Round 1: (P2) San Jose vs. (P3) Los Angeles

[mc]

The Kings will  stroke anything after this win!

 

[bustaheims]

RattoCSN: Assuming what seems obvious, this will be first time all year Sharks lost four consecutive games in regulation.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

It's funny. I actually like the Sharks' collection of players, think they have one of the better and more dedicated fan bases in the league and actively dislike the way the Kings play but I can't deny that it's a little fun seeing a team come back from 3-0.

I just enjoy seeing franchises I'm jealous of bowing out in the first round.  It shouldn't in any way make me feel better about the Leafs, yet somehow it does.

See, then I'd be going the other way. I'd have to imagine it'd be pretty frustrating being a Sharks fan.

Oh, I'm still jealous of both teams, doesn't really matter which one moves on, though of course LA has clearly hit the highest peak.  San Jose's successes so far outstrip those of the Leafs that I almost find it hard to fully appreciate how profound their failures have been.  But I'm sure their fans are pretty rightly disgusted.  It's Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown time and time again.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

RattoCSN: Assuming what seems obvious, this will be first time all year Sharks lost four consecutive games in regulation.

There really has been no shortage of weirdness in these playoffs.

 

[L K]

Jonathan Quick - Games 1-3: .852 SV%
Jonathan Quick - Games 4-7: .968 SV%

 

[bustaheims]

So, for only the 5th time in the history of professional sports in North America will a team that trailed 3-0 in a best of 7 series come back to win it. 4 of those teams were in the NHL, and 2 have been in the last 5 years. It's also only the 13th time a team trailing 3-0 has forced a game 7. 9 of those have been in the NHL, 4 have been in the past 5 season, and 2 of those have happened against the Sharks.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

San Jose scored first too, then gave up 5 straight.  Teams scoring the 1st goal had won 16 straight 7th games.  San Jose just can't do anything right in the playoffs.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm never picking San Jose to win anything ever again. Whether it be a pre-season game, regular season game, playoff game, rock paper scissors game.

 

[Peter D.]

So, for only the 5th time in the history of professional sports in North America will a team that trailed 3-0 in a best of 7 series come back to win it. 4 of those teams were in the NHL, and 2 have been in the last 5 years. It's also only the 13th time a team trailing 3-0 has forced a game 7. 9 of those have been in the NHL, 4 have been in the past 5 season, and 2 of those have happened against the Sharks.

I don't understand why it doesn't happen more often.  It's not like teams haven't won 4 straight before.  I know it's a whole different animal in the playoffs, and I'm uncertain as to the psychological effects of being down 3-0, but I can't help but think that it's not completely insurmountable as it has proven to be. 

 

[Derk]

Yeah, this team absolutely chokes when it comes to playoff hockey. Unbelievable how mentally fragile they are. We will see what changes happen in the off season.

 

[Kin]

I don't understand why it doesn't happen more often.  It's not like teams haven't won 4 straight before.  I know it's a whole different animal in the playoffs, and I'm uncertain as to the psychological effects of being down 3-0, but I can't help but think that it's not completely insurmountable as it has proven to be.

Well, I think the chief reason it's rare is that a team going up 3-0 on another is a pretty good sign that they're significantly better than or at least match-up really well against the team they're playing. I think one of the reasons we're seeing more of it is that with parity increasing in the league there isn't quite the gap between the high end and low end playoff teams and, as you say, most teams are capable of winning four in a row against just about anyone.

 

[mc]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3dZP3io-xc[/youtube]

Torts getting canned today...Sharks blow 3-0 series lead.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

San Jose scored first too, then gave up 5 straight.  Teams scoring the 1st goal had won 16 straight 7th games.  San Jose just can't do anything right in the playoffs.

It's mind boggling.  The Sharks are officially the Charlie Brown of hockey.

I have to say though, the Kings put on a pretty good display of how to close a game out in the third.  That was impressive.

 

[AvroArrow]

I'm never picking San Jose to win anything ever again. Whether it be a pre-season game, regular season game, playoff game, rock paper scissors game.

After the first two games of the series, I thought maybe this was gonna be their year.  After all, it seems that they had solved Quick.

NOPE!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Jonathan Quick - Games 1-3: .852 SV%
Jonathan Quick - Games 4-7: .968 SV%

So another consistent Stanley Cup contender might make drastic changes to their team because a goalie went into god-mode for 4 games.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Jonathan Quick - Games 1-3: .852 SV%
Jonathan Quick - Games 4-7: .968 SV%

So another consistent Stanley Cup contender might make drastic changes to their team because a goalie went into god-mode for 4 games.

I really think their issue is just the West is always so so difficult.  Look no further than St. Louis too. 

 

[hockeyfan1]

I'm never picking San Jose to win anything ever again. Whether it be a pre-season game, regular season game, playoff game, rock paper scissors game.

After the first two games of the series, I thought maybe this was gonna be their year.  After all, it seems that they had solved Quick.

NOPE!

I was hoping for the Sharks to advance.  After they lost Game 4 in L.A., I had a feeling they were going to lose it all again.  Don't know what it is about San Jose. Just when they're on the verge of greatness, they collapse.

Niemi was no Quick, that's for certain.  Anytime a team replaces their starter with an unproven in a playoff game, something is obviously not up to par with the starter.