It took nearly two periods for the Sharks to arrive, but the Canucks didn't stand a chance once they did. While it wasn't anywhere near a 60-minute effort, the last 20 minutes were the best the Sharks have played so far this season and it proved to be the difference in a game that could have gone either way after 40 minutes.
I don't know how anyone else feels, but I find it extremely frustrating watching the Sharks play at times because the talent is always right there, so close to the surface. I'll cuss at the screen, toss the remote control, throw up my hands and stomp around the room, and that's just after Goc drew the play offside on that shorthanded 2-on-1 in the second period. Imagine if I was actually a Sharks fan. Hahaha Anyway, it makes them a very easy team to criticize, because they have the personnel but they don't put in the consistent effort. We can only imagine how good the Sharks would be if they brought some intensity from the starting gate.
It's much harder to criticize the Canucks, because they just don't have the talent to compete offensively. The Sedins are fantastic, but when Ryan Kesler, Brad Isbister and Taylor Pyatt are seeing regular power play minutes there's not much you can say besides "be more talented." I mean, if you combine the career-high season point totals of those three players it equals 102 points. That's what Joe Thornton calls an off year. They rarely got outworked, but when the Canucks lose they're usually outgunned.
San Jose will coast through entire periods casually, without any urgency. Once again, for whatever reason, San Jose wasn't ready to compete during the first half of the game. The defense couldn't move the puck, every shot was coming from 50-60 feet out, there were too many lazy penalties, Vancouver was snapping up all the loose pucks, it seemed every other time San Jose gained the zone there was an offside called, nobody was being hit or cleared from the front of the net, etc., etc. The Sharks' first legitimate scoring chance didn't come until a deflection by Michalek midway through the second period.
However, Team Teal managed to turn the switch in the third period and they were a completely different team. Suddenly players were going to the net, they were moving the puck with confidence, and forwards were creating second chances off rebounds. It started with Pavelski beating Luongo on a great individual effort, and the Sharks just kept coming. Thornton's goal was a beauty, going to the net and taking the puck wide around a sprawling Luongo. Finally, Cheechoo ended his goal-scoring drought with a nice second effort.
It was also nice to see Marleau stretching the ice on Bernier's goal. I'm not sure how many two-line passes the Sharks have attempted this season, but I probably have more toes on my left foot. Finally a breakaway that didn't involve Mike Grier in a shorthanded situation.
But more impressive than the goal scoring was the fact San Jose didn't sit back and let the Canucks come at them. They moved up at the neutral zone, breaking up passes and keeping the pressure on Luongo. The hard work even drew a couple penalties down the stretch, keeping the Canucks from mounting a late charge.
We didn't get too see much of Wilson's new lines because of all the penalties, but I'd be surprised if he sticks with them Thursday night against Detroit. Cheechoo's at his best playing with Thornton, and I don't think Mitchell's game is suited for the top line. It's hard to match the fastest guy on the team with one of the slowest - actually, most deliberate is probably more accurate - and have it be a good match.
Also, I'm very curious how the line juggling has affected the offense up until this point. Of course we can all speculate about the impact it his, but when you don't get consistency from anybody it's hard to know what's going to work. Maybe the Sharks can build off tonight's win and carry some momentum in Thursday's game, which will be the most difficult test of the early season.
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