150108 – pregame Sharks @ Blues 5pm

TV: CSN CA

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Sharks Radio Network

Sharks start their second half of the season, and finish up a three-game road trip in St Louis; they have won the last two games, without Thornton in the lineup.  (He’s eligible to return to play from the IR in time for this game, but a roster move would be needed.) Sharks took their CBA-mandated day off on Wednesday in St Louis.

The Blues return from the road, including blowing out the Sharks last Saturday, and the Coyotes on Tuesday, for a lengthy home stand (three weeks, including ASG break). Brodeur, Allen and Elliot remain a “three headed” goaltending “monster”; no changes are currently planned. TJ Oshie’s hat trick against the Sharks propelled him to #1 NHL star of the week.

Niemi vs Elliot.  Thornton still out.

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Bleacher Report: 5 Bold Predictions for the San Jose Sharks in the New Year

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  • Goalie nods
  • Carrying three goalies not ‘troublesome’ for Blues

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150106 – postgame Sharks @ Wild

Pregame news/links

Late change in Wild lineup with Zach Parise out due to critical illness of father JP Parise.

Best mascot twitter exchange (before and after game):

Sharks/Stalock gave up two in the first (including one on a bad bounce on what should have been an icing), but battled back to take the lead by the middle of the third, only to have the Wild tie it up and send it to OT. Vlasic was the OT hero again, with a late GWG, giving the Sharks two more points (and allowing them to keep climbing the standings).

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150106 – pregame Sharks @ Wild 5pm

TV:  NBCSN

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Sharks Radio Network

No morning skate for the Sharks with the game yesterday. With the back-to-back games, and Niemi playing yesterday, Stalock is probably starting.

Wild is coming off Saturday 7-1 loss to the Stars.  They are out of the playoffs.  Could be a really hard-played game.

Kemper starting in goal for Wild. Prosser out sick.

Stalock is starting.  Hertl plans to wear cage.  Mueller and Hamilton with team.

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150105 – postgame Sharks @ Jets

Pregame news/links

Sharks start a stretch of four games in six nights with a win.  But Hertl took a puck to the face in the third and did not return (reported that picture of him has cut on upper lip).  Karlsson also had a hit to the head, but returned after his quiet time and concussion protocol checking.

The Sharks’ Vlasic scored with 4.5 seconds left to win the game.

Sharks almost had another goal when a puck trickled down the back of Jets’ Hutchinson’s back to the ice just “outside” the goal.  So close.

Quick international flight to (still cold) Minnesota to face the Wild on Tuesday.

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  • Vlasic scores in final seconds to lift Sharks past Jets

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Sharks are great off faceoffs

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150105 – WJC Bronze: Sweden vs Slovakia; Gold: Russia vs Canada

Day 11 – Last day.  Medal or bust.

Tournament images

Sweden (Bergman, Bergvik) playing Slovakia for Bronze. Russia (Goldobin) playing Canada for Gold.

Bronze: Slovakia vs Sweden:  RecapRosterGame SummarySwedish Play Stats

  • Swedish Sharks prospects – Julius Bergman #7 (Bergvik did not dress)
  • Commentators said that the Swedes “sleep walked” through warmups.  They gave up two quick goals before they started playing and evened up the score by the end of the first period.  But they seemed to not have recovered their pride from loss in semi-final and just could not get the killer instinct going.  Bergman made a late 2nd period cross check to the head which resulted in a five minute power play and his ejection; Slovakia scored the game winner and a late empty net goal to win bronze 4-2.
  • CP recap
  • NHL recap

Gold medal: Russia vs Canada:  RecapRosterGame SummaryRussian Play Stats

  • Russian Sharks prospect – Nikolai Goldobin #11
  • Canada was up 5-1 at the start of the third, but the Russians pushed hard at got the score to 5-4.
  • CP recap
  • NHL recap

Congrats to all the participants and their accomplishments.

150105 – pregame Sharks @ Jets 5pm

TV: CSN CA

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Sharks Radio Network

There is exactly ONE NHL game on the schedule Monday.  (Some may be paying attention to the WJC gold medal game — Russian Sharks prospect Nikolai Goldobin playing for Gold– which begins at 5pm as well; Bronze game starts at 1pm with Swedish Sharks draftee Julius Bergman playing.)

Joe Thornton has been put on IR (eligible to return Thursday in St Louis); Freddie Hamilton has been recalled. Micheal Haley has been returned to AHL Worcester (and Mirco Mueller is heading back from WJC).

Hutchinson seems to be the starter for the Jets.  Haven’t seen clarification of who’s starting for Sharks, but my guess is Niemi (and Stalock tomorrow).

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150103 – postgame Blues @ Sharks

Pregame news/links

The Sharks were booed, and many of the fans left before the end of the game.

Poor work ethic, bad execution.  Sharks gave up 7, including 2 power play goals, and an Oshie hat trick. One crazy bounce off defender and “impossible” angle goals against I can reserve my disdain.  But Niemi wasn’t the one who was trying to get a shot on the Blues’ net; seemed about 15 minutes between the first and second SOGs.

Pavelski played his 600th game, and notched his 20th goal of the season.

More later (maybe)

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150104 – WJC Russia vs Sweden semi-final

Day 10 – determine who’ll be playing for Gold. Two games.  One involving Sharks prospects playing against each other.

Semi finals feature Russia (Goldobin) vs Sweden (Bergman, Bergvik). Winner plays for Gold (or Silver); loser plays for Bronze.

Semi Finals: Russia vs Sweden:  RecapRosterGame SummaryRussian Play StatsSwedish Play Stats

150103 – WJC Switzerland vs Germany – relegation game 2

Day 9 – Relegation game 2.  The only game on the schedule.

Relegation – best of three games to determine who stays in top grouping, or heads down to next level.  Switzerland (Mueller, Rod) vs Germany. Win today and stay in the top grouping; lose and third/deciding game is played on Monday.

Switzerland commands the game and retains their position in the top division with a 5-2 win.  Germany just could not keep up.

Relegation: Switzerland vs Germany – RecapRosterGame SummarySwiss Player stat

    • Swiss Sharks prospects – Mirco Mueller #5; Noah Rod #26
    • NHL recap