Barracuda vs Gulls 151023

Deja vu.  The Gulls and Barracuda tangle again, 48 hours after their last encounter.  (The Barracuda leave immediately after the game to head to Ontario for a Saturday evening game.)

Stollery suspended for one game for his elbow in Wednesday’s game.  Haley reassigned to Barracuda.  (Lerg may be returning as well with Donskoi, Smith, and Martin potentially back in the NHL lineup.)

7pm game – doors open at 6:15.

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The guys still seem to be looking for the perfect pass, the perfect SOG.  Not gonna happen.  Especially with a NHL-caliber goalie in net.  Gotta get the dirty goals, the fast shots to even have a chance.

There were some fireworks tonight, starting with Bickel vs Arseneau about 90 seconds into the contest.  That set the tone for a lot of physicality, with a parade to the penalty box, primarily for the Barracuda.

Gulls won on the shot clock, zone time and on the scoreboard.

Little time to lick their wounds, as the guys boarded a bus after the game for an overnight trip to Ontario to face the Reign Saturday 6pm.

Sharks vs Kings 151022

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Sharks return home from their four-game road trip, trying to reverse their two-game losing streak, and overcoming the list of injuries.  Couture is out for another 3-5 weeks; Martin returned to practice, but won’t be available tonight; Donskoi also has returned to practice, but is another still out.

Lerg was recalled from the Barracuda.

Jones will be facing his former team for the second time, first time on his (new) home ice.  Christian Ehrhoff will be patrolling the blue line for his new team, returning to former home environs.

One major topic of discussion on the concourse tonight will be the traffic heading to Levi Stadium for a Thursday football game that fans had to avoid to get to SAP Center.

Barracuda vs Gulls 151021

After notching a couple of wins on the road, the Barracuda return home to host the San Diego Gulls, affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.

Barracuda roster is variable, based on the health of Sharks players (potential return of Goldobin and Lerg, based on health of Donskoi and Smith, respectively), Karlsson (potential season debut after lower body injury), and Bergman (food poisoning).

Roster update: Goldobin, Lerg, DeMelo assigned to Barracuda; Haley, Mueller recalled. And Karlsson expected to play.

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A much better game, but after putting up a two goal lead, an own goal at the end of the first started the downturn.

The Barracuda were on the PK seemingly most of the night, with only two PP themselves.  (Lots of uncalled stuff.)

Karlsson looked OK for his return to play, but did not have the stamina for a full game.

Lerg was good after his demotion, a little ball of energy getting involved with a lot.

McCarthy interacted well with the zebras (and Lerg may have been one of those receiving an infraction).  There was one incident that resulted in a Gulls player receiving a big hit (and taken off the ice, under his own power), heading to the medical side for review.  (Did not notice if he returned to the game.)  The Zebras huddled, but no infractions were doled out.

There were perhaps 1,500 planned for attendance, but it seemed smaller than that.  And cold.  (Will definitely pack a layer or two for week day games in the future.)

Barracuda @ Condors 151017

Barracuda got on the bus to central California to face the affiliate of the NHL Edmonton Oilers, the Bakersfield Condors.

Julius Bergman made his season debut. Dell in nets.

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Some crazy non-goals and goals (that perhaps should have been the other way ’round), but the Cuda prevail 4-3 in regulation.  Haley had two goals (named #1 SOTG), Dell made 30 saves.

Sharks @ Rangers 151019

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Against the Islanders on Saturday, Stalock got the start on the second game of back-to-backs; DeMelo made his NHL debut. But the team only played (strong) 40 minutes, going off the rails in the third, losing 6-3, including an empty netter.  D Martin out with lower body injury (after skating 30+ minutes the night before).  Smith hit in ear by (Vlasic) slap shot and did not return to play. Hearing that Bryan Lerg has been recalled (I guess for Smith).

Rangers played the Devils Sunday afternoon, so the Sharks are the “rested” team going into Monday’s game. Former Shark Dan Boyle not surprised has been a recent healthy scratch, but pundits now bemoan the contract, cap hit, and NMC. The Rangers have lost their last three games including a 1-2 OT loss to the Devils. Stoll returned to the lineup Sunday, but that was not enough of a spark.  The only player not being criticized is Lundqvist; there is some thought that Lundqvist may get the start on Monday, even though he played Sunday (and all games thus far), but Raanta could be the starter, against the “Jumbo Shrimps”. At 3-2-1, the coach does not want his team to go below 0.500.

Morning skate update: Martin Jones vs Antti Raanta tonight.  Paul Martin, Joonas Donskoi, Ben Smith out.

Sharks @ Islanders 151017

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Friday night, while Martin Jones was setting a new Sharks shutout record at 234:33, enroute to a 2-1 SO win, the Islanders were at home on the couch. Nikolay Goldobin made his NHL debut, and Ben Smith made his season debut. The Sharks perfect PK record ended as well.  (The Sharks are leading the Pacific Division as of Friday night.)  (Couture has returned to California and is set for surgery on Saturday to repair his broken leg; out 4-6 weeks.)

