Steely Eyes On Sharks Play Do-Or-Die Game Tuesday Night

LOS GATOS, CA — Bars from one end of the San Francisco Peninsula to the South Bay are expected to come alive Tuesday night when the San Jose Sharks overcome a 3-2 game standing deficit against the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Finals in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

With a Zen-like focus, the hope is the boys from the shark tank will pull out a turnaround over the next two games in the best-of-seven contest. Game 6 will be televised at 5 p.m. at watch parties in a number of bars filled with hopeful fans.

Among them who will view the close-to-home battle is the Flight Restaurants' owner Alex Hult, a former center with the Sharks.

Hult told Patch he's encouraged by the fans' constant support and even short-term memory at having to forget other seasons' losses and lift their psyches after being down 3-2 in games.

"I definitely think they could pull it off, and I think they're putting the heat on and bringing healthy, hungry guys up. I think the fans overcome the losses pretty good," said Hult, who poignantly added it was always his dream to capture the Stanley Cup when he played over a decade ago.

Now his vision revolves around slapping up restaurants. He opened the Flights in Mountain View in October. In addition, he sits a month away from throwing the doors open on the Las Vegas location in Planet Hollywood — an interesting endeavor when the Sharks end up playing the sin city's Knights.

At home with the Sharks in the South Bay

Double D's in Los Gatos will also have a keen eye on the potential comeback. After all, the bar recovered in a comeback of its own five months ago when it reopened after a fire prompted a hiccup in its 23 years of serving the community.

Owner Darin Devincenzi couldn't be happier when the Sharks make the post season — especially when their captain, Joe Pavelski, is healthy. Some of the players are the owner's friends, and apparently everyone else's who patronize the bar and recognize them when the guys come in for their "eat-and-run" fix at Double D's.

"How can you miss 'big Joe' Thornton?" Devincenzi told Patch Tuesday afternoon, while gearing up for the game. Thornton sports a long beard that's very recognizable.

Devincenzi plans to have a crowd in to partake in the bar's signature 10 beers on tap, but the 5 p.m. start time may reduce the number of people trying to get through the evening commute. (Perhaps motorists will need to hit the road early this afternoon.)

Sure, it's difficult to wage a comeback. Devincenzi expressed cautious optimism because he's supportive yet "a realist," he said.

"I'm sure. I think the Sharks are banged up, but this is a great team with good players," he said.

And that's the view into the shark tank fan base.

Full support from Half Moon Bay

"You're either a fan or you're not a fan," Half Moon Brewery manager Nikki Banks summarized the fans' year-after-year support.

Sure, the Sharks have been in the post season before, only to fall with their grip loosening. But if the San Francisco Bay Area rain doesn't hinder fans' enthusiasm to come out in support of their team, then obstacles like the Blues shouldn't.

Banks plans to pull out whatever leftover swag the bar has to give away.

Appropriately enough, the Sharks' home at the SAP Center will begin its watch party the hour before the elimination game is broadcast. Tickets will run $5.

A list of participating businesses can be found here.