The Sharks Blew Last Night's Game Vs. Vegas In The Worst Possible Way Imaginable
This is how San Jose Sharks fans/bettors are feeling today.
It pains me to write this blog. Legit.
Obviously, the Bruins are my squad. But thanks to the dynamic and personable 1-2 punch of future superstars Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, the San Jose Sharks have become my Campbell Conference goomah. Despite finishing in the league cellar last season and winning fewer than 25% of their games, the Bay Area fish were not only wildly entertaining to watch but it seemed like every game went down to the wire or OT. And it won't be long before Mack is an annual Hart and Selke candidate; the future is indeed bright for the NHL's Bay Area entry.
But last night, and I can honestly say without hyperbole, in 50+ years of watching this league, it was as ugly as ugly gets in the annals of NHL losses, whatever time of year.
The Vegas Golden Knights were the Shark, turning netminder Alex Nedeljkovic into that little Kintner boy, spilling him all over an ice-covered dock in front of 17,435 aghast spectators. I was watching the game on my phone after leaving the Bs game and couldn't believe what I saw unfold.
Not only were the Sharks on the verge of a nice win, William Eklund had two glorious opportunities to add a nice Puck Line Jesus cash-in for the stashin'. But thanks to the no-quit effort of two-way superstar and Stanley Cup champ Jack Eichel (stay hot, Buffalo) and veteran D-man Shea Theodore, the young Swede was denied twice. And then the unthinkable happened…
Allowing a soft-as-pie dump-in from the red-line for a late game-tying goal is always a kick in the 'nads. Well, at least there's still OT to get that W…
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Orrrr maybe not. After falling for Eichel's Phil Niekro impression, Nedeljkovic tried his Gerry Cheevers one…
…but it didn't go so good and he gifted Reilly Smith with likely the easiest non-ENG goal of his career. Just a stunning turn of events. While we do actually see this scenario play out multiple times a season--one team gags away a lay-up ENG and/or multiple ENG chances only to then blow the game--we hardly ever do in this gross and painful a fashion. A rainbow lob-in and a butchered OT gamble combined to give us merely the latest version of a pro team snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
At least Ned didn't have the biggest fuck-up in sports last night.
Just put some 'tussin on it. You'll be good.
Big thanks for the clips to the most electrifying man in sports media that you should already be following, Liam Blutman.