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Post by KotW-SJS GM/FWD PA(A-L)/Simmer on May 10, 2013 18:06:11 GMT -5
Blackhawks Have a 3-1 Stranglehold on the Sharks After 4 Games.Coming into the Sharks second round series against the Chicago Blackhawks San Jose knew they were in for a battle. In Game one the Sharks came out hot with Rene Bourque scoring 2 goals in the first six minutes of play to put the sharks up 2-0 after the first period. The second was relatively quiet with the only goal coming at 7:14 of the second period from Chicago’s Artem Ansimov. In the third period the Hawks would come out and silence the crowd in the HP Pavillion with two unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead with ten minutes left in the game. The sharks were looking for a hero. Coach Barry Smith called a timeout to calm his agitated squad. With the Sharks down by a goal and two minutes left Sharks fans were getting out of their seats to leave when defenseman Victor Hedman gave them another reason to come to their feet by tying the game 22 seconds later. The teams were headed into overtime the atmosphere in the building was electric but it wouldn’t last long when Sharks captain Martin St. Louis took a great first pass from Patrick Marleau in for a breakaway goal on Corey Crawford. San Jose was riding the high from game ones overtime dramatics in game two and it was a back and forth dog fight all night. Both teams play disciplined never taking a penalty during the game. Dan Hamhuis struck for the sharks at 11:42 of the first period with his first postseason goal this season. With about a minute left Chicago’s Colin Wilson would tie things up going into the first intermission. Things were tied up and stayed that way until Rene Bourque broke the silence with his third goal in two games. In the third Blackhawk Jeff Skinner would once again knot the game up at two. So once again the teams would take the ice for overtime and once again it wouldn’t last long when Wayne Simmonds in his second game back from injury ended game two with a goal assisted by Rickard Rakell. Game three started out as a nightmare for San Jose who found themselves down 3-0 going into the third period. The team had looked flat all night and they were frustrated taking four penalties to Chicago’s zero. Coming out for the third period something had changed though. Someone gave the sharks a wakeup call. Cody Hodgson, Ryane Clowe and Brad Stuart came up big with goals to send the game into overtime for a third consecutive game. Less than two minutes into overtime the game would end in favor of Chicago on Ryan Callahans second goal of the night. The Sharks were crushed and looked like they had lost all hope. Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson smashed his stick to splinters on the boards on his way to the locker room. The fatigue and disappointment continued when a Sharks 2-1 lead less than five minutes into game four turned into a 7-2 blowout for the Blackhawks. That’s where we are now a couple bounces one way or the other and the Blackhawks could have swept or the Sharks could be up 3-1. After losing three straight some lineup changes are expected for the Sharks but is it too late?
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Post by KotW-SJS GM/FWD PA(A-L)/Simmer on May 11, 2013 12:29:30 GMT -5
Sharks Fall to Blackhawks in Six.It was a good run while it lasted but last night the San Jose Sharks shook hands with the Chicago Blackhawks then went to the locker room to pack up for one more plane ride home. San Jose put on one more good show for the hometown fans in game five when led by Captain Martin St. Louis goal and two assist in the third period erased a 2-1 deficit and sent the series to a game six in Chi town. In game six it was the Sharks who jumped out to 2-1 lead after two periods. The Blackhawks had a comeback story of their own to play out on the ice and they did with two goals in 26 seconds to take a 3-2 lead which was extended to a two goal lead minutes later when a pass from Marc Eduard Vlassic intended for Cody Hodgson was intercepted and taken in for a shorthanded breakaway goal by Ryan Strome. Patrick Marleau tried his best to get the Sharks back in it with a goal of his own less than two minutes later. San Jose fought hard and pulled goalie Ryan Miller with 30 seconds remaining but Chicago was relentless blocking shots and clearing the offensive zone every time the Sharks found their way to the net. The Sharks season was over; heads were hung in disappointment on the bench. After the game the fans and media started to distribute blame immediately “Vlassic never should have attempted such a bold pass with everything on the line!” one fan said on twitter. Head Coach Barry Smith faced an onslaught of questions about why he waited so late to pull Ryan Miller. “I could have pulled him earlier and Chicago could have finished the game with an empty netter. Then everyone would be asking why I pulled him so soon. It’s a lose-lose situation if you don’t come out on top.” The coach explained. Team Captain Martin St.Louis expressed regret and hope “Right now we are grieving a playoff loss but in a couple weeks I think we will all look back at this year as a step in the right direction and comeback more resilient next year.” He said in the locker room after the game. Chicago will now take on the Los Angeles Kings for the right to play in the Stanley Cup Finals in contrast the Sharks will get on a plane go home and try to figure out what’s next. cdn1.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8212829/gyi0062915302.0_standard_352.0.jpg [/IMG]
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Post by KotW-SJS GM/FWD PA(A-L)/Simmer on May 12, 2013 8:28:42 GMT -5
San Jose Parting Ways with Defenseman Colin White.Today the San Jose Sharks announced they will not be negotiating a new contract with 36 year old defenseman Colin White. White is a former two time Stanley Cup Champion with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 and 2003. The Sharks signed White prior to the 2011-12 campaign and he has served as a reliable sixth/seventh defenseman for the team ever since. Original drafted in the second round 49th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1996. Colin White is a 14 year NHL veteran but according to him he’s not ready to hang up his skates yet. “I feel like I still have something to offer to an NHL team whether it’s as a Role playing or depth defender on a contender or in a leadership role with a young team I can still contribute.” White said when asked if he was pondering retirement. Colin was also asked if he was angry or bitter at Sharks management for the decision “You can’t really be mad. It’s just business. I do feel like they are building a winner and wish I could be here to see things through but that can’t always happen.” He responded. San Jose GM KOTW also had the following statement regarding White “He’s a great guy who can bring it on and off the ice and we will miss his leadership for sure but we have young guys like Petricki and Weber sitting on the bench or in the minors and it’s time for them to play.” White appeared in 64 games this year registering 12 points with a + 9 rating while also racking up 21 penalty minutes along the way. This was a steep up tick from the 35 games Colin had played in the previous year. This was due in large part to the departure of Dennis Seidenberg via trade this season. On behalf of all of us here at “The Shark Bite” we would like to thank Colin White for his time here and wish him all the best in finding a new team this offseason.
