San Jose Sharks News: Pro Sports Daily

As a Hawk-turned-Shark, Antti Niemi has become a horse

February 11

Chicago Sun-Times

"Initially, it wasn't easy crossing sides in a growing rivalry. It also has been an adjustment going from a traditional hockey market in Chicago to California's Bay Area, where the scrutiny and attention aren't as intense. But Antti Niemi hasn't changed much. He's remembered in Chicago as a quiet but extremely confident goalie who delivered for the Blackhawks during their Stanley Cup season. The San Jose Sharks see him the same way. ''He's still a pretty quiet guy [who] goes about his business,'' Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. But the Sharks are starting to describe Niemi in a way the Hawks never did in his magical one-year run. They call him a workhorse. ''He's been great,'' Sharks"

Sharks hand Blackhawks 7th loss in row

February 11

Chicago Tribune

"Try as they might, the Blackhawks searched for some positives following their seventh consecutive defeat. "Right now, minutes after another loss, it's tough to look at the bright side of things," captain Jonathan Toews said in the morgue-like atmosphere of the Hawks' dressing room after their 5-3 loss to the Sharks on Friday night at HP Pavilion. "We played hard out there. We saw some fights, we saw some scratching and clawing, some battling in front of the net and a couple of ugly goals. We played the way we had to. We gave them too many opportunities on the power play and that's how they separated themselves from us in this game. It always seems to be one thing or another but (Friday"

Sharks, Blackhawks both trying to shake slumps

February 10

San Jose Mercury News

"Three weeks ago, the Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks were among the NHL's surging teams. They looked like two franchises perfectly capable of once again meeting deep in the postseason. But when they play Friday night at HP Pavilion, the Sharks and Blackhawks will be just a couple of scuffling clubs badly in need of a win. Chicago has slipped into a brutal tailspin. The Blackhawks arrive in town having lost six consecutive games and tumbling from their perch atop the Western Conference standings. While the Blackhawks' Zamboni has blown an engine, the Sharks merely are leaking oil. They have lost their last two games and continue to be plagued by inconsistent play. Regaining their edge"

Dan Boyle questionable for Friday with the flu

February 9

San Jose Mercury News

"Filling in for DP at Sharks' practice today, and I just wanted to pound out a quick blog posting before rushing over to watch the Chicago Blackhawks' skate. Defenseman Dan Boyle, who missed Wednesday night's 4-3 loss to Calgary with the flu, did not skate Thursday. It's unclear if he'll be ready for Chicago Friday night. "Boiler had the flu yesterday, so we let him stay home," coach Todd McLellan said. "We don't want him around the rest of the guys, just in case the bug is still with him. I would say right now that he's questionable (against the Blackhawks), and we'll see how he is tomorrow.""

Jokinen scores hat-trick as Flames beat Sharks

February 9

Calgary Sun

"Miikka Kiprusoff recorded the milestone win, against his former team no less. Olli Jokinen was the hero. Kiprusoff became just the 27th member of the NHL's 300-win club, but his Finnish countryman led the way with three goals and four points to pace the Calgary Flames to Wednesday night's entertaining 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Jokinen's seventh career hat-trick included the game winner. "He was making sure Kipper had a big night," said Jarome Iginla, Calgary's other marksman. "Olli was great. He's been playing well for a while and you can see him start to feel it." The Flames improve to 25-22-7 to move one point back of the Minnesota Wild for the eighth and final playoff spot."

Even dad wants Joe Thornton to shoot the puck more

February 8

San Jose Mercury News

"Whenever Wayne and Joe Thornton talk hockey, the advice from father to son is always the same. Shoot the puck. "Pretty much before every game I have to remind him," Wayne Thornton said. "But he doesn't shoot enough. He never has." Joe Thornton, the Sharks captain, continues to be one of the NHL's preeminent passers. At the same time, he can be unselfish to a fault. San Jose coach Todd McLellan long has pressed Thornton to be more aggressive about challenging goaltenders himself. "Some players are shooters and some players are passers," Thornton countered, "and I guess I'm just a passer at heart. I enjoy setting guys up.""

