Sharks at Panthers, Thursday 2/9 at 4PM PST

Since a post in a thread bumps it to the top I'm experimenting with pinning the current game to the top to avoid some of the confusion. Of course that means I'll have to remember to un-pin the thread when a new game thread is posted but oh well.

I also noticed that when I posted the thread last time it was before the Lightning's game against the Panthers so the data was a day out of date. I can't promise that I won't do that from time to time.

Since the team has better success on the road, they need to get back home for an L streak to get rolling. 

OK so these Panthers handily destroyed the Lightning before we played them. Should be an easy L for the tank.

I posted this on the old forum the other night before I realized the mass exodus to this site was pretty much complete. I've updated it slightly for accuracy purposes, but want to put this out there for folks to consider as we approach the final third of the season:

As I type this, we have an interesting battle ahead of us for the final 30+ games. Here is how the standings look in the Race for Bedard:

Vancouver - 44pts, 31 games left
Montreal - 44pts, 31 games left
Us - 43pts, 30 games left
Arizona - 40pts, 31 games left
Anaheim - 40pts, 30 games left
Chicago - 35pts, 33 games left
Columbus - 34pts, 31 games left

Things I'm going to be watching for:
--Not only does CHI have the most games remaining, they also have more remaining match-ups against the other members of the Pathetic Seven (nine) than any other team. Related to this, ANA, AZ, and VAN each have eight, we have five, and MTL/CBJ have four each. Potential for a lot of three-pointers during this final stretch, regardless of what any of these teams may or may not do to aid their tanking efforts (which, as GaryCorp has reminded us on more than one occasion, no team actively tries to engage in). If they can keep playing some of the inspired hockey they've been playing of late, I see no reason why they can't overtake us at some point.
--My own bias aside, I think AZ is also primed for a rise. Why? They have a much better record in the friendly confines of . . . well . . . whatever the hell their home ice is called, and 20 of their final 31 games are at home, including six of their eight remaining tilts against the other members of the Pathetic Seven. They also hold a tie-breaker over us which I don't expect they'll be in danger of relinquishing, so AZ doesn't even have to beat us in points, they just have to match us, which means one less point for them to have to garner in order for that to come to fruition.
--If we can lay a goose egg in these next three road contests, we'll be staring at 17 of our final 27 games at home . . . where we have the worst record in the entire NHL . . . and with guys like Meier and Reimer (at least) likely to be gone before too long. We are not in a good spot right now, and our schedule suggests the likelihood of more misery ahead. A tumble down the standings seems likely, even inevitable.
--I'm side-eyeing VAN and MTL here because I don't like how they've been playing lately, especially VAN.I want AZ, ANA, and CHI to climb the ladder, but if they're going to do that at the expense of VAN, I hope VAN manages to get lose points out of all their remaining match-ups (with the exception of their tilt against us—they can have it, thank you very much!).
--Anaheim can still pass us, but they've been bad all year. SO, even with more of their remaining games being at home, where they have fared better, they're going to be tough to fall behind in the standings.
--As for Columbus, well . . . honestly I don't see how anyone falls below them (bizarre circumstances notwithstanding), but sports is a strange business sometimes, so who knows?

The race to the bottom is intensifying, and we're about to see what's what!

Please, oh please, someone take Cooch and his contract off our hands. I've accepted that we're stuck with Labanc until MAYBE next year's deadline, and we probably don't buy out Pickles until next year's offseason, but if we can get out from beneath Cooch now? Sign me up. We could use some of that cap to improve the D (provided we don't keep Meier).

That's rough. I have a Couture stealth jersey, but I'd still be okay with him moving on—it would pair nicely with the Burns jersey I got for Christmas!

I can only see Cooch going with significant retention + taking back a shorter bad contract. I am not sure thats worth it know depends what the offer is I can hardly Imagen someone offering like 2 firsts for Cooch.

Using money to Improve the D wouldbe nice but with whom? If i check the UFA D-man this year like no thank you i don't want any of them.
Too old for term and too pricy as well.
Maybe in 2024-2025.

PP. Sharks have some jump in their steps early

Barbie!

Playing better

Pretty energetic period by the Sharks. Stop it!

Saw on SJHN that FV is interested in Timo. My response if I was GM is "Fuck Vegas" and hang up the phone.

Fight

If you want to put yourself on the wrong side of the fanbase, make a deal with FV.