Sharks Clinch Pacific Division Title

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks clinched their 5^th Pacific division title with a 2-1 win over the desperate Calgary Flames.
The Flames threw everything they had at the Sharks with 39 shots on net, but were only able to beat Evgeni Nabokov once, as they saw their playoff hopes vanish. The Flames have been starved for goals all season long and saw their top point producer Jarome Iginla’s totals plummet. Iginla finishing in the top ten in scoring in the NHL was once as regular as cold temperatures in Calgary. The Flames captain didn’t record a shot on net until the third period and was pointless on the night. Rene Bourque was the only player in a Flames uniform to light the lamp and that came on a power play in the final frame. The power play goal marker cut the Sharks lead in half, but that would be as close as they would get.
San Jose ’s power play has been an issue lately and not in a good way. However the Sharks first goal of the game came with the man advantage. Rob Blake whistled a slap shot from the point that Calgary’s net minder couldn’t see, well alone stop, due to great positioning in front of the net by rookie Logan Couture. Blake’s power play goal opened the scoring in the game, but also moved the future Hall of Famer to third on the all-time goals scored by a defenseman on the power play, passing Paul Coffey. Although he didn’t get an assist on the play, Couture deserves most of the credit for putting an all-star screen on the Calgary’s goaltender Mikka Kiprusof.
The 21 year old rookie has spent most of his season between Worcester (Sharks AHL affiliate) and San Jose. With this former first round draft pick starting the last two games on the second line, San Jose fans should get used to seeing number 39 suit up for the big club, because the way he has been playing, chances are, he is here to stay.
The Sharks second tally of the night, came from an unlikely source in Jamie McGinn. McGinn beat two Flames to the front of the net, hungry for the puck after the Flames net minder was unable to handle the rebound for his tenth of the season.
This was a great game for San Jose for reasons beyond the obvious. Yes, they clinched the Pacific Division title again and assured themselves first or second in the western conference. This game was not only good, it was great. Great because they won a game against a desperate team, they scored a power play goal, they got secondary scoring, Nabokov was solid, and they won in a playoff type atmosphere on the last game of a road trip.
In order for a team to win the Stanley Cup, they need a number of factors on their side. Factor number one, they need to be good, second they need to be healthy and third they need to peak at the right time.
The Sharks have two games left on the schedule against teams who have clinched playoff births. Thursday, versus Vancouver, who have clinched the Northwest division and Saturday, against Phoenix. The downside of these games, are that regardless of the outcome, no teams position in the western conference will change. In a perfect world your final games are tune ups against desperate hockey teams fighting to get into the post season. The upside of irrelevant games, is that the Sharks have the option of resting key players, if they choose to.
Right now San Jose is a very healthy team, as far this time of year goes. We know that they are a good hockey team. The issue I have with nothing games, as I like to call them, is that these games will not help the team prepare for the playoffs. The players will prepare the same way they do all year long and say that these are still important battles, but that is just not the case. The intensity will not be the same as it is when they are playing team who are chasing playoff spots.
Finding the next level in one’s game is easier said than done. For players to raise their level of play they need to have more at stake. As a result of finishing the season with nothing games, it will be difficult for the Sharks players to find the next level. Therefore peaking at the right time will be the toughest of the three factors. So the Sharks will be entering the post season with two out of three on their side.
Look for Thomas Griess to get the start Thursday night against the Vancouver Canucks at the HP Pavilion and for the ice time to be spread out fairly even between all four lines.
Keep your sticks on the ice.
Contact the writer at Cam.Gore@prohockeynews.com   
Contact the photographer at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com

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