[SharkieFan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/preview;...gid=2009110718
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ impressive winning streak away from home is over, as is the San Jose Sharks’ similarly lengthy string of victories that was built largely during a road-heavy stretch.

San Jose’s streak of home dominance over Pittsburgh, however, is very much intact.

The Penguins haven’t won in their last eight visits to HP Pavilion, a drought they’ll hope to snap Saturday night in a matchup of two of the NHL’s early season heavyweights.

Pittsburgh (12-4-0) reeled off seven consecutive road victories to begin the season, tying the second-best start in league history, before blowing a 2-1 third-period lead Thursday in a 5-2 loss to Los Angeles.


“We didn’t play great, and sometimes you get away with that,” captain Sidney Crosby(notes) said after being held without a point for a third straight game. “It’s a good lesson for us. We have gotten away with bad periods in the past, but tonight we didn’t. We didn’t capitalize on our chances and we didn’t play well in the third, and in a tight game like that, you can’t afford for that to happen.”

San Jose (11-4-2) was looking for its seventh straight win Thursday in Detroit, but also gave up a lead in the final 20 minutes. Henrik Zetterberg’s(notes) goal tied it at 1-all, then he and Pavel Datsyuk(notes) beat Evgeni Nabokov(notes) in a shootout to hand the Sharks a 2-1 loss.

Saturday’s game against the Penguins will be the first of three in a row at home for San Jose after playing nine of 11 on the road.

“We fought hard for the one point, and we got five out of six on the road,” defenseman Dan Boyle(notes) said. “We would have taken that before the road trip started.”

Pittsburgh is playing without reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin(notes) and All-Star defenseman Sergei Gonchar(notes), but those absences aren’t the reason San Jose should feel good about its chances of extending its home record to 5-0-1.

The Sharks have beaten the Penguins six straight times at HP Pavilion and are 7-0-0 with a tie against them there since Pittsburgh last won Oct. 22, 1997.

Crosby, who doesn’t have a goal in three career games versus San Jose, has never gone four in a row without a point.

He’d have a better chance of breaking those droughts if the Penguins can improve their power play. Pittsburgh is 0 for 17 with the man advantage in the four games it’s played without Malkin, and its 15.5 percent rate of success is among the bottom third of the league.

San Jose has allowed one goal in its last 17 times short-handed.

Penguins forward Tyler Kennedy(notes) sat out against the Kings - his fourth absence in five games - with an undisclosed injury, but the Sharks also have a few injury issues.

Defenseman and captain Rob Blake(notes) was placed on injured reserve Thursday with an upper-body injury, meaning he’ll miss at least a week. Right wing Devin Setoguchi(notes) - who has seven goals in 11 games - hasn’t played since Oct. 24 with a leg injury, but Patrick Marleau(notes) and Dany Heatley(notes) have picked up the slack with a combined 21 goals.

Marleau doesn’t have a point in his last four games against the Penguins, but Heatley scored 10 goals in his last nine versus Pittsburgh while with Atlanta.

Nabokov is 7-1-0 with a 1.84 goals-against average in eight starts against the Penguins.

(12-4-0) @ (11-4-2)

Just waiting for the images to come in

[sirmonkey]

at least the peng's dont have malkin for tonight.. so thats 1 big shooter right there nabby doesnt have to worry about..

[Bad Czech Pun]

Family birthday party tonight. They're celebrating a few people's birthdays at once, and since one of those people is my dad, I definitely won't be skipping it for the game.

I might be able to catch it on TV if enough other people are interested in watching it. Unfortunately, I'll almost certainly be missing the GDT.

GO SHARKS!

[YouGotBoyled]

Go Sharks! Still waiting for Pollack's lines for tonights game.

[darkstar10]

I'll be there working tonight. Sharks hosting the defending Champions, can't get much better than that! There should be quite a few Penguins fans in the arena.

3
2

[YouGotBoyled]

Pavs is back!!!!

[Outfox]

Whooooo Hooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

Pavelski Looks To Return
Joe Pavelski may be back earlier than expected.
Saturday, 11.07.2009 / 3:03 PM / News
By San Jose Sharks Staff
The San Jose Sharks could get a huge boost tonight as all indications show Joe Pavelski making his return to action. Pavelski has not played in a game since the second game of the season, but has been skating and traveling with the club in anticipation of his return.

“It looks that way,” said Pavelski about playing. “It’s pretty exciting to get back. “We knew it was getting close so I started showing up early and sitting in on meetings.”

“We should have Joe Pavelski back,” said Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan. “It’s a nice boost for the club. He worked hard to get back earlier than expected. Now we’ll see if he can make a difference.”

Pavelski was actively involved in the morning skate and felt good following the practice.

“We did more battle drills and that felt good,” said Pavelski.

Battling is one of the attributes the Wisconsin native brings to the table every night.

