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Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:23 am EDT

When choking in the playoffs, you make your own luck

By Greg Wyshynski

There were two quotes after the San Jose Sharks' Game 3 loss in Dallas that offered a fascinating glimpse into the hasty demise of our pick to win the Stanley Cup. First was Jeremy Roenick, lamenting how "amazing" it was that the Sharks can't buy friendly fortune in the series: "We've had no luck whatsoever. They've gotten bounces after bounces, and we haven't."

The second was Coach Ron Wilson, perhaps in the final periods of his tenure in San Jose, telling reporters that the Sharks played "a perfect road game" for two periods, before it all went to hell:

"We had some good opportunities and snuffed theirs out. We took a bad penalty at the end of the second period, and then we put a gun to our head with that 5-on-3 opportunity and they converted. They got excited and we got back on our heels. We were running around a little bit and didn't show much poise until late in the third period."

Is "running around a little bit" and not showing "much poise" the result of an awful, voodoo hex that's been placed on every bounce of this series? Or is it the authentic, measurable catalyst for that perception of ill fortune for San Jose?

Wasn't it that great philosopher Han Solo who once said some variation of "I make my own luck?" So why can't the Sharks make theirs?

At this point, it's indisputable that the Dallas Stars were still criminally underrated coming out of the Anaheim Ducks series, and have been like a chainsaw gutting a bloated Shark to find a collection of old boots and license plates where the heart should be.

But to be clear: San Jose has crapped the bed 10 ways to Sunday in this series. Joe Thornton has one point against Dallas, matching the offensive output of the abominable Loui Eriksson. The Sharks have blown leads in all three games; and nothing can excuse that collapse in the third period of Game 2.

If Roenick is correct and this is a 3-0 deficit that comes down to bad luck, then it'll take the biggest reversal of fortune since George Costanza swore off sex to rally against Dallas. As Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News writes, "only two teams in 151 attempts have rallied from a three-games-to-none deficit and won a series." That's a 1.3 percent chance for a team that can't catch a break.

But, as Purdy writes: "The best teams, however, overcome unlucky breaks. The Sharks haven't. Can't. Won't. Don't. Whatever. They put themselves in position to win. Then they lose."

Related: Stanley Cup Playoffs

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51 Comments

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  1. Matt
    1. Posted by Matt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    "First was Jeremy Roenick, lamenting how "amazing" it was that the Sharks can't buy friendly fortune in the series: "We've had no luck whatsoever. They've gotten bounces after bounces, and we haven't."
    "Wasn't it that great philosopher Han Solo who once said some variation of "I make my own luck?" So why can't the Sharks make theirs? "
    Making your own luck comes from hard work. Something tells me the Sharks aren't working hard enough and just making excuses.
  2. Deputy Dog
    2. Posted by Deputy Dog Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:01 pm EDT

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    Last nights' game was just another example of the Stars pressing their will on the Sharks. Again, the Sharks got three early opportunties to bury the Stars, and didnothing with them. Maybe they should take more penalties, because they seem to score alomost at will when short handed. Marty was big, but Jeremy Roenick's stick was bigger and now the Stars have a great chance to reel in the Sharks and mount them on the off season wall. It bodes weel for the Stars to close the series in four games, (although it is highly unlikely) to show that they have the drive and ability to close out a team just as the Red Wings are doing to Colorado. Good luck to San Jose, but better luck to Dallas. See you guys here tomorrow to talk about what I hope will be the close to a great Dallas series.
  3. ericlilly5
    3. Posted by ericlilly5 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    As a huge Sharks fan it has been difficult to watch them play because 90% of the team is just lost, not unlucky. The Sharks need to go back to what got them here, speed and intensity. Besides Marleau and Cheechoo, the rest of the team is ready for the summer golf season. It would be amazing if they were to come back but they need to play much harder then they have been lately.
  4. Peter R
    4. Posted by Peter R Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:56 pm EDT

