Retro ReCAP, Round 2 - 2015-2016 San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks just completed a historic season of hockey, making it farther in the playoffs than they ever had before. Tiger watched every minute of the 82 regular season games and every second of the 24 playoff games. Taking time to reminisce about the amazing journey, Tiger and Rabbit highlight their favorite moments and reCAP the 2015-2016 season of the San Jose Sharks.

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Tiger: You better buckle up, Rabbit, this is going to be a long one.

Rabbit: ^opens a grocery bag^ I already brought snacks and drinks. Plus, I ordered a pizza, pepperoni and black olives, baby!

Tiger: I thought rabbits were supposed to be herbivores?

Rabbit: But it’s pizza, you have to have pepperoni on pizza.

Tiger: You know what, it doesn’t matter. We have a lot of things to talk about and we shouldn’t waste time on your eating habits again.

Rabbit: Alright, alright. Well, what a run the San Jose Sharks had last season.

Tiger: It was amazing.

Rabbit: I saw you cry, I saw you cry three times.

Tiger: It was a very emotional experience.

Rabbit: The 2015-2016 season was the Sharks 25th anniversary and it turned out to be the most memorable season in the history of the team.

Tiger: Before we discuss all the amazing and some not so amazing events that took place this season, we have to frame the story by mentioning the seasons before.

Rabbit: It was a tough couple of seasons, wasn’t it?

Tiger: Tough is an understatement.

Rabbit: First, it was LA in 2013-2014.

Tiger: Effing LA.

Rabbit: Not still sore over that, I see. Anyway, in the first round of the playoffs against the Kings, the Sharks led the best of seven series with three wins and zero losses. LA stormed back and ended up winning four games in a row to eliminate the Sharks from the playoffs.

Tiger: The loss brought changes to the team and soon the 2014-2015 playoffs rolled around. This time, the Sharks didn’t even qualify and watched the entire thing from their couches. This was the first time they missed the playoffs, reaching the postseason the previous nine years straight.

Rabbit: The Sharks would be up for one of the biggest shakeups they had ever seen after two devastating seasons. Longtime coach Tod McLellan, who had worn teal since 2008, was let go.

Tiger: Peter DeBoer was hired as the eighth head coach in franchise history and a new era in Sharks Territory was about to begin.

Rabbit: Previously, DeBoer had coached the New Jersey Devils and the Florida Panthers. Interestingly enough, he was also a finalist for the Sharks head coaching position back in 2008 but lost it to McLellan.

Tiger: At the time, DeBoer had little experience as a coach in the NHL, but in 2015 he proved that he had what it took to manage and guide a big league team.

Rabbit: So PDB was kind of an unknown to us when he was first hired.

Tiger: Being a coach in the Eastern Conference, we didn’t see his teams very often. To be honest, his Panthers team wasn’t that skilled and though he did make the Stanley Cup Final with NJ, he never had the firepower the Sharks possessed. We really weren’t sure what he would do with the team.

Rabbit: We’d soon learn just how impressive his coaching skills were but before we could do that, there were a couple of holes to fill in the Sharks roster.

Tiger: We’ve already talked about the free agent signings of Joel Ward and Paul Martin in a previous round. These two players would be key in the successful playoff run the Sharks would eventually construct. We’ll be discussing Wardo in a bit but I want to bring up the amazingly steady play of Paul Martin.

Rabbit: Yes, often paired with the affable Brent Burns, Martin had his hands full.

Tiger: Burns is a gifted defenseman but tends to be unpredictable in a both good and bad ways.

Rabbit: Suddenly charging into the offensive zone with the puck and powering his way to the net is something that you don’t see a lot of defensemen do but with Burnzie, he’s a highlight reel maker.

Tiger: He can also be so focused on the offensive aspect of the game that he leaves his partner high and dry during odd-man rushes. Luckily, Martin is a very skilled and often unnoticeable player.

Rabbit: Which is a great compliment because usually when you notice defensemen, it’s because they made a bad play.

Tiger: Martin is truly the yin to Burns’ yang. The tandem is amazing, Martin allows Burns to play his chaotic style of game and also seems to calm him down in the D-zone. Slotting Martin with Burns also allowed the other defensemen to really play to their strengths as well.

Rabbit: Those weren’t the only moves General Manager Doug Wilson made in the 2015 offseason.

Tiger: You could say one of the biggest trades in San Jose history happened on June 30th when the Sharks sent their 2016 1st round pick and prospect Sean Kuraly to Boston for goaltender Martin Jones. Jones had only been traded to Boston from LA a few days prior and now found himself back in California, abet on the right side this time.

Rabbit: Oh, I remember you screaming at your phone when this news broke.

Tiger: Freaking LA. But he’s not one of them now, suckers! He’s wearing a real color now, Team Teal!

Rabbit: Jones was a phenom in his brief stint as relief for LA’s Jonathan Quick and also had an exemplary record at the 2015 World Championships for Canada. Other than that, his resume was short and he had never held a starting goalie position in the NHL before.

Tiger: Like DeBoer, Jones was a variable that we just didn’t know how he’d play out. Now, I actually expected him to play well in the beginning of the year but as the grind went deeper into the season, I was unsure how he’d handle the workload.

Rabbit: Luckily, Jones did a stellar job since the Sharks backup goalie, Alex Stalock, had an atrocious season that resulted in him being traded.

Tiger: Jones would soon prove himself as the dominate goalie the Sharks have always yearned for since Evgeni Nabokov left the team. Jones set a new franchise shutout record in October 2015, going an amazing 234:33 without allowing a single goal.

Rabbit: Jones would also hold an impressive shutout streak of 156 minutes in the playoffs against the St. Louis Blues.

Tiger: An absolutely phenomenal season by Martin Jones. We weren’t exactly sure what we were getting with him but he’s proven himself again and again. Everyone in San Jose absolutely loves him. I mean, I haven’t heard a goalie chant since the old days of “Nabby! Nabby! Nabby!” Now, you can hear the crowd at SAP Center cheer, “Jonesy! Jonesy! Jonesy!” when he makes a great save, and he makes those quite often.

Rabbit: There was one final change that occurred before the 2015-2016 got underway and that was the issue of who wore the ‘C’ for Team Teal.

Tiger: The previous season, the Sharks did not have a captain and instead had four alternates.

Rabbit: Once Peter DeBoer took the reins, he declared that SJS would have a captain again. On October 5th, 2015 that captain was named and his name was Captain America.

Tiger: Joe Pavelski was named the 9th captain of the Sharks. Logan Couture and Joe Thornton were named the alternates for the team.

Rabbit: Pavelski was drafted by the Sharks in the 7th round of the 2003 NHL Draft. That’s 205th overall! He is the second most prolific scorer in the last four seasons, only behind Alex Ovechkin who was drafted 1st in 2004! Weighing in at an underwhelming five-foot-eleven and 190-pounds, Pavelski is definitely not the biggest out there which just showcases how much skill he has as a pure goal scorer.

Tiger: He has to be one of the premier puck deflectors in the National Hockey League too. Always giving his all and playing a complete two-way game, Joe Pavelski has truly earned his title as Captain America.

Rabbit: If that doesn’t sell you on this extremely underrated player, Pavelski had 38 regular season goals and 14 tallies in the playoffs. He also has an Olympic silver medal to his name too. Truly one of the greatest players to don teal.

Tiger: With a new coach, a new goalie, and a new captain; the San Jose Sharks were set to commence the 2015-2016 season against their bitter, bitter, most hated rivals.

Rabbit: There were so many curse words flying at our house on October 7th, 2015 as the Sharks opened their season in LA against the Kings. It was Martin Jones’ first game as the starting goalie and his first against his old team. Team Teal started off shaky, allowing a goal in the first two minutes of the game but once they settled the nerves, it was all Sharks.

Tiger: Jumbo started off with a one-on-one goal in the first followed by a powerplay goal from Pavelski.