Former Sharks captain Owen Nolan announces his retirement

February 8

San Jose Mercury News

"Three days before his 40th birthday, Owen Nolan formally hung up his skates Wednesday afternoon, retiring with the San Jose Sharks organization where he made his biggest impact in the NHL. The onetime Sharks captain played 568 of his 1,200 games for the Sharks in a career that saw him wear the jerseys of seven teams. But it was in San Jose that he came to represent the team itself -- a pugnacious group coached by Darryl Sutter with a star player who reflected that same, tough approach to the game. "Today I'm announcing my retirement," Nolan said, before pausing to regain his composure. "I guess I've known this day was here for a while. When your body won't do what your mind and heart are"

Sharks F Murray clears waivers

February 7

CSN Bay Area

"Sharks forward Andrew Murray cleared waivers Tuesday, according to a report on Twitter by The Sports Network's Bob McKenzie. Murray will be reassigned to Worcester. After playing right wing on the fourth line for the first 24 games, Murray was a frequent scratch from the Sharks' lineup lately, including the last four games. In 39 games, Murray has a goal and three assists for four points and four penalty minutes."

San Jose Sharks could be seeking a scorer at trade deadline

February 7

San Jose Mercury News

columnist David Pollak

"Sharks general manager Doug Wilson is notoriously tight-lipped all year, but even more so now with the NHL's Feb. 27 trade deadline less than three weeks away. "Once we get in this month," Wilson said Monday, "I don't make any comment about anything.""

Sharks fan won't face charges for knocking out 16-year-old brain tumor patient

February 7

San Jose Mercury News

"South Bay prosecutors said Monday they will not file charges against a Sharks fan who knocked a 16-year-old brain tumor patient unconscious during a game six weeks earlier. The case of Maggie Herger drew national headlines after she was hit on the back of the head, apparently for wearing gear from the visiting team, the Vancouver Canucks. Some of the Canucks visted the 12-year-old Canada native in the hospital, helping her recover from brain surgery. Officials said they did not find sufficient evidence to prove the drunken woman behind Herger hit her on purpose. Herger's sister, who was sitting next to her, heard the fan tell an usher that she had brought her hands down on Herger's head"

Report: Sharks among frontrunners for Moen

February 6

CSN Bay Area

"Could Travis Moen be returning to the San Jose Sharks? According to a report in the Toronto Sun, the Sharks are among the frontrunners for the 29-year-old veteran left wing, who has nine goals and seven assists for 16 points with the Montreal Canadiens. Moen played 19 games for the Sharks in 2008-09, collecting three goals and two assists, when he was acquired from Anaheim along with Kent Huskins in exchange for Nick Bonino, Timo Pielmeier and a fourth round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft on March 4. He was scoreless in six playoff games before leaving as a free agent that summer to sign with Montreal."

Coyotes snap Sharks' three-game winning streak

February 5

San Jose Mercury News

"One Phoenix goal bounced off the stick of a Sharks defenseman. Another deflected off a skate into the San Jose net. It was that kind of evening for the Sharks, whose three-game winning streak was snapped as the Coyotes defeated them 5-3 Saturday at Jobing.com Arena. "Just a tough night," Sharks captain Joe Thornton said. "We outshot them and had our chances to win. But we had some fluke things happen, and we lose the game." The Sharks did make it interesting in the final minute. Down 4-2, and after the Sharks had pulled goaltender Antti Niemi, Patrick Marleau slapped home a shot with 32.3 seconds remaining to bring San Jose within one goal. But there would be no miracle comeback as the"

Antti Niemi likely to get more rest than last season down the stretch

February 4

San Jose Mercury News

"Sharks No. 1 goaltender Antti Niemi was back between the pipes at practice Friday, and he pronounced himself fit to play Saturday against the Phoenix Coyotes after missing one game because of a minor injury. But unlike last season, when Niemi started 31 of the Sharks' final 32 games, he probably is going to get some help down the regular-season stretch. The development of Thomas Greiss into a top-flight backup and the brutal schedule ensure that the Sharks will go with something closer to a goaltending tandem in the final two months. "Between now and the end of the year, we play a jam-packed schedule," coach Todd McLellan said. "And having the team confident in both of them is a valuable"

Sharks continue win streak with 5-2 victory over Dallas Stars

February 3

San Jose Mercury News

"They could afford to joke about it this time. The Sharks skated away with a convincing 5- 2 victory over the Dallas Stars at HP Pavilion on Thursday night. It was their third consecutive victory. Their power play looked rejuvenated. The goals by Michal Handzus, Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Ryane Clowe showed the team's scoring touch had returned. So there wasn't any angst tied to the fact that a franchise-record shutout streak that stretched over four games ended when defenseman Dan Boyle fired the puck into his own net while trying to keep it away from Dallas pest Steve Ott. "Weird one by Dan, but we've seen him do that before," said a smiling Joe Thornton, referring"

