Here back home from Prague. How was it? My
third time in that city and the trip was only messed up by some below
expectation hockey. Not counting the British Airways experience. At one time
Britain bossed and bullied around 1/4 of the planet, now their big chance at us
is changing planes at Heathrow. They want to show they can still treat everyone
like crap.
Coach David Quinn stated that his team hadn't had much
practice time together and it showed. On that first night in Prague, his team
looked like they'd first met on the bus to the arena. Considering there's a
half dozen or so new players plus a new coach and a new system it's not
surprising that their first game against an NHL squad was embarrassing and the
second was only a little better. If they scored for hitting goalposts it would
have been a Sharks' win.
What's changed, more specifically? The power
play looked a little different but keeping one defenseman high meant that a
loss of possession quickly became a shorthanded breakaway. Neither Erik
Karlsson or Mario Ferraro looked especially comfortable chasing guys down the
ice. Oskar Lindblom and Steven Lorentz had their moments but the Sharks'
traditional problem of forward depth will need to be sorted. And the
competition for press box defenseman is very tight. Can we skate five defesemen
and sit two of them up there?
Game two was a little better, the Sharks didn't wilt
until later in the second period but they still looked tired. Pulling the
goaltender gave them a long possession in the Predators end that should have
earned a tying goal but no luck. I'd hoped there would be at least a split, but
that was not to be. Swiss-born Nino Niederreiter of the Predators was the star
of the weekend with three goals, including a nifty one where he took a pass
coming out of the penalty box.
Prague native son Tomáš
Hertl scored the first goal on Friday and was cheered all around. Lots of kids
teams at that game, sitting together and wearing their jerseys. Radim
Šimek and Roman Josi (from nearby Switzerland) also were appreciated by
the crowd. People came from all over Central Europe based on the plates on cars
in the traffic jam leaving the lot. Hockey fans are everywhere.
What's
ahead? The Sharks could surprise, but on looking at the October schedule, six
wins would be amazing. If you're hoping for a replay of the 2017-18 Vegas
Golden Knights season, where a roster of second and third line players made it
to the finals, you'll probably be disappointed. This team looked more like the
early expansion years in the Cow Palace, though with much more young talent a
few years away. But hey- Go Sharks!
