Sharks, Ducks series

[Shaman 713]

I have to pull this gem out of that old Sharks post, I really hope it will bite them in the ass...

In my opinion, the Ducks aren't much of a threat anymore.

The talent in the West (as I rank em) is: Sharks, Wings, Canucks, Blackhawks, Wild, and I am going to go out on a limb here and say the Blue Jackets by the end of the season.

The only real threats I see to the Sharks are the Wings and Nucks in the west.

JMTC

[RedWingedKitten 9]

I hope the Ducks win in 7. Otherwise, we draw a rested Canucks team. I would assume both Detroit and Vancouver want the Ducks to win. Vancouver would get a beaten and battered winner of Chicago/Calgary with little rest. They also would have home ice. If Anaheim wins, they have to fly to the Joe from the West coast and jump right back into a series with Detroit. I think we would really be able to overwhelm them with energy and physical play in the first 2 games.

I want the Ducks.

I agree with you. Let the Ducks come. We match up so much better than in 07.

I wanna get revenge on the Ducks from 03 and 07, besides I'd love to see the Sharks get knocked out.

I also agree with this. I doubt our players forgot how they stole that series in 07.

:octo: LETS GO RED WINGS! :octo:

[mjlegend 155]

The Toronto Sports Network's Reporters panel this morning said the Canucks will win the west if the Sharks are knocked out in this round. I guess primarily because Luongo made the Blues look like a team that didn't belong in the playoffs.

Seems scant few in Canada's Media Hub have learned the lessons from 2008 and still think we have Todd Gill, Manny Legace and Ray Whitney stinking it up every year in the playoffs.

[RedWings 79]

I think the Sharks played 60 really good minutes, and then the Ducks stepped up. They deserved to win at the end of the Third, and also in OT.

This is typically the kind of team which can steal a series. They will win against the Sharks and we better not lose the first games if we play them cause every victory will be hard to get, low scoring games, lots of pressure for Osgood... That would be a scary serie.

[chrisdetroit 189]

The Sharks D is HORRIBLE. The Ducks offense is SHALLOW. Shut down the top line, like the Sharks more or less did tonight, and you're in the game. Catch the Sharks on the endless breaks that they give you with their bone-headed plays and you're in the game.

Bottom line - both teams have obvious weaknesses that can easily exploited by the personnel we have on this team. The more I see of the Ducks, the less scared I am of them.

I'm with you. The Ducks weren't even in game 5 except for Hiller. They looked poor. I'm not afraid of them at all. Crash the net which the Sharks haven't done at all this series and my guess is Hiller buckles. Also, the Ducks only have 1 decent line.

[zata20 4]

, they are getting a lot of shots on Hiller, and hes had to make some good saves, but hes still not really being TESTED, if anyones watched these games a lot of what the sharks are shooting at him are low % shots that any goalie should stop.

I totally agree on that. That is what I was trying to get at. He is making a lot of saves, but not on many second chance opportunities. I'm not trying to take anything away from Hiller, he is playing great. But I do think the Wings will be able to break him with how hard they having been driving the net.

[chrisdetroit 189]

The Toronto Sports Network's Reporters panel this morning said the Canucks will win the west if the Sharks are knocked out in this round. I guess primarily because Luongo made the Blues look like a team that didn't belong in the playoffs.

Seems scant few in Canada's Media Hub have learned the lessons from 2008 and still think we have Todd Gill, Manny Legace and Ray Whitney stinking it up every year in the playoffs.

Hahahaha. Stupid biases Canadian media. The Cannucks beat that awesome St. Louis in (3) 1-goal games. The Blues didn't belong in the playoffs but the Cannucks didn't exactly crush them.

They don't stand a chance against the Wings.

[zata20 4]

, they are getting a lot of shots on Hiller, and hes had to make some good saves, but hes still not really being TESTED, if anyones watched these games a lot of what the sharks are shooting at him are low % shots that any goalie should stop.

I totally agree on that. That is what I was trying to get at. He is making a lot of saves, but not on many second chance opportunities. I'm not trying to take anything away from Hiller, he is playing great. But I do think the Wings will be able to break him with how hard they having been driving the net.

[zata20 4]

sorry on the double post, i'm new

[TheSupafly 50]

I'd pretty much have to agree with most of what's been said already in this thread.

The Sharks are underachieving (again). I was there last night (I'm always there), and I saw a team that actually gave a damn. It's the team that shows up only AFTER their back is against the wall. It's what I saw last year in the 2nd round when they went down 3-0 to the stars and had to battle back, only to lose game 6 in 4OTs. For some reason they seem complacent on the ice until it's truly do or die time...and if you only kick it into playoff mode at that point, it's already too late.