Rabbit: In the second period, it was Burns lighting the lamp then Hertl following suit on the powerplay. Captain America himself capped off the night with his second goal in the third period, leading to a final score of 5-1 for SJS.

Tiger: The Sharks were out to a 3-0-0 start and looked like a team reborn but adversity would soon strike. On October 16th, 2015 during practice, Couture fractured his right fibula and would require surgery, forcing him to miss most of the 2015 schedule. Couture eventually returned late in the year but would only play two games. During his second game against the Edmonton Oilers, he suffered a more severe injury.

Rabbit: Couture left the game against Edmonton with what he assumed was a severe Charley horse but once on the team plane, he knew something was very wrong. Couture suffered from bleeding in his thigh and required another surgery to repair the tear. Couture would not return to the ice until January 2nd, 2016.

Tiger: If you haven’t seen the Sharks play, Couture is just as vital to the team as Pavelski. A determined player both in the offensive and defensive zones, Cooch is also called Clutchure for his ability to produce a goal when the team needs it the most. His loss meant that other players had to fill the hole in the roster, causing the team to look unbalanced at times.

Rabbit: The end of 2015 was shaky for the Sharks as they alternated wins and losses, never really recapturing the momentum from the beginning of the season. There were bright spots for the team as players like Joel Ward stepped up big time to fill the void left by Couture. One of those times was on October 24th against the Carolina Hurricanes. Wardo scored two goals in the first period, allowing the Sharks to control the game. With 57 seconds left in the 3rd period, Ward scored the empty netter to complete the second hat trick of his career and first in the only jersey he should ever wear.

Tiger: One of the biggest tests the Sharks faced was in November when they went on a six game road trip. Now, the Sharks notoriously have a terrible road schedule with grueling travel demands. The previous road trip saw the Sharks split 2-2-0, not a stellar result at all. They were falling in the standings and knew they needed to string some wins together. It would be no easy task.

Rabbit: The six games across ten-days road trip began against Detroit. The Sharks eked out a 3-2 win before flying to Buffalo to play the next day. The Sharks had not won a game in Buffalo since Joe Thornton’s first game as a Shark way back in 2005. It was looking as if Team Teal wasn’t going to win this time as they reached the end of regulation with a 1-1 tie. Mister Shark himself, Patrick Marleau, scored the overtime winning goal, making the Sharks 2-0-0 on the trip so far.

Tiger: Next was Boston and the Sharks found themselves on the right side of a high scoring affair, winning 5-4. They tightened up their play in Philadelphia and squeaked by with a 1-0 overtime win, earning Martin Jones another shutout.

Rabbit: November 21st, 2015 would turn out to be a special night as the Sharks faced off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brent Burns’ scored the first goal of the game and Patrick Marleau made an assist. This would be Patty’s 1000th point in the NHL, all with the San Jose Sharks. It was also special because Pittsburgh was the city which hosted the 1997 NHL Draft where the Sharks took Marleau 2nd overall. If you look at the record book for the San Jose Sharks, you’ll likely see Marleau’s name show up a lot. He’s played a total of 1,411 all in teal. He’s currently the all-time leader in goals with 481, all-time leader in even strength goals with 311, and all-time leader in power play goals with 153. He also has the record for points with 1,036, shots with 3,608, games played with 1,411, and most 30+ goal seasons with 7.

Tiger: There’s speculation that we may have seen the last of Marleau in teal whether he retires or asks for a trade but no matter what happens, Marleau will always be seen as one of the most influential members of SJS.

Rabbit: Getting back on track with the road trip, the Sharks were 5-0-0 with their last game in Columbus. It was a wild west type of game with the Blue Jackets leading 3-1 in the third but the Sharks charged back with three goals in a little over seven minutes. Joe Pavelski sealed the deal with an empty net goal in the dying seconds of the game to win it 5-3. This completed the perfect 6-0 road trip, the first ever done by the Sharks. Pavelski had seven points over the course of the road trip and Patrick Marleau would also tally three more points to add to his impressive milestone. Martin Jones cannot be overlooked with his spectacular 5-0-0 record and a 1.56 goals against average coupled with a .950 save percentage. Those numbers are so amazing that he practically shined like the sun when he played.

Tiger: It wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns, as the Sharks were just 18-18-2 when 2016 rolled around. January 9th would prove to be a turning point for the team when the Toronto Maple Leafs arrived in town. It was a rare afternoon match and the game was broadcasted on Hockey Night in Canada, making it a game that many in the hockey world would see.

Rabbit: The first period saw both goalies tested but neither allowed a goal. It wasn’t until the second period when hulking Brent Burns was able to find the back of the net with a highlight reel goal. Seriously, check out the video which is linked above.

Tiger: This would spark an offensive onslaught as Matt Nieto from Long Beach, California tallied a shorthanded goal which was followed by goals from Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl. The Sharks didn’t let up in the third period and received goals from Melker Karlsson, Joonas Donskoi, and another from Hertl. The Sharks emphatically put down the Leafs 7-0 and ignited their game, going 8-0-2 in the next ten games. This game also started Joe Thornton’s point streak which would see him score the most points in the entire NHL from this point until the end of the season.

Rabbit: Jumbo Joe racked up so many points during this time that on January 26th against the Colorado Avalanche, he achieved his 1,300th point. Only 33 players in the history of the league have reached that total. Jumbo got his 1,300th in stereotypical fashion with a beautiful cross-crease feed to Joe Pavelski, who buried it.

Tiger: So I may have mentioned a name you might not be familiar with, Joonas Donskoi. Originally drafted by the Panthers in 2010, Donskoi played in the Finnish Elite League before signing with the Sharks. He tallied his first NHL goal in his first NHL game against the LA Kings during the Sharks opener. At 24 years of age, Donskoi was older and more experienced than other NHL rookies but he still surprised many when he took to the ice. The injury to Logan Couture allowed Donskoi to take on a more demanding role and he did not disappoint. He’s not an overly large or fast player but his skill with the puck has garnered him an impressive highlight reel.

Rabbit: Seriously, if you only click on one link, clink on this one, the goals are ridiculous.

Tiger: In his first season in the NHL, Donskoi scored 11 goals and 25 points with 6 goals in the playoffs including the Game 3 overtime winner of the SCF. The future of the San Jose Sharks is a bright one with Donskoi in the lineup.

Rabbit: We’ve already discussed Logan Couture’s series of injuries. When he finally came back in January, Cooch wasn’t the same player as he was before. It took him a long time to not only get back to speed but also find his scoring touch. He definitely had the touch on March 29th in Vancouver though. Couture had played a total of 426 games up to this point but had never scored a hattie. With the game tied 1-1, Couture would score three uninterrupted goals, giving him his first hat trick. Couture was on fire from here on out and was clutch in the playoffs with 30 points, which lead the league. Couture also scored three points in every series clinching game the Sharks had in the playoffs and contributed three more points to stave off elimination in Game 5 of the SCF. Couture would be one of the best players in the playoffs not only for the Sharks but NHL wide which was an amazing feat considering the injuries and adversity he suffered through in the early portion of the season.

Tiger: OMG, we’ve covered so much and we haven’t even talked about the playoffs yet.

Rabbit: Well, the pizza is here so maybe we should take a break, give our Qgers and Qbbits a breather too.

Tiger: You’ve got to be kidding me. Really?

Rabbit: I’m serious, I’m super hungry too.

Tiger: *sighs* Fine, we can take a short break

[an hour later]

Tiger: Now can we talk playoffs?

Rabbit: ^yawns^ That was so yummy! I’m sleepy now.

Tiger: Nope, nope, you don’t get to do this to me. We’re finishing this.

Rabbit: Hai, hai.

Tiger: The 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs began with a familiar foe in the first round, the fu-

Rabbit: Fuzzy! Those very fuzzy LA Kings. Yes, it was a rematch in the first round as the Sharks had a lot to prove while everyone was questioning whether they would repeat 2014’s results.

