San Jose, CA

From the glory of a Game Three OT win in sackin up fashion, to a heartbreaking loss in Game 4 to …. this?  On a day and time more suited to going to church than playing a Game 5 momentum shifter, San Jose came out with a stinker.  St Louis 5 San Jose 0.

All hands on deck, the San Jose fan base called out, here we go! Unable to contain the Blues 4th line again, Oscar Sundquist scored the game’s first goal.  I know what you’re thinkin, what kinda hockey name is Oscar?  Evidently a pretty good one because the bastard scored again in the 1st period.  That being said, the Sharks were down by one goal, not an insurmountable task..

The 2nd period bugaboo struck again, as the Blues ramped up the physicality and punched the Sharks in the face repeatedly.  The officiating was a challenge for San Jose as the Blues were given two 5 on 3 power plays, scoring on one of them. That, coupled with Vladimir Tarasenko’s, penalty shot on a very egregious takedown, put the Blues up 3-0.

There was still half of a game left, plenty of time for our heroes to rise to the occasion once again to battle back.  But it was not meant to be as one star after another was crushed and injured by the Blues punishing style.  Down goes Pavelski, out for the game.  Down goes Tomas Hertl on a hit that was by the very definition, a 5 minute major penalty.

A minor was called, San Jose lost one of its best players for the game.  The Blues killed it.  Joonas Donskoi took a stick in the face, bleeding profusely and left the game.  Erik Karlsson was a non factor as his cranky groin acted up again, rendering him little better than a pylon.

St Louis played a game reminiscent of their coach, Craig Berube’s Flyer roots.  In homage to the days of yore when the Legion of Doom was at their peak, when no quarter was given on either side, San Jose hung their collective heads and went out into the night, losers in the game of attrition.

Game 6 Tuesday.  Do or die.  Show me what ya got.  Not an irrational hope to win 2 games in a row.  Depending on the wounded, we’ll see if San Jose can rise from the blood and gore to reign triumphant another time.  Remember Game 7 against Vegas? Did we quit when the German’s bombed Pearl Harbor?

Calling all Sharks, it’s time to Sackup.  Game On Fuckers!