...Back when the Washington Caps fired Ron Wilson after the 2001-02 season, one of the reasons that came out in the press was that General Manager George McPhee got the impression after speaking to the players that they had simply stopped listening to Wilson.
I only bring this up, as I just saw Wilson explain to OLN's on-ice reporter between the first and second period of the Edmonton-San Jose game that the Sharks power play was misfiring because his players continued to insist on passing the puck through coverage. For the San Jose power play to be successful, Wilson noted, the players at the point had to make a committment to shoot instead of pass.
Well, after watching most of the second period, I can only conclude that Wilson has either lost the ear of his players, or they simply aren't paying attention. Time and again we're seeing the Sharks make that extra pass through traffic rather than just taking the shot (both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau seem to think working the puck down low on the wing is the way to go).
As it turned out, the only goal the Sharks have scored tonight was off an offensive zone faceoff where the point man didn't think, and just let the puck fly. Edmonton goalie Dwayne Roloson couldn't see a thing, and the puck found its way past him. Funny how that works sometimes.
UPDATE: The anthem idiots are back. Undoubtedly, other idiots will respond in kind back in Edmonton on Wednesday night. What a joke.
UPDATE: Shawn Horcoff and Christian Ehrhoff trade goals on the same power play, and it's 3-2 Edmonton, just when it looked like San Jose was dead. I think that's the first San Jose power play goal in like 5,000 chances (not really, just seemed that way).
ANOTHER UPDATE: Jonathan Cheechoo ties it up, 3-3. Which of course means we're probably looking at another multiple OT classic.
YET ANOTHER UPDATE: I might have to rename Fernando Pisani, Mr. Sandman, as he scores, 4-3 Edmonton. Another great game.
GOODNIGHT: Jarret Stoll makes it 5-3, and I'm going to bed.
Quick: Someone in the Sharks organization needs to throw up an apology for the anthem hijinks in the Edmonton Journal…full page or whatever. “Sorry. Won’t Happen Again.”
Not because it’s the right thing to do, but because there’s bad ju-ju which must be exorcised before the next game.