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.

Syracuse Need to Play Massive Tonight Against Pitt With Kris Joseph Out

What a match up tonight in Pittsburgh between your fourth-ranked Panthers and No. three Syracuse. The Orange are 18-0 under head coach Jim Boeheim for the second time in 35 many can tie a school record having a rare win in the Peterson Events Center. Syracuse leads the all-time series 61-37 but has struggled lately against Jamie Dixon's Panthers. Pitt has won 12 of its last 15 games against the Orange, such as 4 straight. This is a massive week for Syracuse which plays at fourth-ranked Pitt nowadays then hosts seventh-ranked Villanova on Saturday.

The Orange picked up the plan's 1,800 victory last week over Saint John's and makes tonight's match up winning 48 of its last 53 games. Syracuse already has some good quality wins this season over teams like Michigan State and Notre Dame, but victory at Pittsburgh could be by far its very best win about the year. It won't come simple at the Pete, particularly with leading scorer Kris Joseph out for that Orange. Joseph was restricted to just 10 minutes Saturday against Cincinnati before leaving the overall game with a head injury. That's 15 points and 5 boards the Orange need to constitute against a really physical and stingy Pitt defense.

Guard play is going to be huge for the Orange, particularly with Joseph out of the lineup. The backcourt continues to be inconsistent up to this point but indicates large improvement lately with the increased scoring efforts of Brandon Triche. Right after having just one double-digit game by way of his very first nine contests, Triche has seven in his final nine.

If Triche and Scoop Jardine (13 ppg) can consistently hit shots from the outside then that ought to open things up for Rick Jackson. Jackson is emerging as 1 of the top forwards, not only in the Massive East, but also inside the country. He picked up his second straight double-double over the past weekend and at present has 11 on the season. His play on the interior is crucial to Syracuse's good results, specifically on the boards, where Pitt is plus 13 about the glass. If the 2-3 zone can force Ashton Gibbs (16 ppg) and Brad Wannamaker (13 ppg) into taking tough shots and at least break even within the rebound battle then Syracuse will certainly solidify itself as a true Final Four contender.