This week there are four games to discuss, and while the Sharks could be on a slight upswing, the Dudes’ individual takes on it differ.  In addition to the ups and downs of the Sharks week, there’s lots of other news to discuss, including the return of Evgeny Nabokov to stateside.  Mike and Doug try and guess where he’ll end up, and take some other questions from listeners.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Sharks well on their way to another disappointing loss, and they wake up again.  I think I need a mood stabilizer.  I shut off the TV a couple of times in anger during the game, then the Sharks roar back, get a couple of decent calls, have the clock expire literally hundredths of a second before the puck goes in, and then show up Bobrovsky in overtime.  Two fantastic moves by Clowe and Couture, both going to their “bread and butter”- deke to the backhand.  Clowe goes for the roof, Couture the five hole.

Again I’m impressed by the Sharks mettle.  And again I’m disappointed they have to get their butts kicked for a while before they figure out what to do.  On a road trip, against a Stanley Cup finalist, I’ll give them a little more latitude.  But I still feel the same way about tomorrow as I did about tonight- the Sharks could get murdered, we just have to wait and see.

Don’t forget to listen to the podcast.

The Dudes may be better than ever, but you can’t say that about the Sharks- they lose bad in Montreal, and have a horrible first period against the Wings.  Mike and Doug weigh that against their very good play against the Sens and the same Wings, and pick apart their lineup, looking for bright spots.  A few rookies and a goalie are in that category.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

I wasn”t aware the Sharks’ new goal was not to reduce the inconsistency, but to decrease its period.  The Sharks went from their worst performance of the year to their best during an intermission.  What I would give to have been a fly on the wall for that ‘Rudy’ speech.  Whatever was said, it worked.  I imagine it was this:

T-Mac : Hey guys, just a thought.  TRY PLAYING HARD.

Joe Thornton : <takes shirt off> hmm yeah.

Patrick Marleau : Oh yes.  Absolutely.  Try hard.  Uh huh.

Dan Boyle : Jeez, we suck.  We can play better than this.

Ryane Clowe : Dude, I gotta shave this mustache off.  It’s getting ridiculous.

Niclas Wallin :  Hamburgers.

Trent Yawney : THAT’S IT!  YOU WIN, YOU ALL GET HAMBURGERS!

Sharks : YEAAAAHHHHHH!

Podcast tomorrow.

The win-loss-win-loss train rolls on, this time the Sharks posting their first shutout of the season on Dany Heatley Princess Night in Ottawa.  Best game of the season for several players, Antti Niemi and Justin Braun among them.  I know I’ve been critical of T-Mac for his choices of when to play Niemi in the past, but last night was the right time.  Ottawa has had a bad stretch lately, and you probably want Niitty to play against Montreal on Saturday.  One thing that did amuse me last night was the ‘storyline’ that Niemi has just gotten ‘better and better this season’ (according to Drew Remenda).  I’m a Drew fan, but he got this one way wrong.  Here’s the string of Niemi’s save percentages in his last five games: .903, .878, .938, .813, 1.000.  That’s not ‘better and better’.  That’s up and down, just like the Sharks have been.

The Sharks were utterly dominant at times last night, which is encouraging for Sharks fans, but also frustrating in a way.  It’s the same or less stacked lineup than we’ve seen against recent losses against Columbus, Dallas, and Colorado, yet it was night and day the way they played.  I know I thought the Sharks might reel off some good wins after the performance at home against Chicago- I’m not nearly as confident this time.  Maybe we can get Joe Pavelski or somebody to bash Montreal as a hick town or say that poutine tastes like barf.  Then the fans will boo that player every time he takes the ice, throw flaming jerseys in effigy, and the Sharks roll to another win on the backs of the charged atmosphere.  Maybe the Sharks should plan a 30-city Disparagement Tour, finding a systematic way to infuriate the fans in every arena in order to light the fire they apparently need.

One down, 29 to go.  Although if they keep going hot and cold this way, San Jose may be added to that list without even trying.

Sorry, our schedules won’t permit it.  There literally isn’t an hour between 8am and midnight free for both of us any day this week.  As for the Wings game, it was depressing to witness first hand, but my kneejerk reaction is, how can you expect to beat the best team in the west with half of an AHL blueline?  Don’t want to beat up the new guys, but there were several times where that was readily apparent.  More later.

Here they are. Let the fodder begin. All lines taken from covers.com.

Doug’s record: 4-3
Mike’s record: 4-3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH
Doug takes Montreal (-116) over Los Angeles WINNER and Columbus (-137) over NY Islanders WINNER.
Mike takes Pittsburgh (-132) over Buffalo. WINNER

FRIDAY, NOV 26TH
Doug takes Nashville (+102) over Minnesota. LOSER
Mike takes San Jose (+110) over Vancouver LOSER

SATURDAY, NOV 27TH
Doug takes St. Louis (-150) over Dallas. LOSER
Mike takes Chicago (+105) over Los Angeles. WINNER

MONDAY, NOV 29TH
Doug takes Pittsburgh (-115) over NY Rangers WINNER
Mike takes Dallas (-110) over Carolina WINNER and Los Angeles (-110) over Anaheim LOSER

TUESDAY, NOV 30TH
Doug takes Chicago (-140) over St. Louis WINNER and Phoenix (+115) over Nashville LOSER
Mike takes Tampa Bay (-110) over Toronto WINNER and Colorado (-125) over Atlanta LOSER

The pick off has ended in a tie. We will figure out a tie breaker on next week’s podcast. Someone is buying dinner…

Not only did the Sharks win, but Doug and I both were flawless in our hockey picks.  Check out DOH 125 for all the ‘rules’.  Doug mentioned in that episode how much we missed Douglas Murray, and it certainly was apparent last night.  He hit everything, he jumped into the play, he made good defensive stops.  The guy was an animal, and clearly itching to get back in the lineup, especially against the Sharks’ playoff ouster.  Helluva game.  If only the Sharks could play with that energy and urgency on a consistent basis, we might just have something here.

Yesterday, when I heard Niemi was going to start, I though that was a pretty wacky move.  Ok, a dumb move.  Now that McLellan’s gamble paid off, I still don’t understand it.  If Niemi starts this weekend against Vancouver and gets shelled, I’m not sure if anything was really gained.  Chicago is a rival team- to me, it’s straightforward.  You start the guy who is the better goalie at the time, and Niitymaki is clearly that.  Niemi seemed like a good candidate to start against EDM on Saturday, second half of a back-to-back.  Let him build some confidence after a few good starts.  I guess last night’s win kickstarted the recovery, but it still seems like a needless gamble.

Here I am, bitching after the Sharks finally get a win after three atrocious games, and against a tough team.  I should be thankful.  I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

After a good week last week, the Sharks respond by losing all three games to Colorado, Dallas, and Columbus.  The Dudes try not to get too down on the whole thing, and explore why fans may be not as enthusiastic this season as much as past seasons.  After some listener emails, the Dudes detail their new picking games contest, and address some fantasy issues.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The Sharks have strung together some good wins, including one against the Pacific division leaders, the Los Angeles Kings.  The Dudes try and pinpoint what caused the turnaround, and where they go from here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS