Everyone brings up 2014 and the reverse sweep...but Vlasic didn't get a cheap shot and knocked out of the series this time around and the team is deeper on D as well.
- zkarabat
Reverse sweep isn't happening this time around. As you said, we lost our top shutdown D. That's not the only reason - the Sharks had the skill to win, but the will and heart wasn't there. Sharks weren't nearly as poised back then either. Easy to forget the Sharks went to the Cup Final two years later. That showed the true growth of the roster and how playoff hardened they had become. Last year our top two C's were injured - not going anywhere like that. Who knows how far they'll go this year - lots of great teams to get through - but they are looking good and the people we need to be healthy are exactly that.