Category: Game News

Pre- and/or post-game news from wire reports, teams, news services

Sharks @ Blues Western Conference Final Game 5 160523 postgame

Sharks are now the furthest they have ever been in the postseason, with their 11th win.  (Fifth on the road.)  One more win to advance to the fourth round, and it’ll be hardest yet with the Blues facing elimination.

Game 5 pregame news/notes

The Sharks opened the scoring, the Blues took the lead. The Sharks tied it up and the Blues took the lead again. But then the Sharks poured on the goals, with four unanswered to clinch the win.  The Sharks were 2-3 in power play opportunities and kept the Blues to one goal in three man advantage opportunities.

Got a bit chippy with a couple of fights, with some extra minors handed out.  But the Sharks were, for the most part, playing hard and ignoring the extracurriculars.

Pavelski (2 goals including GWG, 1 assist tonight) and Couture (1 assist tonight) tying league lead for points, etc.  Seem to be setting a new record every game.  Ward had two goals as well.

Jones bounced back from his last bad (half) game, making the saves when he needed to.

Sharks have kept Tarasenko scoreless through the series.

Next up: the Clarence S Campbell Bowl will be in the house Wednesday night.  Game 6 at the Tank.

Sharks @ Blues Western Conference Final Game 5 160523

Series tied 2-2.  Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their team.

Game 4 postgame notes

This post season, the Sharks have bounced back after a horrendous game (i.e., PDSF game 4->5; PDF game 6->7), so the Sharks have it in them to make game 5 a win.  The only Sharks forward who did not have a shot on goal last game was Marleau.

About 80% of teams who win game 5 go on to win series.  Two more wins needed to clinch series.

Backes and Fabri are said to be “game time decisions”; neither participated in morning skate, but sounds like they may go.

Guessing this will be a close game.  But Sharks on top.

Sharks vs Blues Western Conference Final Game 4 160521 postgame

Good last 20 minutes of play, but the first 40 minutes doom Sharks.  Series tied 2-2.

Pregame news/links

Jones gave up 4 before being pulled; Reimer got some ice time in relief (and gave up a goal).  The Sharks vaunted power play let in a SHG and failed to get any pucks past Allen.

The Sharks were down 0-4 after forty minutes and did all their scoring in the last period.  3-6 with the ENG.

The Blues captain Backes played 5:34 in the first and did not play for the rest of the game. In postgame interviews, Hitchcock was coy about why he didn’t play and what his availability for game 5 will be.

But one bad game does not a series make.  Time to put it behind you and focus on the game to be played “today”.

Sharks vs Blues Western Conference Final Game 4 160521

Will the Blues make a series of it by winning Saturday, or will the Sharks take a stranglehold?

Game 3 postgame thoughts

The Blues seem unable to match up against the Sharks.  Coach Hitchcock has made line changes, changed personnel.  Now he’ll try a different goalie.

Special guests for game 4

And if you want to watch the first episode (29 minutes, with all of the 4-letter words kept in) of the All Access Quest for the Cup, following the four remaining teams…

Sharks vs Blues Western Conference Final Game 3 160519 postgame

Sharks demolish the Blues, 3-0. Now lead the series 2-1.

tGame 3 pregame news/notes

Nearly 24 hours later and it’s still hard to sit down and write about the game. It’s like a kid in a candy store and my attention is being pulled in 360 degrees with fun/good things to look at and where does one settle?

So awesome!  Loved the nod to Jo Pawvelski as DJ!

And then there was the game.

https://twitter.com/wilw/status/733496449611223040

The first half of period one were a bit tentative.  But then the Sharks just took over.  Jones stoned the Blues’ shooters, and the Sharks offense got past Elliot.

Jones tying Nabby for ten wins in the post season, and two shutouts.  First Sharks goalie to have back-to-back shutouts.  And the first time the Sharks have ever lead in a Western Conference Final series.

Now on to game 4!

Sharks vs Blues Western Conference Final Game 3 160519

The Sharks-Blues series is tied 1-1.  Sharks will try to take the lead at home.

Game 2 postgame thoughts

The venue changes for two games, now to California.

Some pundits feel the Sharks have outplayed the Blues this series.  One key has been the power play.

There is concern for Thornton after taking a slash to the wrist in the third period of game 2, but little information is available; he did participate in morning skate and plans to play.  No change on Nieto’s availability for game 3 (upper body), but should be available later in series.

Blues are making some lineup changes, but Hitchcock being vague.

Sharks should come out hard, dominate the game and take the 2-1 lead.

Let’s Go Sharks! #SilenceTheBlues

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 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.)