Here is The Daily Chomp's Monday Mailbag answering your questions sent in by Twitter (tweet @SanJoseSharks using #AskSJS), Facebook, or email.

Q: When a team scores on a delayed penalty, is it considered a power play goal or even strength? Also, if they score on a delayed penalty, do they still go on the power play?
– Johnnie H.

TDC: In the Sharks 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on February 8, 2012 Logan Couture scored at 6:29 in the second period. Couture scored his 23rd goal of the season during a delayed penalty when he beat Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff with a wrist shot from the top of the circle.



Looking at the stat sheet for that goal, you can see that the skaters on the ice for the Sharks were numbers 3, 12, 19, 29, 39, 88; number 31 (Antti Niemi) was not on the ice. The play was recorded as an even strength goal because each team had six total skaters on the ice and San Jose did not have a man-advantage.





In this case, Couture scored before the Flames touched the puck and the minor penalty was not imposed.

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With the Sharks and the Red Wings set to face each other on Sunday morning in Detroit, here are the links you need to read before the game:

MURRAY OUT AGAINST DETROIT, NIEMI IN GOAL?
Mercury News beat writer David Pollak reports that Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray will not play against the Red Wings on Sunday and that he's under the "distinct impression" that Antti Niemi will start in goal.
[ Working the Corners ]

POSSIBLE CHANGES ON DEFENSE
CSN California beat writer Kevin Kurz reports that it's "very likely" that defenseman Jason Demers will be available for the Sharks on Sunday, hinting at the possibility of some lineup changes.
[ Sharks Talk ]

RED WINGS TAKE PRACTICE OUTDOORS FOR HWAA
Red Wings beat writer George Sipple reports that 2,000 fans showed up to watch Detroit's outdoor practice on Saturday at Clark Park. In helping celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America, the Red Wings organization accepted hockey equipment, canned food and cash donations for admission into the event.
[ Detroit Free Press ]

MacDONALD TO START AGAINST SHARKS
Red Wings beat writer Ansar Khan reports that goaltender Joey MacDonald will make his seventh consecutive start when the Red Wings face the Sharks on Sunday. Detroit is currently riding an NHL-record 22-game home winning streak that began back on Nov. 5, 2011.
[ MLive.com ]

SHARKS AND RED WINGS PREVIEW
The Associated Press previews Sunday's matinee game, including trends to watch on both sides of the puck.
[ NHL.com ]

Time for my weekly Baker’s Dozen.

1. Joe Thornton, with his three assists against Washington, has now had three or more assists in a game 49 times in his career. That’s second among active players, with only Jaromir Jagr with 56, having done it more.
   #RememberJumboYourDadWantsYouToShootMore


2. Speaking of Joe, how about The Big Pavelski. In the 7 games prior to the Tampa game, Pavs has 5 goals, 5 assists, is +2 and has 26 shots. How important is Pavelski – check out these impressive stats:
   
   61.9 Faceoff % - 1st NHL
   22 Goals – T 21st NHL
   Plus 15 – T 21st NHL Forwards
   52 Takeaways – T 9th NHL
   55 Blocked Shots – T 9th NHL Forwards
   Road stats: 26 games, 11 goals, 13 assists, 24 points, +14
   #Heart_Compete_HockeySense_GoALongWayDon’tThey!!!


3. The Sharks victory on Oct. 28 was important at the time, but looking back it’s downright impressive. That night the Sharks beat Detroit -- in Detroit no less -- by the score of 4-2. It was only one of two regulation losses the Wings have had all season at The Joe. The other was on Nov. 3 to Calgary. Since then they have set a new NHL record by winning 21 straight home games.
   #BigTestForSharksThisSundayInDetroit_Remember9:30amStartInCalifornia


4. Here is how the Sharks have fared this year when:
   
   Giving up 2 or less Goals. 29 times, 24-4-1, .845 points percentage
   Giving up 3 or more Goals, 25 times, 6-13-6, .360 points percentage
   #ToScoreMore_OrGiveUpLess_ThatIsTheQuestion?

