preseason 9/22 SHARKS 3, canucks 1

Another (preseason) game, another (preseason) win. Yes, just like last night, it is just preseason, but it is still nice to go down to the rink to see the boys put on a show, and a show they did put on. For the second night in a row, the Sharks mustered more than 30 shots, recording 37 tonight on Canucks regular season starter and goaltender extraordinaire Roberto Luongo, beating him 3 times.

Devin Setoguchi recorded another preseason marker, tipping a Christian Ehrhoff slapper past Luongo midway through the second period. Longtime NHLer Jeremy Roenick, who sits just 5 goals from 500 in his career, didn't get closer tonight due to preseason not counting, but did get his first of the preseason, slapping home a one-time pass from Tomas Plihal. Jonathan Cheechoo also connected on a one-timer, this one from Joe Pavelski. Dmitri Patzold made his second preseason start (gave up 5 goals last Tuesday in a 6-5 shootout loss in LA), this time just allowing 1 goal on 10 shots.

At hockey games, you'll hear several various catcalls. "Shoot the puck", "hit him" and "kick his ass" are among the most common heard, and on this night, the latter was heard quite often. Some may think that a preseason game has no energy, no emotion. To borrow from Lee Corso (college football TV personality), "not so fast my friend". Tonight's game was graced by 5 bouts (McIver v Marleau, Burrows v Rivet, Cowan v Clowe, Labrie v Murray, McIver v Davison), most of them entertaining and most of them even. However, as it is preseason, all that really matters is that no one gets hurt as a result, which no one did, but the fans were entertained, which matters to each and every person in attendance.

The Sharks now hit the road for their last two road games of the preseason. Tuesday they'll head to cowtown to the Saddledome to take on Miikka Kipprusoff and the Flames (6:00pm). Wednesday will send the Teal to the coast of Canada where they take on the Canucks again (7:00pm). With the preseason more than half over, regular season hockey creeps that much closer (21 days til opening night vs Boston). As long as the Sharks continue to play like this, October 13th will be a very welcome night.

Go Sharks (kick his ass)
-Jess