Game Thread: #66 - Oh Canada - 7:30PM

[sjrules99]

Damn... sharks are fucking crushing these leaf clowns... I guess they spent everything to beat ana last night. Gotta love this game! Great defensive effort too!

Should be 5-1. nice ... 2 point behind anaheim = gooooood. I dont want to be anywhere near LA...

 

[MrFlyingV]

Damn Toronto D sucks.

 

[sjrules99]

well at least its 4-1, because they are absolutely embarrassing on the PP. They gotta figure that out to beat the best... Its like they take all the good things they do even strength like move the puck quickly and get guys in the goalie's eyes and forget it all trying to make a cute pass through the box when they get on the PP. It's a big problem that they will have to figure out. 2 for 51? woooow.....

 

[MrFlyingV]

Wingels my boy future 20 goal man

Got to love Wingels. Makes the big hit, gets Clarkson off his game while scoring the goal too. What a play!! I guess he lost 3 goals to bad calls, 2 in OT. Those 2 points would them in a tie with Anaheim now.

 

[MrFlyingV]

So how many game suspension does Torres get for the Phaneuf head shot

 

[Cbrower91]

Neito is going to be a 30-35 goal scorer and about a 70 point player in the very near future that kid is good and has amazing hand skills

 

[MrFlyingV]

Wingels first Gordie Howe Hat Trick - lol.

 

[sjrules99]

Neito is going to be a 30-35 goal scorer and about a 70 point player in the very near future that kid is good and has amazing hand skills

he's definitely looking good. I think he has found some confidence and his speed is top notch. He's only 21, so he's got a long way to go. He and Hertl are extremely exciting to watch. Dont count out wingels from 30 goals either they way he has elevated his game.

With cooch, wingels, hertl and nieto all 25 or younger, the sharks forward crew is looking solid for the future all the sudden. Add in pickles, demers and braun at 27 or younger, and the sharks suddenly have a nice young core. Just when you think dougie has traded all the good young players in the system and all the picks, they just keep finding diamonds in the rough.

Of those 7 guys, only 1 was their own 1st rounder (hertl) since cooch came from the leafs in the toskala deal. 2 in the 2nd round, one 6th rounder, and 2 seventh rounders. Pretty amazing depth picks, espescially demers and braun in the 7th round. Amazing drafting late...

 

[sjrules99]

most impressive in this game to me was how well the sharks recovered from the disallowed goal. Woulda like a PP goal or two, but they dominated all 60 minutes. Its the first fully dominant game that I can remember from the opening puck drop to the final buzzer.

 

[Cbrower91]

he's definitely looking good. I think he has found some confidence and his speed is top notch. He's only 21, so he's got a long way to go. He and Hertl are extremely exciting to watch. Dont count out wingels from 30 goals either they way he has elevated his game.

With cooch, wingels, hertl and nieto all 25 or younger, the sharks forward crew is looking solid for the future all the sudden. Add in pickles, demers and braun at 27 or younger, and the sharks suddenly have a nice young core. Just when you think dougie has traded all the good young players in the system and all the picks, they just keep finding diamonds in the rough.

Of those 7 guys, only 1 was their own 1st rounder (hertl) since cooch came from the leafs in the toskala deal. 2 in the 2nd round, one 6th rounder, and 2 seventh rounders. Pretty amazing depth picks, espescially demers and braun in the 7th round. Amazing drafting late...

He could get 30, but his game is of the dirty variety and not skill guy. Hes going to get his goals from driving the net, screens and picking up garbage. He could turn into a faster version of Franzen in a detroit, but he cant park in front like Johan.

This sharks team is shaping up to be like those old detroit teams of the 90's the old greats are still good but the young up and comers are developing into great players on their own. Its going to be interesting to see how Mirco Mueller develops he's getting high praise from a few scouts outside of the sharks. Still need a PP qb but Vlasic and Brawny could become that

 

[MrChangoT97]

we will win by 4 tonight!!!