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With the Sharks and the Hurricanes set to face each other on Friday night in Raleigh, here are the links you need to read before the game:

PODCAST PREVIEW: GREISS GETS THE START
Sharks radio play-by-play broadcaster Dan Rusanowsky reports that it will be Thomas Greiss in goal, Douglas Murray will not play, and checks in from Raleigh with comments from the recently acquired Dominic Moore, defenseman Colin White and head coach Todd McLellan.
[ Sharks Radio Network ]

McLELLAN'S BLUNT ASSESSMENT, TRAVEL HICCUP FOR SHARKS
Mercury News beat writer David Pollak reports on Sharks head coach Todd McLellan's blunt comments following San Jose's 6-5 OT loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, and inclement weather in the Raleigh area forces the Sharks to stay an extra night in Tampa.
[ Working the Corners ]

COUTURE: MOORE IS 'DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP US'
CSN California beat writer Kevin Kurz recaps Thursday night's game in Tampa with additional info on Douglas Murray's precautionary trip to the hospital after taking a puck in the throat and comments from Logan Couture on the newest Shark.
[ Sharks Talk ]

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With the Sharks and the Lightning set to face each other on Thursday night in Tampa, here are the links you need to read before the game:

NIEMI BACK IN GOAL, KUBINA OUT FOR TAMPA
Mercury News beat writer David Pollak reports that Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina will not dress against the Sharks -- or any other opponent -- while the organization looks to trade the veteran defenseman. He also noted that it will be Antti Niemi against Dwayne Roloson in goal.
[ Working the Corners ]

WINGELS ON SECOND LINE
CSN California beat writer Kevin Kurz reports that Tommy Wingels will start tonight's game alongside Logan Couture and Ryane Clowe on San Jose's second line.
[ Sharks Talk ]

STALOCK: THRILLED TO BE BACK ON THE ICE
Mercury news reporter Mark Emmons tracks Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock's rehabilitation, a journey that has taken him from Stockton, California back to Worcester, Massachusetts the season after a freak injury nearly ended his career.
[ Mercury News ]

SEXSMITH: A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF
Sports writer Steve Ewen with a feature on Tyson Sexsmith -- the 2007 Memorial Cup winning goaltender with the Vancouver Giants and 2012 AHL All-Star Game starter from the Worcester Sharks -- on his stellar season.
[ The Province ]

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When you go on a long road trip, there are lots of stories surrounding planes, trains, and automobiles, but there are lots of hockey stories, too, usually told during games, but sometimes, around locker rooms.

Monday’s game in Washington provided a few examples. Following a late-night flight from St. Louis after a disappointing loss to the Blues, the men in Teal woke up the next morning and bussed straight to the Verizon Center, home of the Washington Capitals, for a meeting and optional skate.

It was an exciting, yet bittersweet day for right winger Tommy Wingels. He was excited to be back in the lineup after missing nine games with an upper-body injury. But he was going to be stepping on the Verizon Center ice surface for the first time since 2009, when he did so as a member of the Miami University team in the NCAA Championship game.

On that particular day, Miami had a 3-1 lead with one minute to play. But Boston University scored twice in the final minute to force overtime, then shocked the Red Hawks with an overtime winner for the national title.

That’s a story in itself for Wingels, but guess who his roommate was in our nation’s capital? That’s right: John McCarthy, co-captain of the Boston University team that won on that fateful day.

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In the month of December, sjsharks.com unveiled a new daily blog meant to keep Sharks fans up to date with events and news items about their team and throughout the sport of hockey.

To help give fans ownership over the blog, there was a contest held to have fans help name the new feature. After nearly 200 submitted names, The Daily Chomp quickly rose to the top of the list as a finalist and it was later voted as the new name of the Sharks official blog. Five Sharks fans suggested "The Daily Chomp". They were each invited  to a Sharks game and asked to share their experience in the blog they helped name. Here are the final two winners of the Sharks Blog Name Contest:

BRIANA TAYLOR

Despite witnessing some heartbreaking losses, I've never truly left the Tank regretful. Frustrated? Yes. Disappointed? Of course; not every game will go our way. But with an atmosphere so electric, a community of fans so passionate, and a team so humble, how could I ever leave the Pavilion regretting my decision to show up that night? As for last month's game against the Blue Jackets, there was no question. The Sharks delivered a game so exciting that my dad and I could hardly believe our luck. It had everything — an offensive explosion, total domination, even those controversial extracurriculars. Passion and energy exuded from every player and permeated through the arena. It was the Sharks at their best. Hockey at its best.

