The Sharks are battle tested in the playoffs, while most of the Blues are pretty green in the playoffs. That fact should not be overlooked.
I like the Blues in 7.
P.S. the sharks board is already complaining of the 5 on 3's, the refs, the trap, but... I haven't seen anyone blame the ice yet. Honestly I'm shocked about that last one. Although there will be a concert on fri night (before sat home game). The ice patrol will be in full force that night. So from what I've read on the sharks board: is we are either a crap team which will get swept. A team who is going to bore them to death by winning 4 straight 1-0 games by playing the double trap, that's when we pull the goalie and roll four dman. We will sweep them. Or we will lose and the only way we score will be from unearned 5 on 3's and lucky bounces.
Get ready boys, it's playoff time!!!!!!! And the Sharks excuse making will be in full force. Honestly I hope the Blues get a 5 on 3 in overtime and score on a shot from the blueline that takes a funny bounce off a notch in the ice and watch the sharks GDT straight up melt down. After the last PO series against the sharks, I want a dominate 4 game sweep, but believe it will be a 7 game nailbiter.
Odd note, the Blues haven't played the Sharks with our full roster, that could be an added advantage.
The Sharks are battle tested in the playoffs, while most of the Blues are pretty green in the playoffs. That fact should not be overlooked.
I like the Blues in 7.
P.S. the sharks board is already complaining of the 5 on 3's, the refs, the trap, but... I haven't seen anyone blame the ice yet. Honestly I'm shocked about that last one. Although there will be a concert on fri night (before sat home game). The ice patrol will be in full force that night. So from what I've read on the sharks board: is we are either a crap team which will get swept. A team who is going to bore them to death by winning 4 straight 1-0 games by playing the double trap, that's when we pull the goalie and roll four dman. We will sweep them. Or we will lose and the only way we score will be from unearned 5 on 3's and lucky bounces.
Get ready boys, it's playoff time!!!!!!! And the Sharks excuse making will be in full force. Honestly I hope the Blues get a 5 on 3 in overtime and score on a shot from the blueline that takes a funny bounce off a notch in the ice and watch the sharks GDT straight up malt down. After the last PO series against the sharks, I want a dominate 4 game sweep, but believe it will be a 7 game nailbiter.
Odd note, the Blues haven't played the Sharks with our full roster, that could be an added advantage.
The Sharks are battle tested in the playoffs, while most of the Blues are pretty green in the playoffs. That fact should not be overlooked.
I like the Blues in 7.
P.S. the sharks board is already complaining of the 5 on 3's, the refs, the trap, but... I haven't seen anyone blame the ice yet. Honestly I'm shocked about that last one. Although there will be a concert on fri night (before sat home game). The ice patrol will be in full force that night. So from what I've read on the sharks board: is we are either a crap team which will get swept. A team who is going to bore them to death by winning 4 straight 1-0 games by playing the double trap, that's when we pull the goalie and roll four dman. We will sweep them. Or we will lose and the only way we score will be from unearned 5 on 3's and lucky bounces.
Get ready boys, it's playoff time!!!!!!! And the Sharks excuse making will be in full force. Honestly I hope the Blues get a 5 on 3 in overtime and score on a shot from the blueline that takes a funny bounce off a notch in the ice and watch the sharks GDT straight up malt down. After the last PO series against the sharks, I want a dominate 4 game sweep, but believe it will be a 7 game nailbiter.
Odd note, the Blues haven't played the Sharks with our full roster, that could be an added advantage.
Playoff hockey, let's make some noise!!!!!
I come in peace and congratulations on a great season. The Blues are young and stacked.
The only correction I want to make is that if St Louis should win this, I don't think you will see excuses from Sharks fans. We've lost too many series in too many ways to get overly bothered by losing to a team that had a much better record and we looked completely lost playing against during the regular season.
For the record, I do expect this to be a very competitive series. If I were a Blues or Canucks fan, I would not have wanted to Sharks in the first round.
Best of luck in this and as many rounds as the Blues play.
A BOLD prediction (especially the way they've been playing lately). I think it will take them at least game or two to get back their former synchronisation and confidence.
I hope, however, that your prediction will come true.
I don't see them losing a game or two to start getting them back to their former confidence and rhythm. Think it would be just the opposite. It could snowball on the Blues if they start out the way they've been playing these last two weeks.
If they come out and play they did against Detroit, no way do the Sharks hang in as long as the Wings did. They do that for the first two games, it's going to take a huge effort for the Sharks to get back in it and get the Blues off their focus. Then again, what the Blues are susceptible to is getting a little too comfortable with a lead in a game and possibly a series.
But, this is why Armstrong brought in Halak, this is why he brought in vets like Arnott and Langenbrunner, this is why he shipped out the old captain and gave Backes the new contract and he gained the C, this is why Hitchcock was brought in. The building should be utterly rocking for those first two games, the fans have to be hungry for this, the tension in the building should keep the team sharp. Of course, all the shoulds should have given them the Prez Trophy easily, but that didn't happen.
I come in peace and congratulations on a great season. The Blues are young and stacked.
The only correction I want to make is that if St Louis should win this, I don't think you will see excuses from Sharks fans. We've lost too many series in too many ways to get overly bothered by losing to a team that had a much better record and we looked completely lost playing against during the regular season.
For the record, I do expect this to be a very competitive series. If I were a Blues or Canucks fan, I would not have wanted to Sharks in the first round.
Best of luck in this and as many rounds as the Blues play.
2nded. We're a better playoff team than LA and Phoenix (all due respect to Smith's current god-mode). That said, Stl is the very last team I wanted the Sharks to face in the 1st round for many obvious reasons. Might be an 0-4 sweep
Good luck guys.
Edit: My Avatar's gone. I'm obviously from the Sharks board.
I don't see them losing a game or two to start getting them back to their former confidence and rhythm. Think it would be just the opposite. It could snowball on the Blues if they start out the way they've been playing these last two weeks.
If they come out and play they did against Detroit, no way do the Sharks hang in as long as the Wings did. They do that for the first two games, it's going to take a huge effort for the Sharks to get back in it and get the Blues off their focus. Then again, what the Blues are susceptible to is getting a little too comfortable with a lead in a game and possibly a series.
I agree. I could see either team winning, but I don't think the series will go the distance. I think the Blues will either be playing with a ton of confidence after the first couple of games, or almost none at all. I think San Jose will keep more of an even keel regardless of what happens the first few games, but I don't think San Jose can beat the Blues in a series if the Blues are playing their best hockey so ultimately it is the level of the Blues play that really matters in my opinion.
A fast start is going to be critical to getting this young team's momentum going in the right direction.
