My Second NHL Game: Stars 2, Kings 1 (1/8/20)

 It wasn't until nearly six years after my first NHL game that I was able to attend my second and most recent NHL game. About a year ago, I was looking online for NHL ticket deals for the teams nearest me because I was dying to attend another NHL game. I eventually stumbled across an offer I couldn't refuse, which was Mercury Insurance's "Get a Quote, Get 2 Free LA Kings Tickets" promotion. I did what was asked of me in the promo and received my free quote and ticket offer. At that point, I only wanted the free NHL tickets, not to buy a new insurance plan. In addition, I wanted an excuse to make another trip to LA. The ticket offer allowed me to choose between two games: Monday, January 6 vs. the Blue Jackets or Wednesday, January 8 vs. the Stars. As you may have figured out from the title of this post, I chose the Wednesday game, mainly because Joe Pavelski is now a member of the Stars and this game was being nationally televised on NBCSN. You may also figure out that I selected the game based on the former Sharks players on each visiting team. I was going to root for the visiting team regardless of who it was specifically since the Kings are my least favorite team in the NHL. Luckily, I found a friend who was able to fit this game into his schedule, and things worked out perfectly. Before attending the game, my friend and I walked around Beverly Hills and did some car spotting. If you want to see some of the cars I spotted when I was in Beverly Hills that day, head over to my other blog, Carson's Car Pics: carsonscarpics.blogspot.com 

I only have Sharks jerseys in my collection, so I wore my Joe Pavelski jersey to this game since he now plays for the Stars and I wanted Dallas to win. On the other hand, my friend that I went with is a Blackhawks fan and only has Blackhawks jerseys, so he wore his white Patrick Kane jersey. He was going for the Kings but didn't have a strong preference towards either team. As a result, other fans at the game looked at me and my friend weirdly and made comments, but my friend and I weren't phased at all by those fans. In fact, my friend and I weren't alone, as I saw a few other fans rep a few other teams at that game, specifically the Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, and Rangers. After the game ended, I was shocked and delighted to see at least one other fan wearing a Joe Pavelski Sharks jersey. 

It was Video Game Night at Staples Center, so the classic video game theme was present throughout the game, such as in the scoreboard. A few e-sports teams were present at the game. The seats where my friend and I sat at during the game were great seats, located in the lower bowl on the Kings' end of the ice for the first and third periods. It should come as no surprise that I didn't buy any souvenirs at Staples Center because I don't collect Kings merchandise. 

Now onto the game itself, which was a low-scoring affair just like my first NHL game I attended between the Sharks and Blackhawks. The Kings scored early in the first period on a goal by Anze Kopitar, with Tyler Toffoli and Alex Iafallo assisting on the play. Iafallo extended his point streak to eight games on the Kings' lone goal of the game. The Kings led 1-0 until the bottom half of the second period, where Jamie Benn and Blake Comeau would score 37 seconds apart to give the Stars a 2-1 lead. Esa Lindell assisted on both of the Stars' goals, while Tyler Seguin recorded one assist on the Jamie Benn goal and Andrew Cogliano recorded one assist on the Blake Comeau game-winner. The third period was fairly quiet as the Stars held on to win 2-1 and extend their winning streak at the time to five games. 

The Stars went 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Kings went 0-for-2 on their power play opportunities. Anton Khudobin and Jonathan Quick each recorded 30 saves for the Stars and Kings respectively. Faceoffs were 31-24 in favor of the Kings, and each team laid 15 hits a piece. Kings C Blake Lizotte sustained a lower-body injury during this game and didn't return. As for the Big Pavelski, he recorded 14 minutes of ice time and was absent on the score sheet that night. 

The Kings often have celebrity appearances at their games at Staples Center. As for the game I was at, the celebrity appearances consisted of rapper YG, Todd Gurley and John Johnson of the Rams, and Gavin Lux and Matt Beaty of the Dodgers (On a side note, Todd Gurley now plays for the Atlanta Falcons). My friend and I weren't sitting that far from them. During one of the intermissions, my friend and I were about to approach YG, the Rams players, and the Dodgers players but weren't able to as the security guards didn't allow any more celebrity-fan interactions to protect the celebrity guests' privacy. This was okay as my friend and I aren't huge fans of YG or any of the Rams or Dodgers players, even though I like some of YG's music. 

