I have to say I’m amazed at how many Sharks fans seemed surprised at the effort the Calgary Flames turned in during Game 1. How could you have expected any different from Mike Keenan’s boys? They are not afraid of our San Jose Sharks, the “hottest team in the NHL”, they even have what you might consider to be ownage on the Sharks this season. I’ve talked to a few people today who are already ready to write off the season. To that I say – good, don’t watch – we don’t need fair weather fans. The Sharks are not done, I have to believe that this team is better than years past and they are going to rally and find a way to get past Calgary to even up the series 1-1 tonight.

Here are two interesting stats from last night, one surprising and one not. If you watched the game, would you call me a liar if I told you the Sharks outhit the Flames 41-36? It sure didn’t look that way – I think Mike and I would have guessed the Flames outhit us by double digits last night. Nolan and Phaneuf flew around and really laid the body on us. The only noticeable Shark throwing his weight around regularly was Clowe, he led the game with seven hits. The other stat, and perhaps most alarming, was the 19 giveaways the Sharks had – and most of them in their own zone. Brian Campbell has four of the giveaways and, for the first time in Teal, he did not have a good game. The physical nature of the game really took Brian out of his element.

It sounds like Seto and Carle will be in the lineup tonight – so thank god Frankenstein will likely be on the pine, but who will sit amongst the forwards? My guess is Ron Wilson is already pulling the plug on Jody Shelley in the playoffs, after only playing him four minutes last night. I also have an issue with the refs last night, who treated Calgary like the #2 seed and gave Iginla and Phaneuf superstar treatment. It’s our building, the Sharks are the elite team – and they don’t get that respect from the refs at all. I’m not saying Calgary played a dirty game, they didn’t – but two of the calls last night were dressed up by Calgary players and the refs took the bait. So, doesn’t that mean when Saurich even thinks about touching Thornton behind the net, it should be interference? I hope things even out tonight.

Am I a sucker? Should I be jumping off the sinking Sharks ship with the others? Is this going to be just like last year, and the year before? I still believe in my heart that this is the Sharks year and tonight we will see which team is going to show – the team that middled around for 2/3 of the season in 6th place or the best team in the NHL since the trade-deadline. Tonight the Sharks will jump on Calgary early.

San Jose 4 Calgary 2