Closing Down The Shop

It seems that one of my favorite industries has taken a big hit from the economic downturn that has befallen the world. CMX Manga (a subdivision of DC Comics) and Go Comi! have decided to close shop later this summer as a result of falling manga sales. While I haven't dealt too much with Go Comi!, I've enjoyed what CMX Manga was able to bring to the table. Overall, the quality of their work was one of the better in the manga world and I will definitely miss their unique line of manga. The smaller publishers haven't been the only ones affected as both Tokyopop and Viz have had to increase their prices. Tokyopop went as far to change the quality of their paper to something that resembles a recycled newspaper. This caused quite a commotion among avid readers and has since forced Tokyopop to return to a higher quality paper. Viz also made some drastic changes by laying off 40% of its employees and closing its New York City branch. Coupled with the fact that many Manga-ka have decided not to allow their works to be published in the west, I have to wonder what the future of the manga industry is going to look like in a few years.

Sharks Vs. Red Wings WCSF Game 5

The Sharks were back home at the Tank, ready to face the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5. A win here would result in the end of the Wings season and the advancement of the Sharks to the Western Conference Finals, a place they have only been once before. HP Pavilion was packed and rocking, with the fans ready to celebrate a win. Even with the pre-game interviews during warm ups, the crowd was deafening.

As the puck was dropped and the game got under way, you could tell that there was excitement and some jitters from both teams. The play was even between the two teams, with Detroit getting some quality ice time in the Sharks' zone. The early tests on Nabokov showed that he had indeed bounced back and was fully prepared this time around. The all around defense was also better as gaining the blue line and entering the offensive zone proved to be difficult for both teams. When the Sharks did get their chance, it was the combination of Patrick Marleau (#12, pictured at above) and Joe Thornton (#19, pictured below) who almost put the Sharks up by one. With a nifty pass from behind the net, Patty found Joe near the net and Jumbo was able to beat Howard but not the post. The game would remain scoreless after 20 minutes, the first time in the series that a goal was not scored during a period.

As the second period started, both teams now had their skates underneath them and the game began to pick up its pace. As the Red Wings entered the Sharks zone and were able to cycle the puck up to defensemen Brian Rafalski who fired a blazer passed a screened Nabokov: 1-0 Red Wings. Less than 3 minutes later, Jumbo Joe won an offensive zone faceoff by shear will and was able to pass it back to the point where Jason Demers was waiting. He fired a quick shot that Howard was able to stop but he let out a juicy rebound that Dany Heatley quickly passed to Joe Thornton. With a nifty little toe drag, Jumbo was able to gain some space and beat Howard for the game tying goal (play pictured below): 1-1 Sharks.

Unfortunately, that was the only good news for the Sharks in the second period, which has been their worst frame throughout the playoffs. They were guilty of taking three penalties which resulted in some amazing chances for Detroit, but Nabokov stood his ground and was able to come up big when his team needed him. The Sharks were also able to go on the Power Play twice in the middle frame, but were completely shut down by the newly reorganized PK unit for Detroit. The grittiness from Game 4 carried over with Jumbo, Patty, Nichol, and Douglas "Crankshaft" Murray hitting anyone in red. Detroit also repaid the Sharks with checks from their own big guys including Bertuzzi and Franzen. Neither team could get the go-ahead goal and after 20 minutes, the game remained tied.

With the start of the third period, the Sharks were able to gain some offensive momentum after they started staying out of the penalty box. Pavelski was able to bust through the Red Wings' zone on a breakaway but was handcuffed by the back checking Red Wing defense. The result of which was a penalty shot awarded to Pavelski. Usually, a dynamite scorer in the shoot out, Pavelski had the prime opportunity to put the Sharks in the lead, early in the third. As he made his way towards Howard, he tried to fake the shot and freeze Howard, but the Red Wing goalie stood his ground. Pavelski tried to go top shelf but ended up firing the puck up and over the net. The game would remain tied. Thirteen minutes in the third period, the Red Wings won a defensize zone faceoff and send the puck around the boards. A big hit by Heatley, freed up the puck and Jumbo found Marleau all alone in the slot. With one slick pass, Joe put it on Patty's stick and Marleau wristed a shot passed a sprawling Howard (play pictured above). Patty celebrated on one knee (pictured at top) as the Sharks were now ahead by one: 2-1 Sharks.

The game wasn't over yet though as the Red Wings pulled Howard for the extra attacker late in the game and then Dan Boyle was called for holding with over a minute left to play, resulting in a 6-4 advantage for the Wings. There were mad scrambles for the puck as bodies collided with each other. Nabokov came up big again with some key saves and the PK unit for the Sharks did a great job by keeping the Wings on the perimeter of the zone. With only two seconds left in the period, the Sharks were able to clear the zone. As the fog horn sounded, the Sharks had won Game 5 by 2-1 and had defeated the Red Wings 4-1, guaranteeing a spot in the Western Conference Finals.

