So in the eastern confrence we have what no one could have expected: Montreal winning a best of 7 series against a Washington Capitals team (the Caps scored 101 more goals then the Canadiens) followed by beating the defending Stanley Cup champions. The thing is Montreal is playing like they just cant be eliminated. Playing NOT to lose, the way that Vancouver did when they first acquried Roberto.
Then there is Philadelphia who has just made history by over coming a 0-3 playoff hole. The last time a team did that was 35 years ago. 35 years ago my mom wasnt thinking about me that much...if at all. So despite the fact that these 2 teams are not the cream of the crop as far as regular season success goes you can expect an extremely good series against these teams and whoever makes it to the finals is going to give the western confrence a hard time.
Of course that team is going to be the San Jose Shark, as they will beat Chicago in 6 or 7 games :)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
San Jose Sharks vs Chicago Blackhawks, this is going to be worse then Detroit
So my beloved San Jose Sharks are going to be playing in round 3 for the second time in franchise history and its going to be against a very dangerous team. How dangerous you might ask? Ask the fans of the Vancouver Canucks who just got defeated 4 games to 2, in a series that they never really looked like they showed up. Henrick Sedin who lead the league with 112 points in the regular season didnt even lead his team in scoring through 12 games, the title of top scoring Canuck during the post season belongs to Mike Samuleson.
The thing is during the Blackhawks 4 good games agains Vancouver they dominated the Canucks. Out scoring them it seemed by at least 3 goals to 1. The Blackhawks had 2 hat tricks in the 6 game series. You are going to be going far in the post season when you score a hat trick every 3 games. They looked like the grittier team in the series and thats not something that I say often. In Vancouvers defence (no pun inteded) I think about half of their top 6 defence were out with injuries during this series.
For the Sharks to win this is what must happen: 1) Nabokov must be the Sharks best player for the 7 or less games agains the Blackhawks. Nabokov has been extremely good in the playoffs this year but he is going to have to elevate his game even further against the Blackhawks. 2) The Sharks must stay out of the penalty box, this hasnt been a problem for the Sharks for the first 2 rounds but they need to keep moving with their feet and playing with energy. 3) The team must put defence first. Ever forward and defence man must play their best ever hockey in their own zone. Winning defencive faceoffs and getting the puck deep into the Blackhawks zone is going to be key to winning this best of 7 series.
So there you have it, my prediction is that the Sharks will win in 7 games.
Also the Montreal Canadians have just beat the Penguins in 7, so I am going to say that in the next series (against either Boston or Philly) they will win in 7.
The thing is during the Blackhawks 4 good games agains Vancouver they dominated the Canucks. Out scoring them it seemed by at least 3 goals to 1. The Blackhawks had 2 hat tricks in the 6 game series. You are going to be going far in the post season when you score a hat trick every 3 games. They looked like the grittier team in the series and thats not something that I say often. In Vancouvers defence (no pun inteded) I think about half of their top 6 defence were out with injuries during this series.
For the Sharks to win this is what must happen: 1) Nabokov must be the Sharks best player for the 7 or less games agains the Blackhawks. Nabokov has been extremely good in the playoffs this year but he is going to have to elevate his game even further against the Blackhawks. 2) The Sharks must stay out of the penalty box, this hasnt been a problem for the Sharks for the first 2 rounds but they need to keep moving with their feet and playing with energy. 3) The team must put defence first. Ever forward and defence man must play their best ever hockey in their own zone. Winning defencive faceoffs and getting the puck deep into the Blackhawks zone is going to be key to winning this best of 7 series.
So there you have it, my prediction is that the Sharks will win in 7 games.
Also the Montreal Canadians have just beat the Penguins in 7, so I am going to say that in the next series (against either Boston or Philly) they will win in 7.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
To the Western Confrence Finals they go!
I am extremely happy to say, that after watchin an extremely close game between the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings it was the Sharks who again emerged victorious and are heading to round 3. The Western Confrence Finals. The final score was 2-1 and both of the goals that the Sharks scored were largley due to Jumbo Joe dominating the game they way we know he can. Winning 10 of 14 faceoffs in game 5, scoring 3 goals in 5 games agains the defencively strong Red Wings and setting up Patrick Marleau for 2 game winners which included the O.T. winner in game 3 and the series clincher in game 5.
Joe Thornton was simply the best player in this series, its probably the first time in his 12 year career that some one can say that. It's the first time in his 12 NHL years that he will be playing in the 3rd round which I think is mind boggling due to his skill level. He is averaging a point a game this year in the playoffs.
Patrick Marleau and Evegni Nabokov have also been as good (even better at times) their regular season selves. Nabokov faced probably the most difficult screens that he is going to have to face in the playoffs in this series and came away with a 4-1 record. The next team that Sharks will face is most likely the Chicago Blackhawks but we can't count out the Canucks yet, with Loungo you are out until you win 4 games.
These Sharks have won close games all these playoffs, they have rebounded with a win after every time they lose and they are 7-1 in their past 8 games and havent lost on home ice since April 14th. They also have not lost a game yet when scoring the first goal of the game, or going into the second or third period with a lead. These are obviously statistics that can change in the next 2 rounds but with the way these Sharks have rebounded I dont think that it will matter.
Joe Thornton was simply the best player in this series, its probably the first time in his 12 year career that some one can say that. It's the first time in his 12 NHL years that he will be playing in the 3rd round which I think is mind boggling due to his skill level. He is averaging a point a game this year in the playoffs.
Patrick Marleau and Evegni Nabokov have also been as good (even better at times) their regular season selves. Nabokov faced probably the most difficult screens that he is going to have to face in the playoffs in this series and came away with a 4-1 record. The next team that Sharks will face is most likely the Chicago Blackhawks but we can't count out the Canucks yet, with Loungo you are out until you win 4 games.
These Sharks have won close games all these playoffs, they have rebounded with a win after every time they lose and they are 7-1 in their past 8 games and havent lost on home ice since April 14th. They also have not lost a game yet when scoring the first goal of the game, or going into the second or third period with a lead. These are obviously statistics that can change in the next 2 rounds but with the way these Sharks have rebounded I dont think that it will matter.
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