Rite of Spring 2013 (NHL Playoffs): "You have no fear of the underdog, that's why you will not survive."

[TorinK29]

Taking the pulse of the internet, we've gone right from "Pens in 4" to "Sens in 6." Team effort from arrogant Sens fans and paranoid Pens fans.

Edited with prediction

I'm ever hopeful

[zpqmaowl]

[TorinK29]

^

Big mistake not hiring a forensic team to look at it first, Doug Wilson.

tsk tsk...

[DaRadniz29]

Wings, top the Blackhawks, tie series at 1 headed back to Detroit. Wasn't this the same score as game one? Looks like this might be a long series.

we feel this decision is grossly unfair to the Raffi

Someone forgot to the proofread.

The Sharks are such a whiny organization. Much like Vancouver, you get the impression that there's a culture of indignant entitlement in the entire region that the local team can't help but to absorb and reflect.

Well, I don't think the Sharks are whiny but I've heard the stories. I've also heard Sharks fans are whiny and you know what? Yeah we probably are.

Why? Because we are frustrated. Frustrated with the play of our team, frustrated with our team being labeled "Chokers" year after year. Majority of Sharks fans understand that the only way to end that is at the very least win the Stanley Cup. As fans we don't play the game, all we can do is chose the team we root for. If we chose another team to root for we're labelled bandwagoners and/or not true fans. We express our frustration, we are labelled whiny. While both might be just, I think a lot of Sharks fans, including myself are tired of the reputation. Frankly, I'm tired of sitting back and not expressing my frustration.

Personally, I knew risk DW took with Raffi Torres and that any questionable hit would probably cost Torres a couple games minimum and it did.

I also knew DoG penalty on Vlasic probably deflected off Carter, but knew the refs were not going to overturn the call and it was up to the Sharks to stop the 5-on-3 and they couldn't and lost the game.

I don't feel we're anymore entitled than any other team. I wouldn't fault any other team or fan complaining, expressing their frustration with a call against them and/or team play of their team or team they root for.

I am and will always be a Sharks fan, win or lose. If the Sharks comeback to win the series, I'll be ecstatic, if the lose the series to Kings I won't consider this a choke - the Kings are a really good and really hot team right now. Sometimes you just run into a better team.

Anyway, it's a new day. Brand new game. Sharks are home and hopefully have made the necessary adjustments to get a win and get back into this series. GO SHARKS!!

[ninersdd]

It looks like the one made of glass, Havlat will return tonight for the Sharks.

[Sodboy13]

Since he doesn't come 'round these parts anymore, here's your Puckguy Suicide Watch Alert:

Yes, when you violate the league rules regarding speaking about disciplinary measures less than 48 hours after the verdict comes down (automatic $25,000), and do so in a lengthy statement on a website operating under the league's umbrella at sharks.nhl.com, maybe, just maybe, you're gonna get the hammer put down on you a bit, and not because of some vast anti-NorCal conspiracy. #FreeRaffi

[DaRadniz29]

Since he doesn't come 'round these parts anymore, here's your Puckguy Suicide Watch Alert:

Yes, when you violate the league rules regarding speaking about disciplinary measures less than 48 hours after the verdict comes down (automatic $25,000), and do so in a lengthy statement on a website operating under the league's umbrella at sharks.nhl.com, maybe, just maybe, you're gonna get the hammer put down on you a bit, and not because of some vast anti-NorCal conspiracy. #FreeRaffi

DW knows the rules, I just get the feeling he doesn't give a anymore.

It looks like the one made of glass, Havlat will return tonight for the Sharks.

Havlat is susposedly ready to go tonight. Sharks also mentioned new lines too. However these look like the same as game 2:

Pavelski - Couture - Marleau

Galiardi - Thornton - Burns

Sheppard - Gomez - Wingels

Kearns - Desjardins - Kennedy

Irwin - Boyle

Vlasic - Braun

Hannan - Stuart

Niemi

Greiss

TMac could be disguising lineups until puck drop. Maybe swap Pavelskis and Galiardi? Just thinking out loud again...

[IceCap]

we feel this decision is grossly unfair to the Raffi

Someone forgot to the proofread.

The Sharks are such a whiny organization. Much like Vancouver, you get the impression that there's a culture of indignant entitlement in the entire region that the local team can't help but to absorb and reflect.

Well, I don't think the Sharks are whiny but I've heard the stories. I've also heard Sharks fans are whiny and you know what? Yeah we probably are.

Why? Because we are frustrated. Frustrated with the play of our team, frustrated with our team being labeled "Chokers" year after year. Majority of Sharks fans understand that the only way to end that is at the very least win the Stanley Cup. As fans we don't play the game, all we can do is chose the team we root for. If we chose another team to root for we're labelled bandwagoners and/or not true fans. We express our frustration, we are labelled whiny. While both might be just, I think a lot of Sharks fans, including myself are tired of the reputation. Frankly, I'm tired of sitting back and not expressing my frustration.

Dear Sharks fans,

Get over it.

Sincerely,

Leafs Nation

[ninersdd]

If you compare the Sharks to my other favorite teams, the Giants and 49ers, then they look miserable in not winning championships, but look great compared to Kings, who were awful the last few years.

Let's face it, tonight is the series. If the Kings win, SJ isn't coming back.

[Kramerica Industries]

The Sharks, on a perennial basis, have probably been the 2nd or 3rd successful of the expansion franchises of the '90s, trailing only the Ducks and maybe Senators (I know, the Lightning won a Cup, but the Sharks have, like, 10 more playoff appearances than Tampa Bay does). Fans have been spoiled since the unconscionable upset of the 100 point Red Wings in 1994 (back when 100 points meant something). And, in recent times, the Sharks have routinely had top-3 teams in the Conference, only to blow up in the playoffs, often times in front of their home fans.

