Another playoff collapse

What would you call it if the Sharks, who had the best record in hockey during the regular season, were sent packing in the first round? You got a couple more games to come up with the appropriate adjective because San Jose is once again doing its annual post-season fade — this time a round too early.

The top-seeded Sharks are on verge of one of those collapses that can only be described — at this point — as dreadful. They head to Anaheim down 2-0 to the Ducks and despite giving a better effort in Game 2 Sunday, still managed to find a way to lose.

The most glaring problem is the Sharks’ power-play unit, which is currently 0 for 12 in two games. One of the top units during the regular season, the Sharks are experiencing a power outage at the most inopportune time. What makes it worse is the fact they look like rank amateurs as the Ducks continue to dominate special teams. The Ducks’ forecheck is making it nearly impossible for the Sharks to break out of their own end and then Anaheim clogs up the neutral zone. The Sharks aren’t helping their cause by going offsides three times in Sunday’s game and they can’t hold the puck in the offensive zone for more than one shot before the Ducks clear it. San Jose television color commentator Drew Remenda put it succinctly in the third period: "The Ducks have absolutely no respect for the Sharks’ skill on the power play.”

On top of that, Anaheim’s rookie goaltender, Jonas Hiller, is playing like Dominic "The Dominator” Hasek in his prime. San Jose has put nearly 80 shots on net in two games and managed to beat Hiller just twice. After not getting enough players to the net in the first game, the Sharks put consistent pressure in front of the Anaheim goal in the second game to no avail. It’s almost a given that if a player puts in the work to get position down low, at least once a game they’ll tip or re-direct a shot past the goaltender. But not in this series.

Even if the Sharks somehow manage to pull off the near impossible and advance to the second round, what are their chances of seriously contending for a berth in the Stanley Cup finals? As we’ve seen over the last several years, not very good.

***

So far this season, I’ve watched every San Jose Earthquakes soccer game — one in person and the other four on television. Here are some observations five games in the season:

• While offense was a liability last season, this year, it appears it’s the defense. The Quakes seven goals for is in the middle of the pack, but their nine goals against puts them in a tie for second-to-last, only Dallas has allowed more goals with 10. For whatever reason, the Quakes routinely leave an opponent unmarked in the penalty box, or allow an opposing player to slip through several defenders and get a clean look at the goal. In the last two games, both draws, the Quakes have given up the lead four times.

• Midfielder/defender Bobby Convey needs to get more aggressive. Convey has played every minute of every game so far this season and only once, during the Quakes’ 3-3 tie with Chicago two weeks ago, has he taken the initiative and ran at defenders. Convey has the ability — he blew by the Chicago defense for a goal two weeks ago — but Saturday, time and again I saw him receive a pass along the sideline and instead of taking the ball to net, settled for a backward pass. While there is a time and place for backward pass, in a 1-1 tie in the waning minutes of a game, is not one of them.

• The Quakes strikers are not at their best with their backs to the goal. Pablo Campos, Ryan Johnson and Cam Weaver have shown they can score when they can run onto passes and attack defenses. They’ve accounted for four of the Quakes seven goals thus far.

Turn them around and make them play with the ball at their feet and their back to the goal? A whole different story. Of the three, Campos may have the best on-ball ability, but Johnson and Weaver leave a lot to be desired. None of the three should ever be checking back to the ball. They need to stay up high and then run onto long passes sent over the top of the defense. Chris Leitch and Campos worked that to perfection against the L.A. Galaxy Saturday, and Johnson was on the receiving end of a long pass that turned into a goal against Chicago two weeks ago. But those are few and far between.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 117.