SB Nation Bay Area: All Posts by Jason Plankhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2011-04-27T18:40:41-07:00https://bayarea.sbnation.com/authors/jason-plank/rss2011-04-27T18:40:41-07:002011-04-27T18:40:41-07:00Sharks' GM Doug Wilson Appears On KNBR 680 To Talk About Upcoming Series Against The Detroit Red Wings
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<p><a href="https://www.fearthefin.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sharks</a> General Manager Doug Wilson made an appearance on <span class="caps">KNBR</span> 680 this afternoon to talk about San Jose’s upcoming series against the <a href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Red Wings</a>. The Sharks, who will be facing the Wings in the postseason for a second straight year in a row, head into the series fresh off an uplifting goal from Captain <span>Joe Thornton</span> that clinched the series in overtime of game six.</p>
<p>Throughout the series San Jose struggled with three major aspects of their play. Turnovers were prevalent in the neutral zone, the special teams were not as tight as many hoped they would be, and perhaps most importantly, goaltending was an issue. Sharks starting goaltender <span>Antti Niemi</span> posted a mere .863 SV% against Los Angeles, a team hardly known for their offensive firepower. Wilson addressed those concerns head on in his interview, citing the confidence the organization has in their former Stanley Cup winning netminder.</p>
<p>“He’s earned a lot of equity with his performances over the last couple of years. Often when a coach pulls a goaltender it’s reflective of the whole group, not just how the goaltender has played. You’ve seen that in the playoffs this year perhaps more so than ever,” Wilson told <span class="caps">KNBR</span>. “He (Niemi) is a guy that our coaches, our players, all believe in tremendously. They want to play for him. But Nitty is also a very strong goalie, we believe we have a really strong tandem.”</p>
<p>Wilson also expressed the feeling surrounding the team heading into the series. The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most widely-respected franchises in all of hockey, and perhaps in all of sports, primarily due to their levels of sustained achievemenets. With twenty straight postseason appearances to their name heading into the 2011 playoffs, Detroit has become synonymous with success.</p>
<p>Something that Wilson is quick to acknowledge when speaking of improvements that his team must make from the first round against Los Angeles.</p>
<p>“We weren’t pleased with our penalty killing most of the season this year, but they’ve come up very big when it’s mattered. Particularly the last game,” Wilson mused, referencing the 5 minute PK San Jose had to endure at the end of game six. “We know what our capabilities are. It’s now just being efficient and executing them to the levels that we expect.”</p>
<p>With Wilson poised to watch another battle between two Western Conference powerhouses, and Sharks fans everywhere anticipating what is bound to be yet another playoff classic between these two clubs, it’s safe to say the second round can’t come soon enough.</p>
<p>As we reported earlier today, Sharks-Wings is expected to kick off on Friday night at HP Pavilion. The official schedule will be released later tonight.</p>
<p>As always, stay tuned to <span class="caps">SBN</span> Bay Area for more breaking news on the Sharks quest for their first Stanley Cup.</p>
<p><em>To listen to KNBR’s interview with Wilson in full, please click <a target="new" href="http://www.knbr.com/portals/3/podcasts/fitzbrooks/0427wilson.mp3">here.</a></em></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/4/27/2138023/sharks-gm-doug-wilson-knbr-680-detroit-red-wing-san-san-jose-sharks-2011-nhl-playoffsJason Plank2011-04-24T13:13:01-07:002011-04-24T13:13:01-07:00Sharks' Antti Niemi Will Start Game Six in Los Angeles
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<p>According to numerous sources, Todd McLellan announced that goaltender <span>Antti Niemi</span> will start game six for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">San Jose Sharks</a>.</p>
<p>Niemi was victimized last night in HP Pavilion, giving up three goals in four shots. He has been pulled twice already this series, including a rough outing in game three that put the Sharks in a 4-0 hole before they came back miraculously. These outings lead to speculation that Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan would turn to backup <span>Antero Niittymaki</span> in a pivotal game six.</p>
<p>That speculation was put to rest this afternoon.</p>
<p>With San Jose facing down Los Angeles’ <span>Jonathan Quick</span>, who was absolutely brilliant last night during the course of his 52 save performance, all eyes will be on Niemi as he attempts to rebound once again from a poor postseason outing. If the Sharks are to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Niemi is going to have to be the catalyst in net.</p>
