Round 3: Sharks, Tell Us Who You Are

Round 3 (*ding, ding!*) begins on Sunday for the San Jose Sharks as they will take on the second seed in the Western Conference, the Chicago Blackhawks.  For all the great stories that are coming out of the Eastern Conference, this match-up is the series to watch. 

If the series against Colorado was overcoming adversity, and if the series against Detroit was about killing playoff demons, then the series against Chicago is about writing a new chapter and redefining who the San Jose Sharks are.  A loss to Chicago, while not unlikely, renders the previous two victories as useless.  Much like how many fans saw the 2004 Western Conference Finals as a chance for the Sharks to take a big step in a new direction and become perennial cup contenders, this trip to the Western Conference Finals is about rewriting the history of the San Jose Sharks.

In 2004, those San Jose Sharks killed their playoff demons with a 6 game series victory over Colorado who had beaten San Jose two previous times in the playoffs.  Players, perhaps riding the high of beating a seemingly unbeatable playoff foe, and fans seeing Lord Stanley's Cup just a hop, skip, and jump away for the first time were shell shocked as the Calgary Flames jumped out to an early 2-0 series lead.  The Sharks lost in 6.  The exorcising of playoff demons against Colorado were rendered meaningless.  The potential playoff contender label stuck, fans believed, but the team seemed not not be able to recover.

The losses of key veterans to free agency or retirement (courtesy of a lock-out...thank you NHL) altered the way the post-lock-out Sharks played the game and changed the mental attitude of the team.  The Sharks became, a word fans loathe to hear, chokers.

Flash-forward to today.  A defeat of playoff foe Detroit in 5 games.  A team whose fans can smell the Stanley Cup just 8 wins away.  The question becomes, will this team allow what happened in 2004 to happen again?  Yes, it is a different locker-room and only two players remain from that team; yet, the situation is eerily similar.  The Sharks can very well be riding a high from the Detroit series and be unprepared for the fast-paced Chicago Blackhawks.  If they are, do not be surprised in going back to Chicago down 2-0.

This is the time for the Sharks to tell their fans and the NHL who they are.  Are they happy to be here after beating Detroit?  Was that their Stanley Cup?  The words from the locker-room say otherwise, but actions speak louder than words.  So, Sharks, this is your chance.  Go, take it and show your fans, the media and the NHL what you are all about.