EasyMark

Sharks' fan here. Congrats to the Wings and their fans. The Red Wings are definitely the team to beat.

Thanks for the invitation. This Sharks' fan enjoyed visiting the LGW forum. My opinion of the Wings' fans changed quite a bit after this series. As a whole, Wings' fans were knowledgeable, polite, and respectful of dissenting opinions -- in short, nothing like Pred fans. Agreed. My opinion of the Wings has mellowed considerably. I used to think they were the Spawn of Satan.... ...now only second cousins.

As a Sharks fan, I hope you are right. I saw the Sharks doing well early with the Wings carrying the play the second half of the period. Wings had the better of the special teams with strong PK and steady pressure on the PP. Bad luck for the Wings that the one clearing pass that got kept in the zone put Thornton and Cheechoo the 2 on 1. Lot of hockey still to play.

I agree -- to a point. The Sharks had to win at JLA. Having done so, the pressure on them is to keep the advantage they have gained by winning both games at the Tank. The Sharks gained the split but the Game 2 loss could have been the turning point in the series. That loss itself wasn't as critical since the Sharks had the split in hand. But the way they lost, blowing a lead, could have had a lingering hangover. No problem so long as the Sharks stayed to form. The Tank was rocking with anticipation that the Sharks would get off to a great start, just like they did on the road in Game 1 and 2. Boom. The Red Wings totally dominated the first period. *THAT* was when the Sharks faced real pressure -- the pressure of choking away the series. Pulling out that game was huge. Had they lost, the Red Wings quite likely run the table just as Edmonton did to the Sharks last year. As it is, the Sharks are much more likely to play with confidence in Game 4. Doesn't mean they win, of course. This series still looks to be a long one with more twists to the plot.

I respect Hradek but disagree with him strongly about benching Bertuzzi. The Sharks have used their edge in size to good effect in this series. It makes no sense to bench one of the few wide bodies on the Red Wing roster. It is up to Babcock to use him more effectively. As SouthernWingsFan noted, it is unrealistic to expect him to be the force he was with the Canucks. He has been off the ice a long time. He's playing with a new team under new rules. Just being physical, running around hitting Sharks is an invitation for penalties, especially with his baggage. Giving him a clearly defined, but limited, role makes sense. Sitting him against a big Sharks team does not.

Watch the replay again. Cheechoo did make a move. Hasek is squared up facing the shooter so Cheechoo fakes taking the shot. Hasek committed to the fake and Cheechoo skates around him for the backhand. Hasek can't be faulted for defending against the quick rebound shot. He bought time for the defense. That goal was less about substandard play from the goalie or the defense than Cheechoo just making a good play. It happens.

Every blogger thinks he could be a coach.

Brain cramp is the most charitable explanation for that hit. He lined the guy up from a distance trying to deliver a big hip check. When the player evades, Weber lunges to deliver the elbow -- nothing inadvertant about it. Like you, I hope this was an isolated incident and he shows more control in the future. How much Trotz encourages such play is difficult to gauge. At a minimum, it is the coach's responsibility to set his acceptable limit of borderline play and to demand the discipline not to exceed that limit. Clearly, Trotz has failed to do so, especially with younger players like Radulov and now Weber.

Now THAT'S a fluky goal. All the more reason the Ducks and Canucks need to enjoy a long, painful series.

Your 5 game prediction is in trouble, Sam. Evidently Wilson is going to put Bell back in the lineup.

I thought the Sharks game plan against Red Wing tendencies caught Detroit by surprise in a few areas. 1. The Sharks players noted after the game that the Wings point men take a lot of shots, hence the pattern of blocking shots on the Detroit PP prone on the ice. The Sharks don't usually block many shots that way. 2. The Wings like to bring the puck up the middle of the ice so the Sharks were pushing everything to the outside. The Sharks weren't quicker to the puck but they were in position to disrupt Wings' rushes and passes. 3. On the Sharks PP, I expected the Wings to take a page from the Predator series. The Preds were aggressive in denying entry into the zone and, once the PP was set up, pressing the puck handler. Playing passive against the Sharks PP is playing to the Sharks strength. All of these tactics can be countered. I expect the Wings to make the necessary adjustments by the next game. The Sharks edge in size was a factor last night. Playing physical for the Sharks does not mean big hits like Calgary or chippy like Nashville. The Sharks are strong on the puck. The Grier goal is a classic example. Grier forechecked hard forcing a rushed outlet pass which Rismiller stepped in to intercept. He, in turn, passed to Brown who passed to Grier. Grier fired a shot on goal with the defender on him. All three Sharks were marked but were strong enough to complete the play.

Predict? No. I am curious if Wings fans saw anything in this game that surprised them. I thought the Sharks young defense held up very well. I agree Nabby was solid but didn't stand on his head or stole the game. He was as good as he needed to be. IMO, the defense gets much of the credit for the shutout.