The Sharks' D is both their strength and their weakness. Offensively they've been fantastic this year, particularly Boyle. Defensively they are still a liability. Of the new D guys, the much overlooked Lukowich has been the best defensively of the bunch on a night in and night out basis. You rarely see him make a bad turnover or lose a man. Always seems to have his assignment. Ehrhoff has been a nightmare all year. Vlasic has been excellent all year...until this series. For some reason they can't all put it together.

Last night they were the better team for 55 of the 60 regulation minutes...but only had 2 goals to show for it. Should have been more. The 5 minutes that they weren't the better team, 2 ended up in the back of their net.

If the Sharks can summon up some balls and play the way they did the majority of last night, they have a shot. If not, they're toast. There's pressure on the Sharks for sure...but there's also a fair amount of pressure on the Ducks. They'll be feeling the pressure to close it out at home in game 6...there's no way they want to go back to SJ for a game 7. In my mind, whoever wins game 6 will win the series. Obviously if the ducks win, they win because it's over. If the Sharks can steal game 6, I don't think the ducks will be able to take game 7 in SJ. Of course, anything is still possible and these are just the ramblings of a Sharks fan with very little voice left. I'm headed to Anaheim tonight and will be wearing my Sharks gear at the Honda Center tomorrow...

[Cern 0]

Hahahaha. Stupid biases Canadian media. The Cannucks beat that awesome St. Louis in (3) 1-goal games. The Blues didn't belong in the playoffs but the Cannucks didn't exactly crush them.

They don't stand a chance against the Wings.

You should see what it's actually like in the city itself.

The place went ******* nuts after game 4, you'd have thought they won the freaking cup.

Also, I'd say bring on the Ducks for sure. Detroit's offense is better than the Sharks and are actually going to bother showing up for games. Test Hiller consistantly and he's gonna crack.

[Gutierrez 7]

, they are getting a lot of shots on Hiller, and hes had to make some good saves, but hes still not really being TESTED, if anyones watched these games a lot of what the sharks are shooting at him are low % shots that any goalie should stop.

I totally agree on that. That is what I was trying to get at. He is making a lot of saves, but not on many second chance opportunities. I'm not trying to take anything away from Hiller, he is playing great. But I do think the Wings will be able to break him with how hard they having been driving the net.

The thing about Hiller though is that he isn't giving up a lot of rebounds and if he does, the Ducks D seems to always be there for him and they sweep them away and out of the zone which is why San Jose is not getting second chance opportunities.

[Shaman 713]

I'd pretty much have to agree with most of what's been said already in this thread.

The Sharks are underachieving (again). I was there last night (I'm always there), and I saw a team that actually gave a damn. It's the team that shows up only AFTER their back is against the wall. It's what I saw last year in the 2nd round when they went down 3-0 to the stars and had to battle back, only to lose game 6 in 4OTs. For some reason they seem complacent on the ice until it's truly do or die time...and if you only kick it into playoff mode at that point, it's already too late.

The Sharks' D is both their strength and their weakness. Offensively they've been fantastic this year, particularly Boyle. Defensively they are still a liability. Of the new D guys, the much overlooked Lukowich has been the best defensively of the bunch on a night in and night out basis. You rarely see him make a bad turnover or lose a man. Always seems to have his assignment. Ehrhoff has been a nightmare all year. Vlasic has been excellent all year...until this series. For some reason they can't all put it together.

Last night they were the better team for 55 of the 60 regulation minutes...but only had 2 goals to show for it. Should have been more. The 5 minutes that they weren't the better team, 2 ended up in the back of their net.

If the Sharks can summon up some balls and play the way they did the majority of last night, they have a shot. If not, they're toast. There's pressure on the Sharks for sure...but there's also a fair amount of pressure on the Ducks. They'll be feeling the pressure to close it out at home in game 6...there's no way they want to go back to SJ for a game 7. In my mind, whoever wins game 6 will win the series. Obviously if the ducks win, they win because it's over. If the Sharks can steal game 6, I don't think the ducks will be able to take game 7 in SJ. Of course, anything is still possible and these are just the ramblings of a Sharks fan with very little voice left. I'm headed to Anaheim tonight and will be wearing my Sharks gear at the Honda Center tomorrow...

You've pretty much hit the nail on the head, whoever plays the most desperate in the next game or 2 will get to play Detroit or Vancouver. Personally, I want the ducks to win in 6 if only so the wings will play on Thursday.

[DMAC 25 18]

You've pretty much hit the nail on the head, whoever plays the most desperate in the next game or 2 will get to play Detroit or Vancouver. Personally, I want the ducks to win in 6 if only so the wings will play on Thursday.

nah why would u want them to win in six, make them go to seven games then have them win then they wont be rested haha just my two cents

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

The Ducks have looked like the better team for 80% of this series. I expected the Sharks to come up with a win at home in game 5 - they tend to only win when they are desperate (as Suprafly pointed out, they waited until they were down 0-3 to Dallas last year before they showed up). I'll be surprised if the Ducks don't close this out at home...