Stars vs. Sharks preview: Dallas has struggled (0-7-1) in second game of back-to-backs

February 2

Dallas Morning News

"Key matchup: Logan Couture vs. Jamie Benn Both are coming off of their first appearances at the All-Star Game, and each was the only representative for his team. Key stat: 0-7-1 That's the Stars record on the second night of back-to-back games this season. Andrew Raycroft lost five of those games, but Dallas was crushed by Minnesota, 5-2, with Kari Lehtonen and Richard Bachman splitting time in net Jan. 21, which was the last time they faced this challenge."

Columbus' Jared Boll fined for head shot on Joe Thornton

February 2

San Jose Mercury News

"The NHL fined Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jared Boll $2,500 Wednesday for delivering a hit to Joe Thornton's head, all part of the league's anti-concussion crackdown. But it was an undetected blow to the head later in San Jose's 6-0 trouncing of the Blue Jackets on Tuesday night that defenseman Colin White still was steaming about the next day. "It's clearly a head shot," White said of the check delivered by Columbus center Derek MacKenzie at 8:29 of the third period. "I don't know what the refs were watching.""

Sharks 6, Blue Jackets 0: Pounded after layoff

February 1

Columbus Dispatch

"Only 20 seconds into last night's game, Blue Jackets winger Jared Boll caught San Jose's Joe Thornton with his head down in the corner after handling the puck. Boll — as is his tendency — launched his body into Thornton's, but Boll's right shoulder crept too high and popped Thornton aside the head. The good news for the Sharks is that Thornton was OK. The bad news for the Blue Jackets is that Thornton, whose pulse is sometimes undetectable, was awakened, angered and engaged. The Sharks, with Jumbo Joe at the controls and a cast of many in support, cruised to a 6-0 victory over the Blue Jackets to the delight of 17,562 in HP Pavilion. Thornton had two goals and an assist, his second"

San Jose Sharks clobber Columbus Blue Jackets 6-0

February 1

San Jose Mercury News

"Sixteen seconds into their first game in six nights, the Sharks got a wake-up call Tuesday when Columbus Blue Jackets agitator Jared Boll delivered an elbow to captain Joe Thornton's head. And did they ever spring into action. Sixty minutes later, San Jose skated off the ice at HP Pavilion with its most one-sided victory of the season, a fight-filled 6-0 thumping of the NHL's worst team that saw goalie Antti Niemi make 30 saves to earn a second consecutive shutout. "It sure was a game you could get emotionally involved in," said Thornton, who responded with a fiery two-goal, one-assist performance to lead a San Jose offense that had been struggling in the weeks leading up to the"

Clowe out Tuesday, but concussion ruled out

January 31

CSN Bay Area

"Ryane Clowe will not play on Tuesday night when the Sharks host the Columbus Blue Jackets, but it became clear after the team's morning skate that he is out only due to a facial fracture and not a head injury. Clowe went face first into the glass on Jan. 10 in Minnesota, played in the next three games, and then sat out the team's five games leading up to the All-Star break. "When I came off the ice when it happened in Minnesota, that's what they asked me afterward when they knew there was something wrong," Clowe said. "My nose was bleeding, but I didn't feel anything like that. I know I struck my face off the boards, but as far as my head and all that, that felt good. Right away, I had no"

Sharks face a grueling schedule in second half of the season

January 31

San Jose Mercury News

"Ideally, the Sharks got plenty of rest over the NHL All-Star break that kept them away from the rink for five days. Because, boy, are they going to need it. Starting Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets at HP Pavilion, San Jose faces a daunting schedule that has them squeezing 35 games into the next 68 nights after taking a generous 115 days to play their first 47. In February, there's a nine-game, 15-day trip that includes three sets of back-to-backs. In March, they play a franchise-record 17 games. "We're very aware of it," defenseman Dan Boyle said. "It's probably the hardest stretch of hockey that I can ever remember going through.""