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With the Sharks and the Capitals set to face each other on Monday night, here are the links you need to read before the game:

GREISS GETS THE CALL IN GOAL
CSN California beat writer Kevin Kurz reports that Thomas Greiss will start in net for the Sharks, facing the Capitals for the first time in his career. Opposite Greiss will be Washington's Michal Neuvirth.
[ Sharks Talk ]

HITCHCOCK TALKS OF RESPECT FACTOR FOR SHARKS
Mercury News beat writer David Pollak reports on postgame comments from Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock on his clubs "respect factor" for the Sharks.
[ Working the Corners ]

GORMLEY: 'CAPITALS GETTING NO RESPECT'
CSN Washington's Capitals Insider Chuck Gormley says being in 9th place in the Eastern Conference has its privileges, referencing that the Capitals will see a team's backup goaltender for the 21st time this season. A lack of respect for the Capitals, or back-to-back games for San Jose with a 710-mile flight overnight?
[ CSNWashington.com ]

BEHIND ENEMY LINES
WashingtonCaps.com senior writer Mike Vogel looks at Monday's matchup, discussing the two teams' only previous matchup this season, a 5-2 Sharks victory on Jan. 7, 2012 in San Jose.
[ WashingtonCaps.com ]

SHARKS AND CAPITALS PREVIEW
NHL.com writer Brian Compton previews Monday night's game, including trends to watch on both sides of the puck.
[ NHL.com ]

With the Sharks and the Blues set to face each other on Sunday night, here are the links you need to read before the game:

VANDERMEER TO SKATE AT FORWARD
CSN California beat writer Kevin Kurz reports that the gritty and versatile Jim Vandermeer is expected to skate on the Sharks fourth line in place of John McCarthy as the Sharks kick off their season-long nine-game road trip on Sunday night in St. Louis.
[ Sharks Talk ]

NIEMI VS HALAK IN GOAL, DEMERS BACK SKATING
Mercury News beat writer David Pollak reports that it will be goaltenders Antti Niemi and Jaroslav Halak in goal on Sunday and defenseman Jason Demers skated Sunday morning for just the second time since being placed on injured reserve.
[ Working the Corners ]

SOMMER JOINS THE 500 CLUB
Worcester Sharks Head Coach Roy Sommer made AHL history on Saturday night, becoming just the fourth coach to amass 500 career wins. Sommer is looking for win No. 501 today against Portland.
[ SharksAHL.com ]

BEHIND ENEMY LINES
stlouisblues.com writer Chris Pinkert reports that Blues forward Andy McDonald is set to return on Sunday night against the Sharks. The former Anaheim Duck had missed the last 51 games with a concussion.
[ St. Louis Blues Online ]

SHARKS AND BLUES PREVIEW
NHL.com writer Tal Pinchevsky previews Sunday night's game, including trends to watch on both sides of the puck.
[ NHL.com ]

Time for my weekly Baker’s Dozen.

1. The Sharks have seven games remaining against Eastern Conference teams, including four on the upcoming road trip. Here is how the Sharks have fared this year and the previous three seasons against the East and how their record ranks among Western Conference teams:
   
   2011-12: 8-3-0, 3rd (STL 11-0-2; COL 10-2-0)
   2010-11: 9-8-1, 12th
   2009-10: 12-4-2, T-2nd
   2008-09: 12-3-3, 1st
   #PhillyBostonAndBuffaloComingToHPPavilionInMarch


2. It's that time of year to focus on the special teams trends instead of the percentage for the entire year. The Sharks PP success and PK struggles back in October are really irrelevant right now. Here are the totals for 5-game segments for the past 25 games:
   
   Last 5 PP: 5-13, 38.5%; PK: 8-10, 80.0%
   Last 10 PP: 7-24, 29.2%; PK: 17-20, 85.0%
   Last 15 PP: 11-42, 25.0%; PK: 24-28, 85.7%
   Last 20 PP: 12-60, 20.0%; PK: 40-47, 85.1%
   Last 25 PP: 16-75, 21.3%; PK: 51-61, 83.6%
   #GoodDisciplineToo_14MorePPOpportunitiesInLast25Games


3. St. Louis started the season 6-7-0 before making a coaching change. Since then the Blues are 26-7-7 and one of the most impressive teams in the NHL. Sunday’s game against the Blues, who are 2-0-0 against the Sharks this year and 22-3-4 at home, should have a playoff feel to it.
   #TheyAreNotSingingTheBluesInSt.Louis


4. When I analyze a hockey player I consider the following five attributes: compete level, hockey sense, skating, puck skills and size.
   #OwenNolanHadAllOfThem

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