Good call

 

[koblix]

most impressive in this game to me was how well the sharks recovered from the disallowed goal. Woulda like a PP goal or two, but they dominated all 60 minutes. Its the first fully dominant game that I can remember from the opening puck drop to the final buzzer.

They looked hungry after that disallowed goal, and the Leafs defense left their legs in LA. The only bad thing about this game was our PP sucked big time. We skate better with 5 on 5.

 

[sjrules99]

You know who is starting to look like a rising star to me is Jason Demers. His defensive game has come along with leaps and bounds. His confidence is growing and the offensive game is definitely there. He has 30 pts in 60 games, so that's pretty solid production to go along with a +14. His ice time is creeping up there, and his skating is excellent. He looked like he could be something awesome a few years back, then took a huge step backwards, but he seems back to where he was and better. I wonder if he cant take the next step to be a 50+ point player and really take over a permanent top 3/4 spot and really solidify the offense from the D.

 

[sjrules99]

Of course, for SJ the real test is how they play against the quacks, LA, chicago, and st louis... especially LA and Chicago who have been a real tough matchup for SJ. Most of these eastern teams with the exception of boston do not scare me much. Pitt with letang and martin in perhaps, but the east is overall pretty soft.

I gotta admit this is a pretty legit hockey team if they can stay fully healthy. Torres in the lineup makes 'em that much stronger and nice to see sheppard also getting dirty and making positive plays.

 

[sjrules99]

BTW, from what Im reading about Mueller, it would seem that he has a legit chance to make the team next year. I dont see the particular need to rush him at 19 years old, but hey, pickles did it and I'd say that worked out pretty well. If mueller is a similar player, then that would be a great pick, particularly if he is like a bigger vlasic give his frame. I would still love SJ to shoot for a legit NHL top pairing guy if possible, but it's nice to see a shark top draft pick ranked so well and looking so promising.

If he pans out well, then its pickles, braun, demers, and mueller in your top 4 for quite a while. Not a bad core if they could add one more dan boyle circa 2005 to the mix. Dougie has this team shaping up quite respectably with all the top picks starting to pan out nicely.

 

[caliraftdude]

Pav has really turned into the player I always though he was going to be. I really wish he had Marleau's wheels sometimes but what a season. Hopefully he can convert that into the playoffs and finish strong.

An interesting question though - how many more years do you think he plays at this level? If you wanted high trade value for this guy this off season may be the one to do it.

What do you guys think?

 

[sjrules99]

Pav has really turned into the player I always though he was going to be. I really wish he had Marleau's wheels sometimes but what a season. Hopefully he can convert that into the playoffs and finish strong.

An interesting question though - how many more years do you think he plays at this level? If you wanted high trade value for this guy this off season may be the one to do it.

What do you guys think?

Aa most of you know, I've been a pavs lover since day one. The heart on him is unreal. Ive been waiting for korky's swoon but it hasnt comes. He's been consistently the sharks best forward all year. That said, cali, you are right on since its all about po's. He has a history of being the big pavelski in one series, then disappearing in another, so no dobut he needs to keep bringing it consistently.

I think he has at least 4 or 5 more years at this level. he's only 29, so you figure at age 30, 31, 32, and 33 he should be pretty much the same. At age 33 or 34, there will be a likely decline. However, his game is a skill game not so much speed or physical, so players like that can last longer.

They wont be trading him no matter what. Only maybe duncan keith, doughty, or weber... not too likely.

 

[Cbrower91]

You know who is starting to look like a rising star to me is Jason Demers. His defensive game has come along with leaps and bounds. His confidence is growing and the offensive game is definitely there. He has 30 pts in 60 games, so that's pretty solid production to go along with a +14. His ice time is creeping up there, and his skating is excellent. He looked like he could be something awesome a few years back, then took a huge step backwards, but he seems back to where he was and better. I wonder if he cant take the next step to be a 50+ point player and really take over a permanent top 3/4 spot and really solidify the offense from the D.

