(1) San Jose Sharks
Regular Season Record: 51-20-11, 113 pts
Head-to-Head Record: 1-3
Last Stanley Cup Win: Never
Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: Never
Total Championships: 0
Last Postseason Appearance: 2009
Players with Stanley Cup Rings:
Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, Kent Huskins, Niclas Wallin
(2) Chicago Blackhawks
Regular Season Record: 52-22-8, 112 pts
Head-to-Head Record: 3-1
Last Stanley Cup Win: 1961
Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: 1992
Total Championships: 3
Last Postseason Appearance: 2009
Stanley Cup Rings:
Andrew Ladd, John Madden (2), Tomas Kopecky
Very unlike what the East is shaping up to be, these teams separated themselves as the two best squads in the West from the jump and have held serve all season long. The Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks are filled with young talent, superstar ability, and true motivation to break their respective curses (see "Will Hell Freeze Over post). As has happened many times in the past and in most sports this Conference Final may end up being the true matchup that decides this seasons champion.
Breaking down this series is easier said then done as these teams have identical strengths and weaknesses. Despite their clear similarities, both using fire power offenses to win and praying their goaltending does not shoot them in the foot too much this is how I see it going in. Top line scoring, the advantage goes to Chicago by a slim margin. The Blackhawks have Kane, Sharp, and Hossa who have all started to heat up at just the right time and have a true chemistry with each other. That chemistry has even included Hossa this playoffs despite this being his first season with the team. San Jose's has two full fledge super stars in Danny Heatly and Joe Thornton. Heatly has one of the best wrist shots in the league and is someone to keep an eye on everytime he touches the puck. He is just one of those dangerous players that opponents love to hate. Thornton on the other hand has made a career of following great regular seasons with lack luster performances in the post-season, much the same way the Sharks franchise has over the past decade. However, this playoffs aliens seem to have taken over his body and Thornton has turned it up a notch. Setting up the game winner in a pivotal over time victory in game 3 of the Red Wings series showed the sports nation that his head is finally in it to win it this year.
Despite both teams needing these name players to step it up when it matters the most championships are often won thanks to secondary scoring. These teams have had a lot of it so far in the playoffs. Joe Pavelsky has called upon the second coming of Joe Sakic with the way he has played. Pavelsky had 14 playoff points for his career coming into this season and has recorded 15 through the first two rounds leading the Sharks effort. Dan Boyle has also put aside his blunder in the first round (scoring on his own net to lose an overtime game) to be that scoring punch from the blue line and Patrick Marleau seems to have scared off past demons after scoring the series clincher against Detroit. For Chicago the role players have had a major influence on their post-season campaign. This includes Kris Versteeg's unsung effort and Dustin Byfuglien resurgence after being moved from defense to a forward position. Jonathan Toews can't be forgotten, he leads all Blackhawks with 20 points. The edge here goes to Chicago as they just have more overall scoring depth and rely on top guys less.
Defensively the Sharks have more experience with both Boyle and Rob Blake having won Stanley Cups before. This is not true for any blue liner on Chicago. Blake still has some gas left in the tank and is taking care of business down in their own end while Boyle and company are starting scoring rushes up ice. The Blackhawks have Seabrook and Duncan Keith as their top guys. They are both defensive minded defenseman with the exception of the rare occurrence when Seabrook attempt to be a forward. Nabokov is also more tested and as long as he doesn't face 40 shots can be solid in net. The Sharks preventing shots from getting to him is their main game plan. Niemi has been hot and cold. He has posted shutouts but also single handily lost games (game 1 vs Vancouver). Chicago has won in spite on him but how much longer can they keep it up? Neither team has any insurance on the bench if the top net minder falters.
My pick: Well as I said in an earlier post hell will freeze over since one of these teams has to win. The Sharks have received every bounce and call since Boyle's own goal and they seem to have got rid of almost all their demons. Taking down the hated Red Wings was a big mental road block they conquered. This will certainly be a series with goals at a premium and I just don't see Hossa going to the Cup Finals 3 years in a row with 3 different teams. Has any athlete ever lost 3 straight years in his sports finals with 3 different teams, not that I can think of. With that said, first franchise finals appearance it is, San Jose in 7.
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