• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Los Angeles Kings

The San Jose Sharks, Their Demons and Scott Nichol

By Zeke April 14th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

How will Rd. 1 play out for the San Jose Sharks in their series against the Los Angeles Kings? I don’t know. Sports leagues have often tried to achieve parity and well, the NHL is doing better than every other league in that regard. At the top of the Western Conference, parity is winning the day.

The Sharks and Kings have plenty of history. The media will cover the history because it remains relevant. These teams have seen plenty of each other in the playoffs in recent seasons. The one consideration that Kings fans enjoy and Shark fans fear is this: can the Sharks stay mentally strong when things do not go their way?

In life, we all meet people with more confidence than competence. The Kings have both. They have plenty of confidence and they have proven their competence.

The Kings are the team that can win when nine things go wrong and one goes right. The Sharks are the team that finds a way to leave the playoffs when nine things go right but one goes wrong. The players can do their best to ignore the demons of playoffs past. But like an injury, you can’t wish it away. It is there until you are fully healed. In this case, healing requires winning.

Could the Maple Leafs bring back James Reimer?(Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports)

James Reimer (Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports)

The Sharks have the worst playoff story of the past several years, but that did not stop them from tempting fate. The Sharks added the player who might have the second worst playoff story in recent years. Goalie James Reimer was in the nets for Toronto’s playoff series against Boston in 2013. Toronto held a 4-1 lead with under a dozen minutes to go in the third period of Game 7. Boston would score three goals to tie the game at 4-4 in regulation before winning the game and series in overtime. Though Reimer is not scheduled to start the series, he has playoff demons that will only be cured with success.

Heading into the series, the Sharks have the advantage of being the healthier team, not a small advantage for playoffs often described as a battle of attrition. They might also be the more talented team. Though the Kings had the better overall record, the Shark had a stronger second half of the season.

The Big Small Moments

If the Sharks are to win, they can not afford to be the team where a few things go wrong, and so goes the series. They will have to deal with adversity, rise up and overcome it. They can not afford to be satisfied with a goal or a lead or a win. They need to stay strong and focused, in good moments and bad. Every minute, every game.

If the Sharks can find their way out of the muck and into redemption, it will be because they not only kept their poise, but they found a way to take the small things and turn those into successes.

Scott Nichol

Scott Nichol

In a playoff series in April 2011, the Sharks won Game 4 against Los Angeles. Kings coach Terry Murray said the key to the game was Scott Nichol harassing Drew Doughty, leading to concurrent roughing penalties to the two players. The Sharks scored twice during the 4-on-4 play and would go on to win the game. It is that sort of seemingly minor moment that changed a game. In turn, that game gave the Sharks a 3-1 series lead. They would win in six games. Two minutes of 4-on-4 play should be no big deal, but if you cause the other team to lose their poise, different story. Nichol was a player who got eight minutes a night on the fourth line. Yet he rattled the opposing coach and their best defenseman. That is leverage. In 2011, the Sharks leveraged those moments to win a series.

In their past two playoff series against Los Angeles, the Sharks have been the team the got rattled at key moments and the Kings have been the team that used that leverage to advance. A prime example came in Game 6 of the reverse sweep, a controversial call gave the Kings a go-ahead goal deep into the third period. It was a major break for the Kings, but the Sharks let it become game- and series-defining by losing their focus. Minutes later, a one-goal lead became a three-goal lead and the Sharks would not recover either that night nor for Game 7.

In the last two playoff meetings, both seven-game series, the Kings found the moments, created the turning points and went on to victory. Fans know the highlights, from critical saves to stirring comebacks. But for the Sharks to find their footing, it has to be about limiting the damage when things go wrong and finding a way back.

It may be a forecheck that leads to a penalty that leads to a critical power-play goal. It may be a hustle play to stop an odd-man rush. It might be clearing the crease after to prevent a juicy rebound from becoming a goal. The Sharks must leverage these smaller moments into larger impacts.

For San Jose to get where it needs to get, they need Scott Nichol moments.

 

  • Tags
  • Drew Doughty
  • Joe Pavelski
  • Joe Thornton
  • Scott Nichol
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 6:25 PM
Column

Winnipeg Jets News & Rumors: Hellebuyck, Scheifele, Ehlers & Connor

Jan 22nd 5:35 PM
Advanced Stats

Kings’ Anze Kopitar Still Has Trade Value, But Big Cap Hit Hurts

Jan 22nd 5:25 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Held Back By John Tortorella’s Stubbornness

Jan 22nd 5:15 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers Newcomers Finding Their Roles

Jan 22nd 5:05 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ New Third Pairing Paying Early Dividends

Jan 22nd 4:55 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets Could Use Heinola’s Offensive Skill & Hockey IQ for Seasons to Come

Jan 22nd 4:45 PM
Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes Must Improve After COVID-19 Pause

Jan 22nd 4:30 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ Power Play Lacks A Lot

Jan 22nd 4:20 PM
Women's Hockey

Meet the NWHL’s EBUG: Mariah Fujimagari

Jan 22nd 4:10 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Rewarded Early by New Top Line of Tkachuk, Lindholm & Dube

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information