Petshark: Talking Stick
Entries with the tag: marc-edouard vlasic
Too Many Men
by petshark on 02/20/13 at 07:40 PM ET
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You'll need more than three guys to outnumber Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Why do you think he has three names?
Wow, Murray came in fast to get that icing call. How often does that happen? More often this season than last to be sure. "Oh that's not speed, it's just..." What? Good sense? Reading the play? Smarts? Who cares what it is if it gets him there first?
The Sharks only allowed the Blues two shots on goal in the first 15 minutes of the third period? That's pretty cool.
McLellan really should leave the nines together. To heck with that commie egalitarian nonsense. With Kennedy, Wingels, Desjardins and, hopefully, Sheppard soon too... the lower six will be fine.
Those were the things I noticed as the Sharks crept closer their first win in eight games.
Filed in: hockey, , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: douglas+murray,
jason+demers,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
tim+kennedy,
trades
Swim. The fall didn’t kill you
by petshark on 02/03/13 at 01:40 PM ET
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The Sharks eased into the end of that winning streak. There was no sudden crash, though the Ducks game certainly came close. The team went through a nice smooth arc: Win, WIN, WIN, Win, win, shootout win, shootout win... loss. See how they kept getting closer to losing? If you want to nitpick, I guess you could say they are due a regulation loss but there's no need to jump off that bridge yet. We saw it coming, we had a sense of what the end would feel like, no shock here.
Considering how many lineup changes McLellan made, I thought the Sharks played pretty well against the Predators. I think more players played better than in the last couple of games. That doesn't always happen when you change three of four lines, two of three defense pairings, and add a couple guys to the lineup. There were mistakes, but the most glaring were redeemed by their makers.
The Predators are not an easy team for the Sharks to play. The Sharks like to be able to play, not scuffle endlessly in the corners and creep up and down the ice. But they did pretty well. If you put aside the stuff of nightmares that the non-goal from Martin Havlat was, the Sharks nearly won in regulation. That isn't to say losing is okay, or that the Sharks didn't. But the fact of that chance means that the team was not playing badly. It was a dumb error, but that's all it was. It wasn't the game-defining event that it very well could have been.
Filed in: hockey, , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: brent+burns,
jason+demers,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
martin+havlat,
nashville+predators,
scott+gomez
Sharks announce affiliation with Bulls and contract extension for Vlasic
by petshark on 07/11/12 at 07:00 PM ET
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The Sharks have just confirmed the news that Marc-Edouard Vlasic has been signed to a five year extension. They didn’t confirm the money part, they never do that. Rumor has it at $4.2m per. But the term, the most exciting part, they announced. Hooray, thank the hockey gods, Vlasic and Wilson for that. If Vlasic weren’t under contract with the Sharks for another season, you know teams would have been chasing him because he’s that awesome. Phew.
Capgeek now has contracts listed for Matsumoto, McLaren, and McCarthy. Odd that they still have nothing on Kennedy. Also still pending are RFAs Pelech, Petrecki, Sheppard and Mashinter.
It may not be a big surprise, but the Sharks and the Bulls made their affiliation official today. I’m sure we weren’t supposed to read too much into the late season presence of Rawhide and Bulls gear at Sharks games, but I did.
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: echl,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
san+francisco+bulls
How much should we put on Todd McLellan for the Sharks’ season?
by petshark on 05/06/12 at 04:20 PM ET
Comments (1)
Still waiting for news from Shark Territory. Today I listened to the Morning Skate radio show out of Ohio. They mentioned McLellan as one of the coaches currently under review, who might become available. He was not among the radio show’s first two choices for the Blue Jackets—Alain Vigneault and Guy Boucher were. What I found curious was that Joel Quenneville was on that list too. Really? I didn’t follow the Blackhawks closely at all this season, but what are the chances he’s gone? Tom Renney rounded out that list. Anyway, the lengthy review process puts McLellan in a mixed company of coaches not yet guaranteed a job next season.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun have been playing in the World Championships, but Vlasic was injured in the last game against the USA. It didn’t look very grave but he was listed as day to day with a lower body injury. Now he is not expected to return to the tournament.
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: doug+wilson,
iihf+world+championships,
justin+braun,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
todd+mclellan,
trent+yawney
One night only: not a homer
by petshark on 02/29/12 at 08:10 PM ET
Comments (1)
By winning against the Flyers, the Sharks climbed up to sixth in the West. By not winning, the Flyers fell to sixth in the East. The Flyers still have two more points and one more win on their record than the Sharks, but last night’s game brought them closer in the standings, close like that game. Them being close in the standings is not significant to anyone but two-teaming fans like me.
