The San Jose Sharks made an unbelievable comeback against the Los Angeles Kings, winning their game in overtime, and putting them ahead in the series, two games to one.
This must have been a very interesting day for “fair weather fans” of the Sharks. First, it started with “The Sharks suck. Here we go choking again!” to “The Sharks are awesome! They’re comeback kings!” (Yes, I read most of the social web site BS from people claiming to be from Silicon Valley.)
Even as a true Sharks fan, since their inaugural season in 1991, I will admit there were times I felt disappointed, but in no way did I lose my support and energy with hopes my favorite team would not give up. To watch the Los Angeles Kings escalate the score to a 4-0 lead, even the more supportive Sharks fans felt it was, yet again, not the Sharks’ day. After all, last Saturday, the Kings beat the Sharks by the same 4-0 tally at the Shark Tank to even the series at one game apiece.
The first period ended with a 3-0 advantage for the Kings. Likewise, I did not feel too bad, as the Sharks had overcome similar deficits in the past, and two periods could have been enough for at least a three goal comeback to tie the game. After the Kings’ fourth goal less than a minute into the second period, it seemed it would not be so easy. Many of my “friends” sent me text messages, informing me they had turned their televisions off and were heading to bed. Even coach Todd McLellan had enough of goaltender Antti Niemi (who, I admit, really was not on his game) and pulled him in favor of fellow Finn Antero Niittymaki.
“Not me! I am a true fan!” I replied to each message of capitulation. The Sharks didn’t quit, so neither did I.
Soon, Patrick Marleau put the first goal on the board for the Sharks, being set up by both Dan Boyle and Joe Thornton. A few minutes later, it was Ryan Clowe, and then another six minutes of hard-nosed play saw the Sharks score yet again with a goal by Logan Couture (who, by the way, was just revealed as a nominee for the 2010-2011 Calder “Rookie of the Year” Memorial Trophy).
With the score then 4-3, the Sharks were right back in it.
The Kings’ Ryan Smyth scored only fifteen seconds after Couture’s goal to calm the Sharks’ hot streak, but as the second period unfolded, the Sharks scored twice more: once by Ryane Clowe (again, for his second, from a beautiful setup by Dan Boyle), and another by Joe Pavelski with a great front of the net effort.
Sharks fans rejoiced with their massive comeback, and the seven goal second period left the game at a 5-5 between the two teams.
Although the third period saw some close chances by both teams, the period ended scoreless, forcing the game to be decided by sudden death overtime.
Three minutes in, after a three on two break by the Sharks, Patrick Marleau slid the puck over to Devin Setoguchi for a beautiful setup, allowing him to wrist the puck into the top corner of the net, beating Kings’ netminder Jonathan Quick and sealing the Sharks’ victory.
The epic surge by the Sharks was only the fourth time in NHL Playoff history a team mounted a comeback from a deficit of at least four goals.
Now all of you fair weather fans can wake up and pretend like you’re all excited.
