Like in every playoff series, blue-line depth is going to play a key role in determining the outcome of hockey’s top showcase this year, and by signing Martin during the offseason, the Sharks didn’t just bolster their back end, they took an instrumental cog out of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ defensive machine.
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If the Penguins are to have a chance of stopping a red-hot Sharks team from lifting the cup for the first time, then Pittsburgh will have to maintain their strong play on the penalty kill.
Round 3 Reflection: Last time out, we picked the Sharks to win in 7 and the Penguins in 6. Here are five in particular they’ll need to focus on.
“They have a really risky power play with (Joe) Thornton, (Joe) Pavelski and then (Brent) Burns on the back end”, he said. That led to the Sharks demoting him from captain. The Pittsburgh Penguins have not reached a final since 2009, when they won the Cup, but their roster has experience at this sort of stuff. That’s no small feat.
But it won’t be easy, as San Jose has done to the west what the Penguins have done to the east. “I’m just going to be as positive as can be about it for recovery time and getting back as soon as I can”. Forwards Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture and defenseman Brent Burns account for the bulk of that production. “The best part was seeing them giving all those high-fives and to witness all of it”. “Our challenge is to make a great team”. Just like the Sharks, though, Pittsburgh has gotten contributions from up and down its lineup by remaking its offense in the second half of the year.
Couture (16), Thornton (15) and Burns (14) are also the top three assist producers after three rounds. Dumoulin began the season in Pittsburgh after playing in the minors last season.
They’re fast, deep, experienced and they’re full of storylines. Murray got a taste of facing wicked point shots in the series against the Washington Capitals, but Burns and Alex Ovechkin are two different monsters. With the catalyst being coach Mike Johnston’s firing in December, everything fell into place from there – Mike Sullivan taking over, Sidney Crosby erupting on the score sheet, Matt Murray emerging as a stabilizer in net. Especially on a partial breakaway from Lightning forward Dan Boyle.
Add it all up, keep those first-dance distractions at bay and the picture becomes as conspicuously visible as the massive beard on Joe Thornton’s face, which can now be seen from outer space.
Noteworthy: Both teams won on the road when they met during the regular season. The duo has already quieted the top scorers for each of San Jose’s playoff opponents this year and will be poised to do the same against the Pens. That’s not the kind of guy the Penguins can afford to forget about.
While the Penguins don’t expect him back, Daley said that he hasn’t ruled himself out of making a surprise return in the series. To be honest, I don’t know much about his style of play, but it seems like that whenever I would get an update about a Sharks game throughout the season his name would be involved somehow. Well, let me make my preview & prediction.
After the Sharks’ victory over the Blues, St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock gave credit to the all-encompassing San Jose forecheck philosophy. On the other hand, so do the Penguins.
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A pair of newcomers also has given the team a boost. The Penguins have been the hottest team in the National Hockey League from March on, while the Sharks have shown a resiliency and ability to overcome their demons, entering this round red-hot. And the Penguins are 45-17-5 since losing their first four games under Sullivan.
