Regardless, Vancouver has our number. They are faster and more creative.
I don't know, I'm still not sold. I think Chicago has the Sharks' number for sure and I'm not saying I'd be thrilled with the prospect of a Sharks/Canucks series but I think I'd have to pick the Sharks there, even without a homer bias.
Possession metrics aren't perfect or anything but they did predict 11 out of 15 playoff series last year, with the other four all decided in Game 7. And the Sharks are better than Vancouver at possession by the numbers.
I don't know, I'm still not sold. I think Chicago has the Sharks' number for sure and I'm not saying I'd be thrilled with the prospect of a Sharks/Canucks series but I think I'd have to pick the Sharks there, even without a homer bias.
Possession metrics aren't perfect or anything but they did predict 11 out of 15 playoff series last year, with the other four all decided in Game 7. And the Sharks are better than Vancouver at possession by the numbers.
I want no part of Chicago with Toews.
But Anaheim, for example, has dominated us all season. It's not like we constantly out-chanced them and they got lucky or had great goaltending, but they outplayed us in at least half of the games and deserved to win them. But Anaheim is clearly not a better team than us.
But Anaheim, for example, has dominated us all season. It's not like we constantly out-chanced them and they got lucky or had great goaltending, but they outplayed us in at least half of the games and deserved to win them. But Anaheim is clearly not a better team than us.
It's a point here for when the possession argument fails. I go with possession most of the time, but there are cases where it doesn't indicate the advantage.
Personally, I would take Chicago and then Detroit as the best possible matchups for the Sharks. Already stated that St. Louis is worst. I would probably follow the Blues with the Nucks and Preds for worst matchups. The Nucks and Preds have Shark-killer goalie types.
My prognostications are based on style of play and how it matches up. I have seen the Sharks open up their breakouts over the last few games. It greatly pleases me and may cause me to retract some of my views on the match ups if it continues.
It's a point here for when the possession argument fails. I go with possession most of the time, but there are cases where it doesn't indicate the advantage.
Personally, I would take Chicago and then Detroit as the best possible matchups for the Sharks. Already stated that St. Louis is worst. I would probably follow the Blues with the Nucks and Preds for worst matchups. The Nucks and Preds have Shark-killer goalie types.
My prognostications are based on style of play and how it matches up. I have seen the Sharks open up their breakouts over the last few games. It greatly pleases me and may cause me to retract some of my views on the match ups if it continues.
Only reason Chicago would be a decent matchup is because Crawford is one of the few goaltenders in the NHL that gives up more softies than Niemi. I still wouldn't want to play them.
It's a point here for when the possession argument fails. I go with possession most of the time, but there are cases where it doesn't indicate the advantage.
Personally, I would take Chicago and then Detroit as the best possible matchups for the Sharks. Already stated that St. Louis is worst. I would probably follow the Blues with the Nucks and Preds for worst matchups. The Nucks and Preds have Shark-killer goalie types.
My prognostications are based on style of play and how it matches up. I have seen the Sharks open up their breakouts over the last few games. It greatly pleases me and may cause me to retract some of my views on the match ups if it continues.
I don't understand how you can call Chicago a favorable matchup for the Sharks based on style of play if you saw any of the four games the teams played against each other this year.
My first pick would be Chicago. Their goaltending seriously blows.
After that, its sort of a wash, but I have to go with Vancouver, and the rest of sort of a mix.
Absolutely no St. Louis. That matchup would be a nightmare. I am hoping that whoever plays St. Louis plays a tough game OR someone important on St. Louis goes absolutely bat**** insane doing something to get him suspended the next round.
Last edited by slocal: 04-04-2012 at 09:39 AM.
Reason: Do not wish injury on anyone.
I don't understand how you can call Chicago a favorable matchup for the Sharks based on style of play if you saw any of the four games the teams played against each other this year.
the season series went
shot leader in brackets
1-0 W 21-34 SOG (blackhawks)
OL 2-3 37-34 (Sharks...we also were 2-0 up in the first period)
L 3-4 24-40 (hawks..we got dominated this game, had the game tied, then went down by 2 again, too big of a hole.)
W 5-3 27-33 (hawks, i remember dominating this game for the most part, we gave up some cheap goals, but overall we shut them down. we let them back into it in the second but then took over again.
really not horrible. they only truly dominated one game just from the stats, and i think in that 5-3 W we pretty much took care of business. either way a series with them would be hard fought. but i think we come out of it.
Would prefer to play the Canucks. Though I don't feel horrible about any potential matchups except against the Blues. Hopefully WCF Marleau shows up for the 1st round series.
SJ wins out, more realistically, they win one in OT and one in regulation. 96 pts
phx loses one and wins one 95 blues, minnesota
chicago wins 2..minnesota and detroit-102
detroit loses 2 wins 1. blues (at st. louis), devils (H), chicago(H)-101. obviously they are very good at the joe, but if chicago sees a chance to push ahead of them in the standings they might play them hard.
nashville wins out-dallas, colorado
so theoretically we could end up against detroit the first round.
1-0 W 21-34 SOG (blackhawks)
OL 2-3 37-34 (Sharks...we also were 2-0 up in the first period)
L 3-4 24-40 (hawks..we got dominated this game, had the game tied, then went down by 2 again, too big of a hole.)
W 5-3 27-33 (hawks, i remember dominating this game for the most part, we gave up some cheap goals, but overall we shut them down. we let them back into it in the second but then took over again.
really not horrible. they only truly dominated one game just from the stats, and i think in that 5-3 W we pretty much took care of business. either way a series with them would be hard fought. but i think we come out of it.
The Sharks will win the special teams battle and likely have the better goaltender (although whether or not it's by enough to make a difference is in doubt) but at even strength the Hawks destroyed the Sharks this year. In terms of overall shot attempts for and against at even strength (including missed and blocked shots), the Hawks outshot the Sharks 209-137. That's a pretty ridiculous measure of territorial advantage that Chicago was able to establish in the season series.
Never ever ever ever ever hope for a particular playoff opponent. [\edmonton2006]
Eh, people who were hoping the Sharks would draw the Oilers in the second round that year probably didn't know what they were talking about and just assumed Edmonton was a typical eighth seed. The Oil were incredible that entire season, they just had ECHL-calibre goaltending prior to the deadline. I was hoping the Flames would beat the Ducks in Game 7 to make for a Sharks/Avs series that I'm pretty sure the Sharks would have won.
Why do people think the Blues would be such a terrible match up for us? Is it just style of play or do people here think they are the real deal?
I think they've been playing way above their potential this year (mostly due to coaching) and I don't know if they can keep that up. With so many guys who have little to no playoff experience (see below) I think the Blues are a total wild card. If any fanbase should know how little regular season success matters, it is ours.
The following players have 4 games or less experience (62% of their roster):
I'm really hoping we get Columbus in the first round.
Seriously, I'm hoping we get Vancouver in the first round. It'll be way more interesting than playing the Blues, we'll be a huge underdog and it'll either be awesome or over quickly.
Why do people think the Blues would be such a terrible match up for us? Is it just style of play or do people here think they are the real deal?
I think they've been playing way above their potential this year (mostly due to coaching) and I don't know if they can keep that up. With so many guys who have little to no playoff experience (see below) I think the Blues are a total wild card. If any fanbase should know how little regular season success matters, it is ours.
The following players have 4 games or less experience (62% of their roster):
They play a style that's almost perfectly suited for the playoffs. The only thing they'll have to adjust to is the added intensity, and that shouldn't take long at all.
