Steve Palumbo: Sharks Finish What They Started; Eliminate Kings In 5

Random thoughts:

Donskoi is pretty much awesome.
Brown is a cheap shot as usual, doesnt have skill so he resorts to slew footing Jones.
Jones has shown he can withstand playoff pressure.
Deboer is absolutly the right coach for this team, a great game manager.
This team wants it bad, you can see it, they are playing for eachother.
Lucic should be traded or is he UFA?

Random thoughts:

Donskoi is pretty much awesome.
Brown is a cheap shot as usual, doesnt have skill so he resorts to slew footing Jones.
Jones has shown he can withstand playoff pressure.
Deboer is absolutly the right coach for this team, a great game manager.
This team wants it bad, you can see it, they are playing for eachother.
Lucic should be traded or is he UFA?
- BeastModeS62

I believe Lucic is an UFA this summer.

Pete did a great job with NJ in the playoffs. The Devils were on the ropes a few times but he kept them focused. Seeing that now with SJ.

This Sharks team is for real. Like really real.

He's UFA
- Sharx1

I think he'll be re-signed.

Random thoughts:

Donskoi is pretty much awesome.
Brown is a cheap shot as usual, doesnt have skill so he resorts to slew footing Jones.
Jones has shown he can withstand playoff pressure.
Deboer is absolutly the right coach for this team, a great game manager.
This team wants it bad, you can see it, they are playing for eachother.
Lucic should be traded or is he UFA?
- BeastModeS62

Left you a message on the Kings thread. Good luck going forward. You'll always be our little brother. just (frank)ing with you.

Left you a message on the Kings thread. Good luck going forward. You'll always be our little brother. just (frank)ing with you.
- Stu17

I believe Lucic is an UFA this summer.

Pete did a great job with NJ in the playoffs. The Devils were on the ropes a few times but he kept them focused. Seeing that now with SJ.

This Sharks team is for real. Like really real.
- Steve Palumbo

Tonight was about the guys who don't have the 2014 baggage stepping up for this team.

Its something no one has talked about yet but maybe Deboer is a major upgrade over Mclellan. Everyone remembers the LA choke in 2014 but we almost blew a 3-0 lead vs the Red Wings in 2011. There were several other lop side series losses under that regime including the President Trophy winning season.

LA for sure bring Lucic back. He fits who they want to be.

Congratulations Sharks. Welcome to the next round.

Congratulations Sharks fans. No question the better team won this series. I'll be pulling for you guys the rest of the way. Now please, hammer the living s##t out of the criminally overrated Ducks. Sincerely, Kings Fans Everywhere

My main criticism this year was the Jones trade, not because of Jones' talent but because of the risk involved. We had a legitimate chance of being a bad team this year and that pick being a high one, but almost anything that could go right haa gone right for us so far this season. Now that the pick is guaranteed to be a late 1st rounder and Jones showed he can play, it's safe to say the trade was a good one.

Vlasic made two bad plays that lead to goals by being way out of position, which is very odd for him. Other than that, pretty much everyone played well.

The ice was terrible tonight with the puck bouncing all over the place. I think this was a tactic by the Kings as ice quality has not been an issue all series. Would have been genius if it worked.

Speaking of genius... Darryl Sutter. Despite the loss, this is a guy who understands playoff hockey. He finds little ways to get advantages in a league with so much parity. A few years ago I thought the Kings were so dirty because their players are low quality human beings, but that is only half the story. In reality it's a brilliant strategy and it all has to do with the behaviour of NHL refs. One key behaviour is that they tend to call less penalties in the playoffs, a major advantage for a dirty team. The other key behaviour is that they aren't logical with their calls and will make sure that no teams get too many penalty calls in a row. So they are basically getting free power plays (the popular term is makeup calls) and get rewarded for being dirty. Not to mention the added bonus of injuring the other team's key players.

The biggest flaw of this Kings team is their defensive depth. Kudos to Dillon and Polak for being pretty solid this series and giving us the advantage.

For years Quick has benefited from having an excellent roster in front of him fill of defensive minded forwards and incredible defensive depth all playing in am expertly crafted system designed to limit the amount of quality scoring chances he faces. Take that away and he shows his true colours, those being the colours of a mediocre NHL goalie prone to weak goals.

That Marleau penalty shot was the worst I've ever seem. Maybe he was still gassed from the play before but if that was the case he should habe tried something different. A pathetic effort that almost cost is the game which very well could have cost us the series.

Joonas Donskoi is the new Niko Dimitrakos. Loving this guy's play, and he topped off a hard played series with one of the biggest goals in franchise history. My favourite part of his game was his ability to take hit after borderline hit and shrug them off like nothing. One tough dude.

Between Nashville and Anaheim, I dislike Anaheim more (although Preds are in my bottom 5) but both teams seem pretty evenly matched. Interesting to see who we'll play but for now I'm enjoying the win and will enjoy this short little break from hockey.

- j0e Th0rnton

Cheers from Oregon, Sharks WIN!

Sharks playoff myth #1: SJ's core is to blame

Reality: In 2014 Marleau was our best player and Pavelski was great too. This year, especially in the first four games, our depth players were non-existent while Thornton, Pavelski, Burns and Couture were all unreal.

Sharks playoff myth #2: SJ can't make it past the first round.

Reality: In the last 12 seasons, we have made the playoffs 11 times. Of those 11 times we have made it to the second round eight times and the third round three times. We have only lost in the first round to the Ducks in '09, the Blues in '12 and the Kings in '14. In reality we are one of the most likely teams to get past the first round. Our real problem is in rounds two and three.

Were the Sharks demons "exercised" on a treadmill? Honestly, you are a professional writer, learn English...

Way to go sharks! Nice work burying the Kings and standing up to your demons

Were the Sharks demons "exercised" on a treadmill? Honestly, you are a professional writer, learn English...

I honestly am beginning to understand why most other fan bases dislike Hawks fans so much. No need for this!

Can't help but feel happy for you guys. I've always thought you guys were better than your playoff lack of success suggests. Its just that you guys go up against the LA powerhouse every year. This was a long time coming. Your core is one of my favorites around the league.

Props. Dominant display. Good luck the rest of the way, especially against the Ducks if you face them.

Steve Palumbo: Sharks Finish What They Started; Eliminate Kings In 5
- Steve Palumbo

Great series and good game. Sharks have been my surprise team from the west and so far looks good.... Keep it up boys!!!!

Congrats to the Sharks. A very well played series. Maybe Pavelski will start to get more national attention. That dude is a fantastic hockey player and has been for a while.

I must admit, it was really nice to see those smiles on the Sharks players when that was over, they earned it!

The Sharks are easy to like, the Kings, not so much.

What do you know. Good old Pete got his revenge against the Kings.

Congrats to the Sharks. A very well played series. Maybe Pavelski will start to get more national attention. That dude is a fantastic hockey player and has been for a while.
- tboucher77

Oh believe me. I always knew he was the elite of the elite.

Congrats

I must admit, it was really nice to see those smiles on the Sharks players when that was over, they earned it!

The Sharks are easy to like, the Kings, not so much.
- LeftCoaster

Yup... just hope that they have a weekend home game this round so that I can head on down...