After losing two strait, the Sharks decided that they weren’t going to lose another game. They jumped out to an early 3-0 lead at the end of the first. The score stayed that way through the second also. At this point it seemed fairly easy for the Sharks but, of course, nothing important in life comes easy. Just after a minute into the period, the Canucks scored. But even after this the Sharks still seemed like they would win, especially since the Sharks scored a powerplay goal just five minutes after the Canucks scored, giving the Sharks their three goal lead back. And as the game progressed the Sharks seemed more and more likely to win. But 11 minutes into the third things took a turn for the worse when Jamie McGinn took a five minute major and a game misconduct for boarding*, his second game misconduct of the 2011 playoffs.

That means that the Canucks got five minutes to score as many goals as they could in five minutes and they still wouldn’t lose their powerplay. In those five minutes the Canucks scored two goals making the score 4-3. Luckily the Sharks were able to fight off the surging Canucks to win the game 4-3.

* Today the NHL reviewed McGinn’s hit and didn’t give him any further discipline.

The 2nd round of the NHL playoffs was set tonight after the 4th game 7 in two days was ended. Here are the second round matchups:

Western Conference:                                                                                Eastern Conference:

Seed 1 Canucks vs Seed 5 Predators                     Seed 1 Capitals vs Seed 5 Lightning

Seed 2 Sharks vs Seed 3 Red Wings                                Seed 2 Flyers vs Seed 3 Bruins

For the second year in a row the 2nd round seeding has a pattern. Last year the two conferences had no seeds that matched, but this year it is the opposite. This year the seedings for the two conferences are the same for both conferences.

With their overtime win, the Canucks finished round 1 for the Western Conference. The 2nd seeded Sharks are going to play the 3rd seeded Red Wings. It is going to be the Pacific Division Champion vs the    Champion. It is a chance for Detroit to get revenge on the Sharks who knocked them out in the 2nd round last year. Let’s hope Pavelski can produce as big of a series as he had last year against the Red Wings.

Game 6 was an important game for the Sharks series. They went into the game with a 3-2 lead on the Kings and a chance to be the only NHL team remaining from California. And they capitalized on that opportunity and are now advancing to the second round to play either the Blackhawks or Red Wings, which is dependent on the outcome of the Vancouver vs Chicago series. That series is playing in a game 7  tonight.

The Sharks won their series in overtime at the Staples Center in L.A. Joe Thornton scored the series winning goal right after killing a five minute major that was called on Jamie McGinn  The Sharks last season beat the Avalanche in game 6 of the first round at the Pepsi Center only one day before the Sharks win last night.

Is it soccer or is it hockey? Yesterday in the NHL, the “War Room” in Toronto seemed to think that it was soccer. They blew 2 very easy calls to make costing, the Blues to lose in overtime to the Blackhawks, and causing the Sharks an extra goal to their embarrassment. Both “goals” were obviously kicked in and both shouldn’t have been allowed, but they were. It will be interesting to see how the NHL will explain their stupidity.

The alleged goal that was allowed for the Blackhawks was a big one. The Blackhawks were able to win in overtime, which shouldn’t of happened because if the call was made correctly, the Blues would have won in regulation. With their win, the Blackhawks knocked the Flames out of the playoff race.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w32LhH4HJA

As for the Ducks “goal” guess who came back to haunt the Sharks again? Teemu Selanne, the player who seems to play better against the Sharks than for the Sharks. Selanne clearly kicked the puck directly into the net, but somehow it counted. It almost seemed like the referees asked Selanne if he kicked it, and trusted him when he said he didn’t. (starts at 1:24)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2X26aDR6Tg

F M L X E M Y K D H J S N S A
E Y U I U I O H P E H V J A U
G W L R T V L P O A F M U N M
N P V S R C A A R X C E O J V
A E K B F V R K O W I A N O M
R P O T I F S B W G F A R S N
O Y N L K E O Y E S I R L E E
V K I Q M Y N Y E K C O H D N
W O T R I O T Q A X A Q J R E
N J B E Z C I N D L P Q E T W
R O M R A K C A L B P T I E I
U V C J U L U P B V S H N I N
K F O R W A R D U E W T E A L
B B B N D X P L W C Q P Y N N
C I W A E W K H T Z K T I R M

BLACKARMOR
DEFENSE
FORWARD
GOALIE
HOCKEY
HPPAVILION
ORANGE
PACIFIC
PLAYOFFS
PUCK
SANJOSE
SHARKS
TEAL
WESTERN
WHITE
WIN

As the end of the season draws near, the Sharks really have to fight for the Pacific Division title, and fight for a playoff spot. They only have 7 games left in the season and all 7 of those games are inner division. Each team in the Pacific plays each team at least once before the season is over. The Sharks play the Coyotes 3 more times, two of which are the last two of the season. The Coyotes are only two points behind the Sharks in the standings.

There are only 9 points separating the top of the Pacific Division (Sharks) from the bottom of the Division (Stars). There are also only 8 points from the Sharks, who are 3rd in the West, and 8th place in West, the Ducks, who the Sharks play 2 more times.

I created a video to celebrate the Sharks 20th Season. Enjoy:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wSMgezgBrc

www.youtube.com/watch?v=puMana_bq1o

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5sdOh7Bcvs

On February 2 Rick DiPietro and Brent Johnson dropped their gloves and went at it. Johnson easily won. It was a one punch fight. But what isn’t shown is the results of the fight which is that Dipietro fractured his cheek bone when Johnson punched him. It will take Dipietro 4-5 weeks to heal which isn’t good news for the Islanders. Right now they are in last place in the Eastern Conference and are 18 points out of 8th place in the Eastern Conference. So now without their starting goaltender for the remainder of the season their odds look even worse than they did before.