Sharks: Biting or Teasing?

Another great home win for the Sharks last night. That's 2 in a row, both by 3 goals, both over solid playoff teams. Granted, Vancouver was playing without their all world goalie Roberto Luongo. It's a little bit like the Warriors' win over the Tim Duncan less Spurs earlier this week...impossible to understate his loss, but a good, dominating win over a very good team nonetheless.

So, are the Sharks turning the corner? Who knows...we've seen small stretches of inspired play from them a few times, only to have them fall off again in to lack of effort 7-1 home losses. Are they coming on, or just having a nice series of games?

The next few weeks will answer those questions. In the meantime I'm excited to relish in the good I'm seeing - with the Sharks you never know when those good feelings will evaporate, enjoy 'em while they're here. To wit:

1. Patty Marleau - last night was easily his best game of the season, perhaps not on the scoresheet, though his streaking goal to make it 2-0 Sharks was a thing of beauty, but in every aspect of the game Marleau was dominant. He finished checks, set up other players, won every battle for pucks and generally looked like the guy he's supposed to be - a #1 Center playing on the 2nd line because the Sharks are so deep there's an even better #1 Center on the team.

2. Steve Bernier - After being the best player on the ice in Tuesday's win over the Wild he followed it up with another strong all around game featuring signature Bernier hits and a goal.

3. Joe Pavelski - Showing impressive grit to match his impressive speed and skills.

4. Nabby - Leading the league in wins, 2nd in goals against.

5. Oh yeah, some guy named Thornton, who continues to play with passion and grit on both ends of the ice while scoring 14 points in his last 8 games.

6. The standings - despite long stretches of mediocre hockey and a general acknowledgement that they haven't played to their potential the Sharks sit in the #2 seed in the West and the 3rd best record in all of hockey.

There's a lot of time between now and the playoffs. There will be ups and downs to come, but right now I am one cautiously optimistic Sharks fan. Check back with me in a couple of weeks though, things can change fast in these waters.