Category: Playoffs

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 – 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