Who’s Not Scoring? Oh Yeah, the Sharks
February 5th, 2008, 3:52 pm
James Mirtle just posted on his blog a list of the top 30 players in terms of points-per-game dropoff. There are four Sharks on that list:
| Rank | Name | 2007 Points | 2008 Points | PPG Diff |
| 2 | Patrick Marleau | 78 | 26 | -0.508 |
| 3 | Jonathan Cheechoo | 69 | 18 | -0.513 |
| 21 | Matt Carle | 42 | 13 | -0.257 |
| 28 | Joe Pavelski | 28 | 20 | -0.224 |
The Pavs number looks a little weird because he only played 46 games last year. Anaheim has two players on the list(if you count McDonald), and the Rangers have three (Jagr, Straka, and Shanahan, ouch). Looking at these stats, you have to admit that the Sharks are doing a pretty phenomenal job given that two of their top three scorers are off by more than a half of a point per game. Most of the other players on the list play for bad teams, probably partially because of their decreased output (Colorado, Buffalo, Florida, Washington). So although I complain about the Sharks in one way or another in most of my posts (who wants to listen to a fanboy, right?), I have to give them props on this.
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Their lack of production had led to their change in style of play, which will keep them in games and allow them to beat lesser competition. This is why the Sharks get exposed against the “Big Boys”: Dallas, Anaheim, Calgary and Detroit. You can’t beat those four without production from Marleau and Cheech. Luckily, Cheech appears to be healthy and back to life with six goals in the last eight games.
You’ve drawn a pretty fine line between the Sharks and a ‘bad’ Colorado team.
Sharks’ record: 29-16-7
Colorado’s record: 28-21-5
That’s a difference of 1 win and 4 points.
I’m not sure you can compare them to a seriously-playmaker depleted team like Buffalo and two of the SouthLeast Division teams.
And five losses. But you’re right. I was basing it on the fact that, as of a few days ago at least, the Avs were out of the playoffs. The West is so tight I don’t know if you can say any team but the Kings are really ‘bad’.
How did it go against that “bad team” playing without their top 3 forwards last night? That’ll teach you. 😉