Hp Pavilion has been a cursed place for the Coyotes and since the lockout has seen the Sharks absolutely dominate them on home ice. This game brought together a couple key elements. Desperation and the grind. Both teams are in dire straits looking for the final playoff spots, one of which includes the tumultuous 3rd place, both need every point they can get, especially against one another. There is a reason why I never like the idea of “on paper,” analysis. Essentially because if I was to look on paper this game would have ended 5-0 Sharks. Going into one of their least successful arenas, against a team that usually beats them, without Shane Doan or Radim Vrbata...well that’s why one plays the game. The Sharks ended up winning in the shootout after both teams exchanged leads four times. The key to this point was the penalty kill. They stopped all five attempts against one of the most dangerous in the league.

As mentioned above Shane Doan served his second of three games for his elbow to the head of Stars forward Jamie Benn. Radim Vrbata was scratched due to illness. Not sure what he has since he had missed two games prior to the last for “Illness.” They desperately need him back at 100%. Rostislav Klesla was cut above his eye by Marleau’s skate; he returned with stitches and is fine. Taylor Pyatt and Adrian Aucoin also missed the game due to injuries.

Daymond Langkow has found a very good time to start stepping up. With a lot of scoring out, he has added a bit of his own and seems to be gelling with Gilbert Brule and Raffi Torres. He added a goal and an assist and is riding a 3 game point streak. Speaking of that line, Raffi Torres and Gilbert Brule’s excellent forecheck and board battling set up Langkow to make his nice pass to Morris for the .7 seconds remaining goal. That line was the best for the Yotes.

Lauri Korpikoski had a mixed bag. He played very well on the penalty and even added what would be the tying goal...but my god was that turnover on the Marleau goal absolutely horrendous. I was surprised he wasn’t as it was just a brutally dumb move. Passing through the middle with two Sharks running around, let alone not taking the time to look around...ugg.

For both goalies it was again, a mixed bag. Niemi has been the goat all year long, but I felt he had a strong game despite the poor sv%. The goals he let in weren’t weak and he made some huge saves to help the Sharks get the extra point. The one that comes to mind is his epic save on Boyd Gordon who had him at his mercy yet he got his leg out somehow. Mike Smith let in some of his trademark weak goals yet made up for that with just a great night. He kept them in the game and really saved their bacon to force a shootout.

Alex Bolduc who was called up played an uninspiring 6 minutes of hockey on a line with Kyle Chipchura and Paul Bissonnette. I felt bad for Chipchura who was coming off a really good game to be stuck with super plugs. I really don’t get why Biznasty is in the line-up, 5 minutes of slow footed nothing. If he isn’t going to fight (which he hasn’t in 3 games), he isn’t helpful.

Not much else to say other than they have to face the best team in the league without any rest in the Blues tonight. That will be a game that shows their character more than any in my mind. The Blues hold the season series 2-0, so there is a lot to be worried about.

Thanks for reading.
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