SB Nation Bay Area - San Jose Sharks Schedule, Matchups And Standings: Sharks Looking To Rebound From Losing Streakhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2011-03-12T17:57:08-08:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18025032011-03-12T17:57:08-08:002011-03-12T17:57:08-08:00Sharks Taking On Rangers
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<p>(Sports Network) - Points have been coming in bunches lately for the Pacific Division-leading Sharks. After battling for one last time out, San Jose closes out a six-game homestand this evening against the playoff-hopeful <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> at HP Pavilion.</p>
<p>The Sharks are 9-1-1 in their last 11 games and 18-3-2 over the past 23 contests, helping them take a three-point lead over the Stars for the top spot in the division. San Jose also sits third overall in the Western Conference and just three points behind Detroit for the second seed.</p>
<p>The club did fall to 3-1-1 on its homestand with Thursday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Canucks, but earned the point by getting game-tying goals from <span>Torrey Mitchell</span> and <span>Ryane Clowe</span> in the third period. Clowe's second goal of the contest came with just 21 seconds left in regulation.</p>
<p>"We showed we're resilient," said <span>Joe Thornton</span>. "It sucks that we don't get the extra point, but I thought we played really, really well."</p>
<p><span>Devin Setoguchi</span> also scored and <span>Antti Niemi</span> made 24 saves in his 23rd straight start. The San Jose netminder has never before faced the Rangers.</p>
<p>The Sharks were without defenseman <span>Dan Boyle</span> for a sixth straight game due to an upper-body injury and he is questionable for tonight.</p>
<p>San Jose has won back-to-back games over New York since a six-game series winless streak (0-4-1 with a tie) and the clubs will meet tonight for the first time since the Sharks' 7-3 road win on Oct. 19 of last season. Setoguchi scored twice and had an assist in that outing.</p>
<p>These two teams haven't met at HP Pavilion since Dec. 20, 2008, when the Sharks halted a four-game series home winless streak (0-3 with a tie).</p>
<p>New York will try to avoid a third straight loss in this series tonight and bounce back from Wednesday's 5-2 loss in Anaheim. The Rangers had won two straight before that outing, including a 7-0 romp of the Flyers on Sunday.</p>
<p><span>Brandon Dubinsky</span> matched a career high set last season with his 20th goal, <span>Marian Gaborik</span> scored and<span>Vinny Prospal</span> had an assist to give him a goal and five helpers over a five-game point streak. <span>Henrik Lundqvist</span>was charged with five goals on 33 shots, though a handful of the goals came on shots that hit off his own players.</p>
<p>"They got a few lucky bounces there that got us off track a bit," said New York's Dan Girardi, who saw one of Anaheim's goals go off his skate and past Lundqvist. "But our effort wasn't really there tonight and it just wasn't a good effort from us."</p>
<p>New York had a three-game road winning streak end and is tied with Buffalo for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference with 74 points each. Ninth-place Carolina is two points off the pace and is also in action today.</p>
<p>Lundqvist has split a pair of decisions versus the Sharks, going 1-1 with a 2.59 goals-against average in three career games against them. He did not start last year's meeting, but saw action in relief.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/12/2047186/sharks-taking-on-rangersJames Brady2011-03-10T09:16:18-08:002011-03-10T09:16:18-08:00Sharks And Canucks Collide
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<p>(<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/events/61910/preview?article_id=146589">Sports Network</a>) - The Canucks and Sharks could very well meet at some point during the postseason. Tonight, they'll battle for regular-season bragging rights.</p>
<p>Two of the top teams in the Western Conference square off for the final time this regular season as Vancouver visits San Jose at HP Pavilion.</p>
<p>The Canucks are tops in the NHL with 95 points, seven more than the Eastern Conference-leading Flyers and nine up on the West's second-seeded club, Detroit. San Jose sits third in the conference with 84 points, two back of the Red Wings.</p>
