NHL Playoffs 2011: Vancouver Canucks Face San Jose Sharks in Conference Finals

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NHL Playoffs 2011 and the Vancouver Canucks Face San Jose Sharks in Conference Finals

After a long playoff haul for both teams, it’s just getting started as the San Jose Sharks travel to Vancouver to take on the Canucks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

While the Canucks finished off the Predators in six games, the Sharks are coming off a seven game war against the Detroit Red Wings.

Both teams have had to fight through the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs, but it looks like the fight is only going to get tougher ten-fold.

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The Sharks and Canucks have never faced each other in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but they have faced each other four teams this regular season. The teams split the series two games apiece.

While both teams are stacked with big-name talent, they also survived blowing 3-0 series leads earlier this postseason.

San Jose beat the Red Wings in seven games after leading 3-0 last series, but top-seeded Canucks lost a 3-0 series lead to the defending Stanley Champion Chicago Blackhawks before taking Game 7 over the Blackhawks in overtime.

Look for a series that mixes hard hitting and timely scoring and this series could go seven games. The teams match up well on almost every level, which could cause and exciting seven game series.

Check back for more updates on the NHL Playoffs as they come and check out Bleacher Report’s Hockey Page to get your fill of the NHL.

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