Tom Eppenberger Jr’s blog

The Sharks played 4 overtimes last night before losing 2-1, and thus ending another year in disappointing fashion.

Nabby, who should win the Vezina, made what could be the best save I’ve ever seen…

But, it still wasn’t enough. We lost in the second round of the playoffs… again.

Lots of people seem to want to give them a pass this year because they got down 3-0 in the series, won the next two and then took the 6th game into a 7th period. Huh? Wasn’t this supposed to be “the year?” Wasn’t this the season where it was cup or bust? Well, bust. It doesn’t matter that we made it as far as we did, we didn’t win.

I’ve seen a bunch of media types saying that the fact that we got the series to a Game 6 saved the coaching staff’s jobs. This doesn’t compute to me. How does blowing leads and sleeping through parts of 3 games in a second round playoff series, only to finally show some desperation in three straight elimination games save someone’s job? We liked to believe that the first round series proved this was a different team, with different leaders. Nope. Sorry. The coaching staff is obviously failing, and while the players are to blame, coaches get fired.

I think, and hope, that there will be a lot of changes (for the better) this summer. Both with the coaching staff, and the “big guns.” Can we live through another season of Marleau’s bi-polar play? Do we try and sign Brian “free wheeling (on his skates and with the puck)” Campbell? Can we watch Jumbo Joe disappear from the scoring sheet in the playoffs again? Yeah, I said it, should we look to deal Joe? The phrase “sell high” comes to mind…

Ryan Garner, a Sharks blogger for HockeyBuzz, made a good point in his post this morning:

The most dangerous offensive threat on the ice, Joe Thornton posted three assists over six games. He finished the season fifth in league scoring, but he was outscored by five Dallas players during the second round. I’m reminded of the great line from Wayne’s World 2, when Wayne calls out “Hey, my girlfriend’s in there!” only to hear, “A lot of people’s girlfriends are in there.” Yes, Joe’s effort was there, but a lot of people’s effort was there.

Now, I know that what I think means zero. I’m just another crazy, obsessed fan who is really pissy and depressed today. I seriously doubt that Patty or Joe are going anywhere, but I’m reasonably sure that the coaching staff will look different. I just wonder who would be a better candidate than Ron Wilson.

Ugh, I hate this……………..