Finally, the Sharks had beat a nemesis that they haven't been able to beat since the 90s. The Detroit Red Wings were the proverbial kings of the Western Conference and the Sharks were able to finally dethrone them. The Sharks will get some much needed rest as they wait to see who comes out alive in the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Vancouver Canucks series that has Chicago leading 3-2 but Game 6 in Vancouver. Again, the Sharks are familiar with both teams and will be well prepared to take on whoever makes it out. The Sharks are one step closer to earning Lord Stanley's Cup and putting to bed all of those years of playoff failure. Bring on the Western Conference Finals!

Sharks Vs. Red Wings WCSF Game 4

The Sharks were once again at the Joe Louis Arena with the chance to sweep the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. But the Wings and their fans weren't about to let that happen as they had the Sharks seeing red - a lot of red.

There is not much I can say about the game itself because for one, I didn't get a chance to watch but the last 2 minutes because of the Pittsburgh Penguins versus the Montreal Canadians game that was on before it. Secondly, the score speaks for itself - Nabokov allowed 5 goals on 9 shots in the first period and was replaced by backup netminder Thomas Greiss in the second period. The Red Wings would go on to score two more goals, one in the second and another in the third. Franzen, "the Mule," scored a natural hat trick (3 goals in one game) plus an additional goal. Bertuzzi, Filppula, and Rafalski were the other goal scorers. The Sharks were spanked with a 7-1 loss, having many in the hockey world wondering if the "chokers" were back.

Not everything that happened in Game 4 was negative and even though this massive beating that the Sharks received from the Red Wings has the Bay Area once again reeling at the idea of another playoff loss, there still is high hope that the Sharks can finally put to bed their unsuccessful playoff history.

Evgeni Nabokov - While his total meltdown that resulted in a 5 goal deficit in 20 minutes was reminiscent of his Olympic performance, it wasn't all Nabby's fault this time around. Some of the goals he let in, should have been stopped but overall, it was the defensive play of the entire team that was missing. No one on the ice for the Sharks were doing their job and with the Red Wings facing elimination, the Sharks should have been more prepared to meet a very desperate team that has talent on all four lines. One thing to remember is that before this game (which resulted in a .899 save percentage), Nabokov had the best save percentage in the league and that after his poor performance in Game 3 against the Avs, Nabokov was stellar throughout the rest of the series. Nabokov can and should bounce back with a top notch game that will help the Sharks put down the Red Wings and their playoff history once and for all.

Thomas Greiss - The backup goalie for the Sharks doesn't get to play often and hasn't played at all in the playoffs. I've always questioned Greiss' abilities as a clinch player and someone who can come up big when needed. This was a great game to see what he could do and he was strong, probably the best player for the Sharks. With little support from the rest of the 5 Sharks on the ice, Greiss only allowed two goals while stopping some of the best scorers in the league - all at the Joe with 20 thousand screaming Red Wings' fans. I have to admit, from the replays I've seen, I was impressed with his performance and now I'm not as worried about the (knock on wood) unfortunate situation that could have Greiss back in the net during these playoffs.

The Big 3 - While most of the Sharks looked like they weren't ready or willing to play Game 4, the Big 3, especially Joe Thornton weren't about to allow the Red Wings an easy win. Jumbo was checking, fighting, and trying to set the tone that back in San Jose things weren't going to play out the same way. It might seem futile to work hard when your losing by such a wide margin but grinding the other team with hits and checks sends the message that you aren't about to be pushed around and walked on top of. A big complaint from last year's early exit was the Sharks lack of grit against the Ducks, basically allowing them to walk away with the wins and not forcing them to work for it. This time, the Sharks responded the way a hockey team should, punish the other guys as much as possible, no matter the score. Another plus for the Big 3 is that the lone San Jose goal that broke Howard's shutout bid was from Dany Heatley on a Power Play in the second period.

My first initial thought when I saw the score was to panic and think "it's happening again!" but then I realized that this is a different team and this loss could just be what the doctored ordered. The Sharks still had their 3-1 lead over the Red Wings and the jolt of such a massive loss might be enough to spark a bit of a killer instinct in the Sharks who need to return the favor of a dominating performance to close out the series. The Wings on the other hand, still has to win two more games in a row to force Game 7 if they have any chance to moving on. Oh, and did I mention Game 5 is back in San Jose which was recently voted the toughest building to play in by NHL players in a Sports Illustrated pole? If Nabokov bounces back, if the Big 3 keep hitting the back of the net, if the D get their act together, and if the whole team can get that bite and grind mentality into their heads - this series will be over in five games. If the Sharks lose this game, I think Detroit has a great chance of forcing a Game 7, because there is no way they are losing at home again. Only two teams have ever come back from a 3 game deficit to win a playoff series, let's hope it stays that way.

Sharks Vs. Red Wings WCSF Game 3

The San Jose Sharks took the long flight from the Bay Area to Detroit, Michigan for Games 3 and 4 at the Joe Louis Arena. After going 2-0 at home, the Sharks knew that they were up for a challenge as the Detroit Red Wings would fight hard at home. Dan Boyle stated, "this is going to be their best game, their best start" - and boy was he right. Detroit was ready to put out 120% effort to keep the Sharks from gaining the stranglehold 3-0 lead and putting them in the position of elimination.

