(By hockey correspondent, Ian Evans)

The Sharks third consecutive ouster in second round of the NHL playoffs, despite having a Stanley Cup-worthy team this season, has led to the firing of head coach Ron Wilson on Monday. This last year, the Sharks set records in wins, consecutive wins, and consecutive points. The team also won the Pacific division for the second time in franchise history, and improved their point total for the third season in a row. However, their regular season dominance didn't translate into post-season success.

The Sharks, the number-two seed in the Western Conference, beat the seventh-seeded Calgary Flames in a tough seven game series during the first round. Their second round opponent, the Dallas Stars, handily won the first three games in the best-of-seven series, a hole that only three other teams in the history of the NHL have ever overcome. The Sharks won games four and five, and played an epic game six that saw four sudden-death overtime periods before Dallas captain Brendan Morrow score a power-play goal to end the Sharks season.