Tiger: The Sharks took a commanding 2-0 before dropping the third game in overtime to LA. Again, the media and fans were buzzing with the nightmares of 2014. The Sharks, however, were a different team and came back to win Game 4. Game 5 started with the Sharks taking a 3-0 lead but the Kings came back to tie it. Going into the third, SJ responded with another three goals, winning the game and eliminating the LA Kings from the playoffs. Yeah, baby! That’s how you do it!

Rabbit: It was a battle with Music City as the Sharks faced the Nashville Predators in the second round. The Sharks won their first two games at home but Nashville matched them by taking the two games in Tennessee.

Tiger: Again, it was home ice advantage as the Sharks won Game 5 but lost Game 6 on the road. Would the Sharks be able to hold serve at home? That was resoundly answered when the Sharks shut down the Predators, winning Game 7 by a 5-0 margin. It was also Martin Jones first playoff shutout. The Sharks were going to the Western Conference Final.

Rabbit: For the fourth time in franchise history, the Sharks made it to the third round of the Stanly Cup Playoffs, this time facing off against the St. Louis Blues. It was a tight series with St. Louis winning the first game and the Sharks shutting out the Blues in the second.

Tiger: The next two games were also split, leaving the series tied at two games apiece. The Sharks were losing the game late in the second period of Game 5 until Captain America tied it up and then gave the Sharks the early lead. SJ would not yield another goal and were now one win away from the Stanley Cup Final.

Rabbit: Game 6 was back in San Jose and the Tank was rocking. The Sharks blazed out of the starting gate with a 4-0 and would win the game with a final score of 5-2. The Sharks had eliminated the St. Louis Blues and reached the first-ever SCF!

Tiger: The Sharks would face the Pittsburgh Penguins to see who would raise Lord Stanley’s Cup. The first two games in Pittsburgh were losses for the Sharks. The first SCF game in San Jose was nuts and it felt like the city was going to be set ablaze by the sheer passion. The Sharks would win Game 3 at home but lost the following. It was a scrappy affair on the road as the Sharks battled to earn the ‘W’ and bring one more Stanley Cup Final game back to San Jose. The Sharks would end up losing this game and thus lost the series 4-2 to the Penguins. While it wasn’t the result we wanted, it was an experience that no one was expecting.

Rabbit: I remember hoping that they’d just make it to the playoffs, I never thought about them playing for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Looking back at this whirlwind of a season, what are some of your thoughts?

Tiger: For me, the number one thing is how the team really pulled together and played as a unit. The previous season, there were so many times that you saw individuals put in individual efforts and it often didn’t feel like there was a team on the ice. It reminded me of seeing some of the Olympic teams play because those teams don’t have a lot of practice and rely pretty much on star power. This Sharks team; everyone knew their role, accepted it, and played it to the best of their abilities. Got to give DeBoer a lot of credit for righting the ship so quickly.

Rabbit: I also think infusing the new blood was really key. Players like Jones, Ward, Martin, Donskoi, and some of the young players that played in relief like DeMelo were great. We didn’t mention Karlsson or Tierney but they were young guns the previous season and came back with renewed confidence and really contributed to the team down the stretch. A healthy Hertl and better D-pairings were really important too. I know it wasn’t the end result that we had hoped for but you cannot take away anything from this team and the season they played.

Tiger: I’m actually really happy how things turned out. Yeah, they didn’t win the Cup but no one expected them to make it that far. Heck, when January rolled around, I thought we were out of the playoffs entirely. It reminded me of the horrible February in 2015 that killed the Sharks chances to advance to the post-season.

Rabbit: We didn’t mention Joe Thornton too much, there were a lot of players who had amazing years and we just couldn’t mention them all, but Jumbo’s season was a special sort of special.

Tiger: We witnessed probably the greatest season of a future hall of fame player. I can literally say Thornton played some of the best hockey I have ever seen from anyone in the 17 or so years I’ve been watching the sport. I mean, there were some Ray Bourque vibes going on with a lot of fans calling to “win it for Joe.” Now, Joe Thornton is not retiring next season but he is up there in age and I’d love to see him win it all, definitely well deserved. But he is one of the greatest players to ever play the sport. The records he holds and how he keeps smashing his way up those point total ladders; it’s just insane to watch.

Rabbit: Yes, the people he is passing on those lists are already legendary which makes him even more so since he’s still playing. I hope the Sharks can get it done for him before he retires, I really do.

Tiger: Seeing Jeremy Roenick have to eat his words was awesome too. But we’re getting a little off track, I think we should go ahead and wrap this up before we end up talking for another hour.

Rabbit: All in all, this was the best season we’ve ever seen the Sharks play.

Tiger: I totally agree with you there; my only regret is we couldn’t be there in person to witness it. But it makes me excited for the future, not just the upcoming season but the seasons to come. Is it October yet?

2015-2016 San Jose Sharks ReCAP
Couture’s injuries
Not being able to see the Sharks play live
Losing a game to the freaking LA Kings

Early injury troubles
November/December losing streaks 2015
Losing Hertl in the SCF


Martin Jones phenomenal play all season long
Beating LA in the first round
Couture’s return and his clutch scoring in the playoffs

Joe Thornton’s 1300th point
Donskoi’s highlight reel goals
San Jose hosting its first SCF game

Random Happy Time, 39 O'Clock - The Black Cat of San Jose!

There were too many memorable events that happened during the 2015-2016 San Jose Sharks season to fit into one round. Rabbit uses RHT! to chat with Tiger about some of her other favorite moments including a black cat, a special homecoming, and how the Sharks are finally number one of something.

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Rabbit: There were so many other stories surrounding the Sharks last season that we didn’t get to talk about, like Jo PAW-velski! She’s a black cat that took the internet by storm when she appeared on the ice during warm-ups for the first playoff game of the second round against Nashville. └(=^‥^=)┐ She became sort of a good luck charm for the team and soon, you could find black cat plushies and t-shirts all over the Tank. They even had a full mascot show up for Game 5! (｡♥‿♥｡) Sharkie is still the best mascot, but Jo is a close second. While she was at Humane Society Silicon Valley, they put in a camera so you could check in on her to see how she was doing. Her pen had so much Sharks gear! Tiger, you and her could be twins!

Tiger: I think the coolest thing about the story is that Patrick Marleau and his family adopted her.

Rabbit: The Sharks also did some special things for two families as well. The first was during Military Appreciation Weekend when Sr. Airman Brandon Pettit surprised his wife and kids with his return from deployment in Qatar.

Tiger: The Sharks also hosted the Foley family, who had to flee their home when the massive wildfire near For McMurray broke out. The fire would trigger the largest evacuation in Alberta history and it would burn for almost two months.

Rabbit: With only 30 minutes to evacuate, Billy Foley chose to save his SJ jersey collection. A picture of the saved collection was tweeted to Sharkie via Twitter and the Sharks mascot sent Billy his jersey. The story could have ended there but General Manager Doug Wilson invited the Foley family to San Jose for Game 4 of the WCF to get the VIP treatment, San Jose style. Great to see that while hockey is just a sport, it can impact people in a positive way. (´；ω；`)

Tiger: Just like with the All Star Weekend in Nashville. Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns were the representatives for Team Teal but there was also an honorary member, John Scott, who used to play for SJ. There’s a really messy story about John Scott, who captained the Pacific Division All Star team, and how he got to the All Star Weekend. There was a fan vote conducted that any eligible NHL player could be selected to represent one of the divisions during the festivities. Now John Scott is not a skilled player, no offense to him, but he’s no Ovechkin or Stamkos. John Scott is known as an enforcer, a big guy that will drop the gloves any time. He has a great personality and he was well liked in the San Jose locker but he’s not someone who’d normally get an invitation to the All Star Tournament. The internet had other plans and decided to vote him ahead of everyone else. This is where things get strange, Scott was originally with the Coyotes which is in the Pacific Division but was traded to Montreal which is not in the Pacific Division. The NHL deemed that Scott was ineligible to participate which again, sent the internet into a craze. Eventually it was decided that he could attend but would wear a generic jersey.

