The San Jose Sharks have finally grown some … playoff bravado.
Instead of taking the first
”
punch
”
with no response, the Sharks are dealing the initial blow and
then some. It’s a welcomed sight, indeed. Last season’s disturbing
sweep in the Western Conference finals by eventual Stanley Cup
champ Chicago left one single lasting impression on the 2009-10
Sharks: They were soft. Too much finesse and not enough gruff.
Looking meager, they were chased off the ice by a much more
powerful Blackhawks bunch.
The San Jose Sharks have finally grown some … playoff bravado.
Instead of taking the first “punch” with no response, the Sharks are dealing the initial blow and then some. It’s a welcomed sight, indeed.
Last season’s disturbing sweep in the Western Conference finals by eventual Stanley Cup champ Chicago left one single lasting impression on the 2009-10 Sharks: They were soft.
Too much finesse and not enough gruff. Looking meager, they were chased off the ice by a much more powerful Blackhawks bunch.
During Sunday’s Game 2 of the 2010-11 Western Conference semifinals, Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard received constant snow showers from Sharks forwards, who skidded to a stop in front of the crease. Howard took exception to a Joe Thornton snow job and slashed at Thornton’s skate with his goalie stick.
The chants of “Howard, Howard, Howard” rained down from the rowdy bunch inside HP Pavilion.
The look on Thornton’s face, intentional or not, sent a promising chill my way.
Acting more and more like the instigators instead of the victims in building a 2-0 series lead over Detroit, the Sharks have had an edge to their play I rarely recognized during the last handful of playoff appearances. Going up against a loaded Detroit team with the likes of Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom Danny Cleary and so on, it’s best not to sit back and let those stalwarts dictate play. Wait around and get burned – it’s a given.
Their aggressiveness in the offensive zone in front of Howard – finishing checks, neutral-zone play and a re-focused and concerted effort to play defense – have added up to a confident-looking team. Four of six wins in overtime this postseason – the ultimate sign of fearlessness. It’s a different vibe and I’m diggin’ it.
There is a well-roundedness to this year’s squad. Players like Logan Couture, Kyle Wellwood, a healthy Torrey Mitchell, Jason Demers, Niclas Wallin and Ian White add depth where San Jose’s roster once lacked. The contributions up and down the lineup has taken the pressure off of San Jose’s top two lines, which in turn have opened up an already potent attack. Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi and Joe Pavelski are having solid postseasons so far, and they have the rest of their teammates to thank.
Antti Niemi, who looked uncomfortable during Round 1, has returned to his playoff form of a year ago when he helped the Blackhawks to their title. Throughout the first two games of the semifinals, Niemi has turned aside 57 of 59 shots and heavy rebounds are less frequent.
Game 3 in Detroit on Wednesday night will serve as a gauge as to how the semifinals will pan out. There is no reason for the Sharks to play any different on the road – as the relentless aggressor, the bully.
It’s difficult to jump ahead one month and say the Sharks will hoist the Stanley Cup. But I have a similar feeling in my gut than the one that kept churning during the San Francisco Giants’ World Series run last October.
I’m looking forward to a parade.