Back to the real NHL games

January 30

Ottawa Sun

columnist Chris Stevenson

"The days at the beach, as tweeted by Capitals defenceman Mike Green from the Cayman Islands, are over. The neon tans from Las Vegas will now start to fade. The NHL's feel-good weekend here — a resounding success which revolved around the emotional outpouring between Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and Senators fans — now becomes a fond memory. Ahead is a 30-game sausage grinder that is the rest of the NHL season. "You need the break whether you're here or somewhere else doing something different. This is a part of the season the guys really look forward to, just to recharge the battery," said Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul. "When you get back from this break, you're re-energized and you"

Ottawa homecoming is memorable for Logan Couture

January 30

San Jose Mercury News

"In his return to Ottawa where he played junior hockey for four seasons with the 67's, Logan Couture had quite a homecoming at the NHL All-Star Weekend. He was given a car for being the last pick, and a tremendously good sport, at the Fantasy Player Draft on Thursday. He also got to see the 67's play Friday night, and on Sunday he picked up an assist in the All-Star game itself. The only downside to the weekend was that he and the rest of Team Alfredsson fell 12-9 to Team Chara. "It was awesome and definitely something I'll never forget. It's special to come back to this city for an event like this," said Couture."

Chara's stars beat hometown hero Alfredsson

January 30

Ottawa Sun

"On his big day, Daniel Alfredsson surrounded himself with Swedes. But it was a bunch of Slovak buddies, led by New York Rangers winger Marian Gaborik, who drove Team Chara to a 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson in front of 20,510 in the 57th NHL all-star game Sunday at Scotiabank Place. While former Senators defenceman Zdeno Chara scored the third-period winner, it was Gaborik, voted the game MVP, who led his club to victory with a hat trick and four-point effort as Team Chara walked away with the bragging rights. "You could see the guys wanted to win," said Chara when asked if he gave his team any instructions with the score tied 6-6 going into the third period. "I didn't have to say a"

Logan Couture: On a star-studded roster, the youngster stood out

January 28

San Jose Mercury News

"For most hockey players, the all-star break is a welcome opportunity for a little rest and relaxation, maybe a quick trip to the beach or mountains. Logan Couture wouldn't know about that. At 22, he is taking part in all-star festivities this weekend for a sixth consecutive winter -- three as a teenager in the Ontario Hockey League, one in the minors and now two in the NHL. That this year's NHL All-Star game is being held in Ottawa, the city where Couture developed his skills with the Ottawa 67's in the OHL, neatly ties everything together. "It means a lot," Couture said. "I had some great moments there." Couture, who had a potentially not-so-great moment Thursday night as the last player"

Sharks goalie Antero Niittymaki clears waivers

January 27

San Jose Mercury News

"Sharks goaltender Antero Niittymaki cleared waivers Thursday morning. So for now, he continues to be a member of the Sharks organization. "I know they've been working hard to find a place for me to play," Niittymaki said from Lake Tahoe, where he is spending the All-Star break. "It's probably not as easy as it sounds, because I've been out with the (hip) surgery and I've only played games in the minors." Niittymaki returned in late December and has had two conditioning assignments at minor league Worcester to showcase him for a possible trade. But the Sharks have found no takers yet. They also have firmly established goaltenders in Antti Niemi and Thomas Greiss. That's why, Niittymaki"

Sharks trade for Florida Panthers forward Kennedy

January 27

San Francisco Chronicle

"The Sharks traded defenseman Sean Sullivan to the Panthers for forward Tim Kennedy on Thursday, adding a former college star who has played only 33 games in the NHL over the past two seasons. Kennedy, who has split this season between Florida and San Antonio of the AHL, was assigned to San Jose's top development affiliate, Worcester of the AHL. He had two points in 27 games with Florida this season and nine points in 18 games for San Antonio. The 25-year old forward from Buffalo was a collegiate national champion with Michigan State in 2007, scoring 43 points in 42 games that year, and he had 26 points in 78 regular-season games and three in six playoff games as a rookie for the Sabres in"

Who will win? Breaking down All-Star teams

January 27

NHL.com

"The draft is over, the rosters set for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game. We now know who will be wearing the white jerseys for Team Alfredsson and the blue jerseys to represent Team Chara. Now it's time to take a look at the rosters and break them down by position. Look for our prediction at the end. FORWARDS Datsyuk and Malkin on the same team is a scary proposition for the opposition. They may be the two most skilled players in the NHL right now. As Chara said, you can put them on the same line and they can be unstoppable, or you can put them on separate lines and they'll still be dominant and "make the line." Team Alfredsson has a lot of talent, but it doesn't have two"

