Month: May 2016

Sharks @ Blues Western Conference Final Game 2 160517 postgame

Sigh.  Much better effort.  Much better result.  Series tied 1-1.

Pregame thoughts

Being down in a playoff series for first time this season did not stymie the Sharks.  The Blues “gave more“, but it wasn’t enough. Tarasenko becoming a dad early Tuesday should not have been a distraction for the player or team.

Jones was much better, turning away every shot, getting the 26 save shutout. Burns had a couple of goals on the power play.

What they did do in game 2? Smothering defense, buzzing offense, dominant special teams. A sense of urgency. Setting a number of team records, and Jumbo having fun. Ah, winning!

And the Blues gave a dismal performance.

But of course, some think the Sharks weren’t “injured” enough.  Geez.

Cool point of night:  12-year old Wyatt Nelson got to do some play-by-play of the game on Blues radio.  (He does it for the WHL Saskatoon Blades games so his blind father can enjoy the game.)  Way to go, Wyatt!!

Sharks @ Blues Western Conference Final Game 2 160517

Well, that first game did not end the way Shark fans would like.

Game 1 news/links

A few bad bounces, some bad officiating and here we are.  Sharks were victims of an early whistle on what could have been the tying goal, a missed match penalty, lost puck, etc.

The Blues were able to contain the Sharks top lines and power play. And Jones let in a goal that he’d probably like to not have given up.

The Sharks stayed off the ice on Monday instead, facing the media. Players know they did not play their best game, so promise to play better. Complaints about the officiating, complaints about the complaints.  Opponent coach “suggestions” as to where to slot players.

Now, get away from the hype, to see the guys play the game on the ice to see what is decided in game 2.

You know the Sharks will come out with MORE.  Including attention to detail and determination.

Let’s #SilenceTheBlues

Sharks @ Blues Western Conference Final Game 1 160515

And away we go.

Series preview/predictions

Series opens Sunday evening.  Sharks are opening the Tank (free tickets required – sold out) for away game 1 viewing, and distributing to the first 500 fans a Jo Pawvelski rally towel.

Most pundits are predicting a hard fought series.  Game 1 should be the “feeling out” game.  But I expect both teams to be physical and pushing to the edge (of penalties) to test the mettle of their opponent.

In the season series, the road team prevailed, so the Sharks should hope to rekindle their road prowess to start the series.

Sharks – Blues Western Conference Final preview

Sharks and Blues will be facing each other for the fifth time in the playoffs.  (Each team has won two series.) This is the first conference finals meeting.

Twitter list of Blues-centric members

Guarantee: one of these teams will be in the Stanley Cup Finals.  The Blues haven’t been in the Finals since 1970.  The Sharks have never been.

Sharks forwards average 28.6 years old; Blues 27.2.  Sharks defense averages 28.4 years old vs Blues at 26.5.  So, the Sharks have the experience, by 1.5-2 years.

Sharks have the slightly (3/100s of inch) taller, but lighter (2+ pounds) forwards, but the shorter (1/2 inch) and heavier (~10 pounds) defensemen, than the Blues.

Sharks were 2-1-0 against the Blues this season.

(Regular season stats…) Blues averaged three more hits/game, but two fewer blocked shots/game. Blues had less than half the giveaways that the Sharks had. Sharks averaged 1:39 less in PIMS/game than Blues. Sharks scored 18 more goals in the season than the Blues, but gave up 10 more.  Sharks have the better power play (about 1%), and drew more power play opportunities.  Sharks had 63:39 power play time differential compared to the Blues 89:10 more PK time than PP.

Of course, regular season stats mean little in the post season.  The Sharks have lead the league in playoff power play effectiveness (30.9%; highest among remaining playoff teams).  So, the Blues need to be disciplined, or the Sharks can take advantage. The Sharks have been the more offensive team (3.42/game vs 3.14/game) and better defensively (2.33/game GA vs 2.43 GA/game).

So, how will games play out?  On the physical side, definitely.  But the Sharks seem to have the offensive and defensive advantage.  But that’s all on paper.  You have to play the games.

Of the teams remaining, the Sharks have traveled the most in the postseason (and this year, the most in regular season).  But the series will be fairly equal travelwise, once things get going.  Sharks may have the advantage based on their research and work with Stanford sleep  center to counteract jet lag, etc., as they do so much traveling; the Blues may not be as prepared.

Another wrinkle… The NHL has an agreement with Showtime for a weekly summary show.  Debut (first week) is May 20.  So, the guys will be having cameras hanging around as they practice, prepare, and play.

