2/28 nashville 4, SHARKS 3 SO

Somebody really has to shoot that script messenger, because they failed again, big time. Trade deadline acquisition Bill Guerin, making his debut in the teal (jersey #13), was supposed to come into San Jose, play against the best team in the NHL, and, in triumphant fashion (yes, again with the triumphant fashion), defeat the Nashville Predators, while scoring 15 goals for his new club. Instead, the 17,496 who filled the Tank saw a very entertaining hockey game, but unfortunately for them, it was neither one that the Sharks won, nor one that had Guerin scoring 1 goal, let alone 15.

The fourth and final matchup between the Preds and Sharks this time was a seesaw game that never saw a lead of more than a goal all night long. Steve Bernier [12] got the Sharks off to a good start on the powerplay (Milan Michalek, Matt Carle), and just two minutes after a Vernon Fiddler redirect tied the game at 1, Matt Carle [9] added another powerplay goal (Christian Ehrhoff, Joe Thornton). After a scoreless second, the Predators put up 2 goals in the 3rd to take a 3-2 lead, before Pickles the Great (Marc-Edouard Vlasic) tied the game with just over 4 minutes remaining [3] (Bernier). An entertaining but scoreless overtime lead to a shootout, where goals from Alexander Radulov and J.P. Dumont were enough to oust the Sharks in 4 rounds (Joe Pavelski scored for the Sharks). Evgeni Nabokov, despite some shaky play lately, looked real solid last night, making quite a few amazing saves, stopped 29 shots while earning his 16th loss of the season (technically, he got his first OT loss, but a loss is a loss).

Bill Guerin, who played with Thornton and Kyle McLaren in Boston a few years ago, found himself on a line with Thornton and right winger Jonathan Cheechoo for most of the night. He logged himself 20 minutes of time, and took 3 shots on goal, all the while looking pretty comfortable out there. Guerin is not the only new Shark, as defenseman Craig Rivet (formerly of the Montreal Canadiens) will (probably/hopefully) make his debut on Friday in Anaheim.

Last night I found myself out of my normal seat for the first time this season, as I joined a group of chatters on one of the Sharks message boards I frequent. TheFeeder.com (Inside Sharks Hockey) made its presence felt and heard (quite loudly) last night in section 226. 25 people who know each other from the online social community got together to experience drinks beforehand, and an excellent hockey game as well. Many thanks to those who came and made the game fun (I had the pleasure of sitting next to [handle names, not real names, I hope] DrFeelGood and Teal Zebra for the whole evening.

The Sharks head back out to the road, a place all too familiar to them recently, for a Friday night affair with the Anaheim Ducks (7:00 pst). The Ducks lead the season series 4-2. The teams have split games at the Honda Center this season.

Go Sharks (welcome to San Jose Billy Guerin)
-Jess






A Stanley Cup made of pucks. Yeah, simple caption, I know.