<p>Vancouver has won the first three contests of a five-game road trip, improving to 20-9-4 as the guest this season following Tuesday's 4-3 overtime victory at Phoenix. The Canucks have won four of five overall.</p>
<p>Defenseman <span>Dan Hamhuis</span> capped his first career two-goal game with the overtime-winner 2:13 into the frame, while <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54455/roberto-luongo">Roberto Luongo</a> ended with 31 saves.</p>
<p>"It doesn't happen too often for me but I'm happy for the team," said Hamhuis. "This was a well-fought game and to win in a comeback is great."</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54479/henrik-sedin">Henrik Sedin</a> had a goal and two assists, <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54459/sami-salo">Sami Salo</a> scored and <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54471/daniel-sedin">Daniel Sedin</a> ended with three helpers.</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54470/mason-raymond">Mason Raymond</a> missed the game with a shoulder injury and the forward is a game-time decision for tonight, as is <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/55655/chris-higgins">Chris Higgins</a> due to a broken thumb. Higgins hasn't played since Feb. 25 and has yet to make his Canucks debut after being acquired at the trade deadline from Florida.</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54477/cory-schneider">Cory Schneider</a> is expected to get the call in net tonight for the Canucks and has split two career starts versus the Sharks with a 5.99 goals-against average. That win did come this year, on Jan. 3 in San Jose after he stopped 32-of-35 shots faced.</p>
<p>The Sharks are also on a roll as of late, winning a season-high eight straight before dropping a decision to Dallas on Saturday. They rebounded quickly with Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Predators.</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54756/patrick-marleau">Patrick Marleau</a> had the game-winner 96 seconds into OT to give San Jose a 3-1 mark on its six-game homestand and a victory in eight of its past nine at home.</p>
<p>"We were able to pick it up and it was sort of a 2-on-1," said Marleau. "I was able to get in, get some body position, used the quick shot and it went in."</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../nhl/players/54766/ryane-clowe">Ryane Clowe</a> had a goal and an assist while <a href="../../../../../nhl/players/108091/justin-braun">Justin Braun</a> also scored for the Sharks. <span>Antti Niemi</span> stopped 23 shots in the win.</p>
<p>Defenseman <span>Dan Boyle</span> missed his fifth consecutive game with an upper-body injury and remains day-to-day.</p>
<p>Niemi is 2-4-0 with a 3.17 GAA versus the Canucks and made 36 saves in a 2-1 shootout win at Vancouver on Jan. 20 for San Jose's first victory in three games versus the Canucks this year.</p>
<p>The Sharks have won 11 of the past 15 meetings overall, including six of the past seven played at HP Pavilion.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/10/2042255/sharks-and-canucks-collideJames Brady2011-03-08T22:13:13-08:002011-03-08T22:13:13-08:00Patrick Marleau Scores In Overtime, Sharks Win 3-2 Over Predators
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<p>The team's head to overtime and one has to wonder if the Sharks can maintain possession with only four guys. <span>Mike Fisher</span> gets an early shot opportunity, but <span>Antti Niemi</span> throws up the glove and catches it. Pavelski gave it up there on that shot attempt. The Sharks take it into the Predators' zone, but they're called offsides and I'm not sure if it ctually was offsides. <span>Logan Couture</span> and <span>Ryane Clowe</span> have a couple shot opportunities and go for a quick change. Marc Edouward Vlasic has a long shot attempt, and then the Predators attack a gain, but <span>Jason Demers</span> ends up with the puck again and heads into the opposing zone with <span>Dany Heatley</span> on his right, but the defense is good and he dishes back to <span>Joe Thornton</span>, and the chance is lost. The Predators attack again, but leave the puck with <span>Patrick Marleau</span>.</p>
<p>Marleau takes the puck up the right side and uses his speed to get a breakaway on his own, he takes a shot from the outside, cutting in and puts the puck to <span>Pekka Rinne</span>'s glove-hand and beats him for the goal and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">San Jose Sharks</a> get a 3-2 overtime victory over the Predators. It's the second straight time (against Nashville) that Marleau has been able to do this, both times with speed and both times against Rinne.</p>