Sharks' Logan Couture is the final player selected in NHL Player Fantasy Draft

January 27

San Jose Mercury News

"The Sharks' Logan Couture was the last man standing Thursday night when sides were chosen for the NHL All-Star game, but 22-year-old was hardly traumatized by the playground-like experience. Couture was all smiles after the draft, saying how much fun he was having -- though he expects to hear all about it from his teammates over the next little while. "We were just having fun on the stage, and I'm excited. I'm here at the All-Star Game, and I never thought I'd be here at this stage (of his career). The fantasy draft is for the fans, and the crowd enjoyed it," Couture said. "Anything that can help fans be more attracted to the game of hockey, I'm all for it.""

Sharks acquire Kennedy from Panthers

January 26

NHL.com

"The San Jose Sharks have acquired forward Tim Kennedy from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Sean Sullivan. Kennedy had 1 goal and 2 points in 27 games for the Panthers this season. The 25-year-old has 11 goals and 29 points in 112 career games for the Sabres and Panthers."

Niittymaki clears waivers: "I know they've been working hard to find a place for me to play."

January 26

San Jose Mercury News

"Twitter followers know this already, but Sharks goaltender Antero Niittymaki has cleared waivers. When I reached Niittymaki, who is spending the All-Star Break in Lake Tahoe, he didn't sound too surprised that he had not been claimed. And he has no idea what happens next. "You have to ask Mr. Wilson," Niittymaki said of Sharks GM Doug Wilson. "We'll see. I know they've been working hard to find a place for me to play. It's probably not as easy as it sounds because I've been out with the (hip) surgery and I've only played games in the minors." Wilson is traveling to the All-Star Game in Ottawa. But Wednesday, he described placing Niittymaki as "the next step in the process" of trying to"

San Jose Sharks waive goaltender Antero Niittymaki

January 26

San Jose Mercury News

"The Sharks placed Antero Niittymaki on waivers Wednesday in their next step of trying to find the frustrated goaltender a new NHL home. There's a logjam in net throughout the San Jose organization, and general manager Doug Wilson has been canvassing the league looking for a trade partner without success. Teams have until 9 a.m. Thursday to place a claim on Niittymaki. If that happens, the Sharks would lose the goalie but gain some additional salary-cap flexibility in advance of the Feb. 27 trade deadline."

Sharks Place Goaltender Niittymaki on Waivers

January 25

TSN.ca

"Goaltender Antero Niittymaki was placed on waivers by the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. The 31-year-old keeper has missed the majority of this season recovering from September hip surgery. In his absence, Thomas Greiss has shone in San Jose's crease, seeing time as a backup."

Shark-bitten Flames hit all-star break with a whimper

January 25

Calgary Herald

"It wasn't exactly the kind of game that's going to fire up hockey fans for this weekend's NHL All-Star joust. In fact, customers at the Scotiabank Saddledome for a Tuesday night chess match now could be turned on to women's Olympic qualifying soccer. Or, perish the thought, to Alberta women's curling playdowns in Leduc. Given the fact the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks mounted a handful of scoring chances each, it figured that this grinder would be settled on a baseball play."

Sharks head into All-Star break with much needed win

January 25

San Jose Mercury News

"Benn Ferriero might have only six goals for the season, but he has a knack for knocking the puck into the net when it matters most. Tuesday night, he scored his third game-winner of the season to give San Jose a 1-0 victory over the Calgary Flames, ending a three-game losing streak and sending his teammates into the NHL's All-Star weekend in a better mood than they had been in for nearly a week. "It's nice to win the last one," coach Todd McLellan said. "It gives you a better feeling going into the break.""

Oilers sink Sharks in shootout

January 24

Edmonton Journal

"Edmonton Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk proved a point to his coach Tom Renney and also got two for his teammates on Monday night. Trying to show people he's got the right stuff to be a starting goalie and not just somebody who plays when 39-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin needs a breather, Dubnyk made 44 saves over 65 minutes and three more in a four-man shootout as the Oilers got past the San Jose Sharks 2-1."

