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

[Daradon]

Whether or not the Sharks deserved to win or were good enough to win, it's still the same old story that has been going on for a dozen + years. Zero killer instinct. Can't win the big ones.

As good as they were this year, I knew they wouldn't get far, they never do. Can't even put a finger on why exactly, but it's a spring tradition. And the only thing that will convince me otherwise is their first cup. Till then, I just don't believe in them in the playoffs.

Yeah, the first round matchup was tough, perhaps unnecessarily so because of the new divisions, but they'd run into a tough team by the second round anyway even the other way. Also, I find the first round is often the toughest anyway, so I'm not so sure it matters how it gets seeded.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Whether or not the Sharks deserved to win or were good enough to win, it's still the same old story that has been going on for a dozen + years. Zero killer instinct. Can't win the big ones.

As good as they were this year, I knew they wouldn't get far, they never do. Can't even put a finger on why exactly, but it's a spring tradition. And the only thing that will convince me otherwise is their first cup. Till then, I just don't believe in them in the playoffs.

Yeah, the first round matchup was tough, perhaps unnecessarily so because of the new divisions, but they'd run into a tough team by the second round anyway even the other way. Also, I find the first round is often the toughest anyway, so I'm not so sure it matters how it gets seeded.

It doesn't matter how you seed it when 6 of 8 West teams had legitimate claims for the Cup. St Louis, San Jose, Colorado, LA, Hawks, Anahiem. A couple contenders were bound to go down in the first round.

[Resolute 14]

In the old system, it would have been Sharks-Blackhawks in the first round and Kings-Blues. I don't think San Jose would have done much better against Chicago.

[bubbsy]

well that's too bad for the sharks. Feel for their fans.

I have the utmost respect for Doug Wilson, he's built a year in and year out playoff shoe-in, yet still been able to inject high-end talent in through the draft by some very slick asset management (hertl, couture, nieto). Yet the team just can't seem to get over the hump.

Not sure what options he has other than to rip this thing apart and break up their strong veteran core of marleau, thornton, boyle, or to simply keep this group together and hope that their youth grow and help eventually push this team over the top and into an actual team that can do damage in the playoffs.

[the_only_turek_fan]

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. 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.

Think they would have gotten past the Leafs?

They would have had San Jose in round 2.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Don't forget the blown 3-0 lead in Game 7 against Edmonton in 1991.

Esa ######ing Tikkanen.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by MattyC

It doesn't matter how you seed it when 6 of 8 West teams had legitimate claims for the Cup. St Louis, San Jose, Colorado, LA, Hawks, Anahiem. A couple contenders were bound to go down in the first round.

Exactly.

Regarding St. Louis, I kinda see them in the same light, of course they haven't been at it as long. But even a few years ago I was saying it. Just a great regular season team that is primed for 1st round failure.

I'm surprised Colorado lost, but I think it's cause of their age. I do see them as being a powerhouse and playoff performer very soon.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Don't forget the blown 3-0 lead in Game 7 against Edmonton in 1991.

Esa ######ing Tikkanen.

That is easily my worst Flames memory. Especially after the elation of Fleury's game 6 OT goal.

Just a total choke. I woulda been about 11 and was watching the game and my mom got home from a late class and I told her, 'it's in the bag, we're up 3-0!' Even she warned me of arrogance, lol. It's Edmonton, they're never out of it.

I grew up so much that night. As a hockey fan, as a child. Something I'll remember forever, haha.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Don't forget the blown 3-0 lead in Game 7 against Edmonton in 1991.

Esa ######ing Tikkanen.

I'll never forget. We were at a buddies house mixed with Flames and Oilers fans. Went from high fives and celebration when it was 3-0 to devastation when Tikkanen scored that OT goal. Another case of a possible Stanley Cup run dashed in the first round. From then on really the organization has never been able to win the big games or score the big goal. 2004 seems like such an aberration but in the end the team still kind of got the shaft in game 6 with no review on what looked like a possible Cup winning goal.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by Daradon

As good as they were this year, I knew they wouldn't get far, they never do. Can't even put a finger on why exactly, but it's a spring tradition. And the only thing that will convince me otherwise is their first cup. Till then, I just don't believe in them in the playoffs.

Some teams have that swagger (Hawks, Bruins), some don't (Sharks, Blues).

[automaton 3]

Boyle in particular looked like he's lost a step. Hannan and Stuart are getting up there as well.

I didn't think Marleau played badly.

Jumbo Joe did not have a great series, only 3 points and -6.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
The wrong knee-jerk move with a roster like the Sharks or Blues and you risk slipping the other way. Like Washington or Vancouver


I agree. The Sharks still have a solid team. They have to be careful how much they tinker with that roster this summer.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle
The wrong knee-jerk move with a roster like the Sharks or Blues and you risk slipping the other way. Like Washington or Vancouver


I agree. The Sharks still have a solid team. They have to be careful how much they tinker with that roster this summer.

agreed... another tweet along the sames lines:

Adam Kimelman ‏@NHLAdamK 9m A thought for Sharks fans. In 2010 the Bruins blew a 3-0 series lead. they kept the GM and coach. One year later they won the Stanley Cup

only issue is that this sharks group has set a patter of faltering in the playoffs and not living up to their potential for a decade now.

[djsFlames]

What SJ is lacking is a leader who's tasted success and can instill some belief in the rest of those guys. Thornton and Marleau are not those guys (been part of too many SJ train wrecks). Seems like after L.A. came back, they didn't play like they were sure of themselves, whereas the Kings came into that game like they knew they had it in the bag. I'd attribute a lot of that to Darryl though. What a (bench) boss.

[hummdeedoo]

Really enjoyed this series - intense, great hitting, great goals and goaltending.

Always like Kopitar but he seems to finding a new level.

[Daradon]

I almost wonder if it's part of their (Joe and Patrick mostly) DNA now. They've choked so many times it's always in the back of their head.

Was looking for that clip of Otto on The Simpsons but couldn't find it.

'Dont'tchokedon'tchokedon'tchokedon'tchoke... Oh man! I choked!'