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    “There’s no quit in this room. All the games have been pretty close,” said Nabokov, who had 27 saves Tuesday. “It’s been little bounces here and there. … We have to regroup and forget these games.”
    Nonsense. The teams are not equal - there are two different mindsets on the ice. The Sharks don't have a relentlessly attacking mentality like either Dallas or Calgary. Their passes are tentative & feeble, they instinctively collapse back into a defensive posture - it is rare for them to sustain an offensive assault. And that is all the faster Dallas team does. I'm a sharks fan, but right now Dallas deserves to win this
  5. Platymapus
    5. Posted by Platymapus Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:42 pm EDT

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    "Loui Eriksson abominable" WTF?
    Step off be'ach.
  6. tb558
    6. Posted by tb558 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:57 pm EDT

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    It's highly likely that Dallas will close the series tonight. The sharks have no heart, they will roll over and bite the pillow.
    SWEEEEEEEEEEP!
  7. Dirty Dawg / DDawg
    7. Posted by Dirty Dawg / DDawg Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Someone had told me to shut up and not to talk about the Sharks not going to Dallas ...
    To Just forefit the remaining two games ...
    To spare us fans and themselves further humiliation and embarssement! ...
    Well they had to go to Dallas ...
    Again, they had to play more than 2 periods ...
    And Again ... They proved they cannot PLAY 60 MINUTES of PLAY-OFF HOCKEY!
    Now, I am ready to go hide my jersey and sharks cap in the closet till next year ...
    But Thank you for the Best Play-off game I ever seen live in the tank in Game 7, round 0ne!
    Proving that the sharks could play at least 4 good games (well, even a couple of those were close ...) out of 10 ...
    Tonight they can pack up their golf clubs and Marc Wilson has some serious decissions to make!
    Hopefully it involves getting a coach that will get the SHARKS a STANLEY CUP!
    The TEAM is good enough ... RON WILSON ... I didn't see any intensity coming from him ... I think if theat was Wanye Gretsky on the sidelines, there would have been fireworks and a coach mis-conduct! ...
    But at least there would have been some emotion. RON Wilson, its time to go. You are the supreme Choker ... You are the one that is to INSPIRE YOUR TEAM ... You have failed 3 seasons in a row to bring home the "CUP" to San Jose ...
  8. warequalspeace
    8. Posted by warequalspeace Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    It's one game at time, one series at a time.
    I will say that it is nice to be a contender and yet have no respect because nobody has watched you all season. Could the Dallas Stars be the NY Giants of the NHL? The underdog who rises up to full potential!!!
    Now if the rest of the Sports Media would QUIT talking meaningless baseball and give us some serious Hockey Talk!!! ESPN Sucks!!!!!!
  9. Eric K
    9. Posted by Eric K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Ron WIlson is the reason the Sharks havent been playing. No leadership from the coach is death. He must have lost the team somewhere. He makes excuses for people who are not showing up to play 60 minutes. Nabokov deserves a ton of credit for his play last night and deserved a better fate but that is playoff hockey and like it was said... you make your own luck.
  10. peter i
    10. Posted by peter i Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:07 pm EDT