As expected, the Red Wings came out hungry for blood and took no time in dominating the play. The Sharks were able to push back with a great play by Manny Malhotra that left him helmetless and open in the slot, but Howard got his stick down in time to stop the puck from going in. The rebound found its way to Red Wing Dan Cleary who pushed into the Sharks zone on a breakaway but Nabokov was up to the challenge and was able to stop the shot. Half way through the first period, it would seem that Detroit got on the scoreboard first as Filppula passed the puck to Henrik Zetterberg (pictured above). Fortunately for the Sharks, the puck went off the skate of Zetterberg and the play was then reviewed by the guys at the Situation Room in Toronto who watches all of the live feeds from all of the games in the NHL. Using the three broadcasts of Game 3 (the local broadcast for Detroit, the Sharks broadcast, and Canada's broadcast), they were able to determine that a distinct kicking motion was made - no goal. Less than 4 minutes after the washed out goal, Detroit made one count when Lidstrom cycled behind the net and passed the puck to Franzen who was hanging around the stick side of Evgeni Nabokov (#20, pictured above). In an instant, Franzen shot it at the net, where the brick wall known as Tomas Holmstrom was planted once again in the crease, tapped it passed Nabokov (play pictured at top): 1-0 Red Wings.

With a little more than three minutes left to play in the first, the Red Wings were dominating the Sharks zone once again. A great move by Todd Bertuzzi found him all alone with the puck. He jetted behind the net and tried a wrap around move on Nabokov but Nabby was able to get his stick down, yet he could not freeze the puck. In a desperate effort, as the Wings crashed the net, Logan couture tried to push the puck under Nabokov but the referee ruled that he had covered the puck with his hand, resulting in a penalty shot for Detroit. The Joe exploded as the fans cheered on Zetterberg, who was chosen to take the penalty shot. He had threatened to score all night and this was a prime opportunity to put the Sharks down 2-0 early in the game. He came in fast on his forehand and faked the shot, which froze Nabokov, and then he went back hand and tried to lift it passed Nabokov - but Nabby, who has one of the best glove hands, robbed Zetterberg and kept it a 1-0 game (play pictured above). But the Red Wings weren't done yet, at 18:37 Dan Cleary once again found himself all alone in the slot with the puck and buried it passed Nabokov: 2-0 Red Wings. The Sharks pushed back even though the period was almost over and they would play until the buzzer sounded. With Setoguchi, Pavelski, and Clowe out on the ice, they battled for an opportunity to cut the deficit in half. Clowe was able to win the battle on the boards and send the puck to Pavelski, who was behind the net. He quickly threw the puck up the slot, hoping to find a Sharks player - and he did. Setoguchi gathered the puck, turned towards the net, and beat Howard glove side with four seconds left in the first: 2-1 Red Wings.

The start of the second found Detroit in control of the puck and in the Sharks zone. On a bad angle shot, Zetterberg snapped the puck towards the net, it hit defensemen Murray's stick and bounced past Nabokov, regaining the Red Wings two goal lead. Zetterberg had finally scored after being robbed twice before: 3-1 Red Wings. The rest of the second period found the Sharks having to kill off an all important penalty as Detroit threatened to put the Sharks into a hole they could not climb out of. Yet the hard work of the PK unit and Nabokov kept the Sharks within striking distance. The Sharks also had their chances on the Power Play, yet the disciplined Red Wing PK unit was not the same they had seen in San Jose, resulting in no Power Play goals for the Sharks.

The Sharks found themselves on the Power Play early in the third as the Big 3 took the ice. Joe Thornton (#19, pictured 2nd from bottom), Dany Heatley, and Patrick Marleau (#12, pictured above) all threatened to convert on the PP but Howard stood tall and kept the Sharks off the scoreboard. Finally, with a little more than half of the third left, Jumbo Joe won an offensive zone faceoff and powered his way through the Red Wing defense. He circled behind the net and found space near the crease. Then, he just willed the puck passed Howard for a great individual effort goal: 3-2 Red Wings. The Big 3 weren't finished yet as another faceoff win in the Detroit zone had both Heatley and Marleau streaking towards the net. A shot from Boyle found its way through the fray in front of Howard but the Red Wing goalie was able to get a stick on it. The rebound shot out to the slot where Heater was waiting to bury it home. Howard would not allow Heatley to score and again found the puck and made the save. Another rebound ensued and this time it was Patty who got a stick on it but Howard was up to the task and with the help of his D-men, the Red Wings were able to clear the zone.

The Sharks were able to make another great effort to score the game tying goal and force overtime when Pavelski was left all alone near the left faceoff circle. Boyle was able to make an amazing cross ice pass which was perfectly placed so Pavelski could take a quick shot. But Detroit Defensemen Brad Stuart sacrificed his body to block the wicked shot from Pavelski and keep the Red Wings lead intact. It was looking dire for the Sharks as only six minutes remained in the third and they had yet to tie the game up. Fighting hard for the puck, the Sharks gained the offensive zone and set up shop. With a great cycle from Vlasic and Mitchell, they were able to work the puck to Logan Couture who was situated on the goal line. In a play similar to Zetterberg's second period goal, Couture threw the puck at the net with the bad angle. This time though, there was no defensemen's stick to deflect it in. Instead, Howard was caught "cheating" as he was thinking that Couture was going to pass and had prepared himself to get across the goal crease quickly. This opened up the five-hole and Couture snapped the puck passed Howard and into the net, tying the game: 3-3 Sharks. The Sharks were awarded a late Power Play but the Red Wings were able to hang on as Howard stopped a great chance by Clowe who broke through the defense. Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals was going to sudden death overtime.

