San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks is a professional hockey team that plays in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League.

On April 11, 2009, the San Jose Sharks earned the Presidents' Trophy for the season. The award is presented to the team with the best record in the NHL season. The Sharks lost to the Kings in the season finale but still secured the award.San Jose Sharks: Bittersweet End to Sharks' Regular Season(April 11, 2009)

After several failed attempts to bring a NHL team back to the area, the NHL granted the franchise to San Jose on May 5, 1990. The team originally played at the Cow Palace near San Francisco starting in the 1991-92 regular season. The first two seasons for the Sharks were less than successful however, as they finished in last place in the Smythe Division.

The Sharks went though a coaching change in early 2002 when Darryl Sutter was replaced by Ron Wilson. Wilson led the team to a first place Pacific division finish that year, but again were knocked out of the playoffs in the second round. They reached the conference finals during the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but lost in six games to the Calgary Flames.

After losing several key players, the Sharks spent the next season trying to rebuild the team. On November 30, 2005, they acquired All-Star center Joe Thornton in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Bruins. Thornton along with goaltender Evgeni Nabokov led the team to the post season in 2006 and 2007. The Sharks however were defeated in the second round yet again each year.

Everything San Jose Sharks

2009-2010 Post Season

Conference Championship

The Chicago Blackhawks took the series in a 4-0 sweep.

Curse Gone?.........Uh, no

For the second time in Sharks history they've made it to the Conference Championship going up against the Chicago Blackhawks. Many fans and the media claimed that the curse was lifted and the Sharks would be going to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time. The fourth game of the Conference Championships quickly dismissed that hypothesis. Chicago won the Championship 4 games to 0 and are going to Stanley Cup play.

Results

Sunday, May 16 at San Jose

Score: Chicago: 2 - San Jose: 1

The Sharks scored in the first period when Jason Demers scored a power play goal at 11:19 into the game. Chicago's, Patrick Sharp answered at 7:44 into the second. Blackhawk big boy, Dustin Byfuglien, scored the winning goal for Chicago at 13:15 into the third.

Tue May 18 at San Jose

Score: Chicago: 4 - San Jose: 2

The Shark fans sat in horror as the Blackhawks took the second game of the series in the Shark Tank, or should that be the goldfish bowl? Andrew Ladd scored the first Chicago goal at 12:48 in the 1st period. Dustin Byfuglien scored his sixth goal in six games at 6:59 into the second. 90 seconds later, [[Jonathan Toews scored, putting the Sharks down by 3. Troy Brouwer topped off the score with a goal at 6:18 into the third.

Patrick Marleau scored for the Sharks at 11:08 in the second on a power play and going into the third period, the pressure was on the Sharks to score. Patrick Marleau scored his second point of the game at 15:32 into the 3rd but it came a little too late for the Sharks to have any hope whatsoever of winning that game.

The Sharks' attitude became more aggressive but not with the puck. Joe Thornton's frustration was glaringly obvious during a faceoff when Thornton slashed Dave Bolland's right wrist before the puck was dropped. Bolland has been like a gnat circling Thornton in the two games of the Championships. Ryane Clowe received 12 penalty minutes which included a 10 minute misconducthttp://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009030322

The Sharks are going to Chicago with a 2 game deficit, eerily reminiscent of 2004, the only other time the Sharks made it this forbidden ground. They tried to recover but lost the series against the Calgary Flames in six games.

Oh-oh.

Fri May 21, 2010 At Chicago

Score: Chicago: 3 San Jose: 2 (OT)

It appears that the only Shark on any type of feeding frenzy is Patrick Marleau. Marleau scored both Sharks goals in Chicago, the first at 3:58 into the 2nd in a 5 on 3 power play, and the second, tying the game at 15:37 into the 3rd, that sent the game into overtime.

Patrick Sharp scored the first goal for Chicago, a power play goal at 6:59 into the 2nd, and Dave Bolland came out of the penalty box and 30 seconds later at 13:05 into the third, and in a break-away, scored the go-ahead goal. Marleau tied it up 2 1/2 minutes later.

Not suprisingly, Dustin Byfuglien scored the winning goal at 12:24 into overtime for the Chicago victory and the 3-0 lead in the series. Since Byfuglien began playing the forward position, he has accumulated 9 points in post season play, 7 goals and 2 assists.http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009030323

The Sharks had 3 power plays in the third period, but were unable to take advantage of them. The Sharks expressed disappointment at their loss, but not discouragement. Using the Philadelphia Flyers as an example of endeavoring to persevere, the Sharks believe that they can become the 4th team in NHL history to come back to win a series after being down 0-3. Philly just became the 3rd in their win against Vancouver in the 2010 semifinals. The time before that was in 1975.

