Tag: Final

Sharks vs Blues Western Conference Final Game 6 160525 postgame

Wow.  Sharks win!!! They’re going to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in the 25th year of existence.

Game 6 pregame news/notes

Pavelski opened up the scoring in the first on a wrap around.  Ward scored goals in the 2nd and 3rd (including series winning goal) — that third period goal was the last nail in the coffin of the Blues per post game comments from Hitchcock.  Donskoi and Couture also scored.  Tarasenko managed two goals – his first in the series – but it was too little, too late.

Sharks vs Blues Western Conference Final Game 6 160525

It’s time to #SilenceTheBlues for this season.  Game 6.

Game 5 postgame news/notes

For the Blues, Wednesday night, it’s win or go home. Sharks lead the series 3-2, and a win would advance them to their first Stanley Cup Finals (and win the Clarence S Campbell Bowl as Western Conference champions). It’s the Sharks 100th game this season (regular and post).

The Blues have announced that Elliott will be back in net for game 6.

Sharks need to show their killer instinct and take the Blues out.  Just worry about this game.  (Add all the cliches needed.)

It’s time to #SilenceTheBlues for this season.  Game 6.

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 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

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.)