IMO, the Wings, Sharks, and Ducks are all better than Vancouver. The only way they make the WCF is by lucking out with their draw - the hapless Blues (how did they get in the POs?) and a mediocre team either way in Chicago/Calgary. I guess when you rarely get out of the first round, that is grounds for celebration.

[uncle ovipositor 6]

, they are getting a lot of shots on Hiller, and hes had to make some good saves, but hes still not really being TESTED, if anyones watched these games a lot of what the sharks are shooting at him are low % shots that any goalie should stop.

I totally agree on that. That is what I was trying to get at. He is making a lot of saves, but not on many second chance opportunities. I'm not trying to take anything away from Hiller, he is playing great. But I do think the Wings will be able to break him with how hard they having been driving the net.

As someone else noted, that's got a lot to do with the way the Ducks are playing in their own end. Shots have to to through several Ducks because they all collapse in their own end. If something makes it through all those legs, Hiller's been there for it. Driving the net requires going through all of those big bodies as well. Not to say it's impossible, and the Wings are the team to do it if they get the chance, but it's not going to be an easy series.

The Wings count on a lot of rebound chances. The Ducks just don't give them up lately. I think they've been outplayed for most of this series (the glaring exception being game 4, which was pretty much theirs), but they're very good at hanging on, being patient, then opportunistically striking when the time is right. That's a pretty good formula for beating the Sharks, who always seem to need a collective nap or two during every game.

They don't have much secondary scoring (the Wings can handle the Selane line easily), but their top line is hard to shut down. Bobby Ryan has been incredible - watching him score is watching perfect play. HZ would be a good match-up, and will likely go a long way against that line - certainly better than Thornton's line (I like JT a lot, but he's just not a 2-way forward).

I don't know who's a more ideal opponent for the Wings (Nucks or Ducks), but my hunch is either one is going to go down in a much more enjoyable series than the one versus Columbus. Either one is a good game.

For the Ducks, if they get through this round they've got 3 SCF-caliber series ahead of them if they want to win it all. Only one of those is the actual SCF. I would be amazed if they make it that far, but it would be worth watching. They're not playing the same game they were when they won the cup, and it's been a lot more enjoyable to watch. But this series is going to cost them a lot, and I don't know if they could get through Detroit.

If the Sharks somehow make it through, they've got a much easier path, but it also likely hits the Wings. That should be a good series, assuming the Sharks show up.

[Ozzie30 170]

their top line is hard to shut down. Bobby Ryan has been incredible - watching him score is watching perfect play. HZ would be a good match-up

Either top line would work, IMO. Make the ducks top line play D and make sure you get a forward back. I would prefer Z's line simply because he's our best shut-down forward.

EDIT: Clarify thought.

Edited April 27, 2009 by Ozzie30

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Ducks.

[M0DAN01999 6]

SJ is choking it up, hopefully the Ducks finish off the sharks tonight (that is weird to say)

[servo 15]

Looks like we're getting the Ducks!

Right now I feel pretty confident about facing them. Sure their D is really good, but they are an old team with their primary stars being 35+ and potentially prone to injury the way they play.

Pronger will do something stupid and get suspended a game, while we will be on the power play for 35% of the series.

I doubt the Sharks will comeback in the 3rd.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Sure their D is really good, but they are an old team with their primary stars being 35+

None of Getzlaf, Perry, or Ryan are even 25 yet.

[teckaholic 0]

Right now I feel pretty confident about facing them. Sure their D is really good, but they are an old team with their primary stars being 35+ and potentially prone to injury the way they play.

Our top 3 forwards are babies. I will be excited to return to the Joe to see this rivalry continue!

[servo 15]

None of Getzlaf, Perry, or Ryan are even 25 yet.

Sure but I was referring to

Pronger, Neidermayer's, Selanne

No one tooks into consideration anyone else on our team except Cheli, Hasek etc when they want to call us old, I figured I'd influence the tide. Nevertheless, thats one really good line. Can't wait to see them against a solid defensive forward line.

Calling Ryan their star at this point in time is like calling Hudler our star. Certainly Hudler's talent is overshadowed by the rest of the team. Ryan will be a star, but not yet. (see hype of Dustin Penner, Joffrey Lupul) But I understand your point.

Edited April 28, 2009 by servo

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

Seriously, after this is over, can the media stop awarding The Cup to SJ every single October?

[Blood On The Ice 15]

Its the Ducks, Bring'em on.