Ominous Sign: Preds Outhustle Sharkies
YET BARELY KNOCKS OFF SAN JOSE
More than any postseason, the Stanley Cup playoffs are about sheer fortitude and hustle. That's why Game 1 of the Sharks Western Conference quarterfinals were so disconcerting.
The fact that the Sharks struck first with a goal at four minutes of the first period by Mark Smith might have actually awaken the sleeping Predators. For the next 56 minutes the Nashville illustrated all the hallmarks of a team "taking it" to the Sharks.
The Predators controlled the face-off circle, 58-42 and scored on an unconscionable 4-of-7 on the power play. If you couple that with numerous odd-man Sharks turnovers deep in the their own end and the annual playoff disappearance of Joe Thornton, then Los Tiburones have quite a problem on their hands.
In fact, it won't matter if Thornton and Cheechoo knockout a hat trick every game in this series, if the Predators' power play continues to score on the power play so dominately and efficiently.
BIG JOE DISAPPEARS AGAIN
It's definitely not fair to say that possible MVP candidate, Joe Thornton, has resumed his infamous playoff choke, but aside from an assist on Nils Ekman's goal in the 2nd, but Big Joe's line wasn't much of a factor in Game 1. Zero shots and more importantly five empty shots from his cohort Jonathan Cheechoo.
Criticism and jeering will continue to rain from Boston to San Jose until Big Joe thoroughly dominates in the playoffs in the same way he does during the regular season. Unfortunately, this type of labels sticks and unfairly perpetuate themselves, except, save Barry Bonds's postseason chokes. He doesn't count, though.
THE BRIGHT SIDE
Because the Sharks were outhustled in Game 1 doesn't mean this will continue through the rest of this series. Goaltender Vesa Toskala made some key saves and the Sharks offense was just a tad off.
During the frantic third period, the Sharks were precariously within point-blank range of Nashville's Chris Mason. If they continue to put that much pressure directly in front of the net, the incredibly unproven back-up goalie will undoubtedly crumble. This is the Stanley Cup playoffs and, while they are littered with unsung rookie goalies dazzling in the spotlight; Mason is not Patrick Roy by a long shot.
More than any postseason, the Stanley Cup playoffs are about sheer fortitude and hustle. That's why Game 1 of the Sharks Western Conference quarterfinals were so disconcerting.
The fact that the Sharks struck first with a goal at four minutes of the first period by Mark Smith might have actually awaken the sleeping Predators. For the next 56 minutes the Nashville illustrated all the hallmarks of a team "taking it" to the Sharks.
The Predators controlled the face-off circle, 58-42 and scored on an unconscionable 4-of-7 on the power play. If you couple that with numerous odd-man Sharks turnovers deep in the their own end and the annual playoff disappearance of Joe Thornton, then Los Tiburones have quite a problem on their hands.
In fact, it won't matter if Thornton and Cheechoo knockout a hat trick every game in this series, if the Predators' power play continues to score on the power play so dominately and efficiently.
BIG JOE DISAPPEARS AGAIN
It's definitely not fair to say that possible MVP candidate, Joe Thornton, has resumed his infamous playoff choke, but aside from an assist on Nils Ekman's goal in the 2nd, but Big Joe's line wasn't much of a factor in Game 1. Zero shots and more importantly five empty shots from his cohort Jonathan Cheechoo.
Criticism and jeering will continue to rain from Boston to San Jose until Big Joe thoroughly dominates in the playoffs in the same way he does during the regular season. Unfortunately, this type of labels sticks and unfairly perpetuate themselves, except, save Barry Bonds's postseason chokes. He doesn't count, though.
THE BRIGHT SIDE
Because the Sharks were outhustled in Game 1 doesn't mean this will continue through the rest of this series. Goaltender Vesa Toskala made some key saves and the Sharks offense was just a tad off.
During the frantic third period, the Sharks were precariously within point-blank range of Nashville's Chris Mason. If they continue to put that much pressure directly in front of the net, the incredibly unproven back-up goalie will undoubtedly crumble. This is the Stanley Cup playoffs and, while they are littered with unsung rookie goalies dazzling in the spotlight; Mason is not Patrick Roy by a long shot.