San Jose Sharks lose to Edmonton Oilers in a shootout

January 24

San Jose Mercury News

"Add another loss to the streak and another name to the injury list. The Sharks not only dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to the lowly Edmonton Oilers on Monday night at Rexall Place, but they also could be losing defenseman Brent Burns for an extended period of time. Burns left the game early in the third period after a knee-on-knee hit from Oilers veteran Ales Hemsky that earned him a five-minute major and a game misconduct. On the power play that followed, Logan Couture deflected a shot by Dan Boyle to give the Sharks their only goal of the night. Edmonton netminder Devan Dubnyk made 44 saves for an Oilers team that managed only 18 shots on San Jose goalie Thomas Greiss."

Sharks try to end slide against struggling Edmonton Oilers

January 23

San Jose Mercury News

"The Sharks will try to avoid their first three-game streak of regulation losses since mid-October on Monday night against a struggling Edmonton Oilers team that has only one victory in its past nine games. The Oilers have fallen to 29th overall in the NHL -- and that's exactly the kind of information coach Todd McLellan doesn't want his players thinking about. "I don't think looking at the standings is going to do anybody any good," McLellan said after Sunday afternoon's practice at Rexall Place. "And the last time we played against this team, they gave us a hell of a game in our own building.""

San Jose Sharks fall to Vancouver Canucks 4-3

January 22

San Jose Mercury News

"When two teams play each other as tightly as the Sharks and the Vancouver Canucks do, winning or losing comes down to an odd bounce here, a missed assignment there. Saturday afternoon, the Sharks were on the wrong end of both, leaving Rogers Arena as 4-3 losers in a twist-and-turn-filled game in which three goals were scored 92 seconds apart late in the third period. "Two teams play very good against each other, and we made one more mistake than they did," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "The frustrating thing is we're aware of the mistakes we're making, and we're still executing them." Had the Sharks won, the focus would have been on two spectacular goals by Logan Couture -- one"

Todd McLellan seeks cure for ailing power play

January 21

San Jose Mercury News

"The Sharks power play is in a downward spiral that has dropped it to 19th in the NHL, and a significant drop in production by captain Joe Thornton is a big part of the reason. Thornton scored 33 points on nine goals and 24 assists when San Jose had the man advantage last season. This year, he has one goal and seven points in 44 games -- a pace that would have him finishing with 20 fewer points than in 2010-11. "I think Jumbo would like to have more production there, and he's the focal point. It's his power play," coach Todd McLellan said Friday. "It runs through him, but there are other pieces in the mix, and they have to be productive." A San Jose power play that finished second in the"

Senators sink Sharks in costly battle

January 20

Ottawa Citizen

"This wasn't supposed to be a game that favoured the Ottawa Senators, not after a five-hour flight here from Toronto on Wednesday prior to playing their third game in four nights. But after the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks scored the first goal, it was all Ottawa in a thorough 4-1 victory. It was Ottawa's first victory in San Jose since Oct. 18, 2003. They are now 13-2-2 since mid-December. They also did it with only 10 forwards. They lost Kaspars Daugavins in the first period with an injury to his left leg after he blocked a shot while killing a penalty. How long he'll be out is not known, but he looked to be in a great deal of pain when he left the ice. Then they lost Zack"

Ottawa Senators stay hot with 4-1 win over San Jose Sharks

January 20

San Jose Mercury News

"The injuries have started to add up for the Sharks, and it showed Thursday night in a lackluster 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators at HP Pavilion. Not that San Jose was hiding behind that excuse. "Nobody feels sorry for the San Jose Sharks, and the last thing we can do is feel sorry for ourselves," coach Todd McLellan said. But it was evident that making up for the loss of both Ryane Clowe and Marty Havlat will be a significant challenge. "There's not too much chemistry right now, and it's a work in progress," captain Joe Thornton acknowledged, while McLellan referred to the status of his top two lines as "chemistry on the fly." That situation could be even worse when the medical reports are"

Former Shark Milan Michalek returns to San Jose as an NHL All-Star

January 19

San Jose Mercury News

"When Milan Michalek first arrived in San Jose, he was an apprehensive 18-year-old able to speak only the most basic English. "It was very hard," said the Czech Republic native. "I could barely understand what the coaches were saying." The Michalek who returns to HP Pavilion on Thursday night with the surprising Ottawa Senators has blossomed into one of the NHL's top goal scorers. Now a poised veteran at 27, he has nothing but warm memories of his first NHL home -- both on and off the ice. "It's really where I grew up," said Michalek, who already has 23 goals, just three shy of his career high with the Sharks in 2006-07. "I can still remember how nice everyone was to me when I first came"

