I know there’s no crying in baseball, but how about hockey? Mike and I have both been swamped with “real life” stuff. WAAAHH. How dare that interfere with our alter egos/hockey podcasting lifestyle!!!

LA Kings overpriced forward Ryan Smyth crying because there was no podcast this week.

Anywho, we apologize for the delay in the podcast and we will have a new episode live, in living color, on Sunday afternoon. We should be back on track to our regular scheduled programming with mid-week episodes starting next week.

Last night was a solid point on the road for the Sharks and I was pretty pleased with how they gutted it out. Those are games that in past this collection of core players have dropped, a tough road match up on the 2nd game of a back to back. Sharks need to keep winning, the Pacific Division is no lock by any means. It comes down to who will win a best of three series down the stretch between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Sharks. Three games, winner takes Pacific Division. I think it’s that simple. Two of these tilts are in Phoenix, so they have the advantage. Phoenix also has Colorado on their schedule and the Sharks have no cupcakes in their final seven (Phoenix x 3, Anaheim x 2, Dallas, LA). Saturday night is pretty important folks. Let’s go get two points.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE/YOUNG DUDES PREVIEW

The WHL playoffs start tonight with five young dudes involved in the postseason run for the Ed Cheynoweth Cup. Here we go.

EAST
#1 Saskatoon Blades vs. #8 Prince Albert Cougars –  Sharks prospect riser, Marek Viedensky, is a top player for Saskatoon with 88 points and an amazing +60 rating.

#4 Kootenay vs. #5 Moose Jaw Warriors – Thomas Heemskerk is the goalie for the Warriors and has had a mediocre season statwise. Can he pick it up and take Moose Jaw on a run?

WEST

#1 Portland WinterHawks vs. #8 Everett Silvertips – The decision by 2009 Sharks 2nd round pick, William Wrenn, to jump from University of Denver to the WHL appears to be stroke of genius in terms of his career development. He went from a overlooked bottom pairing d-man not getting a regular shift to a guy playing solid minutes and posting 13 points and a +25 rating in 29 games for the top seed.

#2 Kelowna Rockets vs. #7 Prince George – Local Bay Area kid, and new San Jose Sharks free agent prospect, Sena Acolaste is one of the WHL’s top blueliners. He’ll shoot for the upset here against Kelowna.

#3 Spokane vs. Chilliwack Bruins – Sharks prospect camp signee, Curt Gogol, plays for Chilliwack and is 3rd in the WHL in penalty minutes with 201 PIMs. Not sure how much of an impact he’ll have on a playoff run, but we’ll keep an eye on him.

YOUNG DUDE OF THE DAY

Phil Varone gets the nod with a goal and an assist in Erie’s 2-1 win in the opening round of the OHL playoffs. Phil-er up. Here’s his playoff blog for everything Otter and Varone related to make your Friday even brighter.