<p>Through two periods, the Sharks were outshot, but after it's all said and done, they outshot Nashville 32-25. Full recap coming shortly.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/8/2039224/patrick-marleau-scores-in-overtime-sharks-win-3-2-over-predatorsJames Brady2011-03-08T22:03:47-08:002011-03-08T22:03:47-08:00Sharks, Predators Still Tied, Going To Overtime At 2-2
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<p>Both teams come out fast, and continue their dance of exchanging zones back and forth through the first two and a half minutes. Wrote that too soon, a couple of minutes later and it's still going. Neither team has the edge, but it seems like the puck is in Nashville's zone more often than naught. <span>Patrick Marleau</span> has a great chance from the slot five minutes in, but it goes wide. The puck goes into San Jose's zone, but they send it right back into Nashville's.</p>
<p>With just under fifteen minutes to go, the Sharks get a power play as the Predator's have too many men on the ice. It's the same thing that lead to one of Nashville's two goals, and the Sharks power play comes out. They pepper <span>Pekka Rinne</span> with three or four shots, <span>Ryane Clowe</span>, <span>Dany Heatley</span> and others putting the puck to the goalie in the first minute. Off the faceoff, <span>Joe Thornton</span> has a great opportunity, but that too is turned away. Patrick Marleau moves up between three defesemen and dishes back to <span>Ian White</span>, who shoots but it goes high. Thirty seconds to go on the power play where Heatley took a shot off of a pass from <span>Logan Couture</span>, and then <span>Justin Braun</span> from the point fires as well, but it's also turned away.</p>
<p>A lot of really good shots from San Jose on that power play, but it comes to an end with Pekka Rinne unfazed. He's the difference maker in this game, at least for the Predators. The Sharks continue their attack after the power play though, but still can't get anything. They fire from all sides, they try all manner of trickery, but nothing can make it to the back of the net. At 10:04, we have a stoppage after Niemi came all the way out of the goal to block a shot from <span>Patric Hornqvist</span> on a breakaway.</p>
<p>This was followed by a shot off the faceoff for the Predators, which itself was followed by a blistering shot taken by Ian White, which put Rinne on his backside, but he still made the save. Eight minutes to go in the final frame now, and it's the Sharks who continue to keep control of the puck. White shoots to the net and Rinne makes the save, but loses sight of the puck. White again, but Rinne recovers and his team rallies around him. The Sharks keep things going at a high pace, but eventually lose it into their own zone.</p>
<p>San Jose regroups behind their own net, and not much comes of their attack as the Predators hold up well on defense. Setoguchi gets an <i>insane</i> shot on goal that goes just wide with a little over three minutes to go in regulation. Fast forward to 1:30 remaining and <span>Douglas Murray</span> gives the puck away to <span>Mike Fisher</span> who throws a huge shot on net but <span>Antti Niemi</span> gets it and covers. Fast forward again and Todd McLellan calls a timeout to plan a way to win the game in 4.2 seconds. The Sharks can't get it done, and we head to overtime.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/8/2039182/sharks-predators-still-tied-going-to-overtime-at-2-2James Brady2011-03-08T21:16:24-08:002011-03-08T21:16:24-08:00Sharks And Predators Exchange Goals, Tied 2-2 Going Into 3rd
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">San Jose Sharks</a> are playing sound defensive hockey, but they are lacking in offensive output. Goalie <span>Antti Niemi</span> has played well, and is the reason for the game currently being tied. Going into the second, the Sharks need to limit the second chances, something everybody has been expressing (for all season, for one) since the beginning of the game.</p>
<p>An uneventful couple of minutes in and <span>Torrey Mitchell</span> has a great chance on <span>Pekka Rinne</span>, making a good move around a defense, and draws a hooking penalty. Unfortunately, the Sharks don't have much going on the ... wait, I'm a liar. <span>Justin Braun</span> sinks a beautiful shot from the back of the Nashville zone with around twenty seconds remaining on the power play and the Sharks lead 2-1.</p>
