Beating Them at Their Own Game

Three goals had been scored in tonight's game at the Tank between the Sharks and the Eastern Conference-leading Montreal Canadiens before I even took the first sip of my beer. The early flurry set the tone for the game, which was an absolute fire drill by San Jose standards, and therefore played precisely into the hands of the high-scoring Habs. Add in the fact that the generally ragged play induced a number of lapses in discipline by the Sharks, resulting in penalties that put the fearsome Canadiens power play on the ice far too often, and it seems a small miracle that the Sharks came out with a 6-4 win.

It was certainly great to see fantastic goals by Cheechoo and Marleau tonight, Big Joe was his usual self, and even Jody Shelley got a goal (just reward for all the hard work he's put in wearing a Sharks sweater), but certainly the most electrifying moment of the night was Brian Campbell's clincher with just under two minutes left in the game, providing the final margin. Campbell displayed his skating and stickhandling skills, beating former Shark Josh Gorges (EDIT: My mistake. Looking at the replay, Campbell actually beat Mike Komisarek on that goal. I don't know how I got it in my head that it was Gorges. Sorry, Josh. Okay, I think I know why...it's because Cheechoo beat Gorges on his goal.) with the characteristic spin move we have seen from him several times since his arrival with the team, then sliding the puck under Habs goalie Carey Price's pad. The crowd at the Tank went nuts--hopefully the fan response will help Campbell become favorably disposed to the idea of sticking around San Jose for a while. (Memo to Brian Campbell: We like you! We really like you! Memo to Doug Wilson: Sign Brian Campbell long-term. Do it now.)

Unlike almost all their other games this season, tonight the Sharks were explosive in the offensive end but ragged in their own zone. That's probably not the recipe for consistent success in the Pacific Division over the rest of the season, but it provided one hell of an entertaining hockey game.


Price

The Canadiens are a very legitimate contender for the Stanley Cup, and therefore many hockey observers were surprised to see Bob Gainey trade goaltender Cristobal Huet to Washington at the trade deadline, thus placing the Habs' hopes squarely and unambiguously on the shoulders of twenty-year-old Carey Price.

American sports fans are probably going to have trouble conceiving that the following could be true, but I really think it is: there is no more pressure-filled role in all of North American sports than the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens. It seem to me an extraordinary decision to place such a young player in that position. (Yes, Patrick Roy was able to handle it in 1986, but...well, he's Patrick Roy.) But seriously, who am I to question Bob Gainey (one of my favorite hockey people, by the way)? The kid obviously has rare talent.

But he looked like he got a bit flustered tonight. He was victimized by some bad luck and probably let in a couple that he should have had, and at moments he was clearly rattled. I guess my point is that inevitably he's going to have legions of critics in Montreal without being tough on himself. As the playoffs heat up, he could definitely take some tips from the guy who was in the other crease tonight...Nabokov is one of he calmest goalies I've ever watched. He usually looks as if he barely has a pulse.

For those counting, that's six wins in a row for the Sharks. Ottawa Wednesday.