In all, my friend and I had a blast at the Kings vs. Stars game, and he and I hope to do something like this again in the future. I'm happy this game went the way it did and that the Stars won. I was never a huge fan of the Dallas Stars or too fond of them in the past, but after watching them play in person and what I would call the "Pavelski Effect," I gained more respect for the Stars and they climbed up my favorite teams list. My trip to LA in January that consisted of Beverly Hills and the Kings vs. Stars game with my friend was easily my top highlight of this year. 

Around the time this game took place, I wouldn't have imagined that the regular season would have to be cut short due to a pandemic, the Stanley Cup Playoffs would take place in August and September in a bubble format, and the Dallas Stars would end up being Stanley Cup finalists to close out the bubble playoffs. 

Fun facts: Joe Pavelski was the only player to play in both NHL games I have attended so far, and Todd McLellan coached in those same NHL games I was at (he is currently the Kings' head coach). Teams based in Los Angeles are winless when I am at their games, having gone 0-9 thus far. The other eight games involving LA-based teams consisted of six games involving the Dodgers and two games involving the Lakers. Considering my Bay Area sports fandom, this is an amazing statistic. 

 One of my aspirations as a hockey fan is to attend at least one game involving each of the 31 (soon to be 32) NHL teams and at every NHL arena. This goal doesn't have to be accomplished in one season, but I want to accomplish it over the course of my life. As of now, I have crossed four teams and two arenas off the list. I don't know when exactly I will attend another NHL game, but I am aiming for sometime in the 2021-22 season, when the Seattle Kraken will play their inaugural season and I expect life to return to a sense of normalcy. This also depends on other factors in and out of my control, but I'll have to wait and see when an opportunity arises and plan from there. 

Source: ESPN

My First NHL Game: Sharks 2, Blackhawks 1 (Shootout) (2/1/14)

 

I want to dedicate posts on CPF Hockey to each NHL game I have attended and plan to attend in the future. I will start with my first NHL game, which dates back to the 2013-14 season. This game was also my first and only Sharks game I have attended thus far. 

The game took place February 1, 2014 at SAP Center in San Jose. The Sharks hosted the Chicago Blackhawks, who had won the Stanley Cup the season prior and were still looking to defend their Stanley Cup victory. This was where I got my first Sharks jersey, which was a Reebok alternate with Joe Thornton's name and number on the back. As you can tell from the first photo, my seat was in the upper deck towards one end of the ice. I remember there was a protocol in place at that game advising fans to not lean forward in their seats as it may obstruct the view of surrounding fans, which seemed foreign to me at the time. All other sporting events I attended before that one never had that specific protocol in place. 

Anyway, most players on both teams at the time were much different than they are today. The starting goalies for this game were Corey Crawford for the Blackhawks and Antti Niemi for the Sharks. Todd McLellan was the Sharks' head coach during the 2013-14 season, while Joel Quenneville was the Blackhawks' head coach. The Blackhawks' core players were the same then as they are today, consisting of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews on the top forward line and Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook on defense. The players that still remain on the current roster from the 2013-14 Sharks are Brent Burns (he didn't have as big of a beard then as he does now), Logan Couture (he was on the injured reserve when this game was played), Marc-Eduoard Vlasic, Patrick Marleau, and Matt Nieto. 

The game was scoreless for the first and second periods, with not much to show for from either team. Each team received one power play opportunity in the first period, which were due to a tripping minor by Patty Marleau and a hooking minor by Patrick Kane. The second period added two power play opportunities for Chicago on a tripping minor by Mike Brown and a high-sticking minor by Justin Braun, while Team Teal received one opportunity on the man advantage on a bench minor by the Blackhawks for too many men on the ice. 