<p><span>Devin Setoguchi</span> gets called for a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty and the Predators have a chance to respond with the power play. And just as I get done typing this, they do answer. <span>Shea Weber</span> gets a goal as the Sharks forget they're supposed to be doing things on defense as opposed to just letting Niemi "do his thing." 2-2 with thirteen minutes left in the period.</p>
<p>The Sharks respond fast, taking their opportunities on Pekka Rinne, <span>Jamal Mayers</span> leading the attack and taking two shots on goal, but can't convert either of them. Then at 7:37, <span>Logan Couture</span> has a nasty shot on goal but Rinne is on point. and things stay tied. Neither team can keep the puck out of their zone, but the Sharks seem to have the edge this period, they just can't seem to seal off any of their opportunities.</p>
<p>At 16:36 of the period, <span>Joe Thornton</span> is called on a penalty for elbowing on Ryan Suter. The Sharks need to kill this power play. The Predators have some good opportunities early on, but the Sharks clear it out a minute into the power play. Beautiful glove save on Suter's shot with thirty seconds remaining in the power play.</p>
<p>San Jose successfully kills the penalty and the period comes to an end as well with it all knotted up at 2-all. The Predators are still winning in offensive output, with 19 shots to the Sharks' 17. They've converted two of four power plays, while the Sharks have converted their sole attempt.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/8/2039090/sharks-and-predators-exchange-goals-tied-2-2-going-into-3rdJames Brady2011-03-08T20:22:55-08:002011-03-08T20:22:55-08:00Predators Tie Things Up On Power Play Versus Sharks, 1-1 All
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<p>We're halfway through the first period, and Nashville gets a huge scoring chance with a big shot from that <span>Antti Niemi</span> gets in front of and covers urgently. <span>Devin Setoguchi</span> collides with <span>Patrick Marleau</span> and leaves the ice to the locker room, which is definitely a bad sign for the Sharks, as he's been on a hot streak lately. To make matters worse, <span>Ryane Clowe</span> is called for hooking and gets two minutes on what I'd consider to be a soft call.</p>
<p>The following two faceoffs lead to immediate shot opportunities from Ryan Sutter, but Niemi was ready for it. The Predators keep ti in the zone and there's a scramble in front of the net where I'm pretty sure that <i>somebody</i> took a shot on net. When play resumes again, <span>Joel Ward</span> sinks a puck in the back of the net right from the goal line, he got low and just pushed it in between Niemi's pads. <span>Shea Weber</span> and <span>Martin Erat</span> are credited with assists.</p>
<p>5:20 remains and the Sharks are at full strength again, with Devin Setoguchi back on ice and skating well. The Sharks keep the puck in Nashville's zone for a good portion of time and <span>Logan Couture</span> has a chance in a 2-on-1, but <span>Pekka Rinne</span> shows off his glove by snatching the hard shot right out of the air.</p>
<p>Setoguchi is out for another shift and that's yet another good sign. The teams exchange scoring opportunities back and forth, but the goalies hold strong. The quarter comes to an end. The game is tied at 1-1, with the Predators out-shooting the Sharks 13-10, converting one of their two power players, while the Sharks have yet to bring out a power play unit.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/8/2039050/predators-tie-things-up-on-power-play-versus-sharks-1-1-allJames Brady2011-03-08T19:57:07-08:002011-03-08T19:57:07-08:00Sharks Score Goal On Third Shot Of Period, Lead Predators 1-0
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<p><span>Antti Niemi</span> takes some shots early, giving up a rebound or two, a maddening inconsistency if there ever was one. A little over two minutes in and <span>Joe Pavelski</span> puts the puck to net with assistance from <span>Kyle Wellwood</span>, but they don't sink it - a good opportunity nonetheless. The commentary crew goes over second chances, and how the Sharks need to create and eliminate them, which could essentially describe this entire game. Niemi needs to stay away from those rebounds.</p>
