One down, five more to go. I say that because I did predict this series to go six games, so after some deep thought and reflection – the Sharks had to lose twice to make that sucker come true….so why not Game One? They got one heartbreak out of the way. I actually thought (and still do) that the series is going to go 2-2 before the Sharks take over and take Game 5 and 6 to move forward.

Mike pointed out in his last post much of the “strategery” we think needs to be changed for Game Deuce. The Sharks need to play like the number one seed, don’t adjust your game to fit the Ducks, make the Ducks adjust to you. If Anaheim is going to try and stand you up at the blueline, go around them with two of the best mobile D-men in the league in Boyle and Ehrhoff. They proved near the end of the game, when the checking should have been at its tightest, that they could gain the zone nearly every time and create chances. In an interview on NHL Live on Friday, Versus analyst Dave Strader recounted a conversation with Penguins head coach, Dan Bylsma, about matching up strategy against the Flyers and Bylsma responding by saying (and I’m paraphrasing) “We don’t match up or change styles against anyone. We’re going to play our way”. I expect this attitude to be on display in the Deuce.

I pondered why Jamie McGinn was here watching and I think we might find out tomorrow. Clearly, I was wrong about dressing Jody Shelley. Love the guy, but having a battle trophy on the bench for two minutes of ice time is a total waste. Dress McGinn or give Stanley Cup champion Lemiuex a chance to add some emotion.

Anyone else for getting Cheechoo off that 3rd line? Solid D has never been Cheech’s thing and it takes him out of the most important aspect of his game, which is attacking the net. Cheech and J.R. could cause the Ducks 4th line the crazies, they could be a hand full. Grier needs to return to that group and I hope we’ll see more of Goc/Moen/Grier on the ice vs. the Ducks top line and that frees up Joe/Marleau/Seto to do their thing. Does this mean the Ducks might score more? Sure. It also means we’re gonna score, and in a 5-4 gunfight, I’d take the Sharks every single time. BANG!

I feel like we’re all kind of waiting for the playoff ceiling to cave in. Like we expect the Sharks to make an early exit. I admit it, I felt that way almost all day Friday – but as J.R. said after the game, this is a long series and we’ve only just begun. And, after all, not many of us thought this was gonna be a sweep – right?

OTHER PLAYOFF STUFF
Oops. Picking St. Louis isn’t looking so hot for me right now, but there was a ton of emotion at the end of Game Two on the Blues bench over some rough stuff at the buzzer – we’ll see if that is the wake up call the Blues need in front of their home fans in Game Three.

Philadelphia just can’t help themselves. They have to take dumb/dumb penalties and they totally blew the game against the Penguins. If you’re gonna give them a 5 on 3 in overtime, you deserve to lose, especially on a stupid slash by rookie Giroux and an interference by Knuble on their own PP. Smooth move, Ex-Lax….couldn’t resist.