12/15/07 dallas 4, SHARKS 2

Today's Sharks/Stars game was expected to be a close game, with the top players from each side (Modano, Morrow, Ribeiro, Turco and Thornton, Nabokov, Michalek, Marleau) factoring in significantly towards the final result. What wasn't expected was how much the officating would take over the contest.

Devin Setoguchi and Patrick Rissmiller scored for the Teal, Craig Rivet beat the paste outta Steve Ott, and Nabby, who had the goalposts permanently engraved with his number, made start #31 this year, and stopped 18 shots in the losing effort.

The reffing wasn't why the Sharks lost, but it played a big part. What really cost the Sharks the two points was the lack of any effort in the 3rd period. Despite a real strong effort all around in the first 20 minutes, the same level of intensity was not reached again throughout the entire game.The Sharks really seem to be figuring out what it takes to win games, and as the season goes on and they keep doing those things, they'll only get better with those things and will win more games.

The Sharks get a chance to redeem themselves right away when they travel to Anaheim tomorrow to take on the Ducks (5:00). Tomorrow's contest is the first of three meetings between the California rivals this week (12/16 @ Anaheim, 12/18 and 12/22 @ SJ). Two Ducks make their season debuts tomorrow, although neither is new to the game. Recently un"retired" Scott Niedermayer returns to Anaheim along with newly acquired Doug Weight, whom the Ducks got from the Blues for Andy McDonald. Tomorrow's game should be another good one, hopefully it's decided by the players, and not the zebras.

GO SHARKS (Hey Neeeeeeeeedermayer)
-Jess