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    Reberio 4 MVP
  11. Dirty Dawg / DDawg
    11. Posted by Dirty Dawg / DDawg Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Actually, you could go back to the lack luster play of the last TWO regular season games.
    This was the Window into the future ...
    I really hate it when I'm right ...
    I Soooooo wanted to see a Western Divison Champs banner and Stanley Cup Banner in the tank next year ...
    I doubt now if that will ever happen.
    : (
  12. David
    12. Posted by David Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    I agree Ron Wilson is a huge factor in the Sharks lacking the mental drive to win in the playoffs but there is also a serious lack of locker room leadership coming from the players. Joe Thornton is INVISIBLE this year and he seems to set the tone for so many others who are sleep walking right through this sweep of a series.
    Blow it up Douggy, start over, new coach, and clean out these heartless palyers who have all the guts of a church mouse.
    PS: Dallas, you guys should be proud of your team. You've been the better team in all three games, good luck against the Wings.
  13. David
    13. Posted by David Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    One other thought... if I owned the team there is no way I'd hang that Western Division Championship banner up in the Tank next year. This year should be viewed as what it was, a complete failure. Regular season wins mean jack and any player or member of the Sharks organization who say "we had a great season, look at what we accomplished" are all part of the problem.
  14. Sharks Fanatic
    14. Posted by Sharks Fanatic Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    The same story each season. Great regular season, pathetic playoffs. Sharks acquire talent, supposed grit (my kid sister fights better than Shelley) and a puck moving defenseman (Campbell's spin-o-rama is fun to watch, but it only worked once this season) and the same results mirror those of the past several seasons. What is the common thread???
    That line-shuffling, player slamming, tool of a public speaker retard in Ron Wilson. I am sick of him. Okay, Big Deal. He made it to the finals ONCE with a cinderella Washington team. I can't believe we gave him a silver-plated stick... we are a bunch of suckers. Hey Ron, go ahead and shuffle the lines again for game four - because THAT plan has worked out great, hasn't it!?
    Jamison and Doug Wilson's job approval ratings are fine with me. They can stay, but they must get rid of the coach. Please don't pull a Nashville and stay with a lame-duck beloved coach, who gets you the second round if you are lucky.
    Also, I love Marleau's game, but he just isn't a leader. A leader says SOMETHING from time to time, especially when his teammates need a kick in the pants. The boy's got game, so put him on any one of the lines and let him do his thing. I say shmooze Roenick into signing another year, give him the "C" and watch this team blossom under a new coach that can bring fire to our beloved team.
    I would love to see the miracle come-back. It will be impossible unless we see the fire of game 7 in Calgary.
    Go Sharks, someday...
  15. the Hurt
    15. Posted by the Hurt Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    not getting lucky bounces is a good excuse to lose one game...but it is not an excuse for losing three games. Having watched the entire series, I know for a fact that both teams have had their tough breaks, but only one team has roared back in the 3rd period and responded...Dallas.
  16. J-D
    16. Posted by J-D Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    Yes, the Sharks basically got shanked by the hockey gods last night, but seriously... the way they played in the third period and beyond, it was only a matter of time before Dallas won that game. And let's not forget the Stars hit a crossbar and had several VERY near misses (like the Morrow rebound in the first period that went about two inches wide of the net).
  17. Ed T
    17. Posted by Ed T Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:17 pm EDT

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    The SHARK FANS ARE BIG MOUTHS You Will Never touch the Cup EVER
    LOVE A DUCKS FAN
  18. ComputerGuy
    18. Posted by ComputerGuy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

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    The reason why the Sharks are losing???? They aren't capitalizing on their opportunities. Sure it could be a combination of the not playing hard the whole game and Dallas luck, but it's more than that. The Sharks play their style of hockey for 1 1/2, maybe 2 periods in a game. Inevitably their let down comes back to haunt them and lets the other team gain momentum. Dallas waits patiently for this crack in the armor and then pours it on and capitalizes on their breaks. Yes Dallas was fortunate to get 2 goals last night, that bounced off of the Sharks own D-men, but if only the Sharks capitalized on their opportunities maybe those 2 goals wouldn't have mattered. Sure the dis-allowed goal hurt, but so did not scoring on the early power play chances. So conceivably, if we score lets say 2 goals from those early PP's plus the 1 goal we did tally, it's 3-2 Sharks... Bottom line, Sharks are not scoring and capitalizing on their opportunities, while Dallas seems to be converting every opportunity. That's what's making this Dallas run so special. Teams that capitalize on opportunities wins Championships.
  19. FLAMES FAN
    19. Posted by FLAMES FAN Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:18 pm EDT

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    Note to sharks:
    bah hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
    ha!
    ha!
    !
  20. Zoom
    20. Posted by Zoom Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:01 pm EDT

