Mmmm. Shark. Another game where the Stars gave up the first goal and looked completely beatable for most of the first period, then caught up to themselves and turned the game around. I don’t even worry about giving up the first goal anymore. It doesn’t seem to have any bearing on whether they win or lose.
The penalty killing was a thing of beauty again. They did give up one goal, but they also gave up only 2 shots to the Sharks power play, according to Razor. And, to be fair, the Sharks’ power play is number one in the league. So one goal is really like zero goals against any other team.
The power play managed two goals, as well. Who knows, maybe we can overtake the Sharks in the PP rankings.
When you have a good road team and a good home team, and you have a top-five power-play and a top-five penalty-kill, I think you’re going to go far.
Once again, most of the scoring came from the Ribeiro line. Miettinen got his goal tipping in Mike Modano’s shot on the power play. That was a really nice little play and it’s more evidence that Miettinen is just slopping over with confidence these days. It’s the kind of shot that you might assume is just lucky, with Mo’s shot just happening to hit Mittens’ stickblade and going in over the goalie’s head. But both of those guys knew just what they were doing. Mittens got into position and let Mo know he was there. Then Mo shot the puck low and straight at his stick, for the express purpose of getting a tip-in.
It was a really good all-around game, I thought. Even though the top line got all the scoring (plus Ott’s empty-net goal), the other lines all contributed in their own ways.
Ott played a really rough-and-tumble game and drew an instigator penalty again. He basically finished a normal check on Thornton and Craig Rivet raced over to him and started beating on him before Ott got his gloves off. Rivet got 19 assorted penalty minutes.
I’m on the side of eliminating the instigator penalty, in theory, but if it means you can just grab a guy and start whaling on him before he has a chance to defend himself, I’m not so sure. Is that part of the code? The one that’s so unwritten I can’t look it up? I could understand being enraged by a head shot or a hit from behind and then going after that player, but I think this time, Rivet was just looking for an excuse because Ott had irked him earlier, and just pounced on the first sign of contact on Thornton.
After the game he played, Ott deserved the empty netter.
PB and Chocolate really are playing great together. That Ribs goal was so sweet.
PB and Chocolate really are playing great together.
Hee hee! I saw that (was it Heika or Meyers?)! We should call them the Reese’s line. Two great players that play great together.
Thank god for the PK. I think Razor was saying there had been a total of 11 power plays combined, excluding 4 on 4 time?
That’s crazy!
HAHA! Ott getting his shit handed to him was probably my favorite part of the game. Too funny.
And I know I’m late to the party here, but the Sharks PP is actually middle of the pack. It’s their PK that was at #1 (not that it helped, Stars’ PP looked friggin’ amazing).
It’s their PK that was at #1
Oh! That must be what I was thinking. Thanks!
Ott getting his shit handed to him was probably my favorite part of the game. Too funny.
I’m sure it helps when you start before the guy gets his gloves off!
“I’m sure it helps when you start before the guy gets his gloves off!”
Oh now Patty…Otter’s a big boy, he can go toe-to-toe with any guy in the league. Don’t be upset that Rivet made a human punching bag out of him! They’ll play again soon enough, and he can then have his chance to even the score.
Oh now Patty…Otter’s a big boy, he can go toe-to-toe with any guy in the league.
That’s true. Otter apparently found it funny, too, so I don’t get too mad. If Rivet had done that to Niskanen or was stupid enough to go after Zubov, he’d have been in more than penalty trouble.
I know Otter is a pest, but what do y’all think of him as the other team, andrew? Just as a pest? Surely he’s not hated like Avery or somebody like that, is he? Because we love him.
“I know Otter is a pest, but what do y’all think of him as the other team, andrew? Just as a pest? Surely he’s not hated like Avery or somebody like that, is he?”
No, he’s definitely not up there with Avery….few people are. He’s just a pest. As far as Sharks fans are concerned the most hated list goes: Chris Pronger, Theo Fluery, Ed Belfour, then everyone else.
“If Rivet had done that to Niskanen or was stupid enough to go after Zubov, he’d have been in more than penalty trouble.”
He wouldn’t have. Rivet is really not a goon, he’s a very smart player and a team leader. I’d be very shcoked if he went after a skill player like Zubie.
I’d be very shocked if he went after a skill player like Zubie.
Good. Then I’ll leave him off my list for now. His going after Otter was Otter’s fault, and Otter’s plan, so I don’t get too riled up about that. :D
As far as Sharks fans are concerned the most hated list goes: Chris Pronger, Theo Fluery, Ed Belfour, then everyone else.
Ed Belfour? WTH? :D Sure he’s a nut and stuff, but up there with Chris Pronger? Interesting.
I’d have to think about it to list Stars fans’ most hated. My personal list is easy, but hard to say about everybody else. Of course, Chris Pronger leads it. And Jeremy Roenick, of course. And Bryan Marchment. Maybe it’s not that hard after all.
And Owen Nolan’s probably on there, too.
“Ed Belfour? WTH? :D Sure he’s a nut and stuff, but up there with Chris Pronger? Interesting.”
Back in ‘97 the Sharks traded 3 players for Belfour, hired his old favorite Darryl Sutter, and basically did everything they could to make him want to play there. So, he played 13 games before the season ended and on July 2nd he signed with the Stars, for less money and fewer years than the Sharks were offering. Ever since then Sharks fans have hated him, bad.
“Maybe it’s not that hard after all.”
Totally easy!
Back in ‘97 the Sharks traded 3 players for Belfour, hired his old favorite Darryl Sutter, and basically did everything they could to make him want to play there.
Ah. He really is a jerk, isn’t he? :D
“Ah. He really is a jerk, isn’t he? :D”
And a drunk!