Tag: Western Conference

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