GAME 7 PREDICTIONS

The first round of the 2014 playoffs ends with quite a bang. Three Game 7 and here are my predictions. 

San Jose were up 3-0 but were unable to put away the LA Kings, who suddenly found new life and now has pushed the series to a 3-3 tie. I'm not a big believer in history's impact, but the Sharks do have a way of choking in the playoffs. LA clearly has the momentum and are rolling after their poor start so I'm going with the Kings here. 

New York vs Philadelphia is a tough one. The Rangers have won their last three Game 7 but the Flyers are a typical comeback team. Wayne Simmons was great in Game 6 while most of the Rangers were not. I think this one comes down to which of the two goalies can steal the game, Mason or Lundquist. I'm going with King Henrik and his Blueshirts. 

The Colorado Avalanche will host Minnestota in a series which has seen only home wins. The Avs, and especially Nathan McKinnon, have been spectacular at home and I have a feeling they will be again. My guess is this Avalanche will roll to at least the next round. 

Sharks blown out of water by Ducks

"The President's Trophy winners will make the process short with the some what struggling Ducks. Who ever the Ducks put in net, likely Jonas Hiller, will find it hard to match Evgenij Nabokov. Thornton, Boyle, Marleau, Setoguchi, Blake, Moen... there is no running out of resons why these Sharks couldn't go all the way to cup final this year. Sharks in five."

This is why I love this game. Not the fact that I was completely off the mark on this one, but because anything can happen in playoff hockey and there are no sure bets. While the Sharks deflated completely and collectively as a team, the Ducks rose to the occasion and stepped up, Jonas Hiller most of all.


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CLASH OF THE TITANS

The Western Conference showdown between Detroit and San Jose is just minutes away and I can't help but feel that this could be the game of the season. The Boston Bruins will have to excuse me. This is the game most hockey fans have been waiting for since a while back. The Sharks have been devestatingly good so far while the Wings, even though they they aren't far behind in the standings, still have some work to do.

How will it turn out? My gut says Detroit, Henrik Zetterberg scores the winner.

Here we go!


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TOOTHLESS SHARKS

The San Jose Sharks dropped a 2-1 lead in the 3rd period to lose Game 2 against the Dallas Stars 5-2. They now have to dig themselves out of a hole as they head to Dallas for Game 3. And while the key players, such as Mike Modano, Marty Turco, Brad Richards and Mike Ribeiro, have all stepped it up in the playoffs, the key players for the Sharks have done the exact opposite. Evgeni Nabokov is a favourite to win the Vezina Trophy for his impressive season where he lead in wins, but against the Stars he hasn't really impressed anyone.

But though the Sharks definately need more from their star goalie, Nabokov is far from their biggest problem. When asked if he needed more from his captain, a very irritated Ron Wilson responded, "No." Then he walked off mubeling something about all the questions always being so negative. Sharks captain, Patrick Marleau, kept up his sub-par performance from Game 1, where he jumped over a shot instead of blocking it. That is not acceptable in the playoffs, if ever.

I realize that I predicted San Jose would beat Calgary in seven games to advance to the second round but, with the facts in hand I am surprised they pulled it off considering how poorly they played. Against Dallas they haven't stepped it up an inch and I would not be surprised if this series ends in Dallas.