After a 20 minute rest, the Sharks and Red Wings were ready to duke it out to the bitter end as the next goal would win the game. The Sharks got their chance early when Pavelski's line got a few prime opportunities but the Red Wings returned the favor with scoring chances on their own. Then a horrible line change from the Sharks found all of the Red Wings players gaining the Sharks zone with only three Sharks back. A high and wide slap shot from Red Wing Williams missed the net and skimmed all the way around the boards until it found the stick of Joe Thornton who had just got on the ice and was behind the Red Wing defense. With Patty Marleau on his left wing, the Jumbo quickly skated up ice on a two-on-one breakaway. The other Red Wings weren't able to recover in time to back check the two Big 3 scorers and it was up to Howard and the Red Wing's best Defensemen, Brian Rafalski, to stop the rush. As Howard came out to challange Thornton, Jumbo made a hard pass to Patty who only had to tap the puck into the empty net (play pictured above). The Sharks had come back from a two goal deficit to win the game in OT: 4-3 Sharks.

The Sharks celebrated their comeback victory as a shocked Red Wings team and equally shocked Red Wings fans quickly exited the Joe. The Sharks now have a 3-0 stranglehold over Detroit and can eliminate them with one more win. While the Big Pavelski did not score (he did however have an assist on Setoguchi's goal) the Big 3 came up huge for the Sharks with Joe Thornton raking up a goal and assist and Patrick Marleau tapping in the game winning goal. Dany Heatley had an amazing game as well even though he did not find the scoreboard. Game 4 is on Thursday, May 6th in Detroit where the Red Wings will have to win three games in a row to force a Game 7 if they want to have any chance of winning this series. While it has been done before, San Jose is not about to let that happen and will be looking for the kill come Game 4.

Sharks Vs. Red Wings WCSF Game 2

The Sharks would skate through the giant Shark head at HP Pavilion one last time before taking a two game road trip to the infamous Joe Louis Arena. With home ice being such a hard place for the visiting team to win at, the Sharks needed to come out strong and use their home ice placing as an advantage over the Red Wings. But Detroit, knowing well that they could not fall behind 2 games, were ready to come out in desperation mode to steal the win at the Shark Tank, which was roaring with enthusiasm.

The first 5 minutes of play were filled with a high tempo style of game that favored neither team. Each had their chances, with Nabokov (#20, pictured at top) and Howard making some fine saves. On a key offensive zone faceoff win, the Sharks were able to establish some sustained offensive presence and seemingly had the Red Wings hemmed in their own zone. An errant pass from Joe Thornton (#19) launched Paval Datsyuk into the Sharks zone with only Marc-Edouard Vlasic (#44) defending. Hard back checking by Jumbo found him within stick's reach of the puck, as well as Vlasic finding body position but two Sharks players weren't about to stop Datsyuk from unleashing a wrist shot (play pictured above). The puck bounced off the post, hit Nabokov, and went into the net. The loudest building in all of the NHL went silent: 1-0 Red Wings. With little less than half the period played, the Sharks were rewarded a Power Play opportunity to try and tie the game up at 1 a piece. With the Big 3, the Big Pavelski (as the Bay Area has re-dubbed him), and Dan Boyle all out on the ice, the Sharks were sure to score if they could win the faceoff and set up their cycle quickly. Jumbo was thrown out of the circle and replaced with Patrick Marleau who luckily is a natural center who plays wing. He was able to win the draw and move the puck to Dany Heatley who found Joe Pavelski on the point. With a beautiful slap shot, the Big Pavelski buried it pass Howard: 1-1 Sharks.

Detroit answered back quickly, dominating in the Sharks zone. Yet they weren't allowed to just occupy the Sharks territory as there were many fierce board battles as well as big hits - including Sharks captain Rob Blake (#4) check Tomas Holmstrom hard to the ice (play pictured below). With a great save by Nabby, the Sharks were able to spring Pavelski up ice on a breakaway with Ryane Clowe and Devin Setoguchi following close behind. With a great spin move to protect the puck, Pavelski was able to buy enough time for Clowe to get to the net. Passing it cross ice to Clowe, big #29 was able to back hand it passed Howard for one of the best looking goals so far in the series: 2-1 Sharks. The Sharks continued to apply pressure and Manny Malhotra (#27, pictured at bottom) was absolutely robbed by the glove of Howard. The Sharks ended up taking a penalty and found themselves on the PK for the first time of the game. The hit on Red Wing Holmstrom did little to deter this fierce and gritty player from standing right in front of Nabokov, doing a great screening job. With a shot from the point, Holmstrom was able to tip it passed Nabby for the tying goal: 2-2 Sharks.

