1/17/08 dallas 4, SHARKS 2

They say it's not how you start, it's how you finish. Boy how right they are.

For the third consecutive game, the San Jose Sharks have scored the game's first goal, and for the third consecutive game, the same San Jose Sharks have lost, yielding the game winning goal in the final period of play (3rd Period/Overtime). Milan Michalek had the opening marker this time, scoring on a broken play started by cement-footed defensive tower Alexei Semenov. After a a pair of goals by the Stars, the Sharks opened the 3rd Period by knotting up the score on a Joe Thornton shot that took a crazy bounce off a defenseman's stick and past goalie Marty Turco. Evgeni Nabokov made the start in net, and stopped 27 shots in the loss.

The Sharks loss to Dallas is their third this year on home ice. Despite that lop-sided stat, however, the season series is now even at 3, as the Sharks have won the 3 games played in Dallas. Home ice advantage? Naw.

Saturday brings a familiar opponent to the Tank, and a formidible one too in the Detroit Red Wings (7:30). The Wings are somehow managing to run all over the league again, despite having guys that are 73 years old (Chelios, Hasek, Osgood). They're currently in 1st in the Central division, 1st in the Western Conference, 1st in the league, and 1st in our hearts (ok, maybe not, thank goodness), however they've cooled a bit recently, losing 3 of their last 5 contests. The Wings lead the season series 2-0, winning 4-2 in SJ on 10/18 and 5-1 in Detroit on 10/26. I don't know many people that are expecting a Sharks win tomorrow, but that doesn't mean they won't be happily surprised.

GO SHARKS (SURPRISE ME)
-Jess