2/1 dallas 4, SHARKS 2

Well, that was fun. Oh wait, no, it wasn't. The Sharks failed to match the effort of their Pacific Division counterparts for the second consecutive game, losing a crucial two points to their rivals from Dallas. As the season progresses, the games get more important, but by watching the Sharks last night, you wouldn't be able to tell. After dropping a tough one on Tuesday, one would have expected the team to play angry, but yet the only people angry in the Tank Thursday night were the 17,496 sitting in the stands. Mark Bell [7] (Joe Thornton, Ryane Clowe) and Patrick Marleau [26] (Joe Thornton, Christian Ehrhoff) each recorded a goal, and Vesa Toskala, making a relief appearance for Evgeni Nabokov, made just 6 saves on 8 shots, but gave up the 3rd Stars goal of the night, which turned out to be the game winner, giving him his 7th loss of the year.

The powerplay looked pitiful, as they had a devil of a time trying to even penetrate the zone, and when they were able to get it in, there was a Star right there to dump it back out. The powerplay drought extended to 1-for-32 in their last 6 games, as the Sharks went 0-for-6 last night.

The Sharks have now lost 3 in a row, and 4 of their last 5. It isn't quite panic time yet, but that button looks more and more tempting each and every time the Sharks lose. The trade deadline is approaching, and, while the Sharks aren't playing at 100% (Kyle McLaren, Evgeni Nabokov, Scott Parker, and Joe Pavelski are all injured), it's clear one or two additions are necessary to this roster should they have Stanley Cup dreams for this year (they better, cause all us fans do).

The Sharks, thankfully, don't play the Stars tomorrow (Saturday). Instead, they have their first meeting of the year with the Chicago Blackhawks (1:00 P.M. PST). An afternoon affair, it is the Sharks first daytime game this season, making space for the local professional indoor lacrosse team, the National Lacrosse League's own, San Jose Stealth. I suggest, if you have nothing else to do tomorrow, pay the $10 (it's a special, downstairs seats are all $10) and come down and enjoy some hard hitting, high scoring lacrosse at 7:30 pst. I'll be there, section 121, row 10, seats 19 and 20. If you make it down, please stop by and say hello.

Go Sharks (go Stealth too)
-Jess