Once again, the Sharks looked weak in the second period and lagged behind Detroit who dominated a lot of the play. The Sharks took an early penalty and the Red Wings made them pay. Again, with Holmstrom screening Nabokov, Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom ripped a rocket of a shot passed Nabokov for the lead: 3-2 Red Wings. The Wings kept the pressure up but Nabokov did well to challenge the puck shooters and cut down their shooting angle, keeping the deficit to 1. The Sharks eventually got their game back under control and were able to draw a penalty, but Jason Demers hit the post on his blue line shot. While the Sharks were unable to convert on the PP, they were able to win the offensive faceoffs and dominate in the Red Wings zone for the majority of the 2 minute minor. But their inability to score a goal, kept Detroit's lead going into the third period.

Detroit came out hard, challenging Nabokov early who matched that challenge with back-to-back stellar saves. The battles in front of the net, on the boards, and in neutral ice became fierce as the Sharks hit desperation mode. The Sharks once again took an early penalty, giving the Red Wings the opportunity to bury the Sharks with a 2 goal lead. Datsyuk, the Red Wing's first goal scorer, threatened early but Nabokov robbed him with an excellent glove save, one that rivaled Howard's in the first period. HP Pavilion came to life as the crowd chanted "Nabby, Nabby" in applause for what could have been the game saving and game changing save. The massive save seemed to spark some life into the sharks and they began their attack against Detroit. They were rewarded with a Power Play of their own and the lethal line of the Big 3, Pavelski, and Boyle were out to take full advantage of it. As they cycled the puck, trying to find a clear shooting lane, the puck was passed to Patty who was at the right point. He fired a shot that went wide of the net, causing Howard to get out of position. Jumbo quickly backhanded it up the crease where Heater and Pavs were waiting. As bodies collapsed and a mad scramble for the puck ensued, the Big Pavelski was able to find it and shove it passed Howard for his second Power Play Goal of the night, a league leading 9 total: 3-3 Sharks.

With 15 minutes left, the Sharks had to find a way to stop Detroit from scoring as well as get one of their own to win the game. Detroit quickly gained possession of the puck in the Sharks zone and sent it up to the point where Detroit captain Lidstrom was waiting to fire it towards the net, but as he took the shot, his stick snapped in half. Heater was there in an instant and found himself on a breakaway with Thornton coming up on the left wing. Heater ripped a shot and Howard made the save. Yet, the rebound found its way to Jumbo who was able to tap it home, the last of the Big 3 had finally scored: 4-3 Sharks. The game wasn't over yet with over 7 minutes left to play. The Sharks never gave the Red Wings the chance to get sustained pressure in the final minutes of the game and actually forced Detroit to take a penalty which took away the 6-5 man advantage when they pulled goalie Howard. With one final save from Nabokov, the Sharks beat the Red Wings 4-3, the same score as Game 1 to take the 2-0 lead in the series.

A Growing Family . . .

Year: One
Season: Winter
Day: Eight

I couldn’t have gotten up in a happier mood. Celia had said yes to my proposal, even though it wasn’t much of a proposal. My field has been turning green with the newly emerging grass and the weather was beautiful. It was like Spring had come early and it was just what I needed. Celia and I agreed to have our wedding on the first day of Spring which gave me a few days to not only make some money and get the farm back on its feet, but also to figure out my plans for the coming Spring. So the day was filled with a fury of activity - farm chores, buying Tomato and Watermelon seeds from Vesta, and selling goods to Van. Unfortunately, I didn’t have as much as I thought I would to sell to Van and ended up having to sell a few of my belongings to make ends meet. The grass was still a couple days away from being able to cut and I needed to buy just a few more Good Fodder from town to be able to keep everyone fed. And to top off a great day of work and fun, the Fertilized Egg I had placed in the Incubator hatched! It was a baby chick that I named Relena and she seems to be fitting in well with all the others. Seems like the farm is growing in leaps and bounds.

Year: One
Season: Winter
Day: Ten

This is the day I have been waiting for all Winter! The grass is green and tall enough for me to cut into Fodder! I have survived Winter and my Fodder shortage crisis! Though I did lose my entire 4000g savings and I am deeply in debt, I was able to make it out without any of the animals becoming sick . . . something that I could not have afforded to happen. It was good news all around as I found that the Miracle Potion worked on Miel, she is now pregnant and should be expecting a calf in the Summer. I was so happy; I gave everyone a nice bath outside since the weather was so clear. I also was able to do a little bit of fishing and came out pretty lucky, catching an Arna and a bunch of other fish. Everything seemed to come together today as the Potatoes were ready to harvest and looked great considering all the snow they had to survive. Tomorrow is the big day and if it was like today, everything is going to work out well.

