After being attacked by Jeremy Roenick, Patrick Marleau answered his critics with an excellent performance in Game 7. Playing hard on the boards with controlled aggression, and going to the greasy areas of the ice, paid off for Marleau. He truly was the straw that stirred the drink tonight, instead of the foam along for the ride. Scoring arguably the greatest goal in franchise history, Patrick Marleau has silenced his critics and delivered when the lights were harshest.
He was a difference maker tonight. Playing great two-way hockey and making plays with his body and speed, Marleau answered his critics with his play. His season just may personify the Sharks story of redemption this year.
For the second straight season, Patrick Marleau has sent the Detroit Red Wings home by scoring the series clinching goal. And really, should it be any other opponent for the San Jose Sharks this season?
Wouldn't the best team in the Western Conference be the most natural choice? When you take into account the lack of a Stanley Cup in either of the franchises, it just makes the series matchup almost too perfect for words. Like the Sharks, Vancouver narrowly escaped the claws of history by pulling off the overtime Game 7 win against the Blackhawks after blowing the lead. Vancouver boasts a deep roster and a goalie familiar to the ex-Blackhawks on the team—Kyle Wellwood knows a thing or two about his former teammates as well.
Incredible hockey is still ahead but, for at least one night, the Sharks and their fanbase can enjoy one of the biggest wins in franchise lore. It's Game 7, and the Red Wings can complete history with a win over the Sharks.
Can San Jose rebound from three straight losses and shed the "choker" reputation? Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.
Spanish La Liga View team list. They are welcoming back their leading scorer in Henrik Zetterberg, and they are well-rested, allowing key members to recover from any lingering injuries.
Johan Franzen stands to gain the most from the time off. He missed Game 4 against the Coyotes after sustaining an upper-body injury. He single-handedly dominated Game 4 a year ago, staving off elimination before the Sharks sent Detroit home in five. Pavel Datsyuk is as good as ever, coming off a terrific performance against Phoenix , with six points two goals, four assists in the sweep.
Ryane Clowe has enjoyed a breakout playoffs so far, leading all Sharks skaters with seven points four goals, three assists in six games. San Jose went against Detroit in the regular-season series this year, including a convincing victory at the Joe in the final matchup.
This record means little to nothing when it comes to this series, however, as the Wings won the series last season before being ousted in five. Much like their first-round opponent, the Sharks must get off to a fast start against the Detroit Red Wings. Not only must San Jose get off to the fast start, they must also maintain play and eliminate dumb penalties and turnovers to expect any success. The Red Wings have outscored their opponents in the first period, while the Sharks have been outscored in the same frame.
More importantly than that, however, the Sharks must eliminate the self-inflicted wounds that plagued them against LA. Neutral zone turnovers and unforced errors left the door cracked open for a Kings team lacking in offensive firepower.
The Red Wings are in no short supply of that kind of talent, and San Jose must take care of the puck and play defense first to win. Committing the same errors and mental mistakes against the Red Wings will lead to an early exit, and San Jose has got to address the inconsistencies in this area.
Staying out of the box is crucial against the Wings, who average 4. Carrying a fifth-ranked power play unit Killing off 18 straight man advantages, the Sharks were aggressive and unrelenting against the Kings' power-play unit. The penalty killers rose to the challenge and killed off 20 of 24 Kings' power plays in the series.
The true test lies ahead against a superb Detroit power play. They've also got to find a way to get their second ranked power play unit untracked, after being stifled against Los Angeles.
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