Sharks: Clowe pulled himself out of the lineup

January 19

San Jose Mercury News

"Ryane Clowe said today he basically took himself out of the Sharks lineup after playing three games with a facial injury because he had a hard time adapting to the protective cage he tried to wear. "It was annoying me and we decided to just let it rest and heal," said Clowe, who will not play Thursday night against Ottawa and could miss the next three games before the NHL All-Star break as well. Clowe said he is not dealing with any concussion-like symptoms and that the vision problems he had were an obstruction issue, nothing else. He played two games with the cage, then removed it during Sunday night's loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, though he continued to play. "That was a decision"

Calgary salvages a point in loss to Sharks

January 18

Calgary Sun

"The confetti was still flying when the shootout began. But there was enough left for a second celebration at HP Pavilion, even after the San Jose Sharks' season-ticket holders witnessed a disallowed goal by the home team in overtime. Instead, the Sharks settled for a shootout victory to spoil the Calgary Flames' night Tuesday. The Flames deserved better for playing one of their best road games of the NHL season in the 2-1 shootout loss. They caught one break when Justin Braun's apparent OT winner was waved off by a referee for what he thought was goaltender interference."

Sharks bite Flames with 2-1 shootout triumph

January 18

Calgary Herald

"Brent Burns, the man of many tattoos, broke into song Tuesday morning upon stepping on the ice at the arena formerly known as the Shark Tank. "Home sweet home," the San Jose Sharks defenceman warbled at the top of his lungs. "Home sweet home." Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Calgary Flames resisted the temptation to wail a mournful country tune during their morning twirl. The Flames woke up to allegedly bone-chilling temperatures of -1 C in the Silicon Valley – compared to -30 C in Calgary – but this group does not exactly fancy life outside of the 403-area code."

All-star Couture has law and order pedigree

January 18

Calgary Herald

columnist Vicki Hall

"Todd McLellan can't help but gush when the topic of conversation turns to 22-year-old all-star Logan Couture. "A huge part of our team," the San Jose Sharks head coach said. "He's quietly becoming the part in the washing machine that makes it go, for lack of a better analogy." Whether McLellan means the motor, the agitator or the power source, no one is about to argue these days with any praise directed at Couture. As a rookie, the London, Ont., native collected 32 goals and 56 points — good enough for a Calder Trophy nomination and an all-expenses paid trip to Carolina for the NHL YoungStars game."

San Jose Sharks defeat Calgary Flames in shootout

January 18

San Jose Mercury News

"The Sharks thought they had won the game with 65 seconds left in overtime, but an apparent goal by Justin Braun that brought roars from the crowd at HP Pavilion was disallowed. And even though the Sharks would go on to take a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on shootout goals by Michal Handzus and Brent Burns, there was a strong consensus in the San Jose locker room Tuesday night that the game should never have reached that point. Braun scored after taking a nifty pass from Joe Thornton, but referee Mike Leggo ruled that Sharks rookie Tommy Wingels had interfered with Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff. Replays showed no contact between the two."

Columbus forward Dane Byers gets three-game suspension for hit on Andrew Desjardins

January 17

San Jose Mercury News

"The shoulder-to-head hit that left Sharks rookie Andrew Desjardins groggy in Columbus has earned Blue Jackets forward Dane Byers a three-game suspension. "Byers is in position to make a full body check in which Desjardins' shoulder or chest will be the principal point of contact," NHL chief disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said in his ruling. "However, Byers rises up and finishes high upon impact, driving his left shoulder up and into Desjardins' head.""

San Jose Sharks end trip with 4-3 loss to Chicago Blackhawks

January 16

San Jose Mercury News

"The Sharks haven't come away empty-handed from too many games lately, but they did Sunday night. And even though the 4-3 loss to the energized Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center was by the narrowest of margins, came at the end of a trip through North America's frozen midsection and was only San Jose's second regulation loss in 16 games, coach Todd McLellan wasn't cutting his players any slack. Not after a dominating performance by Chicago's top line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg. The three accounted for two Chicago goals, registered a combined 17 shots and had the puck all night, often as a result of San Jose turnovers. "I don't know if the puck had a Blackhawk"