Sharks Vs. Red Wings WCSF Game 1

The Western Conference Semi Finals got underway right off of the faceoff as a jittery looking Sharks team bobbled the puck and then a misplay by Nabokov resulted in a mad scramble right in front of the San Jose net. The Sharks were able to quickly settle down and get some chances in on rookie goalie Howard, who robbed Setoguchi, Demers, and Heatley (#15) (pictured above) in the early minutes of the first period. The Sharks had a slightly different look to them as Patrick Marleau was out with an undisclosed injury (later revealed to be the flu) but you could tell that they were hungry for the win. Right off the bat that this game had a fast pace to it, even faster than the first round of the playoffs. Being both puck possessive teams, the play went evenly back and forth between the teams until some untimely penalties for the Red Wings put the Sharks on the offensive. An offensive zone faceoff win helped the Sharks establish their Power Play. With Boyle and Demers on the point, they cycled the puck to Pavelski who was hanging off the side of Howard. Pavs shot it over the crossbar but Boyle was able to collect the loose puck and find Pavs right in the slot. With a fast wrist shot, #8 buried the puck past Howard: 1-0 Sharks.

Another offensive zone faceoff win for the Sharks found Demers at the point with the puck. He quickly threw it at the net yet Howard made the save, letting a juicy rebound find its way to Joe Thornton. Jumbo used his magic from behind the net and with a fast pass up the slot, found Heater crashing the net. With a simple tap in, another of the Big 3 finally got on the scoreboard, and what a great assist by Jumbo: 2-0 Sharks. I have to point out how huge this assist was for Jumbo. Usually, Joe likes to slow the play down in the offensive zone by drawing the defenders to him and then making a slick pass to one of his wingers who taps it into the goal. It's a slow play that requires a lot of patience and that's exactly what Joe has. Sometimes it's a good thing, other times it results with me screaming at the TV for Joe to do something, anything. During the series against the Avs, Joe didn't have the time and space like he usually does, resulting in poor offensive production from him. In the first 4 games, you couldn't even sense his presence on the ice. In this game, from his first shift you could tell that Joe Thornton was on the ice. He was fast and big, throwing checks and causing chaos for the Detroit puck carriers. He was also much quicker moving the puck, especially with the Heatley goal. Joe definitely picked up the tempo of his game and it showed. I haven't seen Joe Thornton play like that since the Sharks faced off against Joe's old team, the Boston Bruins last season. Hopefully, if Joe keeps on playing like that, he could and will be the difference maker in this series.

Another faceoff ensued in the Sharks offensive zone but this time Detroit won the draw. Yet, with tremendous effort from Ryane Clowe, he was able to beat the Detroit defense and still come up with the puck. He quickly passed it to Boyle who in turned moved it to Pavelski who was heading towards the net, yet Joe was checked to the ice. As Pavs was falling, he made a cross-ice pass to Setoguchi who was waiting on the left wing. Seto was able to rip the shot past Howard, the second goal for the Seto, Pavs, Clowe line: 3-0 Sharks. If you are wondering how long it took the Sharks to score 3 goals, it only took 1:19 - yes, that's 79 seconds to build a 3 goal lead against one of the premier teams in the league. The Sharks hadn't clinched the W yet because Detroit still had some fight left in them.

With more than half of the first period already played and a 3 goal deficit, the Detroit Red Wings hit desperation mode and started their full on assault against the Sharks. Shift after shift, the Red Wings were able to build some momentum and started to push back. On a broken defensive play that left Red Wing Dan Cleary alone in front of Nabokov (#20, pictured above), The Detroit forward Ericsson was able to make a nice pass to Cleary who tapped it passed a sprawled out Nabokov to cut into the Sharks lead: 3-1 Sharks. The goal helped to spark some much needed life into the Red Wings who took control for the rest of the first period. Nabokov held strong and was able to come up with some big saves to keep the Sharks 2 goal lead into the second.

Five minutes into the second, the Sharks won a defensive zone faceoff yet still coughed up the puck to Detroit, with a nifty move in the slot, Franzen "the Mule" was able to beat a screened Nabokov to pull the Wings within one: 3-2 Sharks. With Detroit holding the momentum, the Sharks began to make some sloppy plays, resulting in a few Power Plays for Detroit. Some great defensive moves and key faceoff wins, the Sharks were able to not only keep Detroit from scoring but also launch Nichol and McGinn on a shorthanded breakaway chance that almost resulted in a goal. And when the D did have problems containing the Wings, Nabby was there to come up with the save. The Sharks also did something that they haven't done much in the regular season - get in shooting lanes and block shots. This forced the Wings to cycle the puck and make more passes, keeping them on the perimeter of the Sharks zone.

In the third period, the Sharks found themselves on an early Power Play. With a play very similar to one in the first period, Pavelski was again hanging on the stick side of Howard. The puck was cycled from Heatley to Boyle at the point, who passed it down to Joe. This time, Howard could not make the save and Joe Pavelski scored his 2nd of the game, 7th of the playoffs: 4-2 Sharks. Detroit quickly answered back as defensemen Brian Rafalski dropped down from the point to rip a snap shot passed Nabokov, the game wasn't over yet: 4-3 Sharks. Once again, the Sharks lost the momentum and took some bad penalties. Manny Malhotra came up big with some key faceoff wins as well as great plays from Captain Rob Blake (#4, pictured above and second from top) who was constantly battling in front of the net.

