commentary...

going into Sunday's game,in Detroit,against Columbus,Red Wings are best in Western Conference,with 30 points... 9-1-2.at home,and 5-3,on road... going into Tuesday's game,against Detroit,San Jose Sharks are 10th,and out of playoff contention,as of Sunday morning... it does not mean that San Jose can not win division,but they are fourth in division,one point ahead of Anaheim,who are in cellar in Pacific Division... it just means that Sharks are not playing like they were last year,and Tuesday's game,against Red Wings,is biggest game,of the year,so far... how do they stack up with this year's Red Wings? they beat Edmonton,Saturday night,but gave up two goals in fifty-seven seconds,to turn a 4-1 cruiser,into a 4-3 nail-biter,late in third period... they brought in Antti Niemi,from Chicago,to bolster goaltending,and to start for them,and Antero Niittymaki,to back him up,and Niemi has stunk up the Shark Tank,and Niittymaki is the starter,and because it is Detroit coming to town,on Tuesday,i expect Niemi to start game,against Detroit,because of his experience goaltending,for Chicago,against the Red Wings... it will be a good game Tuesday night... the goaltending for the Sharks has been horrid,and unacceptable to their coach(Todd McLellan) that i expect a tight checking game,and some firepower,from both teams,but can Sharks outscore Red Wings? yes,but it will come down to who has the better goaltender,and if San Jose plays,"goon-a-matic",and tries to rough up the Red Wings,to throw them off their game... however,Red Wings remember game two of their playoff series,in which they took ten penalties,to Sharks' four penalties,at the Shark Tank,last season,and they will not do the same things,as last time... i know that this is a regular season game,but it is the first meeting,since last season,and both teams want this win badly,and Red Wings basically want to get the bad taste out of their mouths,from a very close(in score)playoff series,three 4-3 wins,for San Jose,a 7-1 rout,in Detroit,and finally,a 2-1 win,in San Jose... you forget how close that playoff series was,and yet,every bounce of the puck went Sharks' way,plus the worst game of refereeing,in playoff history(game two of that series)...