Islanders are 2-1-1 on the season. (2-0-1 at home) Former Shark Thomas Griess, signed as an UFA this summer as the back up goalie, has been holding down the fort while #1 goalie Jaroslav Halak has been recovering from an upper body injury suffered during training camp. Halak may make his season debut Saturday, based on how Friday’s practice went. The Islanders claimed G Berube off waivers who has backed up Griess thus far; they plan to keep three goalies on the roster for now.

Given the back-to-back games, Stalock may be starting for the Sharks.

(May update after morning skate)

Sharks @ Devils 151016

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Tuesday’s win in a shutout puts Jones 44 seconds from tying franchise record (held by Stalock). Paul Martin skated in his 700th game. And a successful first coach’s challenge from DeBoer kept it a shutout. (Ovechkin did not play as he overslept and missed morning skate, violating team rules.)  Sharks are crediting their improved shot blocking as one reason why they are up 3-0 this season.

Big news before morning skate is that Couture broke his fibula in practice yesterday; returning to SJ for surgery (on Saturday); expected to be out 4-6 weeks.  Goldobin has been recalled, but appears to be replacing Donskoi in the lineup; Smith expected to make his season debut.  Hertl has moved up to be the 2nd line center from morning skate reports; more may be expected of him.

DeBoer is returning to his previous coaching gig; he was fired the day after Christmas last year, but did take the team to the Stanley Cup final in his first season behind their bench.

On the other side of the ice, the Devils, 0-3-0 are still looking for their first win. Schneider missed the last game for the birth of his son, so could have some extra motivation in net. The Devils have yet to have a lead this season, playing from behind. Zajac hoped to return to the lineup against the Sharks after missing some practices, but remains out with nagging injury.  Larsson moves on from former bench boss, ready to face his team.  Tootoo was fined for a dangerous trip in the Devils last game (max CBA amount).

Barracuda @ Heat 151015

Barracuda hit the road after losing their first.  They took the weekend for some team bonding with a camping trip.

From morning skate: Goldobin not on ice (assumed recall due to apparent Couture injury in NHL).  Dell to start.  Helewka to make pro debut.

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Was it the weekend of team bounding, more practice, or something else?  The team played much better, were more cohesive and contained the Heat well, while flexing their offensive muscles.  Good first win.

Emanuelsson and Helewka made their season/pro debuts respectively.

Next up: @ Bakersfield Condors on Saturday

Barracuda vs Ice Hogs 151009

(Apologies; didn’t realize this wasn’t posted last week!)

First game for the Barracuda.  At Home.  Season opener.

Rockford is starting their season on the road.  Here in SJ Friday, and in Stockton on Saturday.

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(No, it’s not the first AHL regular season game in San Jose.  During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the Sharks brought their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Barons to HP Pavilion on November 9, 2004; playing AHL Edmonton.)

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The Good: Perfect PK. 50% PP.

The Bad: Nerves, bad bounces, poor positioning.

The Ugly: 2-4 loss in first ever game.

The veterans kept the game from getting totally out of control, while the rookies (including McNally, Goldobin, Jevpalovs) and some young players (including Mueller) had some issues of looking for a perfect shot/pass/positioning, getting out of position to avoid a hit, etc.

Sommer does not have a perfect club, so there will be things to work on, including some better 5×5 offense, as both goals were scored on the PP.  (Now, Rockford does have a top goalie with some NHL experience, but you have to be able to win against all comers.)

Team will take a couple of days after Friday’s game to head out for some team bonding while camping.

Emanuelsson and Karlson did not play as they continue to recover.

Sharks @ Capitals 151013

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And they’re off!  Sharks are on their first cross country trip of the season.  A chance for the team to bond, and the Eastern Conference pundits to see the mettle of this season’s team teal.  The trip starts in Washington, then three games in/near NYC before heading home to host the Kings. Very similar to the five game road trip, that included Boston, last season.

Sharks took care of business in their home opener, with Jones notching a shut out and Marleau with two goals —  the only scoring of the game.

First up: Washington Capitals, last season’s home for Joel Ward.  (View of Ward’s return from the other side. Ward looking for his first point against the Caps.)

“No goalie has as many shutouts in as few career games as Martin Jones, ever.  Eight shutouts in 36 games played.”

Ovechkin is historically an offensive force; 1-1=2 in first game.  So the Sharks will need to ensure he’s covered defensively, AND get goals past Holtby (probable starter), to win this one.  Coach Trotz was not impressed with the team’s play in their season/home opener, even though they won. But there is pressure on the team to win.

Time to prove that Teal is Real.  And should be ranked a better team than the Caps. Caps may have issues on faceoffs after off-season personnel changes.

Sharks morning skate cira 8:30am PT; more will be known about starters and if DeMelo will get his NHL debut scheduled.