PDSF- (2)Los Angeles vs (3)San Jose (Sharks win 4-1)

[CalgaryFan1988]

Well, they hung on. Still an annoying chant.

[calgaryblood]

What. A. Game.

This game is also sad because it's obvious the Flames are still 3 years away from being a contender after watching this game.

[V]

They survived. I think that was the series if they didn't.

[flamesfan1297]

If LA played the whole game the same way they played the third they would have won

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

What. A. Game.

This game is also sad because it's obvious the Flames are still 3 years away from being a contender after watching this game.

I keep hearing this, but are they really? A couple players and they're certainly capable of playing with these teams. What's "obvious" that they're 3 years away?

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by the2bears

I keep hearing this, but are they really? A couple players and they're certainly capable of playing with these teams. What's "obvious" that they're 3 years away?

The Flames would get destroyed in a heavy, physical series against either of these teams. Or the Blues. Or Capitals. Or most of the teams in the playoffs. And the depth just isn't there yet. The strong teams in these playoffs have four lines that can really play.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The Flames would get destroyed in a heavy, physical series against either of these teams. Or the Blues. Or Capitals. Or most of the teams in the playoffs. And the depth just isn't there yet. The strong teams in these playoffs have four lines that can really play.

Yet last year the Sharks were on the way down... suddenly they have "four lines that can really play" and the Flames are years away? I just don't see it. 2-3 players, another year of maturity, and they can certainly compete. A lot of things can happen, and it's far from being a certainty (worth being sad about!) that the Flames are so far away from competing.

[CGY12]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

What. A. Game.

This game is also sad because it's obvious the Flames are still 3 years away from being a contender after watching this game.

Extremely physical and gritty series for sure, but lets not forget the Hawks have won 3 cups playing more of a finesse/speed game. It is pretty unique to have witnessed 2 teams (LA & Chicago), winning 5 Stanley cups playing completely different hockey within the last 6 years.

I do however think the Flames are in need of 4 pieces to get into contender talk;

- Physical shutdown type top 4 D
- Skilled forward (hopefully in this years draft)
- Power forward to play in the top 6
- Goalie

Anyway sorry for derailing this thread. I really hope this series goes 7, its been one of the more entertaining series of the first round.

[Tsawwassen]

2 at 3


San Jose leads the series 3-1.
http://scores.nbcsports.com/nhl/recap.asp?g=2016042018
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl-boxscores.aspx?page=/data/NHL/results/2015-2016/recap75514.html

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

2 at 3


San Jose leads the series 2-1.
http://scores.nbcsports.com/nhl/recap.asp?g=2016042018
http://sportsstats.cbc.ca/hockey/nhl-boxscores.aspx?page=/data/NHL/results/2015-2016/recap75514.html

SJ leads 3-1!

[Sylvanfan]

That LA defense this year isn't the same as it was in past years. After Doughty and Muzzin, it's nowhere near the unit that was winning cups even if Martinez was in the lineup.

I personally think the Kings are holding on here and that if they bow out next game that their run as an elite championship level team is done. They still have a great trivecta in Quick, Doughty, and Kopitar. Muzzin, and Taffoli are also good players in an attractive age group as is Pearson. But the rest of that roster is getting old and expensive.

The thing with veteran players is that it gets tougher for them to be as consistent year in and year out as they were when they were young. Last year a lot of Sharks had off years, they miss out. This year a lot of their 30+ guys bounced back with good seasons.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Yet last year the Sharks were on the way down... suddenly they have "four lines that can really play" and the Flames are years away? I just don't see it. 2-3 players, another year of maturity, and they can certainly compete. A lot of things can happen, and it's far from being a certainty (worth being sad about!) that the Flames are so far away from competing.

Agreed funny how the hockey world narrative on the Sharks has done a 180. People tripping over themselves to heap praise on Thornton and Burns. Last year they were a punch line.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

That LA defense this year isn't the same as it was in past years. After Doughty and Muzzin, it's nowhere near the unit that was winning cups even if Martinez was in the lineup.

I personally think the Kings are holding on here and that if they bow out next game that their run as an elite championship level team is done. They still have a great trivecta in Quick, Doughty, and Kopitar. Muzzin, and Taffoli are also good players in an attractive age group as is Pearson. But the rest of that roster is getting old and expensive.

The thing with veteran players is that it gets tougher for them to be as consistent year in and year out as they were when they were young. Last year a lot of Sharks had off years, they miss out. This year a lot of their 30+ guys bounced back with good seasons.

The problem becomes that the Kings have a lot of money and term tied up into their aging core. That's the side effect of going all in for those two Cups. There's still enough there to go on a playoff run under the right circumstances but every year it's going to be more difficult for them. I don't see another Mike Richards get out of jail free cards available to them.

[Erick Estrada]

Also I feel comfortable saying that the Sharks aren't going to choke this time. They seem like a bit of a different team with more resolve than years past. Maybe Todd McLellan was kind of a little overrated given the talent on those Presidents Trophy rosters could have been guided by any coach that was smart enough not to get in the way of letting talent do it's thing which may work for the regular season but not the playoffs.

[Coach]

Before watching this series I would have said both Gio and Brodie are better than Burns. I don't think so anymore. Dude is a stud.

[automaton 3]

Pavelski looks like he will not be denied this time. Burns has been a beast.

This LA team doesn't have near the jam as their cup years.

[JJ1532]

Wouldn't rule the Kings out just yet. Like the Hawks, they have won the cup twice in 4 years because they are a very tough out. Can San Jose hold their nerve and close out the series in the Staples Centre? They do look a different proposition this season, but it wouldn't at all surprise me to see them throw it away from here.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Also I feel comfortable saying that the Sharks aren't going to choke this time. They seem like a bit of a different team with more resolve than years past. Maybe Todd McLellan was kind of a little overrated given the talent on those Presidents Trophy rosters could have been guided by any coach that was smart enough not to get in the way of letting talent do it's thing which may work for the regular season but not the playoffs.

Yeah, I don't see them choking this year either. Little Joe and Burns are the new stir sticks on this team.

[heep223]

How sweet would it be to watch Jumbo Joe lift the cup. Sometimes I wonder if the Sharks are the dark horse out of the West, even if I feel like I should have learned my lesson on that theory by now.

[Coach]

IF LA and CHI are done, the West is wide open IMO.