Sharks Advance…Bring On Detroit!

This has been the most exciting and stressful playoffs that I can remember.  From game one to tonight’s devastating game seven loss by the Washington Capitals,  it just shows you that there is no guarantee  in the post season.  My personal thought is that the Presidents Trophy is some how cursed, insert last years recipient the San Jose Sharks. I’m still waiting for the Mystery Machine to come roaring up and have Scooby and the gang  solve who’s really behind this *cough…Bettman*.

Zoinks Scoob!!! One round down and the second kicks of tomorrow for the Sharks?  I’m sorry could you repeat that? Yes the Sharks!  Take that all you “they’re gonna choke” and non-believers!  It’s been a while since I’ve been able to say the Sharks are advancing to the second round.   Actually I was at HP Pavilion last time they were in the second round now that I think of it so yep it’s been a while.

A lot of speculation and calculation went on as to who San Jose was going to face right before the inevitable happened…the Detroit Redwings advance yet again.  Quite frankly it felt like a wild game of Go Fish “Do you have any fives?”…”Nope but I have you facing Detroit”…”Oh great!”

Color me surprised?  Not really we’re talking about a team that hasn’t missed the post season since I was hmmm 7 years old if my math is right and has 4 Stanley cups to show for it.  Now before you think “aww well there goes our season” just sit down and relax a bit.  The Phoenix Coyotes, a team fueled on a slurry of late fan support, snakes being thrown on the ice,  and good coaching took the beloved Redwings to seven games.

If you would have told me at the beginning of the season that the Yotes would give the Wings  a run for their money I would have laughed at you.  I’m not laughing now just hoping that Phoenix took some of the fight out of them for the benefit of San Jose.  I’m not going to focus on the negatives of what could be the downfall of the Sharks or talk about the Thornton/Marleau “playoff ghost”  theories, although I have put in a call to Ghost Hunters, ya know just in case.

Here’s my prediction:  Sharks in 6

Here’s why: The Big Pavelski!

Give credit where credits due, this kid took the team on his back and lit up the score board becoming the most clutch player of the year.   He had 5 goals  3 assists and has been given various new nicknames: “Joe Money” or as the cool kids do it “Joe $$$” and the aforementioned “The Big Pavelski”.  His consistent post Olympic play has carried over and then some to the playoffs where the Sharks have desperately needed it.

Best Side-kick award goes to his line mate Ryane Clowe for assisting on a few of Pavs goals but also for doing the dirty work i.e. screening Anderson, manhandling 3-4 guys to crash the net, and his do anything attitude.  Honorable mention to Devin Setoguchi for bringing up his game and potting a few goals.  This whole line get’s an atta boy from me.

Expect a good run and a gritty series out of these two Western Conference Giants.  The action starts tomorrow at HP Pavilion at 6pm PST.

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Posted by Chelsea Alexander on Apr 29 2010. Filed under Detroit Red Wings, Featured Articles, San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals, Western Conference. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.