They fell 5-2 to San Jose in Game 6 of the conference finals, dropping the series four games to two while looking exhausted in the process. San Jose’s top unit took down the Blues’ top players and the Sharks’ depth shone as Joel Ward scored four goals in the final two games. We don’t know who the Sharks will face in the Stanley Cup FInal, but given what San Jose has already done there’s reason for optimism in Silicon Valley. Meanwhile, the Sharks boast three former Leafs, one of whom, James Reimer, probably deserves to win a Stanley Cup as much as any former Leaf still in the league.
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Imagine you and three of your best defensive-minded teammates are on the ice to try and kill a penalty. “You like to not have to”. Pete has really stressed that it’s going to take everybody to get where we need to go. It was another step. We are closing in on the College World Series, and most big schools are now in their conference tournaments. “I think we’ll enjoy this tonight and our focus will turn to the big prize on Friday”.
“Then a year ago, obviously, (a) tough time missing the playoffs and going through some stuff as a team. I really think everything we’ve gone through has made us a lot stronger as a group”.
Thornton said he is not picky about who the Sharks play next. In 20 playoff games he tallied seven points (two goals and five assists). The Blues also had home-ice advantage in the series, meaning they would have hosted Game 7 if they had been able to force it. I skated with pros in the summertime in Langley and Burnaby and I’d look around the room, like: ‘I can skate like these guys. It confirmed that the beloved Los Tiburones had defeated the Blues in six games for the Western Conference championship. Then he tells a special story about one teammate, who’s know more as a fighter, than a lover in the National Hockey League. You don’t make it this far all the time, obviously.
“It was pretty neat to get this done at home”, Thornton said. And like that, Ward’s reputation as a big-time playoff performer was confirmed on the biggest night in the Sharks’ 25-year history. We’ve waited 18 years or so. “It’s a great feeling”. At the time, many saw this trade as a win for the Bruins, who were likely receiving a top-10 pick in the draft with San Jose failing to qualify for the 2015 postseason, and they were getting a young and promising forward prospect that could eventually become a part of their core. The atmosphere in the Shark Tank reflected the high stakes with the fans at a frenzy during pregame introductions.
The Blues had trouble putting away the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in the first round after taking a 3-1 series lead. Their season ended Wednesday night in San Jose with a 5-2 loss to the Sharks in Game 6 of the Western Conference final.
“That was as low as you can get as a professional athlete, individually and team-wise”, said Sharks centre Logan Couture, who leads the playoff scoring derby with a franchise-record 24 points in 18 games. Reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time guarantees their uniqueness, but there’s something more to them than just that.
Rookie Joonas Donskoi continued to play like a veteran, collecting his fifth goal of the playoffs at 8:11 of the third by firing home a one timer from the slot. “We all come to the rink prepared, ready to work, then have some fun after”.
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Thornton’s shot went wide, but Pavelski picked up the loose puck, came in front and jammed it past Blues goalie Brian Elliott on a second effort. With the Sharks up 2-0 midway through the second period, it looked as if the Blues were going to cut the lead to one when Martin Jones stopped Jori Lehtera’s point-blank shot. “Six more wins and we’re having parades on Market Street. Right now. not enough”.