Like I said for case study purposes a few months back - which kind of team would you really have been more glad to be a fan of over the past 20 years? Teams like the Sharks and Senators have been replete with success, and despite many playoff disappointments and missed opportunities, the fact is those franchises have put themselves in a position more often than not to make a championship run. Contrast that with the Lightning, who had a couple legit good teams in 2003 and 2004, and a flukish playoff run in 2011, and that accounts for the entirety of their success in the history of their franchise. If they don't win the Cup (you know, if Martin Gelinas had actually scored or not), then it's not even a debate, but we all know what kind of weight (no pun intended) that a Cup has in that equation.

I would say Sharks fans have earned their frustration. I'm not going to mock them until they descend to these levels (obvious video(s) incoming...):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYfJ9vxx8os

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj9VOlV1VUQ

[Cosmic]

Since he doesn't come 'round these parts anymore, here's your Puckguy Suicide Watch Alert:

Yes, when you violate the league rules regarding speaking about disciplinary measures less than 48 hours after the verdict comes down (automatic $25,000), and do so in a lengthy statement on a website operating under the league's umbrella at sharks.nhl.com, maybe, just maybe, you're gonna get the hammer put down on you a bit, and not because of some vast anti-NorCal conspiracy. #FreeRaffi

Is there a good reason that teams cannot comment on a suspension within 48 hours of the verdict being released?

[FiddySicks]

we feel this decision is grossly unfair to the Raffi

Someone forgot to the proofread.

The Sharks are such a whiny organization. Much like Vancouver, you get the impression that there's a culture of indignant entitlement in the entire region that the local team can't help but to absorb and reflect.

Well, I don't think the Sharks are whiny but I've heard the stories. I've also heard Sharks fans are whiny and you know what? Yeah we probably are.

Why? Because we are frustrated. Frustrated with the play of our team, frustrated with our team being labeled "Chokers" year after year. Majority of Sharks fans understand that the only way to end that is at the very least win the Stanley Cup. As fans we don't play the game, all we can do is chose the team we root for. If we chose another team to root for we're labelled bandwagoners and/or not true fans. We express our frustration, we are labelled whiny. While both might be just, I think a lot of Sharks fans, including myself are tired of the reputation. Frankly, I'm tired of sitting back and not expressing my frustration.

Dear Sharks fans,

Get over it.

Sincerely,

Leafs Nation

Oh yeah, because Leafs fans don't constantly bitch about their crappy team

[IceCap]

we feel this decision is grossly unfair to the Raffi

Someone forgot to the proofread.

The Sharks are such a whiny organization. Much like Vancouver, you get the impression that there's a culture of indignant entitlement in the entire region that the local team can't help but to absorb and reflect.

Well, I don't think the Sharks are whiny but I've heard the stories. I've also heard Sharks fans are whiny and you know what? Yeah we probably are.

Why? Because we are frustrated. Frustrated with the play of our team, frustrated with our team being labeled "Chokers" year after year. Majority of Sharks fans understand that the only way to end that is at the very least win the Stanley Cup. As fans we don't play the game, all we can do is chose the team we root for. If we chose another team to root for we're labelled bandwagoners and/or not true fans. We express our frustration, we are labelled whiny. While both might be just, I think a lot of Sharks fans, including myself are tired of the reputation. Frankly, I'm tired of sitting back and not expressing my frustration.

Dear Sharks fans,

Get over it.

Sincerely,

Leafs Nation

Oh yeah, because Leafs fans don't constantly bitch about their crappy team

What I'm saying is I can't bring myself to feel sympathy for you guys just because you've under performed for 20+ years. We're pushing 50 here. So yeah, sorry. Not buying the pity party.

[DaRadniz29]

we feel this decision is grossly unfair to the Raffi

Someone forgot to the proofread.

The Sharks are such a whiny organization. Much like Vancouver, you get the impression that there's a culture of indignant entitlement in the entire region that the local team can't help but to absorb and reflect.

Well, I don't think the Sharks are whiny but I've heard the stories. I've also heard Sharks fans are whiny and you know what? Yeah we probably are.

Why? Because we are frustrated. Frustrated with the play of our team, frustrated with our team being labeled "Chokers" year after year. Majority of Sharks fans understand that the only way to end that is at the very least win the Stanley Cup. As fans we don't play the game, all we can do is chose the team we root for. If we chose another team to root for we're labelled bandwagoners and/or not true fans. We express our frustration, we are labelled whiny. While both might be just, I think a lot of Sharks fans, including myself are tired of the reputation. Frankly, I'm tired of sitting back and not expressing my frustration.

Dear Sharks fans,

Get over it.

Sincerely,

Leafs Nation

Oh yeah, because Leafs fans don't constantly bitch about their crappy team

What I'm saying is I can't bring myself to feel sympathy for you guys just because you've under performed for 20+ years. We're pushing 50 here. So yeah, sorry. Not buying the pity party.

Pity party? I'm lost. I'm not and was not asking for nor do I expect Pity. That's not what that post was about.

[zpqmaowl]

Haven't seen a game at the Tank all year, and Jesus H. Christ I forgot how bad the camera angle is.

[DarkJourney]

Too many internet tough guys.

[ninersdd]

I don't like the Sharks chances going forward if guys by the name of Bracken Kearns have to play with Marleau.

[The_Admiral]

When he nuts he yells "RELEASE THE BRACKEN"

[Kramerica Industries]

This game goes to overtime, but an 80 second 5-on-3 power play to the Sharks?

That's wraps. This will be a 2-1 series shortly into the overtime period.

[ninersdd]

This game goes to overtime, but an 80 second 5-on-3 power play to the Sharks?

That's wraps. This will be a 2-1 series shortly into the overtime period.

You better damn well be right!