Prediction: Sharks in 6

Sharks vs Predators PDF Game 7 160512 postgame

Whew.  Sharks dominated 5-0 and advance to the Western Conference Finals!

Game 7 pregame news/links

This is not your sister’s Sharks team.   This team is confident, effective, decisive, a deadly predator on the ice.

Sharks were again lethal on the power play: 2 for 3 in game 7, including the GWG early in the first period.

It seems like the double seven-game series the Predators had tired them out to the point that without the support of their fans they could not succeed in winning a game.  (And the Predators, in eight tries, have yet to win ONE game in the Tank.)

So, next up: the St Louis Blues.  Game 1 on Sunday.  (Sharks are opening Tank — free tickets required — if you want to watch with other fans.)

Sharks vs Predators PDF Game 7 160512

Game 6 loss forces game 7 at SAP Center.

Game 6 postgame news/links

Giving up a few bad goals, and the Sharks could not hold onto the leads they had during game 6.  In OT, Preds won.  Sharks also lost Nieto to injury.

Nieto was not among the players that practiced on Wednesday.  Wingels and Haley participated on the fourth line, so one (perhaps Wingels) should replace Nieto in Thursday’s game 7 lineup.  UPDATE:  Wingels in for Nieto; Karlsson promoted to 3rd line.

Sharks are 5-4 in game 7s.  Predators will play in their second (all time) game 7 (after winning their first in previous series).

Sharks hope that home ice advantage is theirs tonight.

Sharks will win if they execute their game plan: deadly on the man advantage, speed kills (offense), strong defense.  They’ll need to neutralize the Predators in all three zones, especially the defensive zone.

(Regardless of the results of this game, the WCF will begin on Sunday in St Louis.)

And don’t forget to vote for Pavelski!

Predator-centric articles are left to the reader to discover.

Sharks @ Predators PDF Game 6 160409 postgame

Sharks had all the leads in regulation, but the Preds scored in OT to win the game.  Game 7 will be Thursday.

Pregame news/links

Tierney opened the scoring with TWO goals less than two minutes apart, in the first period, which was answered by the Predators.  Nieto injured running into net and did not return in the second period; his status is unknown after the game.

The Preds tied it up in the second.

Sharks went ahead again in the third, on their only power play of the game, but the Preds tied it up.

In overtime, the Preds scored 2:08 in.

Start time for game 7 will be based on whether the Pittsburgh-Washington series goes to 7 games.  (So if Pittsburgh wins game 6 on Tuesday, the Sharks-Predators game will start at 6pm.  If Washington forces a game 7, the Sharks-Predators game will start at 7pm.)

Sharks @ Predators PDF Game 6 160409

Sharks are looking for their fourth road win of the post season, and the first by any team in this series, as they hope to send the Predators on their summer vacation with a win in game 6.

Game 5 postgame news/links

Both teams flew to Tennessee on Sunday.  Sharks are using their experience and  knowledge as the NHL’s most traveled team regarding rest and jet lag to be ready to play.  The changes in game 5’s lineup improved how the team performed, so expect more of the same for Monday (Marleau to 2nd line wing; Tierney promoted to 3rd line center, Ward to 3rd line; Zubrus to 4th line, Wingels out).

The Predators (and their fans) will be desperate for a win.  Lose and the season is over; win and they get another trip to San Jose.  The Predators have never made it past the second round.

(Perhaps more after morning skate)

Sharks vs Predators PDF Game 5 160507 postgame

Sharks made one lineup change, and dominated the Preds, even chasing Rinne from the net (way in the end of the 3rd, after the Sharks were up by 3).  Sharks lead series 3-2.

Pregame news/links

The big question this game answered was which team would be able to overcome the triple overtime game and take the series lead.  The Sharks answered that definitively.

Pavelski lead the way with two goals; Marleau opened the scoring, Couture and Karlsson had the other two goals.  Sharks were 1-3 on the power play; Predators 0-3.  Jones made 24 saves, only giving up goal to Fisher in first.

Inexplicably, Rinne was pulled late in the third (on a Sharks power play) and Hutton (former Sharks prospect) was in net for the final goal against by Karlsson.

On Sunday, both teams will fly to Nashville. Game 6 is Monday.  Sharks hope to be the first road team to win in this series, to advance to the conference finals.

Sharks vs Predators PDF Game 5 160507

Well, if the Sharks want the league’s attention on their series, they got it with the longest OT (so far) of this year’s playoffs.  And THE talking point Friday around water coolers and radio mikes around the continent is on Pavelski’s disallowed goal.

Game 4 postgame news/links

On Friday, both teams traveled to San Jose in advance of game 5.

(Should be some morning skate stories that come up; hope to add them.)

Pregame news links