The Sharks got their opportunity to go on the offensive when the Red Wings were assessed a minor penalty. The Sharks pelted Howard with pucks from the point and a mad scramble broke out in front of the net as the puck lay uncovered near the crease. Blake had a prime opportunity to score but flicked the puck wide of the net. With a minute left in the game, Howard was pulled for the extra attacker and the Wings went to work. Once again, Manny was there to win the faceoff and help box out the Detroit Red Wings. With a few huge saves by Nabokov, the clock counted to zero and the Sharks won the first game of round 2.

A few things to point out about this game. One is the fact that the Sharks scored twice on the Power Play yet the Red Wings didn't score at all with the man advantage. The Special teams for the Sharks did their part in a huge way. Manny Malhotra was clinch in the faceoff circle, winning a few key draws in the waning seconds of the game as well as making a huge shot block with only a second left in the period. Captain Rob Blake was great on defense as were all the other defensemen, holding the Red Wings to 23 shots on goal, the Wings had 50+ shots on goal in their last game. Even with the high number of goals against, Nabokov was stellar coming up with some huge late period saves. Rookie Jason Demers had 2 assists on the night, setting up Pavelski's first goal as well as Heater's goal. This was also the first game 1 win for the Sharks in 4 straight playoff series. Overall, it was probably the most complete team effort I've seen from the Sharks in these playoffs. Every line pulled their weight and then some. While this win is sweet, the Detroit Red Wings aren't going to take this lying down and will surely be out for blood come game 2.

Sharks Vs. Red Wings WCSF Preview

There is some serious history behind the Sharks and Red Wings rivalry, from playoff upsets to hard fought regular season match ups - it's no wonder why this has become one of the most anticipated playoff match ups for Red Wings fans, and more importantly for Sharks fans. In the Sharks 17 season history, they have met the Detroit Red Wings three times in the playoffs. Compared to the Red Wings, the Sharks are still infants in the hockey world, becoming a team in 1991 versus the Red Wings founding in 1926. The Sharks have zero Stanley Cups, 1 Presidents' Trophy (given to the best team in the regular season), and have only made it to the Western Conference Finals once (03-04). Detroit in comparison has won 11 Stanley Cups, 6 Presidents' Trophies, and have been to the WCF many times - including the last two seasons, where they won their latest Stanley Cup in 07-08.

But there is an interesting storyline when it comes to the Sharks and Red Wings. Take the Sharks first playoff experience in 93-94, in the first two seasons for the Sharks resulted in the worst record in the league, winning only 17 games in 91-92 and 11 wins in 92-93. Yet, the 93-94 playoffs rolled around and the Sharks found themselves not only in the playoffs but facing the Red Wings in the Western Conference Quarter Finals. Detroit was number 1 in their Division and were expected to steam roll passed San Jose, yet the Sharks pushed them to a game 7 and won. Detroit got their revenge the next season when they beat San Jose 4 in a row to sweep the Semi Finals without a single loss. The most recent playoff match up was a disappointment for Sharks fans as Detroit took the 06-07 Semi Finals in 6 games. Here we are again, 09-10 Semi Finals and it's the Sharks versus the Red Wings, but this time could be different. The Sharks are a different beast and even though they suffered 3 regular seasons losses (out of 4), the Sharks not only have a different look but a different kind of bite that could make this series one of the more contested in this rivalry's history.

Before Todd McLellan (pictured above) took over as head coach for San Jose in 08-09, he was the assistant coach in Detroit for 3 years. When he took over the bench in SJ, he brought with him a lot of the plays, style, and skill honing that the Red Wings have been known for and have used to make a successful hockey team. Some key changes were active defensemen who jumped into the offensive zone, controlling and winning board battles, and a puck possession style of gameplay. While these points are used by all of the teams in the NHL, the Red Wings have mastered them and if the Sharks have any chance of winning round 2, they have to prove that they've mastered them as well. Even though the Sharks have only been working under this system for less than two seasons, their improvement in these areas is undeniable. Take Dan Boyle who leads all defensemen in scoring in the playoffs. A key part of the Sharks win over the Avalanche was their ability to win board battles not only in their own zone but they were also able to strip pucks from the other team and shove them into the net. And about the Sharks 14 minutes of solid puck possession, well I think that one is self explanatory. I do believe the Sharks are better equipped this time around to be able to defeat the Red Wings and make it past round 2, but to do that, there are some other key areas and battles that they will have to win. There are also some players that I haven't mentioned or mentioned very little that have to come up big for the Sharks, it's going to take the whole team to defeat a group as solid and technically sound as Detroit.

San Jose Goalie: Evgeni Nabokov (#20) - Nabokov (pictured above) has a pretty bad record against the Detroit Red Wings and if it was last season, I would be seriously worried. Not known as a good playoff performer, Nabby was clinch against the Avs, stealing a couple of W's for his team. In the entire series, he only had one bad game and in that game, he really only had one bad period. #20 was able to regroup and collect himself to keep his team in the hunt and the Sharks ultimately won that game. So I have confidence that Nabby can and will keep his team in the hunt for the cup.