Rabbit: Being an ex-Shark, Scott ended up playing the 3-on-3 All Star Game with Pavelski and Burns. In a very public and often ugly ordeal with the NHL, Scott was gracious and kept his sense of humor. He received standing ovations by the fans in Nashville and even scored two goals. He was also selected as the MVP of the All Star Tournament. (　＾∇＾) It’s a great ending for a great guy and I’m proud that the San Jose Sharks players and fans supported him.

Tiger: The Sharks got some well-deserved recognition when Hockey News, the magazine, announced their 100 best jerseys of all time. Their number one pick? The original San Jose Sharks jersey that would ever mark them as Team Teal! (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑

Rabbit: There’s an interesting story when the jersey was being designed that the jersey manufacturer and the NHL asked the Sharks more than once to reconsider their choice of color. They wanted the team to pick a more traditional blue like what the other teams wore. George Gund III and his team stuck by their choice and the rest is history. In a sea of red and blue jerseys, the San Jose Sharks truly stand out as being unique with their classic teal sweaters.

Tiger: 2016-2017 is definitely going to be a season to look forward to. We already have some new additions to the team in Mikkel Boedker and David Schlemko. The rookies Timo Meier, Dylan DeMelo, and others look to make a splash with the team. We’ve got the traditional massive November road trip, 16 grueling back-to-back games, 82 games in 178 days, and the Sharks will travel 48,872 miles. We even have new logos for the next season, they’ll be secondary marks for merchandise and not a new jersey design.

Rabbit: It’s definitely a great time to be a fan of the San Jose Sharks and of hockey in general. But before we can start the next season, we gotta finish this pizza! (○´∇｀)0━┳━0(´∇｀●)

Q Attack, Round 19 - Did the San Jose Sharks Change Enough to Win?

The San Jose Sharks have made off-season changes with familiar faces leaving the Bay Area and new players coming in to wear old numbers. The Sharks missed the dance last year; can they overcome their history to dance with the stars again? Tiger and Rabbit thrash out whether these changes are enough to transform the Sharks into the competitive team they once were.

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Tiger: Hey Rabbit, check out what I’ve been working on.

Rabbit: ^looks at paper^ What is this, a math problem?

Tiger: No, it’s prospective line combinations for the San Jose Sharks. I’ve been trying to figure out where I’d put the new players.

Rabbit: Doug Wilson, the Sharks GM, was very active this summer and got a few new players while letting old ones go.

Tiger: Yes, it was a lot better than just picking up John Scott last year.

Rabbit: Speaking of John Scott, he was one of the players that was let go.

Tiger: About time too. Other players that are no longer with the team include goalie Antti Niemi and Defensemen Scott Hannan and Matt Irwin who were not offered extensions.

Rabbit: Forwards Andrew Desjardins and James Sheppard were traded during last season as well.

Tiger: Congrats to Desi for winning the Cup too. He definitely deserved to get a ring but I was rooting against Sheppard’s team the whole playoffs.

Rabbit: That’s so mean of you.

Tiger: Sheppard was worthless for our team and was gifted the chance to play for the Cup. He didn’t take advantage of it and was given limited minutes during the playoffs. You gotta work to play.

Rabbit: Back to the other changes, the Sharks were active in adding players not only in the draft but also during free agency.

Tiger: The Sharks had their highest draft pick since they chose Logan Couture in 2007. With Pick number nine, the Sharks selected winger Timo Meier, a power forward from the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads. Meier scored 44 goals and had 90 points during the 2014-2015 season. He is the third pick in the last three drafts from Switzerland and is known for using his six-foot-one, 209 pound frame to play a physical style. He is also praised for his hard and accurate wrist shot.

Rabbit: This draft class was so deep that many players who fell to the second round would have been considered first round contenders in previous years.

Tiger: To this point, the Sharks traded up from 39th overall pick to the first pick of the second round to make their next selection. At 31st overall, SJ nabbed Jeremy Roy, a defenseman from the Sherbrooke Phoenix. The right-handed shooter is also a solid puck-moving defenseman and was ranked 21st among North American prospects by Central Scouting. Known for his smooth skating and on-ice IQ, snagging Roy was like getting two first rounders for San Jose.

Rabbit: While San Jose had multiple draft picks this year, Meier and Roy were the standout picks that could make an impact to the team in the immediate future.

Tiger: I really loved the pick for Roy even if he was pricy. The Sharks paid in full, trading the 39th pick, a second round pick in 2016, and a sixth rounder in 2017 to the Colorado Avalanche, just to acquire the 31st pick of 2015.

Rabbit: That is expensive; do you think he’s worth it?

Tiger: Roy is six feet tall, 188 pounds and was highly sought after. Roy describes himself as a two-way defenseman, skilled in both the defensive and offensive aspects of the game.

Rabbit: He also said he modeled his game after Drew Doughty.

Tiger: *groans* No! Not a Kings’ player!

Rabbit: Roy led all Sherbrooke defensemen with 43 points in 46 games this past season.

Tiger: I think his stock dropped when he suffered a lower body injury earlier this year but being a right-shot defenseman was a huge bonus.

Rabbit: Right-shot means the player keeps the blade of his stick on the right side of his body. These are highly sought after since most players shoot left.

Tiger: Roy also plays in every situation on the ice including powerplay, penalty kill, and as a shut-down player in the final minutes of the game. I actually think he’s the better of the two top SJS draftees. While Meier is skilled, he seemed like a safe pick but Roy has a ton of upside.

Rabbit: Speaking of Meier, the 18 year-old registered 44 goals and 46 assists with Halifax last season. He was named to the QMJHL’s Second All-Star Team and was awarded the Michael Bossy Trophy, given to the best professional prospect. At six-foot-one, the 210-pound native of Switzerland plays a strong game. He’s a solid skater that's known for his versatility on the ice. Meier also spent time on the international scene, representing his country in 66 games, including the 2015 World Junior Championship.

Tiger: The Sharks picked up a few other young players via trade and free agency.

Rabbit: One such player was Patrick McNally who was acquired via a draft-day trade with Vancouver. He just signed a two year contract as well. Playing for Harvard, McNally recorded 21 points and was a plus-16 on the blueline in 21 games. He also helped the Crimson win the ECAC Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Tiger: Team Teal acquired Mark Cundari and signed him to a one year contract. The 25 year-old posted 29 points in 50 games with Adirondack of the AHL. During last season, Cundari led all defensemen in points and goals as well as wearing an A on his sweater. Before turning pro, Cundari spent some time with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, under new Sharks Assistant Coach Bob Boughner. While there, Cundari helped Windsor win back-to-back OHL and Memorial Cup Championships.

Rabbit: I don’t know much about Cundari but I think McNally was a good pick up. He has already spent some time in the NHL, allowing him to get a taste of the big leagues. Now, he just needs to continue developing into a stable blueliner.

Tiger: For the price the Sharks paid, both defensemen were solid pickups. You always take a risk when signing young prospects or unproven players but the ability to bolster not only the NHL team but the new AHL team in San Jose, is a bonus.

Rabbit: Speaking of the AHL team, the Worcester Sharks are no more. They are now the San Jose Barracuda and will play in the SAP Center, along with their big brother team.

Tiger: The Sharks weren’t done with just bolstering their young talent, with the exits of Niemi and a few defensemen; the Sharks still needed to fill two major holes.

Rabbit: To that effect, they signed Martin Jones, the back-up goalie of the LA Kings.

Tiger: *glares*

Rabbit: What?

Tiger: Freaking LA.

Rabbit: It’s not my fault! I thought you were happy about this!

Tiger: I am but I’m not at the same time. Stupid purple-faced-

Rabbit: ^raises hands^ Look at the bright side. Technically, the Sharks acquired him from the Boston Bruins in exchange for the first round pick of 2016 and prospect Sean Kuraly.

Tiger: But the Bruins got him from LA!

