NHL Playoffs 2012: San Jose Sharks Come Home, Play Worst Game of Series

Actually, it was the Sharks' worst game in weeks.

The San Jose Sharks had been in desperation mode ever since March 29. A disappointing effort that led to a 2-0 loss in Phoenix left the Sharks on the outside of the playoff bubble looking in, with only four games remaining.

Then, after nearly two months of reeling, the Sharks finally decided to turn it on. They turned the tables in their next game, shutting out the Stars 3-0 in San Jose. They traveled to Dallas three days later, where they powered through a tougher, better game from Dallas to still win 5-2.

With another crucial home-and-home series coming up against Los Angeles, San Jose was determined to win the Pacific Division. They came from behind three times in L.A, and finally beat the Kings 6-5 in a shootout.

Even though the Coyotes won their final game to clinch the Pacific, the Sharks didn't pack it in during their final game. After falling behind 2-0 entering the 3rd period, the Sharks turned it on, scoring twice to force overtime before winning 3-2 in OT.

San Jose's four-game winning streak earned them a trip to the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, a place where they hadn't scored a goal all season. However, the Sharks remained in battle mode, playing tough defense until a second-period power-play goal gave San Jose a 1-0 lead.

The Blues would score two goals in the third period to claim a 2-1 lead. Another thing San Jose hadn't done all season was score an equalizing goal against St. Louis to force even as much as an OT. But the battling Sharks did just that, and after a great first OT period from Antti Niemi, San Jose's determination led to the game-winner in the match's 85th minute.

Game 2 saw the Blues play a pretty perfect home game. They received some luck when Marc-Edouard Vlasic put the puck in his own net just over a minute in, and the Blues executed perfectly in holding their lead this time. Both of their goalies played, and both played amazingly as St. Louis won 3-0.

It was the Sharks' first loss since March 29, but they lost to a very good team with an even better home record who simply could not afford to lose. The Sharks didn't let up, but you can't fake a must-win mentality to match a real must-win mentality.

The Sharks accomplished what they had hoped to: win one in St. Louis. Coming home needing to do nothing more than defend home ice is about all a team can ask for as the lower seed in a series.

There is one weakness that has been steady almost all season for the San Jose Sharks: The penalty kill. The Sharks finished 29th in the NHL during the regular season, stopping a pathetic 76.9 percent of power plays. The PK had been especially bad of late, allowing seven power-play goals in their previous four games.

So the Blues' Patrik Berglund connecting 29 seconds into their first power play of Game 3 was not surprising. Discouraging, of course, but not surprising.

HP Pavilion fell rather silent, but quickly got loud again when San Jose went on their second power play of the game just over a minute after Berglund's tap-in. The Sharks' PP met a PK that actually challenged entries, took away space, won board battles and got clears, so unlike St. Louis they didn't get a free tap-in right away.

However, scoring on the power play is all about determination, and Brent Burns had loads of it on Monday night. A lazy Joe Thornton dump-in glanced off T.J. Oshie's glove, and an opportunistic Burns burst behind the back-pedaling penalty killers to jump on the loose puck. The big-bodied defenseman took the puck to the front of the net, forced Brian Elliott to commit to his forehand and roofed a backhand to tie the game.

Burns' amazing individual effort gave San Jose new life, but another Blues' tap-in (this time by Andy McDonald) just a minute into the second period gave them the lead right back. A power-play goal by Jason Arnott gave St. Louis a 3-1 lead after two, and a carry-over power play resulted in an Alexander Steen goal at :59 of the third.

It was the fourth time this series the Blues have scored within the first 90 seconds of a period.

Joe Thornton decided to take over the game late, facilitating a Colin White goal (yes, really) at 16:58 and a Logan Couture goal at 19:44. A questionable decision by Brian Elliott not to eat a puck with about five seconds left made it so that a Brent Burns centering pass nearly tied the game, but the Sharks came away on the short end of a 4-3 loss.

The final score looks close, but the game was not. Even though San Jose outscored the Blues 2-1 in five-on-five situations, both of those Sharks goals came with St. Louis trying to run out the clock. Of course, Ken Hitchcock will not be happy that his young team stopped attacking late, but he also knows that his team has both the special teams and even-strength edge right now.

Antti Niemi played a strong first period, but was much worse overall in this game than he was in St. Louis. Being on the road can often help a goalie in the playoffs: Their team leans on them harder; they feed off their role as the leader and in turn the team feeds off them with confidence.

However, the Sharks are built to be successful when, and only when, Antti Niemi plays like he did in St. Louis, and he must step it up in Game 4. The Sharks' PK has been dreadful for many reasons, but when it is successful, Niemi is the biggest reason why.

While Patrick Marleau seemed to begin to wake up and realize it's the playoffs, Logan Couture scored a late goal and Joe Pavelski got his token two high-quality chances in the slot, the fact remains that the Sharks' three 30-goal scorers have a combined one goal three games into the playoffs.

They had five three games into last year's playoffs, and the Sharks needed every one of them to be up 2-1 in that series vs. Los Angeles. Patrik Berglund has tripled their combined output. Andy McDonald has doubled it. Colin White has equaled it.

There are some positives to take away from this game. First of all, Brent Burns played his best playoff game by far, not only scoring a big goal but matching—or one-upping in this particular game—the aggression of the Blues' top D-men. The Sharks got a second goal from the back-end when Colin White scored, even though White had a subpar game as usual.

Brian Elliott also appeared beatable. Burns fooled him in the first period, and White scored a softy on him late that came off a juicy rebound to begin with. While Elliott wasn't terrible, he was the biggest reason this game was closer than Game 2. San Jose can't expect him to play anything less than stellar, but they can at least know that aggressive offensive plays will get rewarded.

The Sharks also out-hit St. Louis 38-26, a surprising number. While the Blues have the 2-1 series lead, San Jose is a home win from making it a new series again. If they win Game 4, they ensure a Game 6, and the more physical team is often the fresher team late in a series.

Of course, none of it matters if they don't win Game 4. If the Blues grab a 3-1 series lead, the series is as good as over. Ken Hitchcock is too good a coach for the Blues to drop three straight potential clinchers. The Blues are too good a home team to lose twice more in St. Louis. The Sharks aren't good enough to automatically win every time they play their best.

For San Jose to win Game 4, it must learn from Game 3. It must realize that being at home only gives you the edge if you play with as much intensity as you did on the road. It must realize that the Blues are easier to score on when they aren't the ones pushing, and the Sharks must zap their aggression by staying out of the box, winning many more faceoffs, throwing pucks to the net and relentlessly forechecking.

Although it isn't cliche "coach speak," the Sharks also desperately need more great athletic plays. One strong pass, pick and shot by the second line in Game 1 earned the Sharks the win despite the Blues carrying the play throughout OT. One burst of speed and quick move by Brent Burns negated an entire first period of St. Louis dominance. Joe Thornton turning it on for just a few minutes made a 4-1 game a 4-3 game.

The Sharks have more talent than St. Louis. It's why they were expected to be the 109-point team this year and the Blues were expected to be the 96-point team. The game isn't played on paper in any way, shape or form, but the fact remains that San Jose is more talented and more experienced.

Even if the Blues are a matchup nightmare, better coached team and have home-ice advantage back, San Jose can win this series with a just a few more individuals deciding that they won't be denied.