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Sharks embarrass Canucks to go up 3-0 in series

May 6, 2013, 2:18 AM ET [45 Comments]
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The San Jose Sharks showed no mercy against Vancouver Sunday night in game three of the Conference quarter finals putting up 5 goals to the Canuck’s 2.

Somebody should have sent the Canucks the memo that this is the playoffs and the team that loses doesn’t advance to the next round.

The Canucks didn’t play like a team that was down 2-0 in a best of seven series Sunday night in San Jose. They didn’t create many good scoring opportunities and lacked desperation right from the start. This team from Vancouver played like a group that has nothing to play for and head coach Alain Vignealt should be concerned that he has lost his room; we may be watching his last games as the bench boss in Vancouver.

They were in it for the first two periods, but after San Jose scored 3 goals in the first 4:07 of the third period to take a four goal lead and chase Cory Schneider from the net it was all but over for the Canucks.

There will be a great deal made about how effective the Sharks power play was scoring three goals and how well Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski played each with two goals and two assists for Couture and one for Pavelski, and there should be.





However, what shouldn’t be overlooked is how well this team performed defensively. The Sharks gave up two goals, but they gave up very few prime scoring chances and were great at clearing away rebounds. They hardly gave a sniff around the net and that ultimately frustrated the Canucks into taking ten minor penalties.

Offense is pretty, but defense wins playoffs games and the Sharks have executed in their own zone all season like a team that pays close attention to detail that wants to win the right way.

The most obvious change for the Canucks as far as the roster goes was Cory Schneider in for Roberto Luongo. The goalie drama in Vancouver has been going on ever since the Canucks signed Schneider to a four year contract extension last summer.

Luongo signed a twelve year deal not long ago so the Canucks riches in goal may be admired by some, but according to others it has been a distraction all year long. Vancouver GM Mike Gillis has been unable to move the veteran goalie after numerous attempts, but the no trade clause in Luongo’s contract has made things difficult.

Luongo started the first two games of this series and played well. He should not be held responsible for the Canucks being down 3-0 in the series.

The Sharks forwards have done a great job on the fore check this series and in game three we started to see some wear on Kevin Bieksa and some of the other Canucks defensemen. Vancouver’s top four D log a lot of minutes and in a physical series like this one that can catch up to a team. Bieksa was spotted sucking wind on numerous occasions and the Sharks attack with four lines so there won’t be any let-up on Tuesday night.

The Sharks did a good job of playing in the offensive zone which is much more tiring for the defense.

The last time San Jose were in the position of sweeping an opponent in the playoffs they won game seven against the Detroit Red Wings and limped into the next round exhausted from playing three extra hard fought games.

It is important for the Sharks success going forward that they don’t have a repeat of that performance in 2011.

“Different series, different team” was Logan Couture’s response when asked about the last time his team was on the verge sweeping their opposition in the playoffs.
“We’re confident and we know they are going to bring their best. We’re going to be ready.
“We know we can’t let up. That Detroit series we let them back in. We do that in this series they are too good of a team.”

Scoring details

1st period

SJ – 14:08 –PP – 8 J.Pavelski(1) – assists – 39 L.Couture(2), 19 J.Thornton(1)

2nd period

SJ – 7:20 –EV – 8 J.Pavelski(2) – assists 57 T.Wingels(2), 27 S.Hannan(1)

VAN – 11:07 –EV – 14 A.Burrows(1) – assists – 33 H.Sedin(2), 22 D.Sedin(2)

3rd period

SJ – 1:40 –PP – 39 L.Couture(2) – assist – 52 M.Irwin(1)

SJ – 1:49 –EV – 12 P.Marleau(3) – assist – 39 L.Couture(3)

SJ – 4:07 –PP – 39 L.Couture(3) – assists – 19 J.Thornton(2), 8 J.Pavelski(4)

VAN – 13:12 –EV – 2 D.Hamhuis(1) – assist – 15 D.Roy(1)

Turning point

The turning point in this game was the Sharks third goal which came on the power play just 1:40 into the third period. The fact that the Sharks lit the lamp nine seconds later was the nail in the coffin.

Contenders & Pretenders

Contenders

Logan Couture & Joe Pavelski – are on the list for combining for seven points and leading their team offensively. Even more impressive is that Pavelski is getting things done while centering the third line.

The defense – are on the list for being the unsung heroes for San Jose. These guys were great all night and made Antti Niemi’s job much easier by winning battles and being the first ones to loose pucks. Vlasic and Braun have been given the job of shutting down the opposition’s top line and have quietly done an admirable job.

“The D core played well as a group of six” stated Coach Todd McLellan afterwards.
“Vancouver has a very heavy fore check, they came at us hard and they hemmed us in at times, but we were calm and took away some important ice from them.”

Vancouver fans – that made the trip down here for the game deserve to be recognized. There were a lot of Canucks jerseys in the Shark Tank and they didn’t have much to cheer about.

There isn’t much worse than planning a road trip to follow your team and they play as poorly as Vancouver did Sunday night.

Pretenders

The Vancouver Canucks – can all take a seat on the Pretender’s list for playing with a lack of desperation. Come on you guys make a game out of it, make a series out of this.

There was a lack of discipline showed from the Canucks Sunday night and it resulted in three power play goals. How can these guys not learn their lesson.

Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
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