Friday's Baker's Dozen - 4/13/2012
Friday, 04.13.2012 / 3:50 PM
By Jamie Baker - Sharks Radio, Color Commentator / The Daily Chomp
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Time for my weekly Baker's Dozen.
- Marty Havlat did in his first playoff game for the Sharks what only two players have done in Sharks history; score an overtime goal in a game that went beyond the first overtime. Game one against the Blues was only the sixth game in Sharks playoff history that went to double overtime or beyond. It was the fourth double overtime game while the Sharks have lost a triple overtime and a quadruple overtime game in their playoff history.
Havlat joins Patrick Rissmiller who scored in double OT in game 1 against Nashville on April 11, 2007 and Ray Whitney who scored in double OT in game 7 against Calgary on May 19, 1995 as the only Sharks players to score in double OT.
#HavlatTime - The Sharks as a franchise are 9-4 when winning the first game of a playoff series and 4-10 when losing the first game of the series. Like scoring the first goal in a game, winning that first game is very important.
#PlantTheSeedOfDoubt - If winning the first game is so important, why do I often say the series doesn’t start until after the 1st game? Because that is when one team is desperate, angry, and will do anything to not go down 2-0 in the series. Games 2,3 and 4 are often the nastiest and meanest games in a series. Game 1 usually has a feeling out process and by the time you get to game five discipline becomes a huge deterrent for players to do something foolish on the ice.
#LosingTeamStewsFor2Days - If the first two days of the playoffs are any indication we are going to enjoy a wild ride. There have been seven games and four of them have gone to ovetime.
#SleepDeprivationTimeOfYear - Paul McLean, Head Coach of the Ottawa Senators after his team lost game 1 to the NY Rangers. “The glare of the Stanley Cup Playoffs should be over after Game 1. We weren’t horrible but we just were not consistent and in the playoffs that can’t happen.”
#HonestAnalysisGoesWithTheTerritory - Marty Havlat, with two goals including the game winner in the second overtime was the #2 star last night. The 1st star was Patrick Berglund of the Blues who scored both of St. Louis’ goals. Picking the 3 stars should be done by non-home team personnel during the playoffs.
#ToObvious - BakesTakes13 a look at the overtime winner in game 1. Vlasic keeps the play alive, Couture breaks up the clearing attempt then protects the puck before passing to Clowe. Clowe protects the puck moving up the boards before hitting Havlat with the pass. Havlat is moving around the slot area until he perfectly times finding a soft spot in the high strong side slot to create a passing lane for Clowe. Havlat then one times the shot beating Halak for the game winner in double overtime. #FindTheSoftSpot_AndHaveAQuickRelease
- I am really impressed by the play of Andrew Desjardins and Tommy Wingels. They are young and providing energy is expected but they are physical, playing smart at both ends of the ice and showing good confidence with the puck. Huge goal in game one that set up the overtime after Wingels plowed past the Blues defenseman and fed Desjardins who fired the puck past Halak.
#FastToo - If Byron Bitz had a different name, say Bieksa, Edler, Kesler or Sedin I am thinking he might not have gotten a 2 game suspension.
#OrWeber - Russian born players on Cup winning teams the last eight years in the NHL.
2010-11: Boston. 0
2009-10: Chicago. 0
2008-09: Pittsburgh. 3
2007-08: Detroit. 1
2006-07: Anaheim. 1 ( Ilya Bryzagalov, back up goalie)
2005-06: Carolina. 2
2003-04: Tampa Bay. 3
2002-03: New Jersey. 2
#WhereIsIgor? - Chew on this interesting quote from Ken Hitchcock. "I personally think the power play is the most overrated stat in the playoffs I've ever seen. I think your power play can take energy away from you. If your key players get discouraged, then they lose their focus five on five. To me, the power play is just a bonus. If you're not good five on five, I haven't seen one team win the Stanley Cup on the power play."
#NowDigestIt - Darryl Sutter on Antti Neimi. “Hey, it’s a big challenge when you play San Jose. San Jose has a goaltender [Antti Niemi] that has won a Stanley Cup. He quietly goes about his business and doesn’t get much credit, just criticism. And we have one that gets a lot of credit.”
#JustWinBaby - Friday the 13th edition of Friday Bakers Dozen has my 13 thoughts on what ‘Playoff Hockey’ is about:
- Playing with and through injuries
- Having no time and space to make plays
- Different players stepping up to be the hero
- Unforgettable saves
- Forgettable bad goals
- Momentum swings from shift to shift
- Hard hits, blocked shots and players doing anything for their team
- Emotion and learning how to control it
- A chess match between coaches
- Head games when it comes to quotes, injury updates and lineups
- Where “will over skill” wins out unless the team with the most skill also has the will
- Edge or your seat hockey where anything can happen at any given time
- Where speed meets grit which needs skill which needs luck to win the hardest 16 games of the year to be the last team standing to win the ultimate prize ….. Lords Stanley Cup.
#ThePriceIsWorthIt
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