A momentary lapse in game

SAN JOSE, CA – What a great run the San Jose Sharks have been on lately. Going into Monday night’s match up against the Los Angeles Kings, the Sharks were 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. This team has been able to find momentum and carry it from game to game.
The sources behind this great run have come from different areas. The biggest I’m sure is pride. Pride to be chosen to represent individual countries in the upcoming 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver, Canada. Eight players were chosen from the San Jose Sharks to represent their countries this February, tied for the most in the NHL.
 
The Anaheim Ducks also have eight players competing in what is the most prestigious of all hockey tournaments. Dan Boyle skated like he had turbo boosters on his feet Saturday night against the Edmonton Oilers in a 4-1 victory after finding out that he had been chosen to represent his country. Douglas Murray has scored goals in each of the last two games and will be representing Sweden next month. Torrey Mitchell seems to be finding his groove coming back from injury and his speed is making everyone around him better. Joe Pavelski who will represent the USA was taken for his hockey I.Q which has been on display in the latest run the Sharks are on.
So with all of this momentum one can only wonder what happened to the Sharks last night against their division rivals, the LA Kings. For the first 15 minutes of the game the Sharks dominated play but were unable to beat Jonathan Quick, who was also voted to the U.S Olympic squad. The Kings goaltender came to play. After a barrage of opportunities without success, it appeared as though the home team shut off their collective brains but kept the motor running. The energy and intensity was evident, but the lack of mental focus became apparent.
 
The visitor’s first tally came on a wrap around that Nabakov usually stops. The next LA goal came while Joe Thornton was in the penalty box for slashing. A five hole shot that sent a message telling everybody at the HP Pavilion that if the Sharks were going to win this game it would not be on the heels of Evgeni Nabakov. Nabakov has been solid between the pipes this season for San Jose and almost always keeps his team in there while they struggle through mental let downs, but on this night it was not to be.
 
Thirty seconds after LA made the score 2-0, Anze Kopitar netted an easy back door power play goal while Patrick Marleau was in the box for throwing his stick. It was more of a toss to teammate Dan Boyle because his stick had broken while blocking a shot. Either way at game’s end it was the winning goal and the turning point.
This loss should not be taken as lightly as others for a number of reasons. First off, the division rivals from southern California have earned 7 of a possible 8 points against San Jose in the last 4 games. The Sharks have only 2 more meetings versus the Kings this season and they both take place in Los Angeles. The good thing is that San Jose won’t have to wait long for redemption. They take the ice against the Kings on the 11^th and 19^th of January.
The goal for any team in the NHL is of course to win the Stanley Cup. For San Jose, the sense of urgency is much greater than it is for other clubs due to their recent past, as well as due to the number of key players whose contracts are up at the end of this season, mainly Patrick Marleau and Evgeni Nabakov.
 
Many people felt that the San Jose Sharks ran out of steam last spring in post season play particularly in net. Top goaltender Evgeni Nabakov is no spring chicken as far hockey players go and needs to avoid the same problem as last season otherwise changes will have to be made. Thomas Greiss backs up the Sharks top netminder but has only played in nine games so far this season starting in seven of them. This makes me think the Sharks are or will be in the market for a back-up goalie with playoff experience.
 
Nabakov will certainly see plenty of ice time at the Olympics representing Russia especially with Nikolai Khabibulin injured. It is not certain when he will return. If he keeps up the pace he is on, including the Olympics, San Jose is certain to run into the same problem as last season at the goaltending position. With the limited amount of playing time Greiss has seen once can only think that there is a lack of confidence in the rookie goalie. This is a good team with a legitimate shot at winning it all and going into the playoffs without a proven back up would be irresponsible.
On a more positive side to last night’s game, Joe Thornton recorded his 900^th NHL point with an assist on Patrick Marleau’s 27^th goal of the season. Marleau’s third period tally tied him for the league goal scoring lead with Marion Gaborik of the New York Rangers.
In an 82 game season every team goes through mental lapses. Seldom in those games do you come out on top. The good news for San Jose fans is that the Sharks will not have to wait long to get back on the ice. The St. Louis Blues are back in town and will take to the ice against the home team Wednesday night at the Shark Tank. The Blues last visit to San Jose they stole one in a shoot out after tying the game late with a stellar performance from the Blues goalie Ty Conklin. The puck drops at 7:30.
Keep Your Sticks On The Ice
Contact the author at cam.gore@prohockeynews.com
Photos by Jack Lima – jack.lima@prohockeynews.com