Cam Gore: Sharks inch closer to the postseason

Thursday is going to be a brutal game.... I'm not sure I'll be able to handle watching it. It's going to be intense.

Well look like our playoff making chances are pretty good, but we really need to beat LA an take the division.

Though I almost think finishing 7th or 8th and having Vancouver in the first round might be a good thing. Like we are probably going to have to play them to get to the Cup anyways. So why not play them round 1, with very low expectations, and maybe catch them napping as they cruised into the playoffs with a #1 or 2 seed.

Guna be fun. Going to the game on thurs. Heres hoping the kings can give the stinky fish a little pay back for last year

Don't want to blow the goal horn prematurely for you guys but I'd say you guys are in. What seed will likely be decided on the final day.

Hey Cam what's with you stealing the great Red Green's catch phrase to end your blog? Come on man, find your own! That's like using "Please be sure to spay and neuter your pets" by Bob Barker

Though I almost think finishing 7th or 8th and having Vancouver in the first round might be a good thing.
- IntotheTeal

I'd really like to see the Sharks play anybody but the Blues. The Blues just own the Sharks this season.

Though I almost think finishing 7th or 8th and having Vancouver in the first round might be a good thing.

Finishing 7th or 8th will mean that we almost certainly won't be winning the Cup this season. Not sure how you can view this as a good thing in a big picture. I probably sound like a broken record but we need to win the division to keep hopes of winning it all this year.

I'd really like to see the Sharks play anybody but the Blues. The Blues just own the Sharks this season.
- ssullivan28

Weird. If the Sharks don't prevail in the Pacific I believe St Louis would be a much better match up for us in the first round. Not only that, I think the Sharks would have a very good chance to win that series. On the other hand, it's unlikely (IMO) we would beat Vancouver.

Guna be fun. Going to the game on thurs. Heres hoping the kings can give the stinky fish a little pay back for last year
- Deadmau55

Nice. Can't wait for the game!

Well look like our playoff making chances are pretty good, but we really need to beat LA an take the division.

Though I almost think finishing 7th or 8th and having Vancouver in the first round might be a good thing. Like we are probably going to have to play them to get to the Cup anyways. So why not play them round 1, with very low expectations, and maybe catch them napping as they cruised into the playoffs with a #1 or 2 seed.
- IntotheTeal

Exactly, who cares who the play in any round. The West is tough as hell this year, any team will be a huge challenge. Though, I am hoping for either Chicago or Vancouver and not St Louis. We played TERRIBLE against them this year.

Thursday is going to be a brutal game.... I'm not sure I'll be able to handle watching it. It's going to be intense.
- bluecoconuts

The Dallas/Nashville game should be close to being over before the Kings/Sharks start so both teams could get good news early if the Stars lose.

Finishing 7th or 8th will mean that we almost certainly won't be winning the Cup this season. Not sure how you can view this as a good thing in a big picture. I probably sound like a broken record but we need to win the division to keep hopes of winning it all this year.
- Aliaksandrhn

Why does it matter? To win the cup we are going to have to probably face the Top 2 seeds anyway?

The Dallas/Nashville game should be close to being over before the Kings/Sharks start so both teams could get good news early if the Stars lose.
- Anjin

Yeah I think the intensity will be a little lower if the Stars lose, but still, it's going to be an awesome game.

Why does it matter? To win the cup we are going to have to probably face the Top 2 seeds anyway?
- mxgsfmdpx

It matters because no team ever in NHL history won the Cup from that position. You need to put yourself in a good spot to make a run for it. Sure, anything can happen but if it never happened before what are the chances of this happening this year? Pretty damn slim, I would imagine.

If my calculations are correct under certain circumstances 3 points in 2 games will be enough for us to win the division. But it's safer to win both games.

There is posatives and negatives to each potential playoff opponent.

Obviously Chicago would be our best match up because our weakest link, Niemi, plays his best against his former team. Chicagos goaltending is questionable at best. Toews will either be injured or just coming off a long injury lay off. And we would get home ice advantage in the first round, maybe even the second round. And IFFFFF we made it to the cup it would be more liekly that we get home ice. Negative would be the travel.

Blues would be the next best match up. They have the least amount off playoff experince of any western playoff team. Its a whole new game in the playoffs and with so many players in their first playoffs they will likely not know how to deal with intensity as the playoff vetran sharks will. Not to mention the Blues have been cold lately. Thye have lost 6 of their last 9. Again negtive would be travel. And they have 2 good goalies so if one doesnt play well thay have another option. Oh yeah, and Ken Hitchcok is a pretty decent coach.

