pretty young guy, and Larose is 33.
Looks like Tom Cavanagh or Mike Morris, but they were both playing!
Who gives a rat fart who you sat beside, critize all you want about the young guys but they are working their butts off and all the big shots are sitting on their hands not wanting to get hurt. Staubitz don’t look so good with two black eyes and a dislocated shoulder but he’s putting on his brace and getting out their and playing his heart out.
Maybe put some thought into your reports and do some research before you rip somebody a new one. The Sharks are lacking in goals, how to you get goals? Work together as a team, these young guys have not played the NHL way, sit on your butt and let the other guy do all the work. On the Farm teams they work like dogs to make it and some never do but at least the hockey is good. I’d rather watch a game with a bunch of young guys than old guys who can’t get it together, PLUS THE SEATS ARE CHEAPER!
So let the young guys play.
Dean Lombardi, is that you?
Wouldn’t want to get hurt now would he, big baby. Suck it up and play hockey like a man.
Sends out the goon to get him off his back pretty sissy like. Gotta love those young guys!
Lombardi’s mother thanks you for your feedback!
WOW! Mild over reaction to a pre-season game. Once the puck drops for real with Nabby in net and the Roster sorted out the goals will come and things are going to be fine.
Check out the Worcester Sharks webpage. Lots of good talent.
Ah so that was you who said hello. We all appreciated the privacy from you and the fans. We find your posts very amusing and we also very much like the red lobster. Would you like to attend with Milan and I? And yes our women are quite beautiful! No surprises that you noticed! Maybe we will bring one to meet you next game! Lol sorry I couldn’t resist. It’s not really error. but if i may ask, what section were you sitting in? As in what section is the players’ wifes section?
playas’ wives’*