Rabbit: Now he’s a Shark.

Tiger: Yes, at least he’s wearing a real color now.

Rabbit: Anyway, Jones had a phenomenal debut in the NHL when he went 8-0-0 in his first eight starts. In that span, he posted a 0.98 goals-against average and three shutouts, making him the first NHL goaltender to allow less than one goal a game. Before his time in the land we shall not mention, Jones played for Manchester of the AHL where he had a 2.42 goals-against average and a 0.920 save percentage. While he’s unproven as an NHL starter, it’s not a surprise to find that this kid has talent.

Tiger: Kid? He’s only a few years younger than we are.

Rabbit: Don’t forget that Jones has a gold medal to go along with his Stanley Cup Ri-

Tiger: *shouts* Stop! Stop! Stop! Don’t finish that sentence, please don’t.

Rabbit: ^silence^

Tiger: Jones posted a 2-0 record during the 2015 World Championships, where he helped Team Canada capture gold. He also won a silver medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships. He definitely has a lot of upside but I question whether he can handle the 82 game season as a starter.

Rabbit: SJS still has last year’s backup netminder, Alex Stalock. While he didn’t do well in relief of Niemi, we’ve seen flashes of brilliance from the young goalie and hopefully the competition from Jones will push the tandem to new levels of skill.

Tiger: With the goaltender situation settled for next season, there were still gaps to fill on the blueline. GM Wilson pulled a July 1st signing of unrestricted free agent, Paul Martin, the former defenseman from Pittsburgh.

Rabbit: At the age of 34, Martin was a stalwart on the blueline for the Pens. Not a flashy goal-scoring defenseman, Martin is known for his rock-solid defensive play. Always making the best choices, his hockey IQ is out of this world.

Tiger: Martin was signed to a shiny new contract and will wear number seven for the next four seasons.

Rabbit: Didn’t Niclas Wallin wear number seven?

Tiger: *rolls eyes* Don’t remind me. Martin is nothing like Wallin. His offensive numbers won’t wow you but his amazingly detailed style of play will have an immediate impact on the ice. Martin does all the little things right like angling players to the boards, using his stick to control the play, and making the simple passes that have a high probability for success rather than trying something flashy.

Rabbit: I haven’t seen him play too much since he played predominantly in the Eastern Conference, but he reminds me a bit of Rob Blake. Not only is he a skilled player but he’s touted as being an exceptional leader. I’m excited to have a mentor like him for youngsters such as Mirco Mueller and the D-men we mentioned already.

Tiger: The only thing I dislike is his almost five million cap hit for the next four years. The Sharks had plenty of cap space to play with but the fact that he’s already 34, a four year contract seems a bit long to me.

Rabbit: I think the expertise and experience he adds to the locker room will be totally worth the price. The Sharks seemed done building the team yet there was one thing still missing…

Tiger: An identity winger! I was calling for them to sign a winger from the very get go.

Rabbit: And they got exactly that when they signed Joel Ward to a three year contract.

Tiger: Ward will be removing his red, white, and blue sweater of the Capitals and replacing it for Teal when the season starts this fall. Known as a clutch player, Ward is physical and competitive.

Rabbit: Everyone raves that he’s a great guy to have in the locker room too.

Tiger: When you talk about identity players, he’s one of the first ones to come to mind.

Rabbit: Not only can Ward impact the game with his hard-nosed brand of hockey, he has the ability to score when it really matters.

Tiger: Just like he did in the playoffs last season when he scored with 1.6 seconds left in the game to give Washington the win.

Rabbit: He is going to add a dimension to the Sharks that they haven’t had since Torres was taken out.

Tiger: I actually really love these three signings. Last year the Sharks tried to reset the team with a focus on younger players but the team showed that they still needed help if they were to get into the playoffs. The Martin and Ward signings show that Wilson is dedicated to winning now while allowing the young guns time to mature. I think this blend will help balance the team and hopefully right the terrible course the team has been on for the past two years.

Rabbit: The players aren’t the only things changing in San Jose with head coach Todd McLellan and his staff moving to Edmonton. The Sharks searched near and far for a new coach before selecting Peter DeBoer, former leader of the New Jersey Devils.

Tiger: He had a tough task in New Jersey, guiding an average team but was able to eke out the potential of most of his players. DeBoer is also touted for his strong communication abilities and isn’t afraid to have a firm hand when needed. He focuses on puck-possession, something the Sharks have been known for but have gotten away from in the past couple of seasons. Downside, DeBoer doesn’t have a lot of NHL experience in the postseason yet he has earned a Memorial Cup title in 2003 with the Kitchener Rangers.

Rabbit: SJS also added Bob Boughner as an assistant coach and Johan Hedberg as an assistant/goaltending coach. Boughner spent ten seasons in the NHL as a defenseman and was the head coach for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. He was named OHL and CHL coach of the year in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, when he led the team to back-to-back Memorial Cup titles. Boughner also worked with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Tiger: Hedberg played 373 NHL games and is currently ranked 3rd in wins among Swedish-born netminders. He’ll be working with Jones and Stalock as they battle for the number one starting position. There was one last late addition to the coaching staff and that was Steve Spott.

Rabbit: Spott will be joining the team as the second assistant coach. He recently spent the last season as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Before that, he was the head coach of the AHL based Toronto Marlies. They made it all the way to the Calder Cup before losing in seven games.

Tiger: Spott also coached alongside DeBoer when they were with the Plymouth Wahlers and Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.

Rabbit: With so many changes made to not only the roster but the coaching staff, do you think it’s enough to propel the Sharks back into the postseason?

Tiger: I really liked the additions, while I complained that Martin’s contract is too long, you cannot overlook the impact a veteran defenseman can have on the team. The team has obviously been missing beloved Dan Boyle on the backend and Martin will be to fill that void. Plus, the idea of having number seven and number 88 paired together absolutely thrills me. Burns is a force on the blueline but he’s also prone to overemphasizing offense at the expensive of defense. Martin should be a calming influence for Burnzie and I think they’ll make a great pair.

Rabbit: Vlasic and Braun, and now Martin and Burns; yes that looks to be a solid top four D-core.

Tiger: Braun needs to up his game though, he had a middling season last go around but I’m hopeful he’ll be able to regain the glory of his better play. That leaves the third pairing up to Dillon and whichever youngster makes it out of camp. Mueller is still in play but with McNally and Cundari, they could be mid-season call-ups.

Rabbit: Don't forget about Dylan DeMelo who got called up from the AHL team last year but didn't get the opportunity to play. There's a strong possibility that we'll see him with the big club, maybe even right out of training camp.

Tiger: Then there are the forwards, Marleau had a terrible year and the sophomores had very little impact. I’m expecting big bounce back years from Patty, Hertl, and Nieto; along with better overall play from the bottom six forwards. I don’t think we’ll see Karlsson on the top line with Thornton and Pavelski this season, I bet he’ll slide down to maybe the third line with Tierney and Wingels. Who plays with Jumbo and Pavs? Who knows, Goldobin has a great opportunity to make the team out of camp. I’m not saying he’ll be slotted there, but it would be interesting to see the young offensive force with the league’s best passer.

Rabbit: Do you think it will be Couture centering the second line with Marleau and Nieto? Or does Ward take that spot?

Tiger: Hard to say, I’d personally rather see Patty down on the third line since he didn’t earn his minutes last season, but he may bounce back. We have to remember that Torres is a possibility too, though I’d say it’s doubtful since he hasn’t played in two years. Maybe slot Hertl on the third line with Tierney and have Wingels back up with Cooch. Then there’s Smith, Goodrow, and Brown that could round out the fourth line but I doubt Goodrow will stay with the big club the entire season, there are too many good young prospects that I think SJ will give a chance to play.

Rabbit: I’d go Ninja-Jumbo-Pavs, Patty-Cooch-California Kid, Ward-CT-Juicebox, and Goldobin-Smithy-Milkman. Then have the D as Pickles-Brauny, Martin-Burnzie, Mules-Dill.