Vancouver is clearly the worst option for SJ. They match up pretty evenly. Pretty even on the front end, strong scoring top lines and lots of depth on 3rd and 4th and healthy scratches. Defense I would give the slight advantage to SJ and goaltending goes slightly to Van with 2 capable goalies. As much as I hate the nucks, they have played well against us this year and lets face it, they were in game 7 of the cup final last year and beat the sharks pretty handly last year. They are a good team. Other advantage is travel.

When I reffer to travel its obviously an even advantage for both teams but Im talking about te rest you get for the future rounds. Becacuse the Sharls will win the first round no matter who they play!!!

It matters because no team ever in NHL history won the Cup from that position. You need to put yourself in a good spot to make a run for it. Sure, anything can happen but if it never happened before what are the chances of this happening this year? Pretty damn slim, I would imagine.
- Aliaksandrhn

They just need to keep focusing on actually making the playoffs. From there, who cares who they play in what round. If they are going to win the cup, it doesn't matter what seed they are.

3 would be sweet, but they just need to get in!

There is posatives and negatives to each potential playoff opponent.

Obviously Chicago would be our best match up because our weakest link, Niemi, plays his best against his former team. Chicagos goaltending is questionable at best. Toews will either be injured or just coming off a long injury lay off. And we would get home ice advantage in the first round, maybe even the second round. And IFFFFF we made it to the cup it would be more liekly that we get home ice. Negative would be the travel.

Blues would be the next best match up. They have the least amount off playoff experince of any western playoff team. Its a whole new game in the playoffs and with so many players in their first playoffs they will likely not know how to deal with intensity as the playoff vetran sharks will. Not to mention the Blues have been cold lately. Thye have lost 6 of their last 9. Again negtive would be travel. And they have 2 good goalies so if one doesnt play well thay have another option. Oh yeah, and Ken Hitchcok is a pretty decent coach.

Vancouver is clearly the worst option for SJ. They match up pretty evenly. Pretty even on the front end, strong scoring top lines and lots of depth on 3rd and 4th and healthy scratches. Defense I would give the slight advantage to SJ and goaltending goes slightly to Van with 2 capable goalies. As much as I hate the nucks, they have played well against us this year and lets face it, they were in game 7 of the cup final last year and beat the sharks pretty handly last year. They are a good team. Other advantage is travel.

When I reffer to travel its obviously an even advantage for both teams but Im talking about te rest you get for the future rounds. Becacuse the Sharls will win the first round no matter who they play!!!
- SJFreez19

The Hawks were 1 goal away from knocking the Nucks out of the first round. Would the Sharks have then gone on to play Boston in the Cup final is that happened? Who knows? Nobody knows!

ANYTHING can happen in the post season, just get there and play solid hockey and see what happens.

If my calculations are correct under certain circumstances 3 points in 2 games will be enough for us to win the division. But it's safer to win both games.
- Aliaksandrhn

Not if we also get 3 points in 2 games

If my calculations are correct under certain circumstances 3 points in 2 games will be enough for us to win the division. But it's safer to win both games.
- Aliaksandrhn

uh, wrong! even if the sharks win both games doesn't mean they'll win the division. if the 'yotes win their last two games as well then they take the division by one point.

They just need to keep focusing on actually making the playoffs. From there, who cares who they play in what round. If they are going to win the cup, it doesn't matter what seed they are.

3 would be sweet, but they just need to get in!
- mxgsfmdpx

yep, just look at the '06 oilers. they were the 8 seed and went all the way to the finals before losing in game 7 to the canes. so it really doesn't matter what seed you enter the playoffs with.

They just need to keep focusing on actually making the playoffs. From there, who cares who they play in what round. If they are going to win the cup, it doesn't matter what seed they are.

3 would be sweet, but they just need to get in!
- mxgsfmdpx

I disagree but people have different opinions.

uh, wrong! even if the sharks win both games doesn't mean they'll win the division. if the 'yotes win their last two games as well then they take the division by one point.
- troon

I wasn't taking the Yotes into consideration, I was talking about us and LA. But you are right. Although I doubt Phoenix will win both games so I believe it'll come down to two games between San Jose and LA.

Not if we also get 3 points in 2 games
- tantrum4

I said "under certain circumstances".