Test Time for Sharks

One game into San Jose's playoff series with Anaheim, and already the Sharks are up against it.

That's what happens with a bull's-eye-producing President's Cup and a history of playoff flops, plus a prominent player or two who are gaining reputations for disappearing in April and May.

Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton combined for one shot in San Jose's Game 1 loss to the Ducks at the Shark Tank, and afterward, Thornton responded to questions about the small shot total by emphasizing that he's a passer, "if you haven't noticed," he said.

Snippy? Maybe that's a good thing as far as the Sharks are concerned, and to his credit, Thornton did get off a few nice passes from behind goal near the end of Game 1 that his teammates couldn't capitalize on. But San Jose needs much more from Thornton, and more from Marleau, to have a shot at regaining the edge in the series after already coughing up the home ice advantage. Head coach Todd McLellan acknowledged as much after Thursday's game, saying most of the team's offense this season has run between the two players and that they'd "have to produce" for San Jose to move on.

For much of the first game, the Sharks looked tentative, hesitant -- more as if they were trying not to lose than to win. No such fear when it comes to hard-nosed Anaheim, which happily pressed the advantage when given the chance. If the Sharks have jitters based on past failure and high expectations, they'd better get over it, quick.

There's little doubt history is on their minds, because the questions have been asked all year. Before the series even started, Jeremy Roenick said that the Sharks are eager to shed their title as the best team never to win a Cup -- but it goes beyond that. For all their talent the past several years, the Sharks haven't even made it into the Finals. They zipped through the regular season this year, saying all the right things about preparing for the playoffs and getting drilled about the realities of the postseason from new coach McLellan, then they appeared to be all nerves in the opener.

Though the men on the ice probably don't see it this way, the Sharks have an extra burden in the region. Bay Area sports teams are in a downturn that mirrors the Silicon Valley economy. The 49ers and the Raiders stink, the Warriors are a perennial disappointment and the Giants and A's have finished at or near the bottom of their divisions the past two years. Maybe they don't need that extra pressure, but it's there.

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Philadelphia Flyers' Simon Gagne, left, watches teammate Mike Richards's shot go into the back of the net past Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, right, in the first period of a first-round NHL hockey playoff game Sunday, April 19, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 19: Kimmo Timonen #44 of the Philadelphia Flyers defends against Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in front of Flyers goaltender Martin Biron #43 during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kimmo Timonen;Evgeni Malkin;Martin Biron

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Philadelphia Flyers winger Simon Gagne (L) sets a screen as the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) allows a goal to the Flyers during the first period of Game 3 of their NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal hockey game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 19, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY)

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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 19: Claude Giroux #28 and Darroll Powe #36 of the Philadelphia Flyers come together with Tyler Kennedy # 48 and Kris Letang #58 early in the first period of the Pittsburgh Penguins during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kris Letang;Claude Giroux;Tyler Kennedy;Darroll Powe

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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 19: Ryan Parent #77 of the Philadelphia Flyers clears Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins from in front of the net during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan Parent;Sidney Crosby

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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 19: Kimmo Timonen #44, Jeff Carter #17 and Joffrey Lupul #15 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrate Carter's first period goal at 2:59 during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joffrey Lupul;Jeff Carter;Kimmo Timonen

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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 19: Philadelphia Flyers fans show off a homemade sign before the start of the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 19: Fans of the Philadelphia Flyers attend Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Wachovia Center on April 19, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 19: Philadelphia Flyers fan Debbie Crennan of Valley Forge attends Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Round of the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Wachovia Center on April 19, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Debbie Crennan

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