Sharks clinch playoffs, confident they can 'play with anybody'
It’s that festive time of year, the last stretch before the NHL playoffs. Yes, it took a winless week at home before the San Jose Sharks finally clinched a playoff berth. But hey, there’s no denying that they did it in epic fashion.
On home ice. Against the Los Angles Kings — a matchup where saying there's "no love lost" is an understatement.
“Obviously getting into the playoffs was a goal that we set from the start,” Logan Couture said. “So to beat those guys to get in, it was nice.”
The game had the feel of a playoff battle from start to finish. It even had some drama, a la this call after Melker Karlsson’s goal had to be reviewed.
Of course, there is a contingent of the fan base that is skeptical, maybe even fearful about how Team Teal will perform in postseason play. Surely, dropping three straight tilts to the Blues, Oilers and Stars respectfully, is the reason for this. (Arguably, though, the only game they looked genuinely terrible was that last 40 minutes against Edmonton.) That's not to mention that the ghosts from playoffs past still keep fans from attending regular-season games.
But this Sharks team seems bound and determined to prove the naysayers wrong.
“That’s kind of been the story all year,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “That we’ve wanted to prove that we belong in that category of team, and we feel we do.”
Of course, a few things need to happen down the stretch for them to stay in that category. For starters, they need to keep up the habit of rallying as a game goes on, even if they surrender the first goal. Sure, opening up scoring in every game is preferable, but San Jose is going to have to exercise resiliency if it's going to pull out playoff wins. Sharks stat guru @SharksStats reported after last night’s game:
Special teams will also have to go on an upswing. The top power play unit came through in the victory over L.A., but it had been in sore shape for several games prior.
"I think we knew it was just a matter of time," DeBoer said of the top unit getting the job done. "It was nice to have a game like that. We've been spinning our wheels here for a little bit. It hasn't been for lack of effort, but nice to get rewarded."
One of the biggest keys to San Jose having success — and one of the best surprises for the team as of late — is keeping the defense rolling. Not that the Sharks would ever want to start the playoffs without a healthy Marc-Edouard Vlasic in the lineup, but the defense has been doing a pretty darn good job in his absence.
DeBoer commented on how much the rest of the defense corps has stepped up since Vlasic was sidelined.
“I think we’ve asked all the (defensemen) to do a bit more. And I think particularly, (Paul Martin, Brent Burns and Justin Braun) have had to take on a lot more.”
If they can do that — and not fall into a three-game skid like they did last week, of course — the Sharks should be in good shape. They sure as heck already have the confidence in their roster to get the job done.
Joe Thornton said, “I think we’re as deep as anybody, and as far I’m concerned we can play with anybody too.”
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