A week a go the sharks were sitting around .500 but still somehow on top of the Pacific Division. However things wern't looking so good with a bad loss to Dallas at home during which, Mike Madono broke the record for the most points by an american born player. Then with another loss at Anaheim things weren't looking so good. But with three of their next four games against the Phoenix Coyotes there was a chance to right the ship and get back on a wining steak. Durin there first game the sharks got the momentum boost the needed when Jeremy Roenick got a lucky bounce off the end boards and became just the third american born player to score 500 goals in his career. From that point forward the Sharks looked like the team that was the early favorites to win the Stanley Cup. going on to beat Phoenix in back to back games before heading to Dallas. In Dallas the sharks jumped out to an early 3-1 lead and it looked as though the recent shake up in the Dallas front office was not going to begin it's tenure well. However Dallas rallied with two quick goals in the third and took the game into a shootout. However Ron Wilson caoch of the sharks decided that the leagues worst shootout team needed a new order. So he decided who better to send out for their first shot then rookie, Devin Setogutchi.

For those of you who have never heard of this kid before remember his name. Devin first won a spot on the sharks roster with an impressive training camp but was forced to sit out the first couple weeks of the season with a injury sustained in preseason. We was put into the AHL for rehab and when Ryan Clowe was placed on the IR the Sharks recalled him and from then on he has been on fire. So far he has played in 9 games and already has 7 goals and looks to be Joe Thornton's new best friend. Right now he looks like Jonathan Cheechoo back in 2005 when Thornton first came to the sharks and Cheechoo posted a 51 goal season.

Anyways Setogutchi scored on his shootout attempted and after a key save from Nabokov, Patrick Marleau capitalized on his shootout attempt and extended the Sharks win steak to a season long 3. Then the Sharks traveled to Phoenix to finish their little 3 game seires. In game number 3 the sharks once again man handled the Coyotes on their way to a 6-0 victory and Nabokov's second shutout in 4 days. The sharks are starting to get goals from role players such as Joe Pavelski and Steve Beirner, and it also looks as though Nabby is starting to find his groove. I think this little three game seires against Pheonix was just the thing the sharks needed to right their ship and get back to playing at the high level that everone expects out of these stanley cup contenders. And boy was this the right time for the Sharks with their next couple games coming against L.A and Anahiem the Sharks are going to need to be playing thier best.

This is my first of what i hope to be the first of many future article about the NHL and more specifically the San Jose Sharks. First i'll tell you a little about myself, i am a 20 year old kid from San Jose who is basically in love with sports. Most of my life is revolved around sports but now hockey has become my main focus and that is what i hope to talk to all of you about. Today i'm just gonna give a breif summary of what i have seen out of the NHL so far. First and far most i would like to give a huge round of applause to Mr. Maurice "Rocket" Richard who 50 years ago today was the first player every to reach 500 goals. Eventhough 38 players have now broken that mark, you were the first to do it making you the original one and the one that all hockey fans and players look at as the first big time goal score. Way to go. Now back to the present. First Paul Stastny i would like to congratulate you on a fast start, however, we all know you are going to cool off some time soon so enjoy your time on top cause soon it will end. Second, lets talk about those penguins. Everyone is so high on them this year with their young talent in the offensive third of the rink, but i'm still not convinced that they are a stanley cup calibor team. I think that yes Crosby is probably the best player in the league but i just dont see Fleury being the answer in the net for you guys. Also i have a hard time seeing how you guys are going to win games if Crosby and Malkin are the only guys scoring. Yes it is early in the season but you guys need your third and fourth lines to start to contribute or else i see you guys having to fight hard at the end of the season just to reach the playoffs. Third, and the last thing i will talk about today is some of the teams that are off to quick starts. Minnesota, Ottawa and Philidelphia are all off to really quick starts. For Philly and Ottawa i think this is a sign of things to come. Everyone knows that Ottawa is a good team but i think after getting over the playoff hump and into last year's finals i think this team has matured a ton and is ready to dominate the NHL this year and looks like the early favorite for the Presidents Cup. Philly i think has suprised everyone a little bit and i am confused why. Picking up Biron from buffalo last year was the best move for them as a franchise in a while. He is a very sound goaltender and although he didnt' help out last years team i think he will provide the nessacary netminding required to get into the playoffs. Also Philly went out and picked up one proven scorer in Briere and an underrated scorer in Hartnell. I think these two aquisitions coupled with the players already there, such as Gange, Kapanen, and Carter make philly a very intimidateing offinsive team that should be looking to go deep into the playoffs. Thanks for reading and hope to talk more hockey sometime in the near future. Later, LIljoe08