<p>Four minutes in and the Predators are out-shooting the Sharks 4-1. At 4:30 in, the Sharks are on an early penalty kill when <span>Jason Demers</span> is called for holding on David Legwand. Niemi covers a shot from Shea Webber early and the Sharks do a good job of preventing chances for the duration of the penalty kill and the Sharks get back to full strength.</p>
<p><span>Douglas Murray</span> lays a big hit on <span>Patric Hornqvist</span> and everybody simultaneously cringes while still managing to cheer. The Sharks move into the Predator's zone and they have a good chance with <span>Ryane Clowe</span> dishing to <span>Dany Heatley</span>, but the shot is blocked - but it's Heater again, and he beats <span>Pekka Rinne</span> over the top as the entire Sharks team swarms.</p>
<p>Wait, the referee's are looking at things to see if there was a kicking motion, and there was not <i>but</i> it does hit Ryane Clowe's skate and he gets the goal off of assists from Jason Demers and Dany Heatley. That's one goal in three shots for the Sharks.</p>
<p><span>Torrey Mitchell</span> circles behind the Predator's net and dishes the puck up the center for a teammate who isn't there, so technically he completes a pass across the ice to Antti Niemi.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-jose-sharks/2011/3/8/2039025/sharks-score-goal-on-third-shot-of-period-lead-predators-1-0James Brady2011-03-08T15:34:49-08:002011-03-08T15:34:49-08:00San Jose Sharks Schedule, Matchups And Standings: Looking To Get Winning Streak Back On Track
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<p>The Sharks lost for the first time in just under a month in their last outing, a a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.defendingbigd.com/">Dallas Stars</a>, a game in which San Jose struggled mightily on the power play without veteran defenseman <span>Dan Boyle</span>, who missed his fourth straight game and is once again questionable tonight when the Sharks take on the struggling <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a>, a team who went 5-6-2 in the month of February, in comparison to the Sharks, who went 11-2-0 in the same time period.</p>
<p>There's an awful lot of momentum snapped on the part of San Jose, who had won a season-high eight games and also had a seven-game home winning streak snapped, a streak that went back all the way to January 13th. Sitting on a six-game homestand at 2-1 so far, the Sharks can afford a loss like that one, so long as it doesn't become a trend. Speaking of trends, Sharks fans may not be thrilled to see this quote from <span>Jason Demers</span>:</p>
<p>"I think we were a little scattered. I think we had a few lapses and gave the momentum back. But it was a playoff-type game. Both teams played really hard."</p>
<p>Some of the more superstitious Sharks fans will cringe at the usage of "playoff-type game" coupled with a Sharks loss, but let's not get fixated on such things. </p>
<p><span>Patrick Marleau</span> and <span>Kyle Wellwood</span> put the puck to net for the Sharks and <span>Antti Niemi</span> made 25 saves in the loss to the Stars. Niemi will be looking for his 22nd straight start and his 26th victory on the season, which would tie his win total as a rookie with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a> a season ago. </p>
<p>While the Sharks can afford a loss here and there, the Predators have to get things back on track as soon as possible. They're two points back of a playoff spot in a closely contested conference. Losing six of their last eight games, including a loss in their last outing against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/">Calgary Flames</a> can only exacerbate the situation. <span>Martin Erat</span> and <span>Ryan Suter</span> provided the lone two goals for Nashville, while <span>Pekka Rinne</span> made 33 saves in the 3-2 loss.</p>
<p>Rinne is 3-1-2 with a 2.42 GAA in his career against the Sharks, while Niemi (who should be starting again, despite <span>Antero Niittymaki</span> being reactivated from injury) is 2-2-0 with a 2.50 GAA against the Predators. The Sharks won their last outing against the Predators on February 15th, their first against them this year after dropping two earlier in the season.</p>
<p>While the Sharks could be without Dan Boyle for another game, the Predators could miss <span>Patric Hornqvist</span>, their leading goal-scorer after not practicing on Monday with an illness.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2011/3/8/2331158/san-jose-sharks-schedule-matchups-and-standings-looking-to-getJames Brady