Can I just say how happy I am at the game 1 result of the Sharks/Blues series?
They played really well, we didn't, and we still won. That HAS to be disheartening: they played pretty much their A game, we played our B game, and still came out on top.
The key is Havlat, who was missing/ineffective for our earlier games with the Blues this year. He was sucking for the first part of the year, what with the new linemates, new situation, etc. He was just starting to show real signs of getting it all together when he had that freak accident hopping over the boards. (Strangest injury I have ever seen, just about.) Since he's been back from that injury though, he's been on a massive tear. Absolutely been one of our best players, if not THE best player over that stretch. With Havlat in the lineup this year (including the time at the start when he wasn't that good), the sharks were 25-11-3. Without him they were 18-18-7. Pretty stark difference even factoring in the early season struggles, and now he's playing by far his best hockey of the year. Considering he got 2 of our 3 goals last night, including the game winner.... yeah, I'm glad he's back. rofl.
I still don't really expect the Sharks to win the series yet, but I am a lot more confident than I was before it started.
Oh, and put me down in the "Weber deserved at least 1 game" camp. Seriously, he looked like he was in the WWE and trying to slam someone's head into the turnbuckle. Complete BS, and I am HARDLY a Wings fan. (Datsuyk fan, maybe, because that guy is seriously goddamn amazing, but the Wings as a whole? no.)
-Arlos