Saturday, May 05, 2007

No Schneider, No Excuses

Outside of the first period, the Sharks got outworked and outclassed this afternoon. The power play was ineffective. Holmstrom has been dominant. And the captain, Patrick Marleau, continues to be missing in action. After scoring the first goal, the Sharks stopped the offensive pressure and allowed Detroit to assault Nabby over and over again.

How did the Sharks not capitalize on Schneider's absence? Losing their second best defensemen should have been a huge boost for the Sharkies, but instead they shut it down and didn't test the Wings blueline.

Giving up two power plays goals and going 0/6 on your own is not a formula for victory. The odds are not in our favor - but that is why we play the games. The Sharks are going to have to dig deep and answer the bell in one of the biggest games in franchise history. To stall again in Round Two would be unacceptable. Maybe we should try not scoring first....that seems to work since the team that goes up is 1-4 in this match up.

7 comments:

Beerme said...

The Sharks are a great team. Hell, Joe Thornton is a veritable monster! But still, why is it that when the Wings win a game, Wilson and you Sharks fans insist on talking about how the Sharks "let up" on the Wings? Do you really think it doesn't have anything to do with the Wings play? This team is poised to win another series, where the pundits called once again for their demise. They have had no respect all season, yet they're giving it a pretty damn good go, yet again. Grier and Thornton need another few players to help them or it's bye=bye after the next game...

Mike said...

... why is it that when the Wings win a game, Wilson and you Sharks fans insist on talking about how the Sharks "let up" on the Wings?

Mostly because leads were given away (in two cases, two goal leads). If the Wings came out with a 3-0 lead, then coasted to a 4-2 win or something, it wouldn't be the same tune. It just so happens that every Wings victory started with a Sharks lead. I call that "letting up". The way penalties are being called now, you can't just coast after you have a lead, and that's what the Sharks have done- put less effort into offense and more into defense. It hasn't paid off.

Anonymous said...

I hear you beerme. All the way down the line few people are giving the Wings any credit. Not the journalists, not the TV talking heads, not the broadcasters, not the Sharks or their coach. It's always about what they did to lose instead of realizing there's another team on the ice that's making things happen.

Anonymous said...

There's still hope for the Sharkies.
Schneider broke his wrist. He's done.

If Lebda's not ready for Game 6, that puts two rookies on Detroit's blueline -- Quincy and Meech.

Anonymous said...

And Quincey has been a liability? i think not. He has been playing as well as your veterans. Most people in Grand Rapids already think Meech is better than Quincey and Lebda has started practicing, so it shouldn't be a problem. Thats the advantage you get when you have depth.

Anonymous said...

Where did I say Quincey hasn't been playing well?

Fact is though, a lot of that has to do with him keeping it simple in limited, third-pairing minutes. And being paired with Chelios hasn't hurt.

The Wings won't be able to "hide" both rookies if Lebda can't go. And Lebda has only skated once (Friday) after having a setback and leaving the practice ice early on...Wednesday, I think.

Anonymous said...

Quincey got smoked today. He made the rookie mistake and it could have cost the team big. Luckily Hasek was there to bail him out. I think it's his first real rookie gaffe aside from a few poor decisions with the puck.