1/15 SHARKS 3, colorado 1

On a night where each of the three Sharks All-Stars recorded a goal (Jonathan Cheechoo, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Thornton), the Colorado goaltender was the real star of the show. Two things were learned tonight, 1) The Sharks powerplay is incredible when they want to be, and 2) Peter Budaj is sick. Budaj, despite getting the loss, made a number of incredible highlight reel quality saves. To have faced as many as he did (42), and come out of the game having only allowed 3 goals only tells part of the story. The Sharks were again able to capitalize on the powerplay, this time going 3 for 5 with the man advantage. Joe Sakic, world renowned Shark killer had the lone goal for the Avalanche, who, to their credit, were missing two of their top defensemen in John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold.

Sharkie, who made the trip to Phoenix last night, made his way to "The Row" (16) in "The Section" (213), passing by my father and I to get to a birthday boy (man) sitting a few seats down. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Sharkie did as everyone feels the need to do upon reaching the top of the stairs, pretend to fall down and pass out. After finishing, Sharkie did his classic move, and slid down the stairs on his shark behind all the way to the bottom. In addition to bringing Sharkie to the section, the birthday boy (man) brought a cowbell, a device made to do nothing but bust eardrums all throughout the arena.

As I seem to say everytime I come home, it was nice to return to the Tank. It's always nice to be part of the majority. It's always nice to see the familiar faces walking around the concourses. It's always nice to help start chants, and hear my favorite goal horn in the world, and see the players skate from the shark head. Visiting other arenas is awesome, and most of them are great places to watch some hockey, but nothing beats the Tank.

The Sharks look to extend their awesome 2007 Black Thursday win streak (currently stands at 1), against the same team they lost the last Black Thursday of '06 to, the Phoenix Coyotes (7:30 pst). The Teal beat up on the dogs last weekend at the Job in Glendale (suburb of Phoenix where the arena is) by a score of 4-1, a score they, and all Sharks fans in attendance wouldn't mind seeing replicated on Thursday (four in the net, pizza you get).

Go Sharks (You've got the power)
-Jess





The rare SJ Sharkie, held in captivity in the giant cage known as the HP Pavilion. Here is Sharkie as he looks from about one foot away.