Down the Blues

The Sharks realize that this is truly a must-win game.  A loss puts them on the brink of elimination.  A win, ties the series.  You see how pivotal this game is now?

So what needs to happen?

We need to see Marleau, Thornton, and Pavelski have a big game.  These guys did a little in the first game, but since then haven't gotten on the scoresheet enough points-wise.  This team success begins and ends with this line.  The other line of Clowe, Couture, and Havlat have been making chances, but again, they need to get on the scoresheet more.  They aren't the big guns the first line should be (though they've been the better line, in my opinion).  Niemi also needs to steal the game if the scoring stays as stingy as it has, and it probably will stay that way with the Blues system being stingier than a fat kid with his cheez-its (Wait a second, that hits too close to home). 

Sharks just need to work harder.

Some Notes:
I'm loving what I'm seeing from some of the bottom units and Burns and Boyle.

Don't get me started on Vlasic.  I've noticed something about him and remembered I had issues with his play last playoffs.  Something gets in his head during April.  Hopefully he'll find some sort of redemption here tonight.

Murray is still slow.

Marleau has at least started finishing checks.  That's a good sign.  He still needs to pack his bags at the end of the season and get outta here!

Things are getting ugly and it's a league-wide epidemic.  Officials are not calling blatant penalties (Hit on Hossa), and I hate when coaches get fined for saying what needs to be said.  Refs should be held accountable and should be fined for crap like that.  Not the other way around like it is.  It's complete garbage that coaches get fined for those kinds of comments.  Especially when it's 10k versus Shea Weber getting 2.5k for his blatant misconduct.  I'm a fan of Weber, but there should have been more there.  At least 1 game for that incident with Zetterberg.  Oh and not to mention coaches get paid way less than players, but their fines always seem so much higher, that's right the most a player can be fined is 2.5k.  A crazy world we live in, people.

Here's to hoping the Sharks win tonight and I don't have to have too many good beers.

As always,

Go Sharks!