Do Call It a Comeback...

...Because For a While We Really Weren't Here.

Toronto 1 1 0 - 2
San Jose 0 0 3 - 3

I don't know how many recaps of Sharks games I've read this year in which one San Jose player or another (or their coach) has been quoted as saying "We just didn't come out ready tonight," or words to that effect. And it doesn't matter that I haven't kept track of the number, because the only acceptable number is zero.

The Sharks came out with very little spirit or energy tonight (again) and were outworked by the Toronto Maple Leafs for the entire first period and most of the second of a game that was broadcast on Hockey Night in Canada, falling behind 2-0. On the first goal, by Nik Antropov, San Jose was casual with the puck in their own zone and paid for it immediately. The second Toronto marker was as soft a goal as I've seen Evgeni Nabokov give up this season--a Pavel Kubina shot that went five hole. Goalies are always particularly bothered by goals that go through them, and this one went through Nabby. (A short time before, a scary moment as he went down to the ice for the better part of a minute after taking an inadvertent knee to the head from Antropov, and one wonders if that had anything to do with it).

After a period and three quarters of obliging playing Dr. Feelgood for a reeling team, the Sharks finally started to play with some spark towards the end of the second, putting the Leafs back on their heels and drawing a penalty just before the intermission. Then, at the start of the third, on the carry-over time of the ensuing power play, something finally went right for Patrick Marleau. After missing on the doorstep, he scored on a long shot that was deflected by Hal Gill and snuck through Toskala. That's hockey.

To the Sharks' credit, once they got rolling they kept their foot on the gas and pressed for the kill against a fragile, dispirited team. Another goal for Craig Rivet from the blueline is very encouraging--let's hope this trend continues. And it was great to see Joe Pavelski put one in the back of the net after a couple of good performances.

But the Sharks were very fortunate to play badly for more than half of the game and still thieve a come-from-behind 3-2 win tonight. What precisely will it take to get this team to come out with intensity and hard work every single night? With games against Anaheim, Dallas, and Detroit in the near future, an answer had better be forthcoming, and soon.