From Flying High to AWOL in Buffalo

After blitzing the Philadelphia Flyers with a five goal second period outburst in their first game back from the break, San Jose laid an egg against a Sabres, losing 4-2 to a team that had just traded its captain, Steve Ott and arguably their best player in Ryan Miller.  Jhonas Enroth did his best Miller impersonation by stopping 36 of 37 shots and stood on his head all evening especially in a wild second period.

It could be argued that the second was the only period where they sustained any semblance of offense against Buffalo who entered the game a -60 in goal differential.  Anti Niemi gave up a horrible first period goal to Cody Hodgson as he continues to cheat away from the short post and give up soft goals.

The Sharks came back in the second, shooting the puck 18 times to the Sabres 5, yet could only score once.  Perhaps they were tired from all that and didn’t show up for the third.  I wonder, did they get the teriyaki wings or the inferno deluxe Dave’s Insanity style hot wings?

There is truly nothing good to say today about a team that has lost twice to the Sabres this year, yet has swept the season series against the St. Louis Blues and beat the Hawks 2 outta 3.  I have serious reservations about the fitness of Anti Niemi as a Stanley Cup caliber goaltender, as he seems to be spiraling down into mediocrity.

On to Newark to play the New Jersey Devils and see their old friend Ryane Clowe.  Devils are 1st on the PK and 26th in scoring; Jaromir Jagr is a +20 and leads the team in all offensive categories at 78 years old.  G Cory Schneider has a sparkling 1.85 GAA and has been tough on San Jose in the past.

Todd McClellan continues to mix and match his lines, searching for some kind of consistent play from someone other than Joe Pavelski.

Could be a snoozer or a dandy game depending on which Sharks team shows up for this matinee game.3 2 14 a