Tiger: That’s an interesting choice of bottom six. It’s hard to say since we don’t even know who’s going to make it out of camp but I definitely can see something similar when the season starts. Down the middle having Jumbo, Cooch, Tierney, and Smith makes sense. I sort of want them to give Hertl the opportunity to play C again, that is his natural position and he looked good the couple of games he did play center. I like the D-pairings but feel that Mueller needs a full year in the AHL before making the jump. There’s no reason to rush him right now when you have Tennyson and the other acquisitions able to take some ice time.

Rabbit: I’m not sure they made enough changes to the team in all honesty. Many of the reports point to Thornton and Marleau inciting a lot of the friction around the team. The Sharks have more issues than just not being skilled enough on the ice. They have a serious issue inside the locker room and that was apparent both on and off the ice last season. Things need to change internally before their game can really get to the level it needs to be in this league.

Tiger: I think DeBoer will name a team captain right after training camp, which is something that should help heal the rift. The Sharks need a leader to hold them accountable but also to take responsibility and I think Pavelski is that person. I was surprised when Vlasic was given an A, I think they should give one to Wingels.

Rabbit: A little surprised Couture didn’t get one, he’s been very vocal but he also sounds like he causes friction of his own.

Tiger: Last season was the ugly continuation of letting a 3-0 lead evaporate in the playoffs. It literally felt like 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 was one long, freakishly ugly season. I think adding veterans Martin and Ward will shake up the locker room in a good way. I believe that creating internal competition for positions, especially the position of goalie, will force players to really bring their A game every single night. I’m tentatively optimistic that the Sharks will be able to turn it around. They have a new coach, a new starting goalie, they’ll have a new captain, and a new opportunity to finally put the last playoff run behind them.

Rabbit: There's only one question left to ask; is it October yet?

Did the San Jose Sharks Change Enough to Win?
Tiger     vs     Rabbit

Random Happy Time, 25 O’Clock - Sweater Heaven!

The 2015-2016 marks the 25th anniversary of San Jose Sharks hockey. Tiger and Rabbit reminisce about their favorite hockey moments and Tiger tries to decide which player jersey to buy next.

**^^**
Rabbit: Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ So this coming season is the 25th anniversary of Sharks hockey.

Tiger: Wow, what a ride it has been. While there have been many ups and downs throughout the years we’ve watched this team, I have a lot of great memories.

Rabbit: One of the biggest memories I have has to be “The Kill.” ＼( ｀.∀´)／

Tiger: For those that don’t know, we started watching hockey in 2001 and became fans of the Colorado Avalanche during Ray Bourque’s storied journey to finally raise the Stanley Cup.

Rabbit: While we loved the players, we didn’t necessarily love the team, and eventually went shopping to find one we could truly claim as our own.

Tiger: There was an NHL lockout and after that, ESPN and other channels stopped airing hockey so we were forced to watch the local team, the San Jose Sharks.

Rabbit: The Sharks and Avs actually had a bit of a rivalry going so we weren’t fans of Team Teal but it was the first season back after the lockout and we weren’t going to miss watching hockey again. During the second round of the playoffs, on May 8th, 2006 against the Edmonton Oilers, there was this special moment that we know as “The Kill.” The San Jose Sharks had taken a 1-0 lead in the series and were up 1-0 in the second period of the game. The Sharks took two penalties and had 101 continuous seconds of 5-on-3 disadvantage. If that wasn’t enough, defensemen Kyle McLaren and Scott Hannan broke their sticks during the play, effectively turning it into a 5-on-1 disadvantage. Goalie Vesa Toskala and the guys on the ice did everything in their power to keep the 1-0, killing off the entirety of both penalties. The Sharks went on to win the game 2-1 before losing the series 4-2 to the Oil.

Tiger: (-^〇^-) I have two major memories that both happened during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the Western Conference Quarter-finals and the Sharks were meeting their southern rivals for the first time in the playoffs. The series was tied 1-1 when Team Teal rolled into the Staples Center to face the LA Kings on April 19th, 2011. The game started out ugly with the Kings taking the early lead. With only a minute played in the second period, the Sharks were already facing a 4-0 deficit… then started “The Comeback.” Patrick Marleau knocked home a blast from Dan Boyle, Ryane Clowe scored on the powerplay, and Logan Couture brought the Sharks within one. LA wasn’t done yet, adding another tally in the second while Ryane Clowe answered back five minutes later. With less than a minute left in the second period, Joe Pavelski powers his way to the net and ties the game. The third period saw both teams tighten down on defense so it was on to sudden death overtime to decide the winner of this goalfest game.

Rabbit: ((((；゜Д゜))) I’m on the edge of my seat!

Tiger: Just three minutes into OT, Marleau and Thornton charged into the offensive zone, they were well defended but no one was covering Setoguchi coming down the far boards. Marleau made a glorious pass and Seto buried the puck behind Quick. The Sharks completed the comeback and won the game 6-5 in overtime, taking a 2-1 series lead.

Rabbit: You know Wallin got an assist off of Cooch’s and Seto’s goals, right?

Tiger: He was also on the ice for LA’s last goal too. Clowey man, and Seto. Those guys I miss. But the SJ vs LA series wasn’t done giving more spectacular moments, up next is "The Slide." On April 25th, 2011; the Sharks were leading the series 3-2 and had the opportunity to finish off the Kings in their hometown. The game was hard fought with the Sharks taking the lead in the second but the Kings answering back and tying it up in the third. Once again, this game would be decided in OT. The game looked dire for the Sharks, taking a 5-minute major penalty that continued into OT. After they killed it off, Joe Thornton came up the far boards and chipped the puck to Devin Setoguchi, who took it around the net and back out the other side. He found Patrick Marleau streaking towards the net and passed it to him but the puck ricocheted off of a skate and landed in front of Thornton, who was now standing in front of the net. He hammered it home and won the game 4-3 and closed out the series against the Kings 4-2. His iconic celebration of sliding across the ice on his back showed just how much the Sharks relished the win.

Rabbit: Such great memories and I’m looking forward to making new memories in the coming season. (>’o’)> ♥

Tiger: I’m excited too; the Sharks are going to have a retro jersey that harkens back to the original Teal sweater. ♥ <(‘o’<)

Rabbit: And of course, you’ll be getting one. (>’o’)> ♥ <(‘o’<)

Tiger: I’m definitely picking up one and I’m hoping to get another player jersey but I’m not sure who. Maybe Wingels in white and if Mueller plays for the Barracuda, I definitely want to get their alternate jersey.

Rabbit: We’re running out of closet space and you want to get three more jerseys?!

Tiger: I'll make space.

Rabbit: Speaking of anniversaries, happy anniversary! ヾ(@°▽°@)ノ

Tiger: 【・ヘ・?】 Anniversary for what?

Rabbit: For us, silly.

Tiger: *scratches head*

Rabbit: I can’t believe you forgot! This month marks a year since we started TvR.

Tiger: Oh wow, really? Has it been that long?

Rabbit: It has, we posted our first Q Attack in September of 2014. I want to thank all the Qgers and Qbbits for sticking with us! Please continue to read our posts; we definitely have more content planned for 2016! <(^o^<)

Tiger: (>^_^)> Yes, thank you for putting up with all our shenanigans. We appreciate you taking the time to stop by. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just started reading, we thank you. We’ll try to keep coming up with new content and topics that we hope you find interesting.

Rabbit: I think we should do a food only segment, where we talk about our favorite dishes every month.

Tiger: I want to do a Fallout and TES weekly discussion.

Rabbit: How about a “Saitou is Awesome” segment?

Tiger: A “Ga-Ga-Ga-Gundam!” mode would be better.

Rabbit: Ge-ge-ge-get out of here! (ﾒ｀ﾛ´)/

TvR Tag Tournament, Round 2 - Is Hockey Better When Played Outdoors?

