The 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs are beginning to sound like times from World War II.
How?
Well for the second consecutive round, two NHL teams will engage in a "battle" in the "Pacific Theatre" of hockey.
With the Stars knocking off the Ducks in six games, the team was able to enjoy some much needed rest. That's something most people feel can be a bad thing in the playoffs.
Hockey is different.
Hockey is a sport which involves a much greater strain and "injury factor" than those posed in most other sports.
In hockey, rest is a luxury that teams beg for. And in the second "war" for Pacific supremacy, the Stars couldn't be better off.
The San Jose Sharks fought tooth-and-nail against a hungry Calgary Flames team to make it to this point. They played seven grueling games that could have gone both ways at any point.
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Coming into this series with Dallas, San Jose will have only had two days of rest in order to prepare for their second-round opponent. Dallas is going to be skating into sunny San Jose on four days of rest and ample time to heal their wounds. This factor alone could be the added assistance Dallas needs to win.
There are other statistics to take into account with this series.
In the regular season, both teams held a .500 record against one another.
During this playoff season, Dallas has scored one more goal than San Jose, and average just over one more per game. San Jose has given up four more goals than the Stars, but sit pretty even with Dallas in GAA.
One huge factor is going to be special teams. San Jose comes in playing a very disciplined style of hockey, and the Sharks have acquired the fewest penalty minutes thus far. The Sharks also come in with the worst penalty kill in the playoffs.
If the Stars' special teams is on like it was against Anaheim, and we all know it was BRUTAL, San Jose could be in for a ride.
But if they keep up the discipline they have had, as well as the ride the veteran leadership they have, the series will be another long and rough one.
As far as my opinion, I see this series going to at least six, most likely seven games. I also see the strain of a seven-game series hurting San Jose in the long haul. So, I think the Stars have this series as well.
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4 months ago
You fail to mention the fact that the Sharks were pushed to the limit...and succeeded. I'll take momentum over rest in the playoffs, and the Sharks have a ton of it right now, as well as the home-ice advantage.
I believe this series will go six or seven games, but the Sharks got by an extremely hungry opponent in the first round without playing their best hockey. I say Sharks in 7 again. The Sharks may not be quite as physical as Anaheim, but the offensive abilities in the Dallas opponent just doubled.
from 4 months ago
Maybe... Calgary isn't the best at "closing the deal" when it comes to the playoffs. And once Kipper got that 3rd goal notched against him, he folded. Dallas has two solid netminders who don't fold, and a coach who won't just yank them on a whim. San Jose will be tougher than Anaheim, but Dallas's youth has shown up to play.
And you need to remember that Anaheim was supposed to be so physical that they'd overpower the Stars. Dallas took the physical game to the Ducks and forced them into some stupid penalties. It could always happen again.
Regardless of all of that this is going to be a great series.
4 months ago
Yea this is going to be a great series. You guys both make good points in that Dallas is rested and the Sharks have momentum. Isn't this what makes the playoffs exciting? I too would figure six or seven games but I am gonna give it to the Sharks in that they are collectively learning how to overcome adversity and persevere. Can't wait till Friday to see what happens next, enjoy all.
4 months ago
I enjoyed your article and that you have a pretty realistic picture of the dynamics of this series. However, our biases betray us, since I of course am picking the Sharks. Right now I can be nice, but as of Friday, we become sworn enemies...
from 4 months ago
Oh definitely. Biased views impact sports reporting all the time, and I see it as one of those things that, as long as you know it's there, then it's OK. The problem sometimes comes in when you don't see your own biased ways, and the arguments ensue.
Regardless of who wins this series... I say we all unite to cheer on Colorado against Detroit. Why? I'm just not the biggest Red Wing fan out there LOL!
from 4 months ago
Don't let Kates see you say that! Actually, I like both the Wings and the Avs--got cousins and frineds into the Avs, my brother lives in the UP (that's Upper Peninsula, the part of Wisconsin that Michigan extorted from us to vote for our statehood, but now I'm glad because4 while it used to be ore-rich, it is now one of the porrest areas of the country!) and I liked the way the Wings responded to CalGARy's thuggery last year. But I am pulling for the Avs for selfish reasons--I want the Sharks to do less travel.
from 4 months ago
Ha ha! No worries man... I figure we all have our teams we're not the most fond of, and we're all fans of the greatest sport on ice, so that makes it OK. We cheer/jeer during the game, and during intermission as well as after the game, we eat and drink together.
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