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One for the
Ages
Tuesday's win was magical moment for Sharks,
fans
| 4/24/19 - By Paul Krill -
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Since 1982, I've felt that the greatest game I'd
ever seen in any sport was the Miami Dolphins-San Diego Chargers NFL playoff
game played early that year, where the Dolphins trailed 24-0 after the first
quarter, brought the score to 24-17 at halftime on a trick play, and then lost
in OT. Well, Tuesday night's Sharks game gives that Dolphins game a run for its
money, at least in my book. And I was in actual attendance for the Sharks game,
unlike that Dolphins game, which became known as the "Epic in Miami."
Unable to get anything done for the first 49 minutes of the game and trailing
3-0, the game completely changed when Joe Pavelski took a vicious cross-check
and ended up bloody and possibly unconscious on the ice, resulting in a
five-minute power play. The Sharks then scored four times on that power play
before winning in OT and ending the whiny Golden Knights' season.
The
game was magical, with fans, complete strangers, high-fiving each other and
celebrating in the stands and out in the concourse afterward. For me, I am
hopeful that this game could revive enthusiasm in the Sharks, who have a long
history of making the playoffs and falling short. Thus, the Sharks making the
playoffs these days is almost seen as a dreaded prelude to the annual
disappointment of the team falling short and not winning the Stanley Cup.
It seems that the Golden State Warriors, who have won three NBA titles
in the past four seasons, now generate more enthusiasm, even in the Sharks'
South Bay home. (I'd argue that an NBA title is easier to win than a Stanley
Cup but that's another story.)
With this comeback, first from being down three games
to one and then overcoming 3-0 deficit in the third period, nobody can call the
Sharks chokers. At least not this week, anyway.
Can Tuesday's magical
moment spark the Sharks on to their first Stanley Cup? We've had our hopes up
before, only to be let down. And the past two games actually had some major red
flags - being outshot by a 2-to-1 margin in Game 6 and falling behind 3-0 in
Game 7, at home. Also Martin Jones' back-and-forth Professor Kelp-Buddy Love
performances ( see: Jerry Lewis and "The Nuitty Professor") in goal remain a
major concern. The Sharks' coaching staff won't have much time to shore up the
Sharks' play before the next round starts on Friday.
For today,
though, we can enjoy the euphoria of the Sharks dual comebacks in this series.
Then, it will be back to business for the Sharks and fans.
…Penalty Shots:
My predictions for the first round have
been pretty bad. I had Calgary, Tampa Bay, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and Winnipeg
winning. All were eliminated. But I did have the Sharks winning in seven games.
So I got the important series right.
Contact Paul at at
paulkrill@letsgosharks.com
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