The third period added three more power play chances, two for the Sharks on a hooking minor by Niklas Hjalmarsson and a high-sticking minor by Patrick Sharp, and one for the 'Hawks on a hooking minor by Brad Stuart. Scoring from both teams began in the third period, starting with the Sharks by Joe Pavelski while shorthanded with Scott Hannan assisting on the play to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Blackhawks answered back one minute and 31 seconds later with a goal of their own, this time on the power play by Brandon Saad. Kris Versteeg and Marian Hossa were credited with the assists on the game-tying goal for the 'Hawks. The game remained tied at 1 at the end of regulation, forcing overtime and eventually a shootout. 

The shootout period only needed one round as Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau, and Joe Thornton were each successful on their attempts, sealing the deal for the Sharks as they went on to win 2-1 and gain two points in the Pacific Division standings. On the other hand, Jonathan Toews succeeded with his shootout attempt, while Patrick Sharp failed with his attempt. As for the Blackhawks, they walked away with one point from this game for making it to a shootout. 

Antti Niemi recorded 29 saves for the Sharks that night, while Corey Crawford recorded 38 saves for the Blackhawks.

 As for the rest of the 2013-14 season, the Sharks went on to finish second in the Pacific Division and face the LA Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Unfortunately, the Sharks blew a 3-0 series lead and were reverse-swept by the Kings in the first round. As you may already know, the Kings eventually went on to win their second Stanley Cup that season. As a Sharks fan, this series remains one of the most heartbreaking and gut-wrenching losses to this day. Luckily, the Sharks got their revenge over the Kings two seasons later when they faced each other again in the first round, and the Sharks went all the way to their first Cup Final appearance in franchise history.

My first NHL game was an amazing experience I will never forget. It helped set the stage for my interest in the Sharks, the NHL, and the sport of hockey as a whole to grow exponentially over the next six years. It wasn't until nearly six years later that I got the opportunity to attend my second NHL game, which I will discuss in a future post. 

Source: Hockey Reference

Sharks 2021 Season Schedule Released

 The Sharks' schedule for the 2021 season has been released, and they will face off against their West Division foes eight times over the course of this season. 14 of their first 18 games will be on the road, with their season opener on January 14 against the Coyotes in Arizona. The Sharks' 2021 home opener is on February 1 vs. the Golden Knights, whether it be in San Jose or at a temporary site. They will play two-game series against each of their West Division opponents before moving on to the next opponent or city to reduce travel during the season and ultimately the team's exposure to COVID-19, similar to three- and four-game series between two teams in baseball during the regular season. Team Teal will wrap up their 2021 season with eight of their final ten games at home. 

The main reason why the Sharks' beginning of the season is road-heavy is to accommodate Santa Clara County's organized sports ban due to COVID-19. If the Sharks at any point during this coming season have to play home games outside of San Jose, the team announced that the shark head that the players skate out of onto the ice during every home game will not be traveling with them to their temporary home. 

Another thing to watch for this coming season is that Patrick Marleau is 45 games away from breaking the all-time record for most games played in the NHL (1,767). If Patty stays healthy for at least most of the season, he will break that record originally set by Gordie Howe this coming season, which would be absolutely incredible.

To see the complete Sharks 2021 season schedule, visit sjsharks.com/schedule. 

Source: NBC Sports Bay Area/California 

NHL Announces Start Date for 2021 Season

 It's official: the NHL and NHLPA have come to a tentative agreement on the 2021 season, which will start January 13 and consist of 56 games. Team training camps open on January 3, while teams who didn't make the bubble playoffs this past season can start their training camps as soon as December 31. 

Another huge difference with this coming season compared to those in previous years is that the conferences have been abolished and the divisions have been realigned since the U.S.-Canada border has been closed to non-essential travel due to COVID-19. All of the Canadian-based teams have been placed in one division known as the North Division, which consists of the Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Jets, Maple Leafs, Senators, and Canadiens. The U.S.-based teams have been divided into the other three divisions for this coming season to minimize travel and possible exposure to COVID-19. Those divisions are the West, Central, and East. The Sharks have been placed in the West Division with the Kings, Ducks, Golden Knights, Coyotes, Avalanche, Blues, and Wild. The new Central Division consists of the Blackhawks, Predators, Panthers, Lightning, Blue Jackets, Red Wings, Hurricanes, and Stars. The East Division consists of the Bruins, Sabres, Devils, Rangers, Islanders, Penguins, Flyers, and Capitals. The division realignment is expected to spark new rivalries and reignite previous rivalries in the NHL. 