<p>The organization has a lot of confidence in him due to the Stanley Cup ring he earned with Chicago last season, and showed that confidence by making a 4 year, $15.2 million commitment to him earlier this year.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/4/24/2130572/sharks-antti-niemi-will-start-game-six-in-los-angelesJason Plank2011-04-19T13:25:59-07:002011-04-19T13:25:59-07:00Sharks' Defenseman Ian White Set To Return To Lineup; Justin Braun Expected To Be Scratched
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<p>According to CSN’s Brodie Brazil, <span>Ian White</span> will play tonight returning to the lineup after being driven into the boards by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Kings</a> center <span>Jarret Stoll</span> in the opening salvos of game one. Stoll, who was suspended a game for the hit by the NHL’s Disciplinary Committee, will also return to the lineup for the Kings:</p>
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<p>Ian White is in tonight, coach not disclosing how rest of lineup will shake out. <span>Justin Braun</span> one of the last off the ice at skate.</p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/brodiebrazilCSN" target="new">>> Brodie Brazil (via Twitter)</a></p>
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">Sharks</a> Head Coach Todd McLellan also hinted that further lineup changes may be en route for his club, a likely response to the 4-0 shellacking San Jose suffered at the hands of Los Angeles during game two on Saturday night. Since Braun was the last off the ice at the morning skate, a historically strong indication that the player in question would not be playing that night, it’s likely that those lineup changes are being looked at in the forward department.</p>
<p><span>Jamal Mayers</span> saw 8:24 of ice time during game two, and <span>Ben Eager</span> also saw a drop to 7:19. It’s likely that these are the two potential casualties McLellan is considering, especially when one considers that Mayers (who is seen as a defensive forward) only saw 0:24 of SH <span class="caps">TOI</span> on Saturday and Ben Eager took a costly slashing penalty in the first period that resulted in the first Kings goal of the game.</p>
<p>If either is scratched (and we’re going to assume it will be only one of them), expect either <span>Andrew Desjardins</span> or <span>Benn Ferriero</span> to get the call for the Sharks.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/4/19/2120929/sharks-defenseman-ian-white-set-to-return-to-lineup-justin-braun-expected-to-be-scratchedJason Plank2011-04-16T12:55:06-07:002011-04-16T12:55:06-07:00Sharks' Ian White Out For Game Two; Kent Huskins Or Justin Braun Will Be Game-Time Decision
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<p>The <a href="https://www.fearthefin.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sharks</a> announced <span>Ian White</span> will be officially unavailable for game two tonight after sustaining an upper body injury caused by a blindside hit to the head by <a href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kings</a> forward <span>Jarret Stoll</span> in the first period of game one.</p>
<p>The <span class="caps">NHL</span> suspended Stoll <a target="new" href="http://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/4/15/2113579/jarrett-stoll-of-the-kings-suspended-for-one-game-after-hit-on-sharks-ian-white">following the incident.</a></p>
<p>White put to rest the fears of a severe concussion this morning, stating that he hopes to be healthy enough to play in game three on Tuesday in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>“I don’t have blinding headaches or anything. Something just feels a little off and you need to give it time to heal,” White said. “It’s fortunate that it’s not going to knock me out for the rest of the postseason. Hopefully I’ll just miss this one game.”</p>
<p>Replacing White will either be rookie defenseman <span>Justin Braun</span> or veteran defenseman <span>Kent Huskins</span>. Huskins has been out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury since February 22nd but it appears he is healthy enough to warrant consideration to play. Braun is a good puck-moving defenseman who has improved immensely in his defensive end as the season has gone along, making him this author’s likely candidate to replace White.</p>
<p>McLellan didn’t show his hand this morning as to who he would dress. The announcement will come closer to game time, a typical ploy by Head Coaches to give opposing team’s less time to formulate their game plan.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/4/16/2115266/Sharks-Ian-White-out-for-game-two-Kent-Huskins-or-Justin-Braun-will-be-game-time-decisionJason Plank