At this time its looks more and more like we will be playing the Nucks in the first round. Hard series but I will take them over the Blues. The Yotes/Kings can have the Blues.
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What?! Look, he thinks he's people!
In the end does it really matter where we end up? Even if we take the division draw the B'hawks in the opener and get out of the first round this year is still going to be a tall order. I don't believe either the Kings or the 'Yotes would tire out the 'Nucks or the Blues respectively, presumably leaving us to deal with a Blues team before having to take on what I think will be the scuba diving orcas in the conference finals again. Perhaps whoever comes out of the central division knife fight that I hope the series between the Preds and Wings will tire out the Nucks, but ultimately, I see the road to parading down Santa Clara street with 33 lbs of silver going trough Vancouver and we might as well take em down while we're at our freshest.
In the end does it really matter where we end up? Even if we take the division draw the B'hawks in the opener and get out of the first round this year is still going to be a tall order. I don't believe either the Kings or the 'Yotes would tire out the 'Nucks or the Blues respectively, presumably leaving us to deal with a Blues team before having to take on what I think will be the scuba diving orcas in the conference finals again. Perhaps whoever comes out of the central division knife fight that I hope the series between the Preds and Wings will tire out the Nucks, but ultimately, I see the road to parading down Santa Clara street with 33 lbs of silver going trough Vancouver and we might as well take em down while we're at our freshest.
Agreed, It looks like we'll have to play the clone laden dive artists again at some point. I wouldn't be against some revenge against the Nucks, hopefully the Sharks can get angry and smash them into the ice while they're down a Sedin. I really just don't want the Sharks to draw the Blues, that's an even worse match up than the Nucks. Though I would much prefer getting the 3 seed for the home ice alone.
Agreed, It looks like we'll have to play the clone laden dive artists again at some point. I wouldn't be against some revenge against the Nucks, hopefully the Sharks can get angry and smash them into the ice while they're down a Sedin. I really just don't want the Sharks to draw the Blues, that's an even worse match up than the Nucks. Though I would much prefer getting the 3 seed for the home ice alone.
I still believe they were produced at some top secret Ikea cyborg cloning and assembly plant operated at the behest of the Swedish Government.
In the end does it really matter where we end up? Even if we take the division draw the B'hawks in the opener and get out of the first round this year is still going to be a tall order. I don't believe either the Kings or the 'Yotes would tire out the 'Nucks or the Blues respectively, presumably leaving us to deal with a Blues team before having to take on what I think will be the scuba diving orcas in the conference finals again. Perhaps whoever comes out of the central division knife fight that I hope the series between the Preds and Wings will tire out the Nucks, but ultimately, I see the road to parading down Santa Clara street with 33 lbs of silver going trough Vancouver and we might as well take em down while we're at our freshest.
Yes, it matters. Getting the best matchup available is always in the best interest of a team that wants to advance. Also, avoiding the two worst matchups will improve their odds. If they finish 7th or 8th, they likely have to go through both teams in the first two rounds to get to the conference finals. That is a process that will absolutely drain the team and likely leave them dead in the water for that round regardless of the opponent.
Getting home ice against the best matchup between the three, Chicago, at least gives them the chance to avoid at least one of Vancouver and St. Louis while giving two teams that both play better against those two than the Sharks a chance to upset them. I'd rather go that route. Going through the Hawks, Preds/Wings, and either Vancouver or St. Louis gives the team much better ultimate success odds than the alternative of finishing 7th or 8th. No team seeded that low has won the Cup. To me, the point of getting to the playoffs is to win the Cup and a low seed is pretty much a death sentence.
Yes, it matters. Getting the best matchup available is always in the best interest of a team that wants to advance. Also, avoiding the two worst matchups will improve their odds. If they finish 7th or 8th, they likely have to go through both teams in the first two rounds to get to the conference finals. That is a process that will absolutely drain the team and likely leave them dead in the water for that round regardless of the opponent.
Getting home ice against the best matchup between the three, Chicago, at least gives them the chance to avoid at least one of Vancouver and St. Louis while giving two teams that both play better against those two than the Sharks a chance to upset them. I'd rather go that route. Going through the Hawks, Preds/Wings, and either Vancouver or St. Louis gives the team much better ultimate success odds than the alternative of finishing 7th or 8th. No team seeded that low has won the Cup. To me, the point of getting to the playoffs is to win the Cup and a low seed is pretty much a death sentence.
I think most of us agree we don't want to draw the Blues. That and I said I would much prefer to get home ice advantage and get the better match up. That being said, I think we can take the Nucks and I would like to see it. I think the Sharks looked completely spent by the third round these last 2 season, having to take out the commie wings, so your point about the easy route is very valid. I don't see any of our options as that easy though.
I think most of us agree we don't want to draw the Blues. That and I said I would much prefer to get home ice advantage and get the better match up. That being said, I think we can take the Nucks and I would like to see it. I think the Sharks looked completely spent by the third round these last 2 season, having to take out the commie wings, so your point about the easy route is very valid. I don't see any of our options as that easy though.
