2016 Stanley Cup Final: San Jose Sharks VS Pittsburgh Penguins

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Sharks are a great team that I'm happy to cheer for when their wins aren't harming our Stanley Cup chances.

It just seems like they've earned it more. Not just from all the years they didn't come close enough but even this year. Having watched games from both sides, it seems like the Sharks are playing a really solid all-around game. They are going out and creating chances, beating teams by outplaying them every night.

The Penguins just seem... they seem like they're only here because of the teams they faced. It feels like the Sharks went out and beat every team on the way, and there wasn't much more any of those teams could've done to stop it. The Penguins seem like they caught every team dropping the ball in a major way or facing serious adversity.

Everyone gets to the final in different ways but I'm taking the world-beater.

I guess it's different opinion or different way to interpret the out come of this playoff.

The Sharks first round opponent is the Kings, I can say Sharks beat them because the Kings dropped the ball. Second round, with Rinne playing well , the rest of the Preds dropped the ball as well. Conference final, facing a team that know for dropping the ball St Louis.

The Pens first round opponent, the Rangers with a all world goalie, good forward groups and very good defense. Second round, facing the Capital with Ovechkin, who was playing the best playoff hockey and with a very good supporting forward group and a very very good goalie. Conference final facing Tampa, who is missing Stamko but still with a great goalie and the triplets and Drouin.

Now, my question is why is it when the Pens beat those very good teams is because those teams dropped the balls and when the Sharks beat equally good teams they are world beater?

The way I look at this, this Stanley Cup final gonna be fun to watch. Personally, I'm rooting for the Pens because I dislike the Sharks. But I wouldn't call them lucky to be in the final.

[DomeFoam]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

I guess it's different opinion or different way to interpret the out come of this playoff.

The Sharks first round opponent is the Kings, I can say Sharks beat them because the Kings dropped the ball. Second round, with Rinne playing well , the rest of the Preds dropped the ball as well. Conference final, facing a team that know for dropping the ball St Louis.

The Pens first round opponent, the Rangers with a all world goalie, good forward groups and very good defense. Second round, facing the Capital with Ovechkin, who was playing the best playoff hockey and with a very good supporting forward group and a very very good goalie. Conference final facing Tampa, who is missing Stamko but still with a great goalie and the triplets and Drouin.

Now, my question is why is it when the Pens beat those very good teams is because those teams dropped the balls and when the Sharks beat equally good teams they are world beater?

The way I look at this, this Stanley Cup final gonna be fun to watch. Personally, I'm rooting for the Pens because I dislike the Sharks. But I wouldn't call them lucky to be in the final.

Kings >>> Rangers. The Capitals are the ones that seriously dropped the ball, again. Blues > Lightning. Sharks in my opinion have had a far tougher road and truly earned it. I think that will show in this series.

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I'll never understand the Crosby hate

Crosby's done the impossible - he's made people proud to say they're from Cole Harbour.

[calgarywinning]

We need a poll so we can see the aggregate feeling of who will win the cup in number of games.

San Jose 6 games.

Sidney Crosby is a great hockey player, but there is that weird factor. Like he re-arranged the post-game conference final seating order before the interview... Okay, that's enough for me not to like you.

Oh one other factor that isn't mentioned much is does San Jose have an advantage in the playoffs because they play LA and Anaheim, like travel is not an issue at all. You get more rest. Just a thought.

[landshark]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

Oh one other factor that isn't mentioned much is does San Jose have an advantage in the playoffs because they play LA and Anaheim, like travel is not an issue at all. You get more rest. Just a thought.

I think it's different than that... first, SJ traveled to Nashville for round two - that's 2000mi - no small trip. But I have always felt that long travel in the west was GOOD for the SCF. SJ has had to deal with this all year - they hired a sleeping expert to help with arrangements (is is best to fly right after a game or sleep and fly the next day - that kind of stuff) so they are experienced in lots of travel. SJ had the most miles traveled of all teams this regular season.

On the other hand, PIT is NOT used to it and I suspect would be more prone to having problem because of travel.

I LIKE the drawn out schedule because it allows time to recover from travel - should lead to better hockey.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

I was just going to say that. Pitts can't complain about travel at all when they probably had 50% the kms SJ did over the season.

[nik-]

are we really going to lend credence to the BS that because one more team has to travel an extra hour in their luxury jet every 4 days that they're at a disadvantage?

They don't deal with any of the crap that normal travelers do. They get hammered into the boards several times a game, I'm pretty sure sitting in a comfy chair for a bit longer every few days is manageable.

[Har-Calgary]

First time since Canucks/Boston series where I'm not entirely confident that the team from the west will win. Pretty exciting to have a different team other than Kings/Hawks come in the finals.

[landshark]

Come on in... the water’s FINE!

[V]

I can't believe we're still 2 days away from the Finals. This is ridiculous.

[gallione11]

The TBA games in the US will be determined this way:

Tied 1 - 1 after game 2: Game 3 on NBC, game 4 on NBCSN
One team up 2-0: Game 3 on NBCSN, game 4 on NBC

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nbc-sp...1019--nhl.html

[Locke]

Really not digging these huge gaps in the schedule, thats really going to sap some of the intensity out of it.

[GranteedEV]

SCF Game 1 overlaps with Warriors-Thunder Game 7.

Sigh.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I'll never understand the Crosby hate

I'm in the same boat.

Players like Crosby are rare and I take pleasure marvelling at the skill and competitive drive of these types of players.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Locke

Really not digging these huge gaps in the schedule, thats really going to sap some of the intensity out of it.

I sincerely doubt that. These guys need every extra day off they can get. They have to be running on adrenaline and fumes at this stage.

[IgiTang]

I love Crosby. He's a great ambassador for the game and Canada.

That said.. Go Sharks!

[Thor]

Yep some great guys on SJ that have long awaited this, just be thrilled to see Jumbo Joe get his cup, seems like such a great fella.

[Vinny01]

It is not actually the same city but if the Sharks win the cup and the Warriors win the NBA Finals the Bay Area will be the first city to do that in the same year.

[SixtySix]

Originally Posted by DomeFoam

Kings >>> Rangers. The Capitals are the ones that seriously dropped the ball, again. Blues > Lightning. Sharks in my opinion have had a far tougher road and truly earned it. I think that will show in this series.

Rangers were in the cup finals and conference finals the past 2 years. The Lightning were in the cup finals just last year. The Capitals are the runaway President's Trophy winner as the top team this season. That sounds like one hell of a road to the finals to me.

Kings and Rangers both got ousted for free in 5 games. Is it worth arguing that the Sharks' 5 game series was harder? Why?

I don't think you can argue that Nashville is a better team than Washington. Why does the fact that the Caps "dropped the ball" make it any easier on the Pens? Both teams played a 6 game series and the Pens beat the better team.

I agree that Blues > Lightning, but it's close. Both series went to 7 games. Again, not sure why it's worth arguing that the series which had a blowout in game 7 was more taxing on the Sharks.

Both teams have played the same number of games. Neither team had it easy, but if you think it was "far tougher" for the Sharks then I think it just comes down to a Western Conference bias more so than logic and reason.

[gallione11]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

SCF Game 1 overlaps with Warriors-Thunder Game 7.

Sigh.

And?

Either don't watch basketball cause it's terrible, or watch one game and DVR the other. Not seeing the issue here