The issue with Demers is his inability to stay healthy, this is the first season in about 2 where he hadn't had some sort of injury. Most games he's played in a while as well.

The other issue was his lack of commitment to his offseason work outs, that appears to be a thing of the past now.

I think his very best top out take by wise would be comparable to Matthieu Schneider

 

[Cbrower91]

Aa most of you know, I've been a pavs lover since day one. The heart on him is unreal. Ive been waiting for korky's swoon but it hasnt comes. He's been consistently the sharks best forward all year. That said, cali, you are right on since its all about po's. He has a history of being the big pavelski in one series, then disappearing in another, so no dobut he needs to keep bringing it consistently.

I think he has at least 4 or 5 more years at this level. he's only 29, so you figure at age 30, 31, 32, and 33 he should be pretty much the same. At age 33 or 34, there will be a likely decline. However, his game is a skill game not so much speed or physical, so players like that can last longer.

They wont be trading him no matter what. Only maybe duncan keith, doughty, or weber... not too likely.

Im pretty sure since day 1 i've always said i thought Pavelski would turn into a 60 point player, which he has. He's also having a career year this year, which makes his contract look really good right now. He may actually hit 80 pnts this season which for your 3rd line center is phenomenal!

That being said he needs to play like this in the playoffs and not fade after 3 games, but with the sharks depth this year at forward even if he struggles they can go back to hiding him on the 3rd line which even if he is struggling is a huge match up problem for other teams and he will continue scoring.

I also dont think your giving nearly enough credit to Thornton and especially Burns ability to create space for him allowing him to get this wide open looks and chances, that being said Pavelski now is causing match up problems which is thankfully getting Burns going.

Ive never hated on Pavelski like you have with marleau thats just a fact, i've always stated he is a 3rd line center on a team with any depth which he is, but he fills in great on the first line over short periods of time. All of my points have been valid and not grossly exgrated like your criticism of Patty. The guy is still slow and has terrible foot speed but like Logan Couture he has hockey smarts and you just cant teach that.

 

[sjrules99]

Im pretty sure since day 1 i've always said i thought Pavelski would turn into a 60 point player, which he has. He's also having a career year this year, which makes his contract look really good right now. He may actually hit 80 pnts this season which for your 3rd line center is phenomenal!

That being said he needs to play like this in the playoffs and not fade after 3 games, but with the sharks depth this year at forward even if he struggles they can go back to hiding him on the 3rd line which even if he is struggling is a huge match up problem for other teams and he will continue scoring.

I also dont think your giving nearly enough credit to Thornton and especially Burns ability to create space for him allowing him to get this wide open looks and chances, that being said Pavelski now is causing match up problems which is thankfully getting Burns going.

Ive never hated on Pavelski like you have with marleau thats just a fact, i've always stated he is a 3rd line center on a team with any depth which he is, but he fills in great on the first line over short periods of time. All of my points have been valid and not grossly exgrated like your criticism of Patty. The guy is still slow and has terrible foot speed but like Logan Couture he has hockey smarts and you just cant teach that.

Hey cork, I actually didnt mean it as a knock on your assessment. You are right on that he historically has been very streaky and usually does have the swoon you usually point out. This is the first year where I have seen no such swoon. He's been the most consistent player without a doubt as he carried the sharks through that super dry spell for the break.

I dont think he is a 3rd line C though. On the sharks he's kinda the swiss army knife player but he is a legit 2nd line C without a doubt even on a legit team with depth. He is a 30-30 player and possibly more. No doubt that playing with jumbo and burns given the size and puck possession skills of those two helps get pavs better looks. However, pavs has been active in that cycle... it's just a good line and he's just a really smart player and I dont see any signs of stepping back. I would guess he'll be a 30+, 30+ player for at least 3-5 more years.