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.