“Guys just wanted to get out there and put that Game 6 behind us – move on, ” Couture said.
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In a weird, misleading and nearly dishonest way, the San Jose Sharks made a mistake playing their most complete game of the entire season in Game 7 of the Western Conference Second Round series against Nashville.
Honestly, with the way both teams played Thursday, Rinne is the only reason this game was not even more lopsided.
Here are seven takeaways from their huge Game 7 win Thursday night.
While the Blues’ heavy-hitting and by-the-book game definitely got the best of the Stars by the end of their series and could potentially have the same effect on the Sharks, the major difference between the Sharks and the Stars of course is their playoff acumen. “We’re suppose to go out there and lead this team, and contribute offensively, so we did what we’re suppose to do”. The Capitals deserve credit for pushing the Penguins into overtime, yet they still made some significant mistakes in falling behind 3-0. Some of that may be due to the Warriors’ rise in the Bay Area and the focus on them, but their often disappointing play come spring must be looked at as a factor.
San Jose played pristine in Thursday’s 5-0 onslaught against the Predators, booking its first Western Conference finals berth since 2011.
San Jose reached deep, Thornton said.
I think it’s sufficient to say that the Blues path to the finals was the most challenging one among the two teams and have proven that they can go up against the best in the league and win. The Flyers, however, finished with 38 regulation and overtime wins (ROW), while the Predators finished with 37.
The Sharks massively dominated possession in the attacking zone, but could only muster six saves from Pekka Rinne.
Ryan Johansen: Nashville’s No. 1 center won just five of 14 faceoffs and committed a game-high four giveaways. “We’ve got those type of people here now, and I think the guys at the top feel that and are feeding off it”. He committed a bad giveaway that led directly to the third, which came in the opening minute of the second period and put the Predators in dire straits.
In the third period, the Sharks would add a pair of goals.
Season Series: 2-1 Sharks. The entire net was open and the Predators were about to fall behind 3-1 in the series but out of nowhere Ryan Johansen gets a stick to the post to deflect the puck and then Ryan Ellis makes an unbelievable save to keep Nashville alive. “I wish I hadn’t have done that”. “This little stretch we’ve been pretty darn good”.
The post Martin Jones solid in Game 7, but Sharks defensemen help with blocked shots appeared first on Working the Corners. Rinne did not have his best season in net and he was probably their biggest question mark heading into the postseason.
“Tonight, we did a great job”. “We were just as good as they were tonight”.
San Jose clearly has the powerplay advantage in this series and these are the same players that caused no shortage of heartache for Nashville Predators’ fans everywhere as the Sharks top lines outplayed our own more often than not. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau each had a goal and an assist apiece.
“That’s what we’re suppose to do”, alternate captain Logan Couture said. Have to believe he’s playing his way into contention for one of the final forward spots on Team Canada for the upcoming World Cup, as well as making a decent case for Conn Smythe consideration.
Goals by Pavelski and Thornton came on the power play.
“You don’t want to come out sluggish or just dipping your toe in the water”, Marleau said.
But the Blues aren’t just heavy – they’re skilled, too.
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It’s understandable: One of these teams, after all, is going to advance to the Final, meaning that the West will be represented either by a team that’s never been to a Final before or one that hasn’t been there in 46 years.