Looking at the Sharks and Blackhawks comparisons, it would seem that San Jose would be leading the series. The Sharks have out-shot the Blackhawks, won more face-offs, and have the leading goal scorer of the series so far on their team, Patrick Marleau. But unfortunately stats are not what wins the game. The fourth, and possibly the last game of the series, will be on Sunday, May 23.

Sun May 23, 2010 At Chicago

Score: Chicago: 4, San Jose: 2

The results are in and the Sharks are out. San Jose lost the 4th game of the series sending Chicago into the Stanley Cup Round.

San Jose's, Logan Couture scored the lone goal of the first period at 11:08 into the period. Patrick Marleau, (who else?) scored a short-handed goal at 7:35 into the second period, giving San Jose a 2-0 lead. Marleau was trying to clear the puck, but cleared Duncan Keith's mouth of 7 teeth instead. The puck hit him directly in the mouth. He was unable to finish the game. Meanwhile, Marleau went right down the ice and scored.

The Blackhawks reacted. Brent Seabrook scored the Blackhawks first goal in a 4 on 4 situation at 13:15 into the 2nd. With 1:22 left in the second period, Dave Bolland made his 5th playoff games goal. But Dustin Byfuglien out-did that by getting a power play goal at 14:05 making his 3rd winning game goal of the series. (That sudden wind that swept across the country was not an unusual weather phenomina, it was the collective "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO'" let out by Sharks fans.) A little icing on the cake, add the empty net goal with 42 seconds left in the game by Kris Versteeg.http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009030324

Tue May 25, 2010 At San Jose: 8:00 PM VERSUS, CBC, RDS (Cancelled)

Thu May 27, 2010 At Chicago 7:00 PM VERSUS, CBC, RDS (Cancelled)

Sat May 29, 2010 At San Jose: 7:00 PM VERSUS, CBC, RDS (Cancelled)

Semifinals

The San Jose Sharks finished in first place in the Western Conference with a total of 113 points for their first Conference Championship win. The Sharks won the series 4 games to 2 and advanced to the semifinals against the Detroit Red Wings. The Sharks took the lead in the semifinals against Detroit 3 games to 0. The Wings won in the 4th do-or-die game 7-1, but fell to the Sharks in the 5th game giving San Jose a chance for a rest before the Conference finals.

Semifinals - San Jose Sharks vs Detroit Red Wings

Thursday, April 29 at San Jose

Score: Sharks: 4, Red Wings: 3

Sunday, May 2 at San Jose

Score: Sharks: 4, Red Wings: 3

Tuesday, May 4 at Detroit

Score: Sharks: 4 Red Wings: 3 (again)

Thursday, May 6 at Detroit

Score: Red Wings: 7 Sharks: 1

Saturday, May 8 at San Jose

Score: Sharks: 2 Red Wings: 1 Sharks advance to the Conference Final winning the series 4 games to 1

Quarterfinal Results

Wednesday, April 14 at San Jose

Score: Avalanche: 2, Sharks: 1

Friday, April 16 at San Jose

Score: Sharks: 6, Avalanche: 5 (OT)

Sunday, April 18 at Colorado

Score: Avalanche: 1, Sharks: 0 (OT)

Tuesday, April 20 at Colorado

Score: Sharks: 2, Avalanche: 1 (OT)

Thursday, April 22 at San Jose

Score: Sharks: 5 Avalanche: 0

Saturday, April 24 at Colorado

Score: Sharks: 5 Avalanche: 2 Sharks advance to semifinals winning the series 4 games to 2.

2009-2010 Season

After the disappointing end to what started off being a great season, the Sharks were unable to get in to the finals of the 2008-2009 season (for the fourth straight year), in spite of winning the "President's Trophy." Fans were hoping that during the off season, the Sharks would get some tougher and more accurate players especially after Jeremy Roenick announced his retirement.

The Sharks signed checker, Scott Nichol, a free agent, and renewed the contracts of Rob Blake, Kent Huskins, and Ryane Clowe. The Sharks also signed Dany Heatley in exchange for Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo. The preseason gave no indication as to what to expect for the year. They played 7 games, won 3, lost 3, and tied 1.

As the regular season progressed, the Sharks led the division and the Western Conference for most of the year. However, following the Olympic break, the Sharks went into a slump, losing six games in a row, while the Phoenix Coyotes went on a nine game winning streak. The Sharks did rebound towards the end of the regular season by winning 8 of their last 10 games, losing 1, and 1 overtime game, clinching the Western Conference Championship and claiming the number 1 seed position for the playoffs.http://www.betus.com/sports-betting/nhl-hockey/free_picks/bet-on-hockey-sharks-vs-wild-23-03-2010/ Goal tender, Evgeni Nabokov recorded his 50th career shutout. http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?season=20092010&type=DIV