Barracuda @ Condors 151118 (10:30am)

First morning game of the season.

Boys had the day off Sunday after returning from San Diego.  With an optional practice on Monday, and full practice on Tuesday, with newly arrived Mike Aviani (ECHL Florida) and the three from ECHL Allen. They’re heading to Bakersfield Tuesday afternoon and spending the night to be ready for their morning game.  Parkes, with 41 stitches (inside and out) skating with jaw protection.

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Dell in net. Lerg scored the only ‘Cuda goal in regulation in the third, after the Condors took a 1st period lead. Nothing was decided in OT.  No Barracuda player was able to score in the shootout.

So, the team extends their point streak, but end their win streak at two.

Sharks @ Flyers 151119

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After trading goals with Bruins, Sharks pulled ahead, with five different scorers and held on to win in Boston, with four of the five goals scored against the B’s top defensive D/F: Bergeron, Chara.  Marleau notched his 999th point.

On to Philadelphia.  On Tuesday night, they hosted the Kings, losing in shootout. They’ve been playing through some injuries. Streit out 6 weeks after pubic plate detachment surgery (as if I knew what that meant; tl; dr — call it a hip injury). Umberger still out. Neuvirth is ready to return to the lineup. Rookie Gostisbehere,  taking Streit’s roster spot, seems to have provided spark to lineup.

Sharks had an optional practice at Penn State Wednesday (in part because arena had basketball game on Wednesday). Marleau would like to get his 1000th point to get the milestone behind him, and keep earning points.

Update: Mason starting for Philadelphia. Jones starting; same lineup.

Sharks @ Bruins 151117

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Whew.  Sharks won for only the SECOND time in Buffalo.  In OT.  Sigh.

And great to have back-to-back wins (for the first time since the first four games of the season).  Sorry McGinn and Gorges – Sharks won the bragging rights.

Now to continue to notch the wins and increase the points, climbing the division standings.

Next up, the Boston Bruins.

Pastrnak is out with a broken foot.

On Monday, DeBoer indicated that Jones would be starting tonight.

(Dainius Zubrus has signed a PTO and is practicing with team.  Expected to be around for a week before the team makes a decision to sign him or release him.)

Barracuda @ Gulls 151114

Teams are back it on Saturday.   The Barracuda would like to get another 2 points, while the Gulls would like to get two points (not one) after last night.

I’ll expect Dell to be in net for the ‘Cuda tonight with Grosenick playing last night.

Gulls lose a couple of players to NHL call ups (and replaced by a couple of guys), including (thorn in the side) Ritchie.

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Barracuda sweep 2-game series in San Diego.  Sweet.  Great to see things “working” and clicking on the ice so that the team gets a win.

Sharks @ Sabres 151114

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Friday night, the Sharks get a 3-2 win over the Red Wings, breaking a losing streak.  But still didn’t score a power-play goal in two attempts.

Saturday, they’re in Buffalo to play the Sabres. Each team has an 8-8-0 record. Major changes to the Buffalo organization over the summer include the hiring of coach Bylsma and drafting of Eichel #2 overall.  Lots of excitement in the city.

The Sabres are on a three-game winning streak.  The Sharks are at a 1-game winning streak (and haven’t put together back-to-back wins since the first four games of the season).  Doesn’t look like Bogosian is ready to return to the lineup against the Sharks.

Since Jones played Friday against the Red Wings, it’s likely that Stalock will get the start against the Sabres.

Update: Former Shark Jamie McGinn expected to skate for Sabres (and former Sharks Josh Gorges). Sabres looking for their first “winning” record since 2013 tonight.

Barracuda @ Gulls 151113

Game 2 (and 3) of road trip at San Diego. Team arrived in San Diego Thursday, and practiced, before Friday morning skate.

A few transactions: Arseneau and Steffes to ECHL Allen. Gallant (ECHL Utah) and Hanson (Allen), signed to PTOs; Doremus recalled from Allen.

Gulls are 9-2-0.  Barracuda are 3-6-1.  Barracuda are 0-2-1 against Gulls this season.

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A bunch of missed calls, disallowed goals.  The Barracuda came from behind to tie it up late in regulation, apparently scored in OT (but was waived off/not reviewed), thwarted a penalty shot, and successfully negotiated the shootout to win over the Gulls.

