#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #2 San Jose Sharks
The Western Conference Finals matchup includes two teams that have players labeled as playoff under achievers, and coincidentally, both teams have become jobbed as playoff choke artists. In fact it looked as if the Canucks would fit that billing as they squandered a 3-0 series lead against the Blackhawks in the first round, but would ultimately prevail in Game 7 to move on and then took care of the Nashville Predators in six games. The Sharks took care of the Los Angeles Kings in six games in round one, but looked almost reverted back to their playoff faltering ways after blowing a 3-0 lead against the Detroit Red Wings in the second round. However, the Sharks would avoid another playoff collapse and move on to the Conference Finals after winning Game 7. This could be a very good series between the two clubs that could go the distance as both clubs play similar high paced styles, and have gotten good goaltending throughout the playoffs so far. After the jump we take a more in-depth look at the series.
Series Schedule
Game 1: Saturday, May 15 @Vancouver, 8:00 p.m.
Game 2: Wednesday, May 18 @Vancouver, 9:00 p.m.
Game 3: Friday, May 20 @San Jose, 9:00 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, May 22 @San Jose, 3:00 p.m.
*Game 5: Tuesday, May 24 @ Vancouver, 9:00 p.m.
*Game 6: Thursday, May 26 @ San Jose, 9:00 p.m.
*Game 7: Saturday, May 28 @ Vancouver, 8:00 p.m.
* If Necessary.
Goalies
Luongo: 2.25 GAA, .917 SV%, 2 SO
Louongo bounced back from getting the hook in the first round round against the Chicago Blackhawks to only allow just 11 goals in six games against the Nashville Predators in round two. Looking back on that first round, Bobby Lou let in a few questionable goals against the Hawks, and many are still questioning his ability to be a big time playoff goalie. Even considering the fact that he bounced back against Nashville, and that the Pedators are a great team, they simply do not have the depth up front like the Sharks do. The Canuck's chances on advancing to the Stanley Cup Final may hinge on which Roberto Luongo shows up in the conference finals. If its the Olympic Gold Medal goalie and not the goalie we have seen during the playoffs in the past two years, then the Canucks may be in great shape.
Niemi: 3.01 GAA, .906 SV%, 0 SO
It may be time to start giving credit to Niemi for being a big time goalie. He is in his second consecutive conference finals, and did so with two different teams. While Luongo's numbers seem a bit better after two rounds, to be fair, Niemi had to face a Wings team that put up about 35 shots per game. In comparison, Luongo's had to face just 27 shots per game against the Predators. Niemi also has series victory against the Canucks coming in last year's Western Conference Finals. He was tested against the Wings and will be tested against Canucks, but he may be adequately prepared for the challenge.
Edge: Sharks. Until proven otherwise, Luongo is a goalie with the stigma of not being able to get it done in the playoffs. Niemi has his name on the Cup, and this Sharks team will be able to provide him with the support he needs in this series.
Defense
Canucks: The Canucks have a fairly deep corps of blue-liners and possess a shutdown paring in Kevin Bieska and Dan Hamhuis. Alexander Edler and Christian Ehrhoff round out the top four, with Keith Ballard and Aaron Rome filling out the Canucks' blue line. This group does a good job of moving the puck in transition, and the only big question is whether they will have a chance to do so with San Jose's forwards putting pressure on them. The Canuck defenders held up well against Nashville's forwards, but San Jose will have no problem putting pressure on them.
Sharks: Dan Boyle and Douglas Murray are the top pair in San Jose, and one of the top defensive parings in the league. However, the Canucks have faced two teams with great top two defenders on route to the conference finals.
Edge: Push. Even though the Canucks have a deeper unit on the blue line, San Jose can counter that with their group of forwards. On the other hand, the Sharks unit, even though it is lacking the depth that Vancouver has, they did go through the Motor City and dispatched the Wings in seven games.
Forwards
Canucks: Ryan Kessler leads the playoffs with 15 points and may be the favorite in the club house to win the Conn Smythe trophy. Daniel Sedin has 6 goals and 10 points through the first two rounds and his brother Henrik Sedin has only 1 goal and 9 points. The Sedins are also a combined -16 for the playoffs, and have been relatively ineffective thus far in the playoffs this year. However, if the Sedins turn up their game in the conference finals, the Canucks may approach the line of becoming unbeatable in a 7 game series.
Sharks: Ryane Clowe (4G 9A), rookie Logan Couture (6G 6A), and Captain Joe Thornton (2G 9A), have a combined 29 points for the Sharks through two rounds. The knock on the Sharks players, especially with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, is that they cannot seem to break out come playoff time. If you watched game 7 of the Detroit series you would have seen Thornton playing almost out of his mind as he seemed to will the Sharks to victory. If the San Jose Sharks players can continue their progression as playoff performers, then they will be a force to reckon with.
Edge: Sharks. They may finally have the players stepping up at the right time to push them over the summit of the Western Conference.
Special Teams
Canucks: Vancouver's power play is clicking at 22.2% through the first two rounds, the second best of the four teams remaining. On the other side of the special teams spectrum, the Canucks have a penalty kill rate of 86.8%.
Sharks: Unlike Vancouver's power play, the Sharks have only been clicking at 13.7% rate through two rounds and seemed to struggle at times. The Sharks' penalty killing percentage sits at 82.7% though two rounds.
Edge: Canucks. If San Jose continues to struggle scoring timely power play goals, this series could go in favor of Vancouver.
Prediction
I think the Sharks get the monkey of being underachievers come playoff time off their back and win this series in 7 games.
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