Once again, the Sharks pressed forward but were unable to get past the 3rd round (Conference finals). This time it's the Vancouver Canucks. But if you compare to last year, they got 1 game further, losing 4-1 (they lost 4-0 to the eventual Champions Blackhawks).
This year was significantly different than last year. This year all 8 teams of the Western Conference were dominant and could have won it all. Besides Phoenix (swept by Detroit), all series were competitive this playoffs.
So where did the Sharks falter? I will say it was in Round 2. Being up 3-0 on Detroit, the Sharks should have "stepped on their throats" and finished them off in game 4 or game 5. Then the Sharks would have had the same amount of rest as the Canucks. Instead, they had to battle to Game 7. All that grueling battling led to a slow performance in Game 1 vs Canucks. And it took 3 games to really get their step back.
But in the end, the Canucks were the better team. They are the Presidents Trophy winners and I can see them winning the entire thing, especially if Tampa Bay and Boston keep fighting it out.
If there is a positive from the playoffs it is the emergence of Joe Thornton. Its weird to say that the superstar emerged, but he became a force. It wasn't about points. it was about being a complete player. Offense and Defense. After this performance, you can put him in the same category of Daksuk as a great 2-way player.
What's next? Don't know. The core is still there and the goal tending shored up. Will the cap shrink or grow? Who will be here? who won't? and who will emerge?
Welcome to the off-season (BOOO), where questions will try to be answered.
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