More than 1,000 Sharks fans came out to the teams State of the Sharks session held at HP Pavilion on Tuesday night. Many of them had questions about the firing of coach Ron Wilson, the proposed ticket price increase, and the teams desire to win a Stanley Cup over making profits. Team President Greg Jamison, GM Doug Wilson and front line winger Jonathan Cheechoo were there to answer any and all questions that the fans had to offer. The team tried to deter some of the negative energy with the announcement of the re-signing of veteran Jeremy Roenick but it only lasted momentarily as the fans wanted answers after another dismal playoff run.

The San Jose Sharks re-signed 38 year old Jeremy Roenick to a one year deal on Tuesday. While the team did not release any terms, TSN is reporting the deal is worth around 1 million for the season. Last year JR scored 33 points in 69 games including 10 game winning goals, good for second in the NHL. This time last year Roenick was retired but came out of it when he signed a one year deal on Sept. 4th. He ranks 2nd in goals and 3rd points all time among U.S. born players.

ESPN's hockey guru Barry Melrose said yesterday in a phone interview that he would be interested in returning behind the bench. "Once you are a head coach, you are always a head coach" said Melrose who was once the head coach for the LA Kings. He went on to say that the most desirable position this off season is the vacant job in San Jose and why not he and many other hockey minds picked the Sharks to win the Cup this year but they went on to lose in the 2nd round for a 3rd straight year.

It was reported here on Yardbarker a couple of weeks ago that super pest Sean Avery was going to be an intern at Vogue magazine. Well, he now has his first week under his belt and no reports came out about him interrupting any meetings by waving his stick in front of anybody and he has yet to call anyone "Fatso," a big no-no in the fashion industry. It seems as if the lacerated spleen he received in the Penguins series has healed already and should be of no concern when he negioates a new contract this summer when he becomes a unrestricted free agent.

I think that the remix that this kid did put a hex on the Canadiens. You got to remember that Carey Price is a country western fan, just look at his mask which is covered with portraits of George Strait and Garth Brooks.

Brad Richards is showing that he was a better deadline accusation than the Sharks Brian Campbell, at least in the playoffs. Even though Richards didn't play a great game in the first game he came out firing on all cylinders in the third period of game two. He first tied the game 2-2 when Joe Pavelski took a pass in his own zone and lost an edge and gave up the puck when it looked like Richards had him lined up for a big hit. Richards took the puck and buried it past Evgeni Nabokov only 32 seconds into the third. Next he helped Sergei Zubov set up Mike Modano for a one timer on the powerplay that was blasted past Nabby. Then it looked as if Nabby took the rest of the game off cause he let in a bad goal when Richards centered the puck from behind the net and Niklas Hagman scored his first goal of the playoffs on the short side. Richards finished off his 4 point third period with an assist on Hagam's empty net goal and yet was not picked as one of the 3 stars of the game. I don't know who picks the 3 stars but I don't think he watched this game.

The San Jose Sharks out shot and out played the Dallas Stars for the most part of game one but have nothing to show for it. The Stars have won seven out of their last eight games at HP Pavilion in San Jose and feel great heading into game two. They were able to get past a bad first period were they recorded only two shots, one of them being from long distance as time was expiring, and were able to take the lead two to one heading into the third. Here is where they laid back and let the Sharks back into the game as Jonathan Cheechoo scored the games tying goal with 3:02 left to play. The Stars then started to dictate the flow of the game with a late powerplay that resulted in a couple of scoring chances that Evgeni Nabokov was able to turn aside. Once in overtime the Stars continued to pour on the pressure and with some great puck movement in the offensive zone and Brenden Morrow was able to put a one timer past Nabokov for the game winner. Game two is scheduled for Sunday at six pm pacific time.

When the Dallas Stars finished their morning skate today they went into the locker room turned on the TV to CNN to find out that a 68 year old man was killed by a great white shark near San Diego. It's a very sad story but one can't help but think if this is a sign to come for the Stars. With Sergei Zubov not going to be in the lineup tonight, Dallas has to go into a very hostile environment, where San Jose just won the first home game 7 in Sharks history, and play a team eager to make it to the finals for the first time ever.

I could see Marty Brodeur trying this, this summer.

The hit by Cory Sarich on Patrick Marleau was the turning point for the Flames in game 3. But it could ultimately be the turning point in the Sharks quest for their first cup. Marleau was cut from a previous hit and this one produced blood coming from his nose and yet the San Jose captain never missed a shift. With Marleau getting up like nothing ever happen, even though he looked like he didn't know where he was, he was telling his teammates, we can take everything these Flames have and we can still get back up. And get back up they did with a 4-3 win at home in game 5. They now lead the Flames 3-2 and look to wrap up the series Sunday night when they travel to Calgary to face a hostile team and crowd.

It was only a matter of time before Jonathan Cheechoo and Joe Thornton would get on the score sheet and for the Sharks, and they couldn't have picked a better time. With Calgary up 2-1 late in the 3rd period, Cheechoo silenced a rowdy crowd with a shot that whizzed by Miikka Kipprusoff's shoulder and into the top of the net. Calgary then looked content to take the game into overtime but Thornton had different plans. With 9.4 seconds left in the 3rd he scored the game winning goal and tied the series up at 2 games a piece. San Jose continued to out shoot the Flames as they got 32 against Kipper and Nabokov only saw 10 shots all night. With this momentum San Jose is looking to take advantage Thursday night when they play game 5 at the Shark Tank.

After a Calgary Flame Defensemen crushed Patrick Marleau for the second time, the entire San Jose Shark team played scared of the physical Flames. If they want to get past those pesky Flames they're going have to raise their intensity level and really come after them. Also many of the key members of the Sharks are being kept off the score sheet. Milan Michalek, Patrick Rissmiller, Jeremy Roenick, Kyle McLaren, and Mike Greer have yet to put up a single point. The league leader in assists, Joe Thornton is being held in check with only 3 helpers and a measly 5 shots on goal. San Jose needs to wake up quickly or else a good number of players will be wearing different colors come training camp as management will be looking to change personal if they lose in the first round.

If anyone had any doubts about Evgeni Nabokov skills as a goaltender take a look at the save he made in the third period against Owen Nolan of the Calgary Flames. Nolan took a pass in front of an open net from Stephane Yelle and to everyone surprise, even the announcers on CBC, Nabokov came across, stuck out his trapper and made an unbelievable glove save. At the time the Flames were really pushing hard to cut the lead down to one and with this one save Nabokov took the wind right out of their sails. Even though Nabby played in 77 games in the regular season, he looks as fresh as ever as he earned his 7th shutout of the season and looks to continue to play well in game three Sunday night in Calgary.

The Sharks will open the first round at home vs. the Calgary Flames on wed. night. Even though the Sharks lost 3 out of the 4 meetings they had this year, they are going into the playoffs a different team. All 4 games were before the trade the Sharks made with Buffalo and Brian Campbell has become the key to Doug Wilson's team. They look to shut down Jarome Iginla and use their depth to take down the Flames in 5.

Pick your poison Nashville. Now that you're in, you will either play the San Jose Sharks, who lost last night in regulation for the first time since Feb. 20th, or the Detroit Red Wings, a team who has won the President's Trophy 6 out of the last 13 years. It doesn't look good either way for the team that won 5 out of their last 6 just to get in the playoffs. Their record against the top 2 teams in the west is just 3-7-2 and all 3 wins are against the Red Wings.