Teams in the East, Central, and West Divisions will play every other respective division opponent eight times, while the all-Canadian division teams will face every other Canadian-based team nine or ten times over the course of the 2021 season. Most teams will play games at their home arenas, while a few teams may have to play at neutral sites because COVID-19 restrictions in their local areas may not allow them to play and practice where they normally would. Most teams are expected to start the 2021 season without fans in attendance, but may be able to allow a limited number of fans at games depending on how the pandemic progresses in their local areas. The top four in each division will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Intradivisional play will continue until the Semifinal round, in which the teams that reach the Semifinals will be reseeded by their regular season point total. In each playoff round, the 1 seed would play the 4 seed, while the 2 seed will play the 3 seed, whether it's intradivisional or not.

Other key dates during the upcoming season include the trade deadline on April 12, the end of the regular season on May 8, and the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 11. The Seattle Expansion Draft is scheduled for July 21, while the NHL Entry Draft will be held on July 23 and 24. Free agency is set to begin on July 28. The NHL is expecting to return to normal for 2021-22, with that season starting in October and consisting of a full 82 games and the return of the regular divisions that we all knew and have been accustomed to.

As for the Sharks, they were one of the seven teams that didn't participate in the bubble playoffs this past season, so they will begin their training camp ahead of most other NHL teams. However, the Sharks will have to hold their training camp in Arizona due to a health order banning all organized sports in Santa Clara County to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Team Teal is also prepared to play next season outside of San Jose if they have to. I hope the Sharks don't have to spend all of this coming season outside of San Jose as this would be a big hassle for the players, coaching staff, team personnel, and their families. You may have seen how this same health order by Santa Clara County health officials has screwed over the 49ers in the NFL this year. I fear it may have the same effect on the Sharks as it did on the 49ers, but let's see what happens in the coming months. 

The NHL still has to clear a few more obstacles before getting underway with the 2021 season, but the bulk of their issues regarding this coming season have been resolved. At the end of the day, I'm just grateful that there will be another NHL season and the league was able to work something out despite the current and ever-changing circumstances with the pandemic. I am expecting some surprises this coming season due to the NHL's unpredictable nature, but I don't know what form they will take. Most of all, I hope the Sharks bounce back from last season, perform well, and make the playoffs, and I know they're more than capable of doing so. 

Source: NHL.com

My Thoughts on the Sharks' New Heritage Jersey

 The Sharks recently unveiled a new jersey to commemorate their 30th anniversary this coming season. San Jose basically brought back their home jersey they wore throughout much of the 90s and early 2000s except in Adidas form. Like their Reverse Retro jersey, the new heritage jerseys will be worn during select games next season. It is mostly teal and contains the original Sharks logo, with white, black, and gray around the middle of the sleeves and bottom of the jersey. The collar is surrounded in white, while black surrounds the part of the collar where the NHL shield is heat-pressed onto the jersey. 

Overall, the new Sharks Heritage Jersey looks beautiful and better than their recently-released Reverse Retro Jersey. I am more eager to see the new Heritage jerseys on the ice this upcoming season and to add one to my jersey collection than the Reverse Retros. However, I don't need one of these right away, and there is only a limited supply of Sharks Heritage Jerseys, so I expect them to sell fairly quickly. Although I would love to have a heritage jersey in my possession, I am uncertain if I will ever get one since it is only for this coming year and they will become more difficult to find afterwards. 

On a side note, I like the current Sharks logo more than their original logo because the former is more colorful, eye-popping, and aggressive.

Jamie Baker Steps Down as Color Commentator for the Sharks

 Longtime Sharks color commentator Jamie Baker announced that he is stepping down from the role to focus on himself once again. 

