“They were skating series with big contact, but not a lot of grind like this is”. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS or Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.
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They should be elated to be tied 1-1 in the Western Conference final after the Sharks won Game 2 4-0 on Tuesday, two nights after San Jose dominated the final 40 minutes but lost 2-1 on a soft goal. The Sharks trailed 1-0 entering the third period but were able to score five consecutive goals to bury the Predators. “SAP Center is different come playoff time”, San Jose forward Logan Couture told reporters.
San Jose returns home looking to take the series lead and if they can harness the same energy and level of play that we have seen in the first two they should be in great shape for the next two games on home ice. They got one wrapped in a bow just 32 seconds into the third when Patrick Marleau was handed a double minor for carelessly high sticking Carl Gunnarsson off the draw. They have played in tons of big games on their insane journey to get to the West Finals, and I believe that they have the talent and leadership to take one of these next two games on the road and return the favor.
In all three of their playoff series’ this year the Blues have been tied 1-1 after two games. An extra man wasn’t going to solve those problems. “They skate fast and support the puck”. They passed on shot attempts.
There was campaigning Monday for more penalty calls on the Blues by the Sharks’ Pete DeBoer, and a one-man rapid response team in the form of St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock, who shot back at those suggestions and wondered if the DeBoer was “whining for calls”.
They managed just four shots, and for each of them, Jones had an answer.
Peter DeBoer’s team also likes to play a physical game by using size and strength down low to make plays and get opportunities in the prime scoring areas. And poor Troy Brouwer.
Both power-play goals came after penalties from Brouwer.
As in the number of turnovers committed by Burns.
What ensued in Game 2, a decisive 4-0 Sharks win, is a pretty good reflection of why. His reads were better and his passes sharper.
It’s a best-of-five now and the Blues have to be happy to have those odds after the way they were outplayed at home.
In Game 2, the Sharks had a game plan, went out, and executed it to near perfection. It’s forechecking hard, winning battles, playing well defensively.
It helped switch the momentum back towards the side of the Sharks but they would not capitalize as the game remained at 1-1 after the first period. The difference in Game 2…it was their pressure creating mistakes for the Blues. I don’t know if the players know why. And they play a north game just like we do. The result was never in doubt.
“By no means am I sitting here saying: ‘Oh gosh we’re a way better team.’ Not at all”. Patrik Berglund went so far as calling it the worst they’ve played in the playoffs so far. “And we’ve seen this at home for a while”.
This wasn’t a matter of a team getting too cute trying to entertain the home fans, though.
The Blues need a jump start.
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Bruce Boudreau, while still coaching the Anaheim Ducks last month, was most afraid of one team entering the playoffs: the Sharks. San Jose may have some changes in its lineup as it seeks a better effort than Game 1.
