WC Playoffs Round 1: San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings (Kings win 4-3).

[T@T]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Have some balls and finally do something about Thornton and Marleau?

I have always said they are both good players but they don't have that extra gear for playoff hockey.

[saskflames69]

[taxbuster]

No way SJ gets rid of Marleau, Thornton, Couture -- even if they could (didn't they just resign Marleau and Thornton?)...that's really only going to make their team worse. The players are good, but they don't have that....passion....that you could see driving the Kings. Once game 4 got going you could see the fire in the Kings' eyes -- they were pissed and had a point to prove. That's never been the Sharks.

Change of coach - change of theme in the how they play - dunno, maybe they have the "country club atmosphere" problem there? They seem to think that having a good year in the regular season entitles them to playoff success.

Glad to see them gone - personally I dislike the team.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Vedder

Seriously?

Did you see the season series that CGY put up against L.A? I get that the regular season is a different beast but they played L.A hard and won.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Vedder

Seriously?

They won the season series vs. LA. Crucify if you must.

[PeteMoss]

This 2nd round also has to be a dream scenario for the NHL for the new format... all the series are either old rivalries (MIN-CHI, BOS-MON, NYR-PIT) or a local battle (LA-ANA)

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Do Thornton and Marleau have NTC's? Marleau is the guy I would move as Thornton had a bad series but it you look he's been a decent performer in the playoffs. Bottom line is the Kings have Quick and the Sharks don't.

They both have new contracts starting next season, 3 year deals and both with a full No Movement Clause.

I think both are continual playoff failures, Thornton might be decent points wise but he always seems to be a guy who might put up a point or two but you're still left wondering "where was he tonight". The points never appear to be the big game changing point. They're both approaching their mid 30's. I know one poster here was fawning over the Sharks, calling them ruthless and not afriad to make the big trade when Calgary was still at odds about trading Iginla.. but the Sharks have been afraid to do anything with these two for almost a decade of continual subpar playoff performances. The bad playoff series far outweigh the good ones.

Shake things up already.

[dammage79]

Well, Boyle and one of Marleau/Thornton will go IMO. Gotta shake that core up somehow. They're a good team but that core has never gotten over the hump in the playoffs. They're not even Bridesmaids, they're flower girls.

[Royal Eagle]

Originally Posted by Royal Eagle

Sharks have much better offensive depth while the Kings have arguably the best playoff goaltender in the league. And Sutter is a wily, resourceful veteran coach who has been there and knows how to get there again.

Tough to predict the winner, but Kings in 7. Quick seems to get better as the playoffs get deeper.

Props coming for me... can't wait.. Quick got better in the last 4 games, he had a .960 SV%

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I dunno, I'm still pretty bitter about 1994. Hell, I'm still pretty bitter about Game 7 of 1991 against the Oilers. We had a 3-0 lead and blew it. Effin Tikkanen...

I feel the Flames would have been playing the Rangers in 1994 if they could have made it over the hump with the Canucks as that was a good Flames team. The Oilers game 7 was also tough to handle. I'm sure Sharks fans are in tough but I doubt they will take it like Flames fans who were so crushed by the loss to the Canucks in 1994 they couldn't even sell out playoff games against the Sharks the next season which they also blew a series up 3-2 on the Sharks with home ice for game 7. IMO the Flames are still bigger chokers than the Sharks it's just the Sharks failures are fresher in our minds or maybe some fans didn't experience the playoff devastations of the early 90's with the Flames.

[Royal Eagle]

Originally Posted by 4oh3

What you guys think is worse? Leafs collapse last year? Or sharks this year ?

Sharks easily. The Leafs were just a one-off, fluky first round playoff fodder who was lucky to even be in the playoffs. The Bruins were just better and collectively woke up in time, the Leafs had no answer and were steamrolled quickly when Boston got their game going.

Sharks unlike Leafs had immense expectations and thought they could win the cup this year. Thornton, Boyle and Marleau are not getting any younger too. That's 3 important veteran pieces of this core.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I feel the Flames would have been playing the Rangers in 1994 if they could have made it over the hump with the Canucks as that was a good Flames team.

Yeah, every time I hear about the Canucks romanticizing that 94 team, I think of how that easily could've been the Flames. I'm pretty sure Reichel hit a post in that OT as well.

[puckluck2]

I hope someone asks Boyle if they sat back too much...

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, every time I hear about the Canucks romanticizing that 94 team, I think of how that easily could've been the Flames. I'm pretty sure Reichel hit a post in that OT as well.

they lost 3 OT games in a row! Game 5 they hit a crossbar in OT

totally dominated SJ in game 7 the next year just couldn't buy one...they also won games 9-2 and 5-0 in that series so they were obviously a better team they just blew it

Trevor Kidd in game 7 1 Trevor Kidd GA 5 Shots 16 Saves 11 .688 FFS we could have had Brodeur

man, I forgot how much we blew it

[t0rrent98]

Too Soon?

[OzSome]

Not scoring on those power play chances really killed the Sharks. It looks there is going to be another head coach available for next season. If the Oilers management are smart enough, they will ditch Eakins and hire MacLellan. I am sure the Canucks will also go after him so as the Maple Leafs. As for the players, if Sharks decide to make some changes I can see Jumbo Joe and Dan Boyle leaving. Marleau just signed a contract extensions, Logan Couture is still young, Vlasic is also still young and it shows how important this guy was their defense. Pavelski is a question mark. They might trade him or they might keep him and take over the captaincy. I know for sure there is going to be some changes in coaching staff.
As for LA.... wow what a comeback. It's funny some people were writing them off after the 3rd lost and some even suggested Darryl Sutter will be gone. Quick played a heck of a game tonight. He was focused and of course he was lucky on some plays also. What about Reggie?? Hmmm... i think i read that he is slowing down and washed up. They will play another California team Anaheim. Lucky for the Kings, they don't even have to travel far. That's two series.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

The average ticket price is 12th highest in the league.

http://www.rock106.ca/2013/10/17/nhl...-all-30-teams/

I was going to say I don't think the tickets are cheap...

[Pizza]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

Too Soon?

NOPE!

borrowing that to troll a friend on FB

[triple deke]

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Love that Regehr was on the ice following the timeout when the game was 3-1. Exactly the circumstance for why the Kings acquired him. He played well in the last 10 minutes (which is all I was able to catch.

10 years after the Regehr for Thornton rumours.... we see Regehr as a key part of the Kings, and Thornton choking for San Jose.

How about that

Still not convinced keeping Regehr instead of trading him for Thornton wasn't a bad idea