Tiger and Rabbit took a trip home to California, to watch their beloved San Jose Sharks take part in the awe inspiring spectacle that is the Stadium Series. Joined by Eagle, they watched the Sharks take on their arch rival, the Los Angeles Kings, in the first outdoor game played in Northern California. These furry and feathery friends reminisce about the experience and answer the question, is hockey better when played outdoors?

**<>^^
Rabbit: ^shivering^ Brr…

Tiger: Are you still cold?

Rabbit: Yes! It’s freezing here. I feel like it’s about to snow.

Tiger: *rolls eyes* It’s only 54 degrees out; it’s not cold enough to snow.

Rabbit: It sure feels like it though. I miss the sun.

Tiger: I do too. Man, it was so nice in San Jose, California. A warm 70 degrees out, sun shining, just a great weekend overall. Why are we here again?

Rabbit: ^shaking^ I’m so cold I wish I could light myself on fire.

Tiger: Before we bring in The Partner, let’s talk a little bit about what we did and why we did it.

Rabbit: For the Coor’s Light Stadium Series game!

Tiger: The NHL took over Levi’s Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers, and turned it into an outdoor hockey rink.

Rabbit: So awesome!

Tiger: The game was held on February 21st, 2015 but we left a day early.

Rabbit: Righto! We left super early to give us enough time to travel to the airport and get through security.

Tiger: A whole 5 hours early. Sheesh, I thought it would take forever to get through security but it only took about 15 minutes.

Rabbit: Well, you did take a little longer than me.

Tiger: I have no idea why I had to be scanned twice and then they even patted me down.

Rabbit: Well you are pretty dangerous.

Tiger: *sticks out tongue* Let’s see, after waiting in the airport for 5 hours…

Rabbit: We did have lunch! Fish and chips, yum!

Tiger: We finally got on our flight to sunny San Jose. Two hours later…

Rabbit: Dun-duh-duh-dah!

Tiger: We arrived at our destination. We checked into our hotel, which was right next to Levi’s Stadium…

Rabbit: And that’s where we met Eagle!

Tiger: How was your trip, did it go smoothly?

Eagle: It was smooth sailing, for the most part. Although, my trip was far shorter for me than for the two of you.

Tiger: Ours would've been much shorter if we didn't show up to the airport 5 hours early.

Rabbit: Better safe than sorry! So once we met at the hotel, it was off to dinner. Mongolian BBQ FTW!

Tiger: It was great going back to that place. It's always a hockey tradition to eat Mongolian BBQ before seeing a hockey game. But man it was packed!

Eagle: It was nice of you two to allow me to tag along with your dinner plans. I thought the food was pretty alright. And, you know me... that is a fairly high compliment. The next morning was the best part, though. Rabbit was right on the money with her fear of lengthy lines to be found at the Sharks Store.

Rabbit: ^crosses arms^ Hardy har har. I just wanted to make sure we didn't miss out on anything.

Tiger: By showing up almost 2 hours before the store opened?

Rabbit: You never know! There could have been a run on Sharks beanies or something. Plus, we traveled all that way; I wanted to make sure to get some great souvenirs.

Tiger: I think you got all the souvenirs by the looks of it. I think you buried Eagle in clothes alone, making him carry stuff.

Eagle: I will grant her that... there was a mad rush not long after the doors opened.

Tiger: It definitely did get packed, luckily we were able to escape unscathed. Next up was Nihonmachi or Japantown.

Rabbit: Donburi!

Tiger: Why do we always seem to talk about food?

Rabbit: Because it's awesome. Japanese rice bowls are the best.

Eagle: The quaint shop across the street from the restaurant was nice. I even picked up some training chopsticks. Not for myself, of course.

Rabbit: Kogura Company! I bought a few kokeshi dolls for family and a book about Japanese children's stories. Not for myself, of course.

Tiger: Who are you kidding, it was so for you.

Rabbit: Okay, fine, it was for me but I like those kinds of stories.

Tiger: And what happened next?

Rabbit: More food?

Tiger: *shakes head*

Rabbit: It was dessert this time, ice cream mochi and monaka! Yummy!

Tiger: We took a short break back at the hotel and then it was off to the main reason why we took this trip in the first place - hockey baby!

Eagle: Hockey, yeah... woo hoo... Insert enthusiasm here...

Rabbit: It was so awesome!

Tiger: Once we got there.

Rabbit: Hey, the whole parking lot thing wasn't my fault. They could've used better signs to let us know before we got in line for the wrong parking lot.

Tiger: *sighs* Another line.

Rabbit: We did finally make it and didn't have to wait too long until the Fan Feast opened up.

Tiger: Okay, I have to admit, I was excited about getting our picture taken with the Shark Head.

Eagle: Getting in, though. Seems like they had tighter security than government buildings.

Tiger: Yeah, TSA was easier to get through. Once inside Levi's Stadium, the view from our seats was pretty awesome.

Rabbit: The ice! The pools of water with shark fins! The gigantanormous screens!

Tiger: We still had a bit of a wait for the game to start-

Rabbit: Which we filled by getting something to eat.

Tiger: *pulls Rabbit's ears* Stop talking about food.

Eagle: Not for me. For me, it was filled with being rude and texting someone with my fancy "smart" phone... Although, Rabbit was nice enough to bring me something during a later intermission.

Rabbit: Because food makes everything better.

Tiger: Okay, moving on. So, I was pretty surprised by the view from our seats. I totally thought we wouldn't be able to see the puck from that high up.

Eagle: The seats definitely had a great view. The sheen on that ice, in 70 plus degree weather.

Tiger: Yeah, the ice didn't hold up too well as the game wore on but it was still a fun game.

Rabbit: ^claps hands^ We got to do the Sharks' Power Play chomp quite a bit!

Eagle: After enough Badger-ing by a certain bunny, even I joined in on one.

Tiger: Too bad the Sharks scored only one goal.

Rabbit: Poor Tiger, the Kings ended up winning the game 2 to 1.

Tiger: *throws hands in the air* Freaking LA Kings. Freaking had to be LA spoiling our perfect trip.

Rabbit: It was still a good game, I definitely had fun.

Eagle: Even I enjoyed the game and the, even if sometimes overly enthusiastic, company. However, my glum demeanor never really broke.

Rabbit: Our entire section seemed to lack the usual spirit of Sharks' fans. I did hear Tiger yelling throughout the game.

Tiger: *grumbles* Freaking LA.

Rabbit: So that brings us to the topic of this TTT. Is hockey better played outdoors? What say you Eagle?

Eagle: That is a tough one. So long as it is not freezing, I would not mind attending. The ice in this particular instance would probably disagree. But, the changing and less controllable conditions provide for a more interesting challenge on the ice, which makes for better viewing.

Rabbit: So, is that a yes?

Eagle: Sorry, got a little long winded there... yes.

Rabbit: ^throws up arms^ Woohoo! Eagle and I finally agree on something! Who's awesome? We are!

Tiger: I guess we know what your answer is then, Rabbit.

Rabbit: Yup but I'll let you answer before me.

Tiger: Well I think that hockey is better when played indoors. While the whole experience and atmosphere were great during the game, the ice conditions can't be controlled like they can in an indoor arena. And while our seating was pretty great, I don't think the football stadium seating provides the best views of the ice like the seating at SAP center can. Plus, it wasn't the same not seeing the Sharks skate out of their famous Shark Head.

Rabbit: You're just being a party pooper because the Sharks lost. Well, I say that playing outdoors makes hockey a billion times better. Hearing 70,000+ fans cheering for their team, seeing planes fly overhead, and having a crystal clear night out... it was spectacular and it made a lasting impression. Yeah, the ice deteriorated as the game wore on but just being in that setting, it was an amazing hockey game and one Northern California may never see again.

Tiger: Those moths though...

Eagle: Yeah... one of those dreadful creatures almost touched my face.

Tiger: It was a great experience. I'm glad we got to go together.

Tiger & Rabbit: Thank you for coming Eagle!