He has been part of the Sharks organization for over 25 years as a player in the 90s and a member of their broadcast team for the past 15 years. Baker stepped away from the broadcast booth a few times during the 2017-18 season to address his mental health and well-being. In 2019, he made his struggles with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts known publicly. 

I knew Jamie Baker best as a broadcaster from many of the Sharks games I have watched on TV. He has been a fantastic color commentator while also raising more awareness toward mental health issues through his own personal struggles. I will miss seeing him in the broadcast booth and hearing his commentary on my TV during Sharks games.

Wishing nothing but the best in retirement Bakes! 

Source: Fear the Fin

Sharks Prospects Participating In This Year's World Juniors

 One of the biggest showcases in the hockey world is starting in just a matter of days in the Edmonton bubble that held the most recent Stanley Cup Playoffs. The same protocols will be in place that made this past Stanley Cup Playoffs possible to keep everyone on each team safe. All IIHF World Junior Championship games will be televised on NHL Network in the US and TSN in Canada. 

Here are the players in the Sharks organization participating in the World Juniors this year and which country they will be representing: 

• Artemi Kniazev, defenseman, Russia (2019 2nd round pick)
• Yegor Spiridonov, forward, Russia (2019 4th round pick)
• Santeri Hatakka, defenseman, Finland (2019 6th round pick) 
• Adam Raska, forward, Czech Republic (2020 7th round pick) 

 I may not be as familiar with prospects as I am with NHL roster players, but good luck to those representing the Sharks in the World Juniors. On the other hand, I want the US and Canada to medal in the tournament this year and think they will perform pretty well. 

Source: NHL.Discussion via Instagram

Melker Karlsson Signs with Skelleftea AIK of Swedish League

 Former Sharks forward Melker Karlsson has signed a contract with Skelleftea AIK in his native Sweden for at least this coming season. 

This doesn't come as much of a surprise as he became an unrestricted free agent after this past season and indicated early in the offseason that he wouldn't be re-signing with the Sharks. 

The Melkman, as he is known as, spent the past six seasons with San Jose, totaling 60 goals, 52 assists, and 112 points in 396 games over those six seasons. He also recorded six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 60 playoff games. During the 2019-20 season, Melker tallied only six goals and six assists in 61 games for the Sharks. He mainly spent time on the third and fourth lines in his Sharks tenure. 

I don't see this as a huge loss for Team Teal as Melker Karlsson is entering the wrong side of 30 and hasn't been one of the Sharks' most significant contributors, but he has made some clutch plays when it mattered the most. 

Source: NHL.com

My Thoughts on the Sharks' Reverse Retro Jersey

 The NHL introduced a new series of jerseys known as the Reverse Retro for the 2021 season. This is one way the league plans to make up for lost revenue due to the stoppage of play caused by the pandemic and not being able to have fans attend the bubble playoffs to wrap up this past season. Each NHL team reintroduced a jersey they wore previously and modified it to an extent. Some teams went all out and drastically altered a jersey they previously wore in their history, while other teams only made minor tweaks to create their Reverse Retro jersey. 

In the case of the Sharks, San Jose threw it back to 1998 with its Reverse Retro jersey. It uses the original Sharks logo with a primarily gray background and black, white, and teal layers outside of the gray. The latter three colors protrude outward from the center of the jersey when looking at it from the front. The collar of the jersey is in teal unlike most of the jersey itself. I assume most of you reading this post have seen it by now. These jerseys will be worn during select games this coming season. It looks fantastic but isn't the best Sharks jersey in my opinion. With that being said, I want to add the Sharks Reverse Retro jersey to my jersey collection at some point, but I'm not in a big hurry to do so, especially since the Reverse Retro jerseys are limited editions and selling relatively quickly. I am looking forward to seeing the players wear the Reverse Retros on the ice whenever the Sharks decide to do so this coming season.

Why Did I Become a Sharks Fan?

