NHL Playoff

Seven and counting

The Tank has been a different place this week. Fans are smiling, the team is playing loose and our newest Sharks have been a home run success. All the signs were there for the old Sharks to come out tonight - the slow start, the deflating 3rd period power play goal by Ottawa, outshooting the Sens and still trailing on the scoreboard. Last month, the Sharks would have lost this game at home. This new team would not allow it to happen. They scrapped, they refused to lose and beat one of the best in the East. This win streak isn’t ordinary, it is something to hang their hats on. Beating Detroit, Pittsburgh, Montreal and Ottawa is no joke. Doug Wilson is seeing his roster come together before his eyes.

The addition of Brian Campbell has overshadowed the fact that Marleau has been revived by playing night after night with The Gooch and Little Joe. Since Campbell joined the team in Columbus, this 2nd line has gathered fourteen points collectively. The effort is exciting and once JR is healthy again (word is he has the flu) he will take Plihal’s spot on the 4th line. When is Ryane clowe coming back? Mike and I were discussing it on the way out of the game and the answer could be….not soon. Why mess with what the Sharks have going to force a talented young player on the ice when he’s not ready. I’d rather see Goc or The Gooch at 100% then Clowe at 60%. It would not be shocking if Clowe didn’t see a ton of action the rest of this season, especially with Shelley watching Joe’s back these days.

This road trip could start rough for us. I’m thinking the Sharks go 2-1, with a loss against the red hot Blackhawks and two wins in Nashville and Minnesota. I have to admit, I don’t see how the Wild are so good. They don’t scare me at all and, from the first two games this year, they don’t match up well against San Jose. We’ll see how this potential playoff matchup turns out on Sunday.