“He competes and he’s hard on loose pucks,” said Patrick Marleau, who was skating with Pavelski in the early going. “He creates turnovers and that creates goals.”

The final decision will be made following the pregame warmups.

“He (McLellan) has to feel comfortable and I have to feel comfortable,” said Pavelski.

Where Pavelski will play and who with will depend on the circumstances dictated by the game as he noted he could play in the middle or on the wing.

[sjsharx22]

PAVS!!!

Let's Go Sharks! FTW!

[sirmonkey]

Originally Posted by Outfox

Whooooo Hooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

Pavelski Looks To Return
Joe Pavelski may be back earlier than expected.
Saturday, 11.07.2009 / 3:03 PM / News
By San Jose Sharks Staff
The San Jose Sharks could get a huge boost tonight as all indications show Joe Pavelski making his return to action. Pavelski has not played in a game since the second game of the season, but has been skating and traveling with the club in anticipation of his return.

“It looks that way,” said Pavelski about playing. “It’s pretty exciting to get back. “We knew it was getting close so I started showing up early and sitting in on meetings.”

“We should have Joe Pavelski back,” said Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan. “It’s a nice boost for the club. He worked hard to get back earlier than expected. Now we’ll see if he can make a difference.”

Pavelski was actively involved in the morning skate and felt good following the practice.

“We did more battle drills and that felt good,” said Pavelski.

Battling is one of the attributes the Wisconsin native brings to the table every night.

“He competes and he’s hard on loose pucks,” said Patrick Marleau, who was skating with Pavelski in the early going. “He creates turnovers and that creates goals.”

The final decision will be made following the pregame warmups.

“He (McLellan) has to feel comfortable and I have to feel comfortable,” said Pavelski.

Where Pavelski will play and who with will depend on the circumstances dictated by the game as he noted he could play in the middle or on the wing.

damnit thats going to screw up my fantasy team.. now i dont know if i want to put him in or just wait til next game..

[sirmonkey]

Originally Posted by Bad Czech Pun

Family birthday party tonight. They're celebrating a few people's birthdays at once, and since one of those people is my dad, I definitely won't be skipping it for the game.

I might be able to catch it on TV if enough other people are interested in watching it. Unfortunately, I'll almost certainly be missing the GDT.

GO SHARKS!

theres where you say.. hey dad.. for your birthday..... we are watching the Sharks and Pengs game.. it will be of the best games of the season..

[marius]

need the sharks' young defensemen and players to play strong tonight, i know the pens have been plagued by quite a few injuries this season but this is still a cup team and the best in the league currently.

clowe needs to go strong tonight to show where he's at in the lines, im foretelling points from him tonight when we need them. id love to see mitchell back up also but having pavelski is a HUGE boost to the team (if he is truly playing tonight) and im hoping clowe too.

[darkstar10]

I'm watching the Worcester Sharks game right now, they are down 2-0 against the Penguins. Hopefully the game tonight won't be like that...

[L.E.N.]

This will be a fun one.

[Bad Czech Pun]

Originally Posted by sirmonkey

theres where you say.. hey dad.. for your birthday..... we are watching the Sharks and Pengs game.. it will be of the best games of the season..

When I first read this I thought you were saying I should have taken my dad to the game for his birthday. I am actually doing that for his birthday except that the game we're going to is the Chicago game later this month.

Anyway, we may be watching it at the party as it is (unless there's a good college football game on or my cousins brought Rock Band over). I'm recording the game and bringing a radio with me, so one way or another I'll know what happens.

[incorporeal_x]

Officials for tonight

Referee:
#15 Stephane Auger
#32 Tom Kowal

Linesmen:
#80 Thor Nelson
#97 Jean Morin

[slocal]

Get em boyos!!

[SharkieFan]

Originally Posted by Bad Czech Pun

Family birthday party tonight. They're celebrating a few people's birthdays at once, and since one of those people is my dad, I definitely won't be skipping it for the game.

I might be able to catch it on TV if enough other people are interested in watching it. Unfortunately, I'll almost certainly be missing the GDT.

GO SHARKS!

The Chicago game is the night before my birthday. Heck the Sharks hosted Chicago last year the night before Thanksgiving also and that was on my Birthday.

[Nice_Ice]

Pavelski will take a period or 2 to get up to speed and having the timing down.

He might do something big in the 3rd period.

I like the Chompbux payout for betting on the Sharks.

[slocal]

Wow, didn't notice the CB payout

[Wordlifetn97]

hooray for pavelski being back!

on another note, I went to the penguins practice yesterday at logitec and I got to meet with some of the players. Crosby signed a puck for me and I got a picture with him, Malkin, and Fleury
hopefully this doesnt jinx the sharks, i did this the last time the blackhawks were in town and they ended up beating us. anyways, i hope the boys do work tonite!