Eagle: It was definitely a unique experience. Also, it is more I who should be thanking the two of you for allowing me to tag along.

Rabbit: It was fun, we should do it again sometime!

Tiger: Next time, let's make sure the Sharks win. Go Sharks!

Is Hockey Better When Played Outdoors?
Tiger      vs      Eagle      vs      Rabbit

Random Happy Time, 14 O'Clock - California Contraband!

Tiger, Rabbit, and Eagle discuss the souvenirs they bought at the Stadium Series game. Rabbit also thanks Eagle for helping her procure some contraband that can't be found where she lives.

^^<>**
Rabbit: ^whispers to Eagle^ (｡･･｡) So Eagle. Thanks for bringing that, you know, contraband for me.

Tiger: Did you really have him bring you another Skylander? （；¬＿¬)

Rabbit: ^puts hands together^ Uh, maybe? (/ω＼)

Tiger: What did she ask for this time, Eagle?

Eagle: What can I say... she asks nicely-ish. Another exclusive one not found out in the middle of nowhere.

Rabbit: And it is awesome, thanks again for tracking that down for me! 238 Skylanders and counting!

Tiger: (๑′°︿°๑) Oh geez.

Eagle: I am sure you have some oddball collection of your own there Tiger.

Tiger: I don't have 238 of them though.

Rabbit: Don't you? I mean look at all the stuff you bought at the Sharks Store, how did you fit that all into your suitcase?

Tiger: *scratches head* I uh... I brought an extra suitcase for the trip back.

Rabbit: (ﾉ*0*)ﾉ What in the world did you buy?!

Tiger: Only four shirts, three sweatshirts, a jacket, two hats, a beanie, a couple of plushies, a mini hockey stick, a couple of pucks, and some stickers.

Rabbit: Only?! （＊〇□〇）……！

Tiger: It's not like we go to San Jose very often. I had to stock up. Plus you bought a lot of stuff there too,

Rabbit: ^grins^ Of course I did!

Eagle: Well, I think that is my cue to leave, before I get dragged into this. So, I say adieu to you two. And, thanks, again, for a pleasant time at the game and during the other events of the weekend.

Tiger & Rabbit: (o^^)o Thanks for carrying our stuff at the Sharks Store! o(^^o)

Rabbit: And thanks for the contraband! You’re the best Skylanders smuggler ever!

Eagle: Any time. The both of you.

Rabbit: I wish we could have smuggled back some of the great food. ლ(´ڡ`ლ)

Tiger: (　ﾟДﾟ)＜!! Food again?!

Q Attack, Round 3 - Will the San Jose Sharks Make the Stanley Cup playoffs?

In this entry of Q Attack, Tiger and Rabbit veer off course for a little hockey talk. After a stellar regular season that ended in one of the worst playoff exits in hockey history, the San Jose Sharks have a lot to prove in this upcoming season. Will the San Jose Sharks make the Stanley Cup playoffs? Tiger and Rabbit both have their own opinions on the matter.

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Tiger: So I was contemplating whether or not we should do a non-video game centered Q Attack this early. With us being in October and with the new hockey season about to begin, I figured it was now or never to discuss the future of our beloved hockey team.

Rabbit: Yes, I think this is great timing to talk hockey. We might want to give a little backstory for our Qgers and Qbbits that don’t know anything about hockey. You should probably discuss last season especially, that is, if you can handle it.

Tiger: Effing LA.

Rabbit: You’re not supposed to swear on the blog!

Tiger: I’ll edit it all out when I type it up. Stupid purple sucking-

Rabbit: Okay, as you can see, Tiger and I are both hockey fans. Tiger’s the bigger hockey fan, ^whispers^ she takes it a lot more seriously than I do.

Tiger: You’re a pretty big fan yourself; we did watch all the games of the 2013-2014 season together.

Rabbit: That is a fact! Another fact, our favorite team is the San Jose Sharks! Chomp!

Tiger: Located in lovely San Jose, CA; the Sharks are usually a very dominate regular season hockey team and then they turn into a minor league team in the playoffs. They have an inability to win when it actually matters and they implode on themselves like a bunch of-

Rabbit: Souffle! Cause if you bake it wrong, it will collapse.

Tiger: Last season was no different with the Sharks looking like a team that could win the Stanley Cup in the regular season only to fall to the LA Kings in the first round. They were up three games to zero-

Rabbit: A Stanley Cup playoff series is a best of seven, so the team that wins four games, wins the round and can move on to the next series.

Tiger: San Jose made history by letting the freaking Kings win the last four games and take the series.

Rabbit: Tiger cried when it happened.

Tiger: That’s a lie!

Rabbit: Oh no, you cried, I totally saw you.

Tiger: *glares*

Rabbit: We got to spend the rest of the playoff hockey season watching the LA Kings go all the way to win the Stan-

Tiger: Please don’t finish that sentence or I really will cry. *sniffles*

Rabbit: Aww, poor Tiger. ^pats Tiger's head^ There’s always next year. I know this summer was a tough one. Other teams around the league were getting new players and making additions to help them succeed all the while, the Sharks just sat there doing nothing.

Tiger: They did get John Scott who is probably the worst player in the history of forever. That’s a bonus, right? They also stripped our captain of his letter. Oh, and then there’s the Ice Girls, adding sexy cheerleaders to the games because that will make a huge difference.

Rabbit: But it’s a new season! New possibilities! New opportunities!

Tiger: For them to fail.

Rabbit: This was really rough on you, wasn’t it?

Tiger: Why did it have to be against LA?! *raises arms* Out of all the teams, why?! I could’ve handled the Nucks, Chicago, heck even Anaheim would have been better.

Rabbit: We’re also flying down in February to see the Sharks host the Kings at Levi’s Stadium. This will be the first outdoor game the Sharks have ever played in.

Tiger: Ugh, I can’t even think about that, I don’t even think I can handle watching the first game of the season either.

Rabbit: The NHL was especially cruel this year. When the Stanley Cup winner opens at home for the first time in the new season, they have a banner raising ceremony and pass out the Stanley Cup Champion rings to all the players. In this case, LA’s first home game just happens to be the Sharks first game of the entire season…

Tiger: … I can’t… I can’t handle this. *cries*

Rabbit: We have so much to look forward to this season! They have a new direction with a new leader and a new purpose. We’re also going to see our first professional hockey game in ages and an outdoor game to boot!

Tiger: Please just put me out of my misery. Do you think the San Jose Sharks will make the Stanley Cup playoffs?

Rabbit: I say yes because I believe in them but mostly because they didn’t make that many changes this summer. Yes, they did lose a few players and are moving who I consider to be a key forward back to defense in Burns, but I still think they have the drive and talent to make it into the top eight teams from the Western Conference. The young players on the team have the heart to help them overcome the challenges that this season will bring. I also think that they can really use last season’s defeat as fuel for this upcoming season. Light that fire and show them what you’re made of, San Jose Sharks!

Tiger: Oh how I hope you are right but I truly think there’s just too much drama surrounding this team right now. The summer of uncertainty, the fact they keep throwing around the word “rebuild” when they talked about the team, and then they didn’t make any changes at all! Plus, they want to change the culture in the locker room yet they maintain the same people and expect the Sharks mentality to somehow evolve? A part of me is excited for the season. I love watching the game of hockey. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s easy to follow once you know a few basic rules. I just feel like the Sharks, no matter how good they start, will have the stigma of blowing a three game lead in the playoffs hanging over their heads for the entire season. I don’t know if they can ignore that much pressure. Why did we even pick the Sharks as our team?

Rabbit: Um, because they were the only team we could watch on TV after ESPN stopped showing hockey?

Tiger: *hangs head*

Rabbit: Alright Qgers and Qbbits! You’ve got your answer, thanks for reading this slightly depressing entry of Q Attack! We’ll get back to video games next time, until then!

Will the San Jose Sharks Make the Stanley Cup playoffs?
Tiger     vs     Rabbit