I may be that, but last night I was no homer. My loyalties cancelled each other out. In that period of forced clarity I noticed some things, even though I did not have the benefit of in-game penalty replays or a full view of the ice. I had to go home, feed the critters, and watch the game on tv to see that stuff.
I didn’t know what it would be like to go watch them play each other live, my two teams. I found myself rooting for everyone to do well, cheering for both goalies, happy the game was close, only disappointed it didn’t go to overtime. I was less disappointed when I saw how the Sharks started to look so tired at the end, and when I realized that if the game went on much longer someone might get killed.
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: danny+briere,
flyers,
homer,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
media,
penalties,
tj+galiardi,
zac+rinaldo
The Sharks see red when the Caps come to town
by petshark on 01/08/12 at 05:30 AM ET
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The Caps came to San Jose, gave Sharks fans a great game to watch, and brought Stephen Whyno from The Washington Times with them. Well, the Caps didn’t bring him but that’s why he was here. He promptly wrote a story about Douglas Murray and his approach to hitting, under new rules and old. Murray followed that up with a demonstration, during the game. For anyone bothered by said demonstration, there’s a Twitter hashtag: #blameWhyno.
A few good things happened this weekend in my hockey book, along with the above-mentioned marvelous Sharks demonstration of why the Capitals will never win here. Sharks have been winning. Flyers winning too. Leighton won in the AHL outdoor game. Yes, I’m an unabashed Leighton fan. I am strange, perhaps, or just loyal to a fault. Whatever. The Phantoms won 4-3 in OT, not a splendid win for a goalie, but hey, a win’s a win, most of the time.
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: antti+niemi,
columbus+blue+jackets,
dan+boyle,
douglas+murray,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
torrey+mitchell,
washington+capitals
Thanksgiving
by petshark on 11/23/11 at 06:30 PM ET
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It took me a lot longer than I expected to get back online after the trip to Vancouver. The access was there (even at the Vancouver airport, so very nice of them!), but I couldn’t think clearly at all. I was distracted by things like what it means that I’m watching a hockey game on my phone in an airport waiting room while a young man in hiking boots across from me is knitting. Am I sexist for noticing that? Was that legitimately unusual or am I an old fuddy-duddy? In any case, the whole moving from place to place left me disoriented and I’m still a little fuzzy.
The Sharks have announced their Black Friday sale. That would be coming up on Black Friday, which is Friday. Everything except jerseys will be marked down 30%, and jersey customization will be available on site for $65.
Filed in: hockey, , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: black+friday,
colin+white,
justin+braun,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
martin+havlat,
sale
On the road again
by petshark on 11/19/11 at 05:00 PM ET
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I was surprised by how difficult it was to find a place to watch Sharks or Flyers games the first day I was here. I spoke to bartenders, hostesses, a hotel concierge and one bar-restaurant manager, and none could answer me the simple question: where can I watch a Sharks/Flyers game?
Answers I received:
-“We might show that if it’s on CBC and nothing else is on. But I can’t promise anything.”
-“Right upstairs”, to which upstairs responded “what channel is it on? Oh, no, we only show Canadian teams.” To which downstairs retorted “I used to work upstairs, I know they have a lot more hockey channels than we do down here.”
I did not go back upstairs to pursue this matter.
Filed in: hockey, , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: andrew+desjardins,
andrew+murray,
antti+niemi,
brad+winchester,
colin+white,
jason+demers,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
todd+mclellan,
travel
Remember the 3rd, Sharks, remember the 3rd!
by petshark on 11/12/11 at 05:00 PM ET
Comments (3)
Tonight the Sharks play the Coyotes. Greiss will be in net. Wow. I mean yay! and also wow. Maybe the Coyotes games will be Greiss’ games this season?
The Coyotes are in 8th place in the Western Conference right now. That’s four spots behind the Sharks but only two points behind. I could say the Coyotes are nipping at the Sharks’ heels but sharks don’t have feet.
I don’t think many people thought Mike Smith was a great replacement for Ilya Bryzgalov, but considering Bryz was given the elite streets of gold treatment last Summer, I don’t think replacing him was ever in the cards for the Coyotes. But I also think a lot of people underestimate Smith. He made a pretty good showing in the playoffs for Tampa Bay. Combined with the Yotes’ tendency to show up and work hard, Smith and company might be one of those teams you have to be very careful not to take for granted, even if your last meeting was a blow-out in your favor. Remember the 3rd, Sharks, remember the 3rd!
