Canucks five, Sharks 4 (SO): The Most Satisfying Game Ever Lost

After Joe Pavelski was stuffed by Cory Schneider, rendering Alex Burrows' prior goal the lone score from the shootout as well as the game winner, Sharks Tv color commentator, Drew Remenda, said that he does not think in "moral victories," but that this came close. Radio broadcaster Jamie Baker disagreed, calling the thrilling game a "moral victory."

While the two respectable guys disagreed, both of them failed to hit on a key point: Beneath existing NHL rules, losses of worth (or moral victories) do exist. The Sharks left HP Pavilion tonight by having an overtime loss, but if they'd failed to come back just when (they did three times), they would have 84 points right now as opposed to 85. Not only does this bring an extremely intriguing element of the NHL's present scoring method towards the forefront (which I'll reach later on), nevertheless it also, indisputably, makes this game a loss of value. Nevertheless, the Sharks are in possession of seven "losses of value" this season, and not all might be observed as "moral victories."

On November 17th and 18th, the Sharks blew two-goal leads within the third period. In each games, their opponents (the Avs and Stars, respectively) completed their comebacks and sunk the Sharks in OT. Blowing a two-goal lead late in the third, as they did in Colorado, is certainly deflating. Not leaving that game with two points was undoubtedly frustrating. Blowing one more two-goal lead the following evening and leaving Dallas with an additional mere point was just aggravating. Tonight, the Sharks had been down 2-0 after the Canucks dominated the first period, but a fast comeback within the very first two:04 from the second produced it a new game. Devin Setoguchi scored in typical Seto "work tough, get rewarded" fashion, following their own forehand off the post with a backhand within the net. Ryane Clowe struck a minute later, making a power move to the net and slipping one beneath Schneider.

Nonetheless, the Canucks had the last say of the period, going into the break up 3-2 and entering the 3rd with the lead (they had been 30-0-3 in these situations). 1 would feel that these gaudy numbers, as well as the truth that the Canucks had the final objective of the second, gives them the advantage inside the third. But therein lies what's particular about these Sharks, and why, in this case, the Sharks can relish their one point.

The Canucks' achievement with third-period leads is not basically as a result of their mental toughness. It's due to their insane forward depth which allows them to help keep their shifts brief and balanced. It's due to their puck-moving defensemen who put the puck deep in their opponent's zone. It really is on account of a devastating forecheck that keeps the puck deep and often expands the Canuck lead, and it is on account of an 86 percent penalty kill that knocks the wind from opponents who are thinking "this energy play is our opportunity to come back."

What the Sharks have done throughout the final two months continues to be remarkable, and also the No. 1 top quality this team has displayed is mental toughness. They've return countless times, recovered from blown leads, finished in OT and accompanied losses with winning streaks. But even though mental toughness, in conjunction with the Sharks talent, can beat most teams, Vancouver's foolproof closing technique and top-tier personnel will not go down like that.

So what did San Jose do? These were aggressive, establishing sustained attacks at the start of the third and forcing desperate clears. This hadn't permit Vancouver to get the puck deep, enter on the forecheck and rhythmically rotate their lines. They did not press for a objective, fearing that every attack may be their best and final. They played their game, which stumbled Vancouver. Since the Canucks spent increasingly more time defending, and fewer and much less changing lines and forechecking, they started to tire. Consequently, the Sharks' attacks became increasingly more and a lot more efficient and, finally, they were rewarded.