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The real Sharks
Which team shows up for the playoffs?
4/9/07 - By Paul Krill
"Can you see the real me?
Can you? Can you?"
- The Who, "Quadrophenia"
This same question of which is the real me can be applied to the schizophrenic
Sharks. Virtually unbeatable in March, they were virtually winless in
February. Going into the playoffs, fans can witness the suspense of finding out
which Sharks team shows up. It makes it difficult to project exactly how the
team will do. Will it be the usual two-rounds-and-out or fewer? Or might there
be a Stanley Cup parade in San Jose this June?
For me, the Sharks unpredictability actually put me in a position where it
would be more convenient for the Sharks to lose their final regular season
game, which they did in overtime. You see, I like to take a week off from work
to coincide with the Sharks' first-round home games. In February, I had to make
the call about whether the Sharks would likely start on the road, which means
home games next week, or at home, which means home games this week.
Not being much of an optimist, I saw how the Sharks kept losing and losing and
safely opted for next week off. Then, what do you know, March comes along and
the Sharks keep winning and winning.
My whole plan was falling part. Although I'd have figured out a way to get to
home games this week, next week certainly would be easier.
In the end, my initial call turned out to be the correct one. But it sure was a
lot closer than I'd anticipated in February.
The first-round opponent is Nashville . The Sharks breezed by this team in the
playoffs last year, but that team is better this year than last. It could be a
much different outcome this time.
It would be nice, though, for the Sharks to offer us a playoff surprise and
actually get to the Big Dance: The Stanley Cup Finals.
This would require some significant juggling of my work schedule. But I'm
willing to make the sacrifice if it means a well-deserved title for the Sharks
and their fans.
First, we'll have to find out if April, May and June bring us the February
Sharks, the March Sharks or some variant thereof.
It should be a fun ride.
…Penalty shots…It just seems inherently wrong that playoff games are
being held in Nashville and Atlanta this season, where hockey takes a back seat
to many other sports, but not in Montreal and Toronto, where hockey
rules…
Contact Paul at at pjkrillsharks@yahoo.com
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