Good read. We have been trying to explain that the Sharks are not like Calgary. It is NOT the hitting that gives the Sharks their edge. It is the battle along the boards and forecheck in the offensive zone where the size makes a difference. Grier's goal was created by a forecheck leading to the turnover.

As a Sharks fan, that was how I saw it. The Sharks looked good the first half of the first period. The Sharks scored on their one PP chance, then got the turnover on the next shift to get the 2-0 lead. Sharks fans knew Wilson would go defensive the rest of the way. (We hate it. Sharks have blown some games this year.) Solid game from Nabokov to close out the game. Sharks ARE a good road team. Good to get the early lead in this series but, as I said in another thread, the Sharks are the type of team that can come back from a 3-0 deficit or blow a 3-0 lead. I still believe this will be a long series that can go either way.

Here's to a good start to a great series with two elite teams. Playoff hockey at its best. Drop the Puck!

Yes, Hopper, they can. Both teams get production from their 3rd and 4th lines. Both teams get quality ice time from all 4 lines. IMO, the team that gains the edge from lines 3 and 4 will probably move on. I don't see the goalie matchup as nearly as important as some do. Both teams have demonstarted an ability to score against the other's goalie. The team that controls play will generate the greater number of scoring chances (as opposed to shots on goal). Both teams have the defense necessary to protect a lead.

Ah, I thought so. "His career stats would have been better if he had the Red Wings Off/Def in front of him...." Perhaps. Let's look at his stats against the Sharks with the Red Wings and find out. I am not keen on any regular season stats as a reliable predictor in the playoffs. If a Sharks fanatic believes the Sharks will score 6 on Hasek beacuse they got 8 in the last game, I'll be glad to give them long odds. Using stats from Hasek's days with the Sabres is just as meaningless, IMO. If you want to feel reassured citing Hasek's regular season stats from several years ago while playing on another team, go ahead. It doesn't prove your point, though.

These are his numbers against the Sharks playing for the Red Wings? Thanks, I didn't realize he had played the Sharks that many times since moving to Detroit.

"Detroit's a world class team," Sharks forward Bill Guerin said on a conference call with reporters Tuesday. "They know what it takes to win in this league. It's no surprise they are where they are." I recommend Red Wing fans read this article. It is fair, accurate and respectful. http://www.contracostatimes.com/columns/ci_5746216

Sam, I agree that if both teams bring their A game, the Sharks should win. OTOH, the Red Wings are far more consistent than the Sharks and that is the great equalizer in this series. The 9-4 win in January is a window into this team. They were losing 3-0 before catching fire. You only have to look at last year's series against the Oilers to see what can happen. The Sharks dominated the first two games only to lose the next four. This Sharks team can come back from a 3-0 series deficit or blow a 3-0 series lead. As much as I hope your prediction comes true, I expect this series to be a roller coaster ride start to finish.

Yes, I can. Did you read the article or the Red Wing blog that lifted them out of context? As a visitor I read and respect the rules and guidelines of this forum. One rule is you don't start misleading threads. Trying to drum up bulletin board material out of nothing would seem to qualify. Wilson strokes Guerin by saying how much he helped off the ice with tips to the young guys in the Nashville series. That's wonderful 'cuz he didn't help much on the ice. Guerin says I don't know about that since they (Sharks coaches) already know the Wings from video and all. Think about it. Guerin, and other vets, would slap down some young turk who made an over confident comment in the locker room. C'mon, is any playoff vet likely to take a complacent attitude? Against anybody, especially the #1 ranked Red Wings? Do you think the Red Wings are going to sneak up on the Sharks? "Damn, look at all those banners. I didn't know the Red Wings had won the Cup before, did you? Billy, why didn't you tell us?"

Good stuff. The numbers speak for themselves. Did you do the same homework and analysis on Hasek? I would be interested in seeing his numbers against the Sharks since he joined Detroit. I don't know how many times Hasek has faced the Sharks but Iit has been at least once. In that same January game in which you pointed out Nabokov was pulled, the Sharks scored 8 times on Hasek.

The bad news is the Sharks aren't taking the WIngs lightly. This is a strawman that makes no sense. I am surprised so many Red Wing fans have bought into this BS. Both teams have no doubt thoroughly scouted out the other team. That's what professional teams in all sports do in the playoffs. Wait. Are you saying my team isn't preparing properly for this series? How dare you!! You are obviously disrespecting my team. Gimme a break.

The poster has a difference of opinion. That's hardly the same thing as making statements that are ignorant. Are Sharks' fans allowed to disagree on this forum or are we just tolerated as long as we jump on the Detroit bandwagon?

IThe Wings should be the favorite.... ....if they were playing the Flyers. Seriously, there are good reasons to pick the Sharks going into the series. That isn't a slight on the Red Wings. A Detroit win would not be a surprise or a major upset even to those of us that favor the Sharks.