Posted: 2/07/07

The San Jose Sharks lost an important opportunity toclose the point spread between their division rivalAnaheim Ducks Tuesday night. All season long, the Sharkshave been in the Ducks’ rearview mirror and had achance to move within their blind spot. But after a7-4 disappointing loss, the Sharks fell back into therearview mirror.

But don’t let the score trick you.

At the end of the second period, the Sharks fell 6-1to the Ducks after a complete defensive collapse,allowing the Ducks to score four unanswered goals.The only highlight in the second period was Sharks’ enforcer Scott Parker’s battle with GeorgeParros in match-up of the league’s best heavyweights.

Now, I understand that an enforcer’s role in the gameis to either protect or provoke. Parker, however, took it too far. When the Sharks fell behind 2-0 early in the first period, head coach Ron Wilson sent out Parker to shift the momentum. But none of the Ducks were accepting Parker’s invitation to fight.

I love to see Parker drop the gloves as much anyone, but the Ducks should be applauded for not letting the Sharks get under their skin.

No one expected the Sharks to bounce back in the thirdperiod the way they did. True, they are known as acomeback-in-the-third-period team, but five goalsagainst the division leader is nothing less than amiracle.

Captain Patrick Marleau and forward Jonathan Cheechoobreathed new life in the game when they scored threegoals, two courtesy of Cheechoo.

The miracle would have happened had Josh Gorges andCheechoo’s shots not rung off the post.

The lesson to be learned from Tuesday’s disappointingloss is that you have to play defense first and letthat dictate the rest of the game. All seven of theDucks’ goals were very easy goals to capitalize on,with the exception of Travis Moen’s second goal of thenight in the second period. The Sharks defense, whichhas been very reliable in shutting down theopposition, let the Ducks weave pass the blue-linelike a club bouncer would let an attractive woman cutin line.

Another key lesson, one I’m sure Wilson is aware of, is toscore early in the game. Until Marleau’s goal in thethird period, the Sharks didn’t score a goal. Theirfirst period goal came courtesy of goaltenderJean-Sebastien Giguere kicking in the puck after hemade a save off of Mark Bell.

The team can’t wait for third period heroics. TheSharks have been known to comeback with a vengeanceafter a disappointing loss. Hopefully, they willregroup when they face the Ducks tonight in Anaheimand not fall back anymore in the standings.

The former Pride of the Pacific need to skate withmore pride if they want to prove to their critics thatthey are the better of the two.