I believe they can take the Nucks too. However, if they win that, they get the best seed in the next round. Chances are, that is the Blues. If they win the division, they at least avoid one of those two teams in the first two rounds. That will help immensely to their odds of winning it all. And they will need all the help that they can get.
I believe they can take the Nucks too. However, if they win that, they get the best seed in the next round. Chances are, that is the Blues. If they win the division, they at least avoid one of those two teams in the first two rounds. That will help immensely to their odds of winning it all. And they will need all the help that they can get.
Play them both in rounds 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 it doesn't matter. You seem to think if we can put off playing them its going to get easier, sure they might get tuckered out but so too could the Sharks. No matter what its going to be a tough road to the cup and its unlikely the Sharks will enjoy home cooking for more than one round. You seem to want an easy street to the cup. If we can't beat back adversity with a stick and take on every comer then we don't deserve it. I'd rather wait till next year than turn the cup into an enlarged equivalent of middle school sports participation trophy.
Play them both in rounds 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 it doesn't matter. You seem to think if we can put off playing them its going to get easier, sure they might get tuckered out but so too could the Sharks. No matter what its going to be a tough road to the cup and its unlikely the Sharks will enjoy home cooking for more than one round. You seem to want an easy street to the cup. If we can't beat back adversity with a stick and take on every comer then we don't deserve it. I'd rather wait till next year than turn the cup into an enlarged equivalent of middle school sports participation trophy.
Yes, it does matter. Playing them both, especially in the first two rounds, will pretty much guarantee them losing just based on their seeding. The reality is that putting them off affords them the chance to avoid them altogether and every single Cup winner has benefited from at least one easy matchup and avoiding one difficult one.
There is enough adversity going into the playoffs regardless of your opponent. Making it the most difficult is not in their best interests and don't believe that all opponents are made equal in the playoffs...they aren't.
About two weeks ago when Sharks were still losing with no hope, I made a bet with my friend who is Sharks fan. He denied that Sharks can make PO this season and I said theres no way Sharks are gonna miss PO.
I'm glad Sharks team proved him wrong and made the PO.
PS. I see a lot of Sharks fans wanting Nucks in round 1. If we do meet in round 1, I can't say good luck to you guys but I will secretly cheer for you guys if you guys meet any other team in first round
Just a reminder for those of you that are scared ****less about the prospect of facing the Blues. The regular season means absolutely nothing. 4 games over a 6 month span in the regular season are absolutely irrelevant when it comes to a best-of-7 playoff series.
Last edited by Blades of Glory: 04-06-2012 at 10:58 AM.
7th or 8th seed = Beheaded or Hung. We need that 3rd spot. Perhaps winning a series over Detroit/Chicago would boost moral and confidence before taking on the top dogs this year. I'd like to see us draw Chicago in the first round. Im sick of Detroit.
There isn't much of a difference between Chicago/Detroit and St. Louis/Vancouver. In fact the Canucks are probably the worst of the four.
You don't think chicagos goaltending gives us a better chance there? Or the fact that we'd have home ice on Detroit with third seed, they are average away from the Joe.
Blues/Canucks definitely have obvious downsides.
Blues: great goalies+ shot limiting system against a shot generating system
Canucks: really fast team, good goalie, similar possession style team.
I dunno, I'd say the blues just can't let up in their system, maybe they can keep it up but I think they run out of gas.
Has anyone been watching Blues games? Looking at their schedule, they've lost 3 in a row and 7 out of their last 10. Are they running out of gas and not playing as well as before? Maybe the Sharks could catch them in a slump.
The Canucks had won 6 in a row before last night's loss and it's without Daniel Sedin who will probably be back for the 1st round. They seem to be getting hot at the right time while the Blues are in a bit of a slide. The Canucks might not be such a good idea because Luongo can get hot no matter what you say about him and they definitely have more high end talent than St. Louis.
Ugh it sucks. Vancouver, St. Louis, Chicago, or Detroit. How about None of the Above for $1000, Alex.
Home ice makes a slight difference. Second change is important.
I'd rather play the Canucks in the second round than the Blues. I'm hoping the Red Wings take out the Blues in the second round and we get the Canucks, so we go Chicago -> Vancouver -> Detroit to the cup. We don't match up well against the Blues. Tough, well-coached defense-oriented teams that don't let you get deep is our poison.
It's kind of funny people talk about the Blackhawks having poor goaltending when Fleury has been just as awful as Crawford this season. Granted, Chicago as a team isn't quite as strong as Pittsburgh but still.
why is everyone so scared of the blues? they dont have much playoff experience and over a 7 game series their hyper defensive play can be solved by coaches. what's left is talent, and they really aren't THAT talented a team.
vancouver would smoke us though, they have had our number bad recently.
why is everyone so scared of the blues? they dont have much playoff experience and over a 7 game series their hyper defensive play can be solved by coaches. what's left is talent, and they really aren't THAT talented a team.
vancouver would smoke us though, they have had our number bad recently.
Yup, if there's one thing that's really important it's playoff experience. That's why I'm so glad Doug made those moves to get Niclas Wallin and Travis Moen on the team.
