The San Jose Sharks know who they will face in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and it took all 82 games to get there.
Thanks in part to a mini collapse by the L.A. Kings on Saturday and an Anaheim Ducks make-up game win on Sunday, the Sharks will face the hated ones again with revenge on their mind.
It's been two seasons since the Sharks choked away a 3-0 series lead to the Kings, but the wounds remain fresh. The series collapse is among one of the most notorious in league history and certainly among the interstate rivals. And although San Jose has gone through a bit of a turnover, enough of the core from that series remains.
So what can we expect this time?
The pressure is all on the Kings because nobody is going to put their eggs in the Sharks basket. And why should they? The Sharks have never done a thing to make us think otherwise.
The Kings are going to be the heavy favorites and for all the right reasons. They are the most dominant puck possession team in the NHL. It's been a recipe for success during their title runs. They came out this season to prove they are still among the NHL's elite and they did just that with a very good regular season. In fact, it's the best regular season, in terms of games won (48), in franchise history and yet...I believe the Sharks can beat this team.
San Jose ended the regular season just four points behind the Kings. They won the season series 3-1-1, including a 5-2 win in their final game. A game I thought the Sharks really needed to win to set the table for this potential match-up.
This San Jose team has a chip on their shoulder. After missing the playoffs last season, they came back with fresh faces in the locker room and on the bench. They quickly became one of the better puck possession teams in the league especially in the last 15-20 games of the regular season.
The Sharks were among the NHL's elite on the Power Play (3rd) and goals scored(4th). They are a top 10 team in defense and have been getting very solid goaltending from Martin Jones. Yes, that Martin Jones.
If Jones can play at the level he has all season long, he and his teammates can go toe-to-toe with Los Angeles. If anything Jones gives them a real fighting chance to slay the dragons form the City of Angels.
PLUS....
I believe that home-ice is not always the "advantage" it's made out to be. Just ask the Ducks. With that said....the Sharks are perhaps one of the most proficient road teams the NHL has seen in quite some time and that has tremendous value in the postseason.
This is a series the Sharks CAN win. The Kings are not unbeatable. In fact I could argue that this version of the Kings, despite their regular season record, is not nearly as strong as the 2012 or 2014 team.
And right now I am not betting against Joe Thornton who has been on a mission since the start of 2016.
Anyway you slice it....this series is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
To be continued....
thanks for reading, Steve
“Beware the fury of a patient man.… …• John Dryden