Sharks-Flames: Who Shot JR out of a Cannon?

This is why the Sharks acquired Jeremy Roenick. 

He had four goals, including a game winner, in his five previous game sevens. 

Now he has six in six, with two game winners.

I have been quick to criticize Ron Wilson here and elsewhere.  His team had too much trouble with the Flames' forecheck.  They lacked intensity at the start of at last two games.  They tried to coast through over 56 minutes of game three.  They have never won a series when they were really tested under Wilson.

But I have to give him credit for some unorthodox moves that he had the courage to make when his job was clearly on the line, exactly because of the issues I criticized him for. 

He put Milan Michalek in the game, even though he had scored as many points in the entire series as I had, and choked away a scoring chance I never would have.  (Not saying I would have scored or even been able to get the opportunity he blew, but I would not have eaten the puck!) 

More than that, he routinely had him on the Thornton line.

While Michalek still failed to score and finished even, his speed created chances, and he got two shots on goal.  He also played well defensively, with three hits, two blocked shots, and a takeaway against only one minor penalty.

He played Marcel Goc for the first time in a meaningful game, and did so in an elimination game.  This actually made some sense since Goc is great in the faceoff circle, and the Sharks were blown away in that category on Sunday.

Goc played well, finishing +1 with a hit, a missed shot, a shot on goal, a blocked shot, and a takeaway (plus one giveaway) while winning four out of five faceoffs.

And of course, he sat the most experienced player on the team for game six so he would be stronger when he came back. 

This was his best move.

Roenick played with more jump than I have seen him have since he was with Philadelphia.  He scored two goals and had two assists, getting one of each on both the power play and even strength.

Wilson also kept his team poised through some adversity.  Despite outshooting the Flames early, the Sharks went down 2-1 on a goal by Owen Nolan that should have been disallowed since he actually had to extend his foot as he was sliding by the net to direct his rebound past Evgeni Nabokov.

The Sharks responded with four consecutive goals, including both of Roenick's.

The Flames responded as they do, with James Vandermeer slashing Joe Thornton and then punching Ryan Clowe when he came to the star's defense.  On the very next shift for Vandermeer, he added a tripping. 

In keeping with the theme of this series since Calgary coach Mike Keenan whined about officials having the audacity to call penalties in game two, none of them were called.

Calgary scored almost immediately after the last penalty not whistled, and the game was tight again.  But instead of clenching up, the Sharks pushed forward.

Then with about eight minutes to go, Patrick Rissmiller was called for high-sticking.  This may have been the worst call/non-call of the night, since he was not even in proximity to the supposedly offended Flames' player who was caught by his own teammate's stick...none other than James Vandermeer! 

But the Flames' power play (1/3 on the night), almost automatic all series, failed to even register a shot on goal.  Sharks' captain Patrick Marleau, who I have long been critical of because of defensive shortcomings but cannot fault for that in this series once, actually got the best scoring chance during that penalty.

The power play that had climbed to eighth in the league but failed miserably through the first six games finally showed up.  This unit struggled last year also because it passed around the perimeter instead of screening the goaltender and getting shots on net. 

Tonight (2/5) it seemed the adjustment was made, and some of that credit has to go to Wilson as well.

All of this means little if the lessons are not carried to the second round.  Ironically, getting past the first round has been Calgary's problem (0 for 3 since the lockout); the Sharks' trouble has been getting past the second round, not getting to it. 

The Sharks cannot give away games by not showing up for the initial puck drop, or give up leads by trying to coast on their early lead.  They cannot continue to play keep-away with the puck on the power play or let a hit take them away from their game.

If they make any of these mistakes against the Stars, I will be right back to calling for Wilson's job and a shake-up of the team.  If they avoid them, we will be talking about the Stanley Cup run for at least one more series.