Detroit Goalie: Jimmy Howard (#35) - Drafted by the Red Wings in 2003, Howard (pictured at top) was called up to the NHL just this season and his rookie year has been stellar, so stellar in fact that he was named a Calder Trophy nominee for rookie of the year. Though he doesn't have any previous playoff experience, Howard definitely proved himself in Detroit's first round against the Phoenix Coyotes. And for those of you who aren't hockey history buffs, my all time favorite player, the reason why I wear #33 - Patrick Roy (pronounced wah) was a rookie goaltender with the Montreal Canadians in 1986 when he helped them win a Stanley Cup and was named the MVP of the playoffs. Patrick Roy proved that even a rookie goalie can win championships for their team and I'm sure Howard is going to do his absolute best for Detroit.

San Jose Defensemen: Jason Demers (#60), Kent Huskins (#40), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (#44) - Everyone knows I Love SJ defensemen Murray, Boyle, and Blake - and for good reason. But there are three other Sharks defensemen that while they don't get mentioned a lot in the reviews and highlight reels, they are a key cog of the San Jose machine. Demers is a rookie d-man, called up from the Sharks affiliate team in Worcester and he has done an outstanding job for the Sharks. Defense is probably the hardest position to play, especially with so many demands to be both offensively productive and defensively sound. Demers is in the top 25 in assists this playoffs and has been a very affective member of the Power Play. Huskins was brought over from Anaheim last season but didn't play because of a broken foot. His first games back on the ice in 09-10 were rough but he quickly found his legs again and has been a quiet yet strong force in the Sharks' own zone with his great defensive plays. Huskins also had a breakaway of his own and has been a solid part of the Penalty Kill. I've always been critical of Vlasic (pictured above), paired with Captain Rob Blake, it's an odd couple kind of match since Vlasic is one of the youngest Sharks players and Blake is the oldest. Yet, despite his age, Vlasic has been a permanent member (unlike Demers, who has been shuttled back and force from minors to SJ) of the Sharks for quite a few years. He played tremendously last season but seemingly broke down during the post season. He was sidelined this year with an injury that kept him out for a few weeks, but he's slowly got back into a rhythm and has come up big. While, I still think he plays the defensive zone weakly, his style of play hasn't cost the Sharks yet which is apparent by his zero plus/minus rating (+1 is given to a player who is on the ice when his team scores, -1 is given to a player who is on the ice when his team is scored against).

Detroit Defensemen: All 6 - 4 of the 6 Red Wing defensemen are in the top 15 in the playoffs for scoring compared to the Sharks 2. They are like forwards in their own right, activating from the point and dropping deep in the offensive zone. They are lethal, not only in an even strength (5 on 5) match up but they are just as deadly on the Penalty Kill. Yes, when they are down a man, the Red Wings are just as deadly and have scored many short-handed goals. Don't get me started on the Power Play, let's just say they convert almost every time, so the sharks need to keep out of the box to win this series.

San Jose Forward: Manny Malhotra (#27), Torrey Mitchell (#17), Scott Nichol (#21) - Faceoffs are going to be huge in this series. With both teams being powerful puck possessors, the faceoff is one of the sure ways to get control of the puck early. Losing a faceoff in your own zone could result in a goal for the other team while winning one in the offensive zone could give you a marker on the scoreboard. Manny Malhotra was the number 1 faceoff guy in the league (though he didn't quality for official recognition because he did not draw enough faceoffs in the regular season) with a 72.3 win percentage in the playoffs. Manny is one of the Sharks clinch players, great on the PK and a strong defensive forward. Mitchell was out for almost two full seasons with a broken leg that he suffered during training camp. Speedy #17 is back and has been playing with Jumbo and Patty while Heater was on the mend. With his speed and skill, Mitchell is a great addition to the Sharks and while he hasn't scored yet, he has threatened to quiet a bit. Scotty Nichol did have enough faceoff draws to be named the number 1 guy in the league with a 62.4 win percentage. I mentioned Nichol as being a key factor for the Sharks win over the Avs and I'm sure he will be a big part of their success against the Red Wings with his great ability to antagonize and pester the other team.

Detroit Forward: Pavel Datsyuk (#13) - Datsyuk is like Detroit's Joe Thornton, he makes beautiful plays out of unfathomable situations. Unlike Jumbo Joe, he also scores a lot. If he has the puck, he is deadly and if he doesn't have the puck, he is equally as deadly. While there are many lethal forwards for the Red Wings, Datyuk is one that and will tip the scales towards his team. When playing against Phoenix in game 7, he scored the first 2 goals, helping his team get rolling and eventually win the game and the series.

This could and will be a turning point for the San Jose Sharks, for good or for worse. General Manager Doug Wilson made it very clear after last year's horrific round 1 loss that there would be no "next year" after this season. With many players coming to the end of their contracts, Doug Wilson promised huge changes (and delivered some) if the Sharks did not find post-season success. The Sharks have found a little of that success with their defeat of Colorado, but will they be able to to muster enough will and skill to topple the giant that is Detroit? Only time will tell if the Sharks finally have what it takes to reach the end of all ends - the Stanley Cup.