Day 13 with apologies for lack of much new info
DETROIT — I confess. I had some personal business to take care of today and ended up making the drive from Columbus to Detroit by way of Cincinnati. Check out any map — you’ll see this wasn’t the most direct route.
The only hockey update I’ve got is something you might already know. The Sharks called up Devin Setoguchi from Worcester today. I’m advised that at practice, he skated as a fourth member of the Plihal-Marleau-Pavelski line.
Wish I had more to pass along. I suppose there’s something to be said that if the Sharks are ever going to beat the Red Wings, this is the time. Between the injuries to some of Detroit’s top players and the boost San Jose has gotten from the arrival of Brian Campbell … well, who am I to add to the obvious pressure on the Sharks to come away with the two points.
Ron Wilson likes to say that all games are equally important because it’s all about those two points. Technically, of course. he’s correct. But the Sharks coach might get an argument from some Sharks fans as far as Friday’s game is concerned.
P.S. Why sportswriters love Detroit: There is ALWAYS something going on at the downtown hotel where most of us stay, a first-class establishment. This time around, it’s a tattooed humans convention. And we’re not talking about that tiny little flower just above the ankle. This is a Scott Parker crowd, to be sure.
That’s ok David, there ain’t much happenin’ here either.
1) Does the second line of Plihal-Marleau-Pavelski really need to be threatened with a Setoguchi appearance? Pavelski (arguably) had his best game of the season vs Columbus.
2) The Stars have found their Jumbo: Brad Richards vs Chicago = 5 points, 54% faceoff percentage.
If he averages 3 points a game in the next 10 games then I’ll worry. On a similar note, I don’t think Buffalo found there Ovechkin in Bernier.
Touché on Richards, SacBen… Perhaps Pittsburgh found their Havlat in Hossa: 14 shifts, 1 shot, 1 sprained MCL.
what a bad break for the Pens. I thought they gave up a lot for a guy that might be a rental. Hopefully for the Pens and my fantasy team he’ll be back soon. If he doesn’t recover 100% by playoffs that’ll magnify that trades logic or lack there of.
Just a thought to stir some things up. Does this halfboard thing that Joe always does good for our power play?
I heard he did it in Boston and was critcized for not going to the front of the net. Other teams’ power plays have a lot of movement while ours is very passive. Once Joe sets up there he doesnt like to move around a whole lot and it seems our power play gets very predictable.
Give the Sharks a few practices with Campbell and you’ll see Joe change his approach on the power play. Joe didn’t have a power play quarter back in Boston that I can recall. Now that we have one we will change our approach and increase the movement in front of the net.
Oh, and to answer your question. It is effective against teams with weaker/smaller defensmen, but not so effective against the Prongers and others that have as long a reach as Joe does.
Oh, and Campbell should carry the puck across the line instead of using the dump and chase method.
Joe on the halfboard is one good way to set up the power play. After all, it did result in one of the top power plays in the league last year. But having only that one set-up hurt us late last year because teams figured out how to defend it. That’s why I’m excited about Campbell, to have two guys out there who can hold and distribute allows for lots of different setups and makes it a lot harder to defend. There’s not way a PK can afford to double Joe any more, which should give him more options. And teams won’t be able to play a tight box because they’ll have to come out and pressure the point. Here’s hoping for some exciting hockey down the stretch.
Joe can sit on the halfboards all day long if he wants, as long as the other four guys out there are moving around to keep the passing lanes open…
What awful news for the Pens. They sure gave up a lot to get Hossa. I have to say, I’m glad DW made the move he did (Campbell) rather than sell the farm to get the now injured Hossa.
As far as the PP, with the quick passing of Campbell, I’ll bet our percentage will go up quite a bit.
Niall #9…EXACTLY! No reason for him to change where he is comfy and dangerous. If Campbell really can play the point well, that won’t allow teams to double-team Joe on the half boards. If the other guys keep their feet moving and the defense has to react, Joe will have a field day passing. Where they get in trouble is going to their spots and just standing there…but they’ve been better of late.
GaSF…I guess I basically said the same thing as you did earlier…LOL
What they still do need to work on, once Campbell gets comfortable, is zone entry. Yeah Campbell is a good, quick skater, so he’ll be able to carry it in some of the time. But if the opposition stacks the blueline, that’s not going to work and the whole team has got to be able to adjust quickly. Stacking the blue-line leaves a PK vulnerable to well executed flip-ins, but the Sharks have to have the ability to recognize and adjust quickly. Detroit adjusts on the ice better than anyone else; it’s one of those ‘little things’ that have a big impact on winning or losing a game (or a playoff series).
With a well executed pass out of the D zone, it will make it easier to have our forwards build up enough speed into the O zone to blast by their stacked up defense and get possession in the zone. We weren’t getting that pass before consistently, but very often I see our forwards get to the puck first. You’re right about the wings fast D men. They make it hard to play the dump & chase game.
Beating an Anaheim or Dallas trap with the dump-n-chase hasn’t worked out for the Sharks this season, but Campbell seems to handle accurate stretch passes well so there’s hope. With a little luck, Ehrhoff and Carle will catch on.
#15
Just for my sake, can you then explain how we managed to get four wins over those two teams this season?
#16 Ivano,
I know the question wasn’t directed at me, but I’ll give it a shot.
My guess is that we scored more goals than they did. Am I a genius or what?
Dick, LMAO.
Ivano, I’ll give it a shot too. I think we won those games because the game was decided on the ice and NOT on paper.
Wow. It’s like three goons moved in and sucked all the air out of the Sharks. And you’ve got the same sweater numbers as the Hansons - 16, 17, and 18.
Re: Redwings game. No wonder they have a great home record. If the officials protected the Sharks at home we’d have a much better record as well. I don’t think I’ve EVER seen balanced officiating there….it is weird…
Re; Red Wings spoiler…hahha…so funny to watch the refs try to make it up to Wings by giving them a 5 on 3 after the bogus Sharks net goal…
Excellent win tonight! Even if the Wings are down a few D-men, still a very valuable effort on the road.
Best of all, Marleau had a solid game. Played very well all three periods. Finalment Patty!!!
Nabby should use his loaf a bit better and not take stupid penalties when his team has the momentum 10 minutes from the end of the game. He had some great saves after giving up the second goal but it was a senseless, and selfish penalty.
Anyway, well done guys! one more victory before coming home please.
Sharks finally did it. Now let’s not relax and get it done in St Louis.
What looked like a road trip from hell is nicely turning into another nice road winning streak.
And nice to have Setoguchi back. Hopefully, see you next season, Plihal.
I really get nervous watching this team trying to hold a lead. We tried to sit back again and it nearly cost us-again. Good job Sharkies, now go get em in St. Louis.
Kudos to Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who not only denied Zetterberg an easy goal, then as time ran out, made a great lay down play to save a pass across for a sure goal.
A lot folks had the Sharks out of playoffs after this road trip… Since I just got my invoice for the first round it’s nice to see some wins.