Sharks @ Red Wings 151113

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Two games under 0.500, fourth in the division and ninth in the conference, the Sharks head out on a cross-country road trip, hoping to get some points against the Eastern Conference and get back in a playoff slot.

But that may not be the emphasis of the first game, with the national stage focusing on the pending season debut of Pavel Datsyuk. The Wings are desperate for scoring and hope to get a scoring and emotional lift from his return.  Or the attention might be on Justin Abdelkader and his new 7 year extension.  But Brad Richards and Kyle Quincey will be out.

The Sharks are coming off a disappointing four game homestand, where they had ONE win. And they still haven’t scored a power play goal at home this season, and now are last in the league in PP at 11.4%. On the bright side, has been the return of Melker Karlsson to the lineup from a pre-camp injury; although slated to play on the 3rd line, he was quickly promoted to the top line with the two Joes in an attempt to recoup their chemistry from last season.

Logan Couture is traveling with the team, but is still not healed enough to even start practicing with the team on this trip.

Update: Howard vs Jones. Bottom 3 lines shake up.

Barracuda @ Reign 151111

Barracuda start out on a seven game road trip.  This week, it’s three games in SoCal, starting with the Reign on Wednesday, and the Gulls on Friday and Saturday.

The Sharks recalled Karlsson, Goldobin and Mueller (for their 6-game road trip).

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The Reign came out and scored two on Dell in the first. The Barracuda halved the deficit in the second, but even with an extended 5-on-3 PP, they were not able to tie it up before the end of regulation.

Sharks vs Islanders 151110

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The good news from Saturday’s game? Jones/Sharks didn’t let Anaheim score more than one goal.

The bad news?  Sharks didn’t score any goals.  Oh, they were close a few times, including a “off the post” that was originally called a goal, but reversed after review.

The worst news? The Sharks still haven’t scored a power play goal at home.

Time to put that behind and look forward to playing the Islanders, and get some revenge for the loss in Barclay Center last month.  This is the last Sharks home game for a few weeks as the team will set out on a six-game, cross country road trip. (The next home game will be against Chicago the evening before Thanksgiving.)

After Saturday’s game, Cundari, Goldobin, Lerg were assigned to the AHL Barracuda. Melker Karlsson has been looking good in the AHL after a pre-camp injury, and could see a recall before the Sharks head out on the road. And he was recalled Monday; he practiced on the third line.  Smith is still out.  (With the Barracuda heading out on an extended road trip themselves starting on Tuesday in SoCal, I’m thinking there may be some additional recalls for an extra forward or two and a defenseman for the road trip.)  Monday night was the annual Sharks and Strikes bowling charity fundraiser.

The Islanders hosted the Bruins Sunday, losing 1-2, their second loss in a row. On Monday, they called up Adam Pelech (younger brother of former Shark Matt Pelech); he could make his NHL debut against the Sharks. The Islanders (7-5-3) head to California for a 3-game trip, landing in San Jose first. The Islanders are looking for offense on this trip.

Sharks need to get out of their two-game losing slump and extend the Islanders’.  Including the AHL Barracuda, in the six games so far this month, there are only two wins on home ice.

Update: Goldobin and Mueller recalled Tuesday morning. Jones confirmed as Sharks starter.  Former Shark Thomas Greiss named starter for Islanders; no word if the other former Shark on Islanders roster, Steve Bernier, will be in lineup.

Barracuda vs Condors 151108

The ‘Cuda are back at it after a Saturday loss.

This time, against the Bakersfield Condors, affiliate of the NHL Edmonton Oilers.

Sharks have assigned Cundari, Goldobin and Lerg back to Barracuda, so all could be in the line up this afternoon. Goldobin played the NHL game Saturday night, the other two were healthy scratches.

Condors played the Stockton Heat on Friday, practiced in San Jose (Sharks Ice) on Saturday, in preparation for today’s game.

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Barracuda scored 35 seconds in, fell behind after Condors scored two, tied it up, but the Condors took the lead for good before the end of the first period. And Dell was replaced at the intermission; Grosenick went the rest of the game.  But the ‘Cuda were not able to score anything more, while the Condors added two more.

‘Cuda get the day off Monday, before practicing Tuesday and starting out on their first leg of their 7-game road trip.  (Southern California — Ontario and San Diego — for three games this coming weekend.  Then Central California — Bakersfield and Stockton — individual “day” trips.  Finally two games cross country to Charlotte, returning just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.