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    Very well put #18... Playoff hockey is dealing with the tough breaks, taking what your given and captilaizing on it, responding and making things happen/creating opportunities, Having a goalie that has stepped it up a level, Not taking stupid penilties, Not forcing things when its not there,and yes a little luck here and there. All those variables are what you need and Dallas has them right now... San Jose does not. Dallas is playing extremely well hockey right now and playing as a team. Whatever their game plan has been in the first round and this round it has worked to a T. I was surprised by them beating the Ducks but now I am impressed....This team deserves it's shot to represent the west.. Gonna be a Great series between Dallas and Detroit because both of them are looking good.
  21. chad c
    21. Posted by chad c Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Obviously most of you have never played hockey! If you think you make your own luck you are a fool. That statement is the biggest BS ever. Coaches say that so that their players keep playing instead of hanging their heads and saying it is not our night. There are some nights that the puck just finds you and other nights you could be standing still with the puck flat and it would bounce over your stick. For example when the Stars played the Oilers last season and one of the Stars was all alone with no pressure going to shoot at an open net 5 ft away and the puck bounced over his stick and then he lost an edge and the Oilers sent it down and scored. That wasn't the Oilers working that was just puck luck. If any sports analysts ever picks your team to win the championship of any kind you might as well bet on your team to not win and make some money. It is a kiss of death to be picked to win it all when the season starts.
  22. Donovan
    22. Posted by Donovan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    Ron Wilson will/should definetely be fired. Sharks have showed little to no heart this post season. Where is the passion? Playoff hockey is about sacrifice and hard work. Did any sharks fan actually think they would win after 2 minutes of the 3rd period last night.
    This team cannot even make simple passes out of their own zone (basic hockey). Campbell has looked timid and unsure of his passes. What is up with Erhoff? A solid D man all year and now he cannot get out of harms way (penalties, bad passes, icing,etc). Grier was a hard hitting, speedy forechecker all season. So far he has been inept in the playoffs. Even Thornton has been fumbling and shanking easy passes.
    Cheechoo is the only Shark that is consistently driving hard to the net and delivering meaningful hits (D. Murray is a close second). Marleau has shown flashes of greatness.
  23. Nick
    23. Posted by Nick Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

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    Ever notice at the end of the movie the shark gets blown up? ... Way to go san HO.... choked it again as usual.... sux to be a northern californian sports fan !!!!
  24. Kinger
    24. Posted by Kinger Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    I agree with a lot of these comments about the sharks not finishing 60 minutes of hockey, but don't burn Ron Wilson down. He is dealing with a team that is giving up on him very similar to the Stars and Ken Hitchcock. The Stars won the cup with Hitch, but it took the team having a player only locker room meeting to get their s*** together and become a team. IT WORKED! Sometimes a team needs to find leadership from some of the "role players" and they just haven't shown any faith in themselves to succeed. I am a HUGE Stars fan, but Sharks fans need to realize that the coach is not the only one to blame for poor playoff performances. look at your lineup and your captain(s), who should be pushing each other. Granted, Hitch got fired and Wilson did have a "cinderella" team with the Caps, but they are both good coaches, it's the bulls*** in the locker room that is the problem. Someone needs to step up and be a leader in the locker room AND the ice period. Sorry. GO STARS!
  25. Aaron R
    25. Posted by Aaron R Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:31 pm EDT

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    This series reminds me a lot of watching a game between the Chargers and Pats. Everyone starts convincing themselves that the Chargers are the deepest, most talented team in football and Bill just smiles to himself all week. He smiles because he knows that talent can be beaten by discipline and a solid gameplan, and he has both. Not discipline in avoiding penalties or the rough stuff, discipline as far as focusing on doing the little things, on doing your job and trusting that the guy next to you will do his job. Dallas has stayed disciplined the entire series. They don't let themselves get drawn into the same areas, and that helps them maintain their positioning and spacing on the ice. Dallas makes the Sharks cover the entire sheet of ice and too often the Sharks all go chasing the puck to the same side, either in the offensive or defensive zone, and pull themselves out of position. It probably has a lot to do with their dump and chase style, which Dallas has effectively counter attacked, only the Sharks haven't made ANY adjustments to the gameplan to counter. At least try dumping into the opposite corner, because almost every time the guy dumps the puck to his side, the other two forwards race in to get it and before you know it at least 3 guys are all in the same area on the ice and have just made themselves very easy to defend. AA defines insanity as doing the same thing over and over expecting different results, and right now the Sharks are clearly insane. Play your position, maintain your spacing, make Dallas cover every inch of ice, and maybe you can start getting Turco moving side to side because "getting bodies in front and pucks on net" IS NOT WORKING. If you're only scoring 1-2 goals a game you really can't expect to win a playoff series.

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