St. Louis has pretty much locked up the #1 seed, and Vancouver the 2nd seed. Detroit and Nashville will more than likely be the 4th and 5th seeds (whichever order), and Chicago will probably be the 6th seed.
So, we need to get to the 3rd seed and play Chicago, or try desperately to get the 6th seed and play Dallas.
I'm hoping for the 3rd seed. Dallas would probably be an easier opponent than Chicago but having home ice in the first and possibly second round would be a huge boost. Either way, I'm happy as long as we make the playoffs. If the team keeps playing like they did tonight, especially Niemi, I like our chances of getting the 3rd seed.
The latter option sounds preferable (I know, shocking eh?), but getting home ice advantage would be frickin' sweet.
IF we get the 3rd seed, there's no John Scott (who sucks), so we can hit them as hard as we can instead of *****footing.
True, true. I think that this time around we might be able to beat the Hawks, considering their poor defense and special teams and goaltending, and also that Toews is injured and might have reservations when he plays us again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by glasgow26
Love how this team plays
a) without Colin White
b) with Marty Havlat in the lineup
c) with Thornton and Clowe in beast mode
d) with Niemi actually playing like we all know he can
This is the kind of all-around effort they've been missing over the last few weeks. If they can keep this up they'll make the playoffs, maybe even retake the division lead.
Word. Nemo is capable of playing so much better than he has, Havlat makes us a ton more dangerous, Thornton is ****ing awesome, and Demers and Braun are looking studly.
What I love about the defense right now is that everyone can play with anyone.
Sharks looked faster than usual tonight...they had great jump in their step and were getting to the loose pucks...those blue line turn overs are still killing us though...glad havlat had a good game...
I'm hoping for the 3rd seed. Dallas would probably be an easier opponent than Chicago but having home ice in the first and possibly second round would be a huge boost. Either way, I'm happy as long as we make the playoffs. If the team keeps playing like they did tonight, especially Niemi, I like our chances of getting the 3rd seed.
It's be easier to play the Stars, but at the same time we'd probably get pretty roughed up in a series against Dallas. And then, if we were to beat Dallas, we'd draw St. Louis in the second round and die. If we win the third seed, we have a less physical series, and then if we win we wouldn't have a chance of playing St. Louis potentially until the WCF.
Sharks looked faster than usual tonight...they had great jump in their step and were getting to the loose pucks...those blue line turn overs are still killing us though...glad havlat had a good game...
despite his board play and SO goal, still thought clowe floated a little at times. especially at one point when he was closest player of either team to the puck and got beat to it by coasting towards it along the boards. still beastly with the puck along the boards, and maybe a little encouraging for him to get the SO win.
niemi saved us in that game more than once.
havlat looked good and the coaching staff relied on him in multiple situations despite just coming back from injury. his return was much needed.
I think the fourth is those that know he's playing under his capabilities and can be better but he's still not at fault for every damn goal against. Some of them, sure. Not all of them and certainly not Hornqvist's goal.
But like Niemi, he got his ultimate chance, and seized it. That's exactly what's been lacking. Niemi did more so than Clowe, but hey... baby steps back to cluchtiness.
JT is above average even fast sometimes when he needs to be. He just slows up in the O zone play.
Pavelski improved his stride a lot over the summer, but speed-wise, he is still a very slow skater.
Thornton isn't a fast skater, and if you start going into the territory of slow - below average - average - above average - fast, it becomes pretty meaningless with that many categories. He's closer to average than fast.