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Post by KotW-SJS GM/FWD PA(A-L)/Simmer on May 13, 2013 9:27:47 GMT -5
Many Sharks AHL Players Knocking on The NHL’s door .Training camp is still a long ways off but when it opens the San Jose Sharks will have some steep competition for roster spots. Fourth line players like Phillip McRae and Andreas Nodl will have to play hard and show their best if they want to hold off the barrage of young talent trying to rise from the teams AHL affiliate the Cleveland Barons. The two players most likely to make the jump to the NHL are Connor Rankin and Marek Viedensky. Rankin was the Sharks second round pick last year (47th overall) the 19 year old center tallied eight goals and 37 assists for 45 points in 43 games last year. The hang up on Connor Rankin would be that at age 19 if things didn’t work out San Jose would be unable to send him back to the AHL and Rankin would be forced back to amateur hockey. Viedensky is another player on the brink of making a permanent jump to the NHL. Unlike Connor Rankin Marek Viedensky has seen some NHL action playing in nine games with the Sharks this year. He had success in his time with the big club putting up three points and nine penalty minutes. His numbers were even more impressive with the Barons where he put up 30 points and 30 penalty minutes in 70 games. Marek Viedensky has shown an abilty to throw big checks during key times in a game he is also a decent skater and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves when needed. Viedensky plays a disciplined and responsible game and could serve the sharks well as a fourth line spark plug or fill in player similar to what Freddie Hamilton has done for the team. One spot will be up for grabs for sure this year with the team recently announcing they will be pating ways with Colin White. Yannick Weber and Anton Klementyev are regarded as the top two candidates for the roster spot. Weber was a waiver pick up from the Montreal Canadiens earlier in the season but he failed to crack a crowded San Jose blue line. Before leaving the Habs Yannick put up ten points in 39 games. Weber could help out the sharks on the power play as his offense is his most desirable skill. Don’t look for Weber to throw the big hit, that just not his game. He is rarely caught out of position and is a very good skater and avoids bad penalties. Yannick Weber would likely be a situational defenseman coming in to give the Sharks an offensive shot in the arm from time to time. This lack of versatility may keep him in the AHL next year. Anton Klementyev could also make the team out of training camp but his game also has some flaws. He is a physical defender but he is caught out of position sometimes and although he is not afraid to lay on a check his hits are sometimes ineffective or just unnecessary. He is a strong player who played all 82 games last season and had a conservative eight penalty minutes. While Antons offensive game is non-existent his skating has been developing well. The sharks have a glut of physical defenders which could make Klementyev redundant and lead to him not making the team. San Jose seems to have a pretty clear goaltending picture Henrik Karlsson and the Sharks haven’t put pen to paper on a new deal yet which leaves the door open for the Cleveland Barons goaltending duo of J.P. Anderson and Thomas Heemskerk. Heemskerk is a bit of a long shot as at age 24 he seems to have shown everything he’s got. Thomas will likely be a capable AHL starter and maybe an emergency call up but little else. Anderson on the other hand is only 22 and has already shown the stuff a NHL backup is made of. This season in 41 AHL games J.P. has put up a 2.70 goals against average and three shutouts. Whether it’s this year with the Sharks or some other time with some other team these players look to have a bright future.
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Post by KotW-SJS GM/FWD PA(A-L)/Simmer on May 14, 2013 9:41:02 GMT -5
Shark Hold 24th Pick In 2014 Draft, What are the Team’s Needs?The Sharks retained their own first that they will select 24th overall. The Sharks have future and present needs all over the ice. Older skilled forwards like Martin St.Louis and Patrick Marleau won’t be around forever and fear of their pending retirement may sway the Sharks toward taking an offensive talent in the draft. The Sharks could have similar concerns when it comes to goaltending. At age 33 Ryan Miller is closer to the end of his career than the beginning and Henrik Karlsson is a good backup but not someone you want in net for more then 20-30 games. They do have a goalie they believe could develop into a starting talent in J.P. Anderson but some people have their doubts about the young net minder San Jose signed as a free agent. For the Sharks to draft a goalie he would have to have the look of an elite goalie of the future not just any kid. Defense is another area where the sharks are looking to improve. The duo of Victor Hedman and Marc-Eduard Vlassic has been good but San Jose is looking for a top pairing defender who can run the power play from the point. The sharks may also try to address this need via free agency if the right player is available as they gave a glaring need for another top four defender. Brad Stuart has held his own in the role but at age 34 he is not the force he once was. The Sharks are very happy with their bottom six forwards which are very young at their core so don’t look for San Jose to out of their way for grinders in this draft unless they are really something to write home about. Only one man can say for sure what way the Sharks will go and we caught up with him. Of course General Manager KOTW gave a very boiler plate response “You have to take the best player available no matter what their position or style of play. A good organization can make players fit.” He said. So there you have it folks. Really no strategy at all just best player available. Yea Right!
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