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: colin+white,
dany+heatley,
devin+setoguchi,
douglas+murray,
jason+demers,
justin+braun,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
mike+smith,
minnesota+wild,
phoenix+coyotes,
todd+mclellan
The green coats are coming!
by petshark on 11/09/11 at 08:30 PM ET
Comments (5)
The Minnesota Wild are here. It seems strange for that to be an alarming thing, but surprise, surprise they’ve won 5 in a row. Their penalty kill and their goalies are vying for bestest ever in the universe. Yes, the sky could fall.
That pk has been perfect for at least 5 games in a row, 21 or 23 successful penalty kills or something. But against who? Eeek! The Red Wings? Twice in a row no less? And the Canucks? Nobody panic. The Wild were feasting on the bleeding body of a Red Wings losing streak. The Canucks? Well who knows with them. Also the Blues fell in there, shortly before their coach was fired, and the Flames are in a muddle too. Also, the Minny power play hasn’t been as strong as the penalty kill. So, that five game winning streak and flawless penalty kill might be misleading. Certainly Yeo seems to think so, he was not happy with the team in their 3-0 shutout last night:
@Russostrib: Yeo very unhappy with #mnwiId play tonight - scoring chances allowed, penalties taken, lack of physicality”
Um… yeah.
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: brent+burns,
colin+white,
jason+demers,
jim+vandermeer,
justin+braun,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
minnesota+wild
The Kings’ new clothes
by petshark on 11/08/11 at 07:59 PM ET
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Here’s what’s been said about last night’s game against the LA Kings: “Sharks hold court over Kings in 4-2 win,” “Sharks learn from mistakes, trump Kings 4-2,” “San Jose Sharks defeat Los Angeles Kings 4-2.” Now that’s more like it, Sharks.
During the second intermission, I heard a man say behind me “3-1, huh? Isn’t that what the score was last time…” But another man cut him off saying “What the hell… saying that…. What are you trying to do?!?”
I kept telling myself “lightning never strikes the same spot twice, right?” Of course we all know that isn’t true, especially if you set up a lightning rod.
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: colin+white,
dan+boyle,
douglas+murray,
jason+demers,
justin+braun,
los+angeles+kings,
marc-edouard+vlasic
Huh? Why? 5-0
by petshark on 10/30/11 at 11:00 PM ET
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They weren’t in Hawaii, but they were visiting Islanders, and now the Sharks are 5-0 on this trip. Their performance last night was lackluster. They won anyway, them’s the breaks, no point asking why.
@PollakOnSharks: Couture on #SJSharks 3-2 OT win: “I didn’t think we were very good, but good teams find a way to win games when they’re not at their best.”
A few things did have to work. Like Pickles. While the rest of the team seemed fairly convinced that they were tired, Vlasic doesn’t believe in tired. Probably he does believe in it, he just doesn’t believe he is old enough to suffer from it. We saw a clever and energetic performance from him. Vlasic is on a tear, isn’t he?
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: jason+demers,
logan+couture,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
thomas+greiss,
todd+mclellan
Is everything going according to plan yet?
by petshark on 10/27/11 at 05:30 PM ET
Comments (2)
It is early still to say whether or not the Sharks’ plans for the 2011-12 season are working, but there is some data available.
First part of the plan was to get Dan Boyle’s minutes down. It does look like his TOI is creeping down. At least from the first game (27:28) to the last (22:49) there’s a reduction, with a spike of in the middle there. Boyle’s time on the penalty kill isn’t dropping off as much as some would like but overall others are balancing out his minutes. The drop is not drastic but it is there, probably because Vlasic and Burns are looking better.
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: antti+niemi,
brent+burns,
dan+boyle,
joe+pavelski,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
patrick+marleau,
thomas+greiss,
todd+mclellan
New lines, old lines, Sharks play tonight
by petshark on 09/24/11 at 08:00 PM ET
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Tonight’s lineup features Vlasic’s return but no Burns, the second line on top (minus Havlat, plus Ferriero) and a new mix of lower lines: McCarthy-Desjardins-Wingels, Mashinter-Guite-MacIntyre. Oh, and the McGinn-Handzus-Mitchell line which isn’t at all new.
Nemo was back on the ice for practice. Praise the hockey gods. Petrecki is also ready to play, after quietly finishing hip rehab. I wondered where he was disappearing to during scrimmages. He will be with Vlasic, Braun with Vandermeer and White with Demers. I keep seeing White listed as “C White” instead of just “White.” I know we had another White last season but let it go already, Colin is our new White, I think it is safe to just say “White.”
Filed in: , San Jose Sharks, | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
Tags: brodie+reid,
colin+white,
james+livingston,
marc-edouard+vlasic,
marek+viedensky,
matt+irwin,
mike+connolly,
nick+petrecki,
pre-season,
taylor+doherty,
thomas+greiss
