The best line in the NHL. That's right, an absolute statement. Just try and refute it.

Delayed live-blogging time! I was at the Emerald Bowl last night, so missed watching the game. Because it’s a game against the Ducks, I knew I had to watch it. So, here’s my live blog that’s not really live. If that makes any sense.

“There he is, the guy who was simultaneously put on a show, stood on his head, and was unconscious.” (Nabokov)

I like that there’s a “Ducks suck!” chant only 15 seconds into the game.

How far has Setoguchi fallen… on the fourth line, along with Mitchell and McLaren. Meanwhile, Ortmeyer is on the second line. I think we might have entered the Twilight Zone.

OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN! Pass from Thornton to Heatley, who fanned on the shot, which Patty tipped in. It marks his 300th career goal. Now, this may be a bit premature, but I could see him hitting the 500 goal mark during his career.

Fight! McLaren vs. Parros. Frazer lost, but he’s a rookie and the fact that he’s frequently fighting heavyweights like George Parros – and holding his own – is a good sign for the future. Plus, he’s not that bad of a hockey player outside of the fighting.

Talking about how Joe Thornton might be playing too many games, and how he maybe should take a few games off. This is the guy that played an entire season with a broken toe. I don’t think he will ever miss a game if he can help it.

Hmmm, Joe Thornton double shifting, playing with Mitchell and Setoguchi as well while McLaren is in the box. Interesting.

Ryan tried to hit Murray. He fell down.

Murray lost his stick, but still managed to kick the puck out and start the breakout from behind Nabokov. Things like that are why he’s on the Swedish Olympic team.

Setoguchi’s hit on Festerling was very nice. I like to see it as payback from when Festerling boarded Roenick and dislocated his shoulder.

Wow, Patty when from gliding behind the defense to breaking away in about three strides. The guy is amazingly fast.

First and second lines are absolutely buzzing. So’s the third and fourth lines, now that I think about it.

That ref just tripped over nothing, and then the puck that was already shot hit him. Ouch. He must have had equipment issues.

Penalty on the Ducks, and then a bunch of Sharks swarm Chipchura. I like it.

Thomas Murray looks like an intellectual, nothing like the wall that is Douglas Murray. Must be the reason why Murray got into Cornell.

OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN! AGAIN! Yet another tip-in goal, off a rebound from a shot by Heatley. And Heatley celebrated way before the puck went in – he just knew that Marleau was going to get that rebound and Giguere would have no chance. Either that, or he’s psychic.

Wooo, Murray flattened Perry with just a little shove. Love it.

Ohhh, I thought that shot off the post was in. It was almost there – maybe a millimeter more and it would have been.

“Heatley’s got it, and he’s got Nichol with him!” It’s like the polar opposite of players, haha.

Nice pass by Mitchell to Seto. Too bad Seto couldn’t settle it on his stick.

END OF FIRST PERIOD
Great job by the Sharks, got out ahead early and just sustained the pressure. They barely let the Ducks have any legitimate chances, and when there was a chance, Nabokov was that to make the save pretty easily. Complete opposite of the Hawks game.

So, Marleau-Thornton-Heatley needs to be a line on Team Canada. Preferably the first or second line. I honestly don’t see how anyone can say no to it.

SECOND PERIOD

Eating some gnocchi, so won’t be commenting as much.

That was a pretty play with Boyle – too bad that it didn’t result in a goal.

Awww, Huskins. Stupid plays like that are why we don’t like you.

I don’t like this PK that much. But great shift by Boyle.

And man, Joe Thornton played some great D there. Forced that Duck off the puck and then shadowed him all

HEATLEY! He had two guys guarding him, and yet he was able to get two shots off.

Drew, that’s not a high stick, because any contact with the face as a result of a follow-though on a shot is defined as not high-sticking.

So now Joe’s playing with the third line as well. Interesting.

“Anaheim has eight players on the ice!” Ahh, what happens during a line brawl.

Joe Pavelski got a penalty for roughing? That’s kind of amazing. I guess no Lady Byng for him.

CLOWE! KIND OF! Wait, no, NEIDERMAYER! He shot the puck, hit Wizneiwskie, and then hit Neidermayer’s skate and went in. He’s just getting all sorts of crazy goals, isn’t he?

MCGINN! 15 seconds later, McGinn just rips a shot behind Giguere, that’s all that you really need to know. Oh, and Neil Young is there. He’s probably the Sharks’ most prominent season ticket holder.

Goos sign from the Sharks, that right after they score the goal the very next shift they score another goal. Either that, or a bad sign from the Ducks.

Ducks keep falling. I’m thinking that they all have equipment issues.

BOOO. Chipchura scores on a break after he pushes Huskins down and takes the puck. Huskins, this is another reason why we don’t like you.

END OF SECOND PERIOD
Three goals always makes for a good period. Yeah, the last-minute goal by the Ducks is kind of a deflator, but there was still a lot of good done in that period. Heatley’s goal was the definition of a goal-scorer’s goal – I doubt anyone else on the Sharks would be able to get two good shots off that quickly.

Woah, that Weinershnitzel commercial was just wrong.

THIRD PERIOD

McGinn off for hooking. He got a goal, so not too mad about it. Also, Sharks have been absolutely clutch on the PK in this game. Actually, they’ve just been clutch on special teams. 100% PP, 100% PK.

BOOO. Bobby Ryan scores five-hole right after the penalty ends. Now 5-2.

I admit, I know that this is the final score for the game, so I’m going tune out a bit.

Ducks really pouring it on now – it’s almost like they can sniff their next goal. Which won’t come, but still.

Ortmeyer really is having a good game. He’s getting a few breaks, really driving towards the net, and getting shots off.

FIGHT! Nichol vs. Chipchura! Nichol is much smaller than Chipchura, but he’s the only one to land anything. Win, Nichol. “Scotty Nichol makes this officially Boxing Day!”

Marleau off for high sticking. So the two Sharks least likely to take penalties both take penalties in this game. Interesting.

I agree with Drew – the fourth line has played an extremely solid game tonight. It’s more like a second third line than a fourth line.

FIGHT! Ortmeyer vs. Beleskey. Not much of a fight, Ortmeyer gets the takedown by Beleskey gets the win.

Giguere was trying to see if Carlye would pull him with a minute left. Carlyle would not. Makes me laugh a bit.

“DUCKS SUCK!” chant out in full force. Love it.

SHARKS WIN!

I love that stick lift at the end, especially when the crowd roars in appreciation.

Three stars: 3 – Heatley, 2 – Marleau, 1 – Thornton.

Haha, Joe always looks like he’s having such a good time after the game. He’s such a happy-go-lucky guy.

Marleau is always so awkward in interviews. But he cracked up when they mentioned the “Slappy the holiday elf/dummy” commercial. Or, at least, cracking up for Marleau. Which is a smile and a small chuckle.

Joe Thornton has absolutely dominated the Ducks this year. I don’t think he’s gotten less than 3 points against them in any of the games they’ve played.