Tuesday, February 17, 2009

It's Not Time to Press the Panic Button


It's time to calm down, folks. Yes, the San Jose Sharks just returned from a less than perfect road trip, returning with a three game losing streak and only one win. Yes, Boston has overtaken them with a five point lead in the league standings. Yes, goalie Evgeni Nabokov is not exhibiting his best form to date. These facts are depressing, but certainly not debilitating, as many "fans" seem to think. What makes me sad is not our local hockey team's suddenly average play, but the accompanying poor attitudes toward the Sharks that I have observed around campus. Of course it's more fun when to be a fan when the Sharks are stellar, but part of being a true "fin- atic" is supporting a team through both the highs AND the lows. Instead of getting riled up over the missed saves and blocked shots that have tended to define the last string of games, let's focus on the positive: The Sharks are still second in the league, first in the Western Conference and first in the Pacific Division. They are heading into a three game home stand at the Tank against teams that they should be able to systematically annihilate. Finally, they still have three games in hand against the league-leading Bruins.

So let's not despair, Sharks fans. The play exhibited in the last few games should only have been expected in an 82-game season.  So please, take a deep breath  and remove your hand from the panic button. We're going to be just fine.


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