 Like I mentioned in the first post, I am a diehard San Jose Sharks fan, and I have supported them ever since I could remember. My first exposure to this team was when I was a kid in elementary school and I would see my dad watch their games on TV on some nights during the week. My interest in the team only grew from there. Over the next several years, I would watch more games as a teenager, and there eventually came a point where I realized that the mainstream sports media where I lived wasn't covering the Sharks and the NHL anywhere near as much as other sports. I previously attended one Sharks game with my dad and had an absolute blast at that game, and once I started conducting research on the Sharks and looking to YouTube and other social media for more NHL content, I got hooked on the Sharks and the sport of hockey and never looked back.

 Many people wonder why I am a Sharks fan, and it goes further beyond the fact that Team Teal is the nearest NHL team to where I live. In this post, I will explain each reason why the Sharks have been and will always be my favorite NHL team. 

 

First, I was born in San Jose and spent my early childhood there. Despite its high cost of living, San Jose is one of my favorite cities and has a special place in my heart. It has several amenities and things to do, a mild climate, and friendly residents. In addition, San Jose has an underrated car scene, is relatively spread out, and is almost always thriving since the tech industry is located in and around Silicon Valley. This is also one of the main reasons why I am a fan of other Bay Area teams, specifically the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Golden State Warriors. 

Second, ever since their introduction to the NHL in 1991, the Sharks have become one of the most successful franchises in the NHL. They are a well-run franchise that flies under the radar compared to other NHL teams with little to no drama surrounding them. Team Teal is a consistent playoff contender in most years, having made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 21 of their 29 seasons in the NHL. In addition, the Sharks have won six Pacific Division titles, one President's Trophy, and one Western Conference title. The only accomplishment the Sharks are missing is a Stanley Cup; the closest they got to winning a Stanley Cup was in the 2015-16 season, in which they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in Team Teal's only Cup Final appearance so far. I grew up watching future hall-of-famers Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Evgeni Nabokov on the Sharks; other notable Sharks players I remember from my childhood are Dan Boyle, Ryane Clowe, Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Martin Havlat, Scott Hannan, and early renditions of Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Marc-Eduoard Vlasic, and Brent Burns. When I was a kid, I remember Todd McLellan was the Sharks' head coach at the time. The more recent Sharks teams have had strong defense pairings, solid goaltending (up until this past season), great power play and penalty kill units (for the most part), and could roll four lines on any given night.

The third reason consists of many of the Sharks' team attributes. I may be biased, but the Sharks have the best logo in the NHL and one of the best logos in all of professional sports. This doesn't apply to just their current primary logo but their entire logo history as well. Their colors make them distinct from other pro sports teams, as not many other teams use teal in their color combinations. Team Teal has had a great jersey history as well, producing some absolutely beautiful jerseys. The Sharks mascot, S.J. Sharkie, is one of the best and coolest mascots in the NHL and all of sports, especially when he zips down to the ice from the ceiling of SAP Center. The Shark Head inside SAP Center is the coolest entrance in the NHL and possibly all of sports. The Sharks' overall video production quality is top notch, and very few sports teams are able to match it. Its broadcast team is one of the best in sports, consisting of Randy Hahn as the TV play-by-play announcer, Bret Hedican as a color commentator, Dan Rusanowsky as the radio play-by-play announcer, and Brodie Brazil as the host of Sharks Pregame, Intermission, and Postgame Live on NBC Sports California (Jamie Baker's replacement as color commentator has yet to be determined).

The fourth reason has to do with many of the Sharks' traditions. Their pregame shows during the Stanley Cup Playoffs look amazing and get my blood pumping. When the Sharks go on the power play, the Jaws theme starts to play and fans in the Tank make chomping motions with their arms, which I really enjoy. They also hold several fundraisers and charity events every year to give back to the less fortunate and improve the communities of Silicon Valley and nearby Santa Cruz. 

I could go on and on about the Sharks, but they have always been and always will be my favorite NHL team, and nothing will ever change that. Lastly, I hope the San Jose Sharks remain consistent and successful for many years to come and eventually win a Stanley Cup someday. 

I've included a few photos of some of my Sharks memorabilia to spice up this post.