Obama didn’t pardon this turkey: The Sharks are taken out back and shot

Or is it tomahawked?  In the spirit of Thanksgiving I thought the title was fitting. I’m usually against booing a team but the Sharks play or lack there of last night encouraged it. The sell out crowd of 17,496 at HP Pavilion was reduced to half before the end of the third period. I think it was the 5th, maybe 6th, or was it the 7th unanswered goal by the Chicago Blackhawks that put the crowd over the edge?

What was touted as the “game of the year” so far was a token reminder to the Sharks of a game once played. If memory servers, it was an un-televised game in Phoenix where the boys in teal lost 8-0 to the Coyotes. After that game the team had a ‘players only’ meeting in the team bus and talked about that loss and how they didn’t want that to happen again.

Was it the Kryptonite or Tryptophan that crippled San Jose last night? A loss is a loss but that was a shellacking. Last minute goals by Boyle assisted by Heatley and Thornton, and Pavelski’s, assisted by Clowe and Huskins wouldn’t suffice and they lost 7-2. Boyle was a –4 for the evening as well as Thornton and Heatley. Frazer McLaren, on loan from Worcester, was the only plus player of the evening with a +1.

“I don’t think frustration is the word,” Boyle said. “We should be embarrassed about the way we came out and played. That was ugly. Seven goals? That’s breakdowns from everybody. That’s just bad hockey.” (from sharks.nhl.com)

Any time you let in three shorthanded goals you know you’re in for it but to let in four more is ridiculous. You can’t entirely blame the goaltenders Nabakov and Greiss though, the guys in front barely showed up to play. Giveaways and lack of defensive play on all accounts lost the game for the Sharks.

Is this the wake up call San Jose needed? Games like last night’s is what makes or breaks a team. If the Sharks continue on this path they can say bye bye playoffs. I think they will take it for what it was (a complete beat down) and move forward. It’s better to have losses like this early in the season when you can make necessary adjustments. The true test is whether the San Jose Sharks can advance in the playoffs.
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San Jose’s next game is the Edmonton Oilers on Friday at 6:30 PST.

Chelsea Alexander

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