Pros & Cons: Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will fare against each other.
San Jose Sharks by Alexander Monaghan
The San Jose Sharks look to keep the naysayers at bay and make their way to their first Stanley Cup appearance. With their current lineup they stand a good chance although the inhabitants of Southern California may need to shake off the rust after a lengthy eight-day layoff.
To win, the story remains the same. Starting netminder Evgeni Nabokov needs to play well enough to win and the top scorers need to be… top scorers. Point the spotlight on Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and now Joe Pavelski as without their scoring this team cannot maintain their pace.
During the regular season Nabokov surrendered almost four goals per game with a .903 SV%. By comparison, the impending UFA goaltender holds a .907 SV% in the postseason which may mean he can get the job done. The Shark defense will need to protect him from a deep forward corps.
Interestingly enough, Antti Niemi, the Chicago starter (and “savior”) never has faced the Sharks in an NHL game. Welcome to the NHL kid, you are about to face the favorite to win Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Chicago Blackhawks by Joe Depto
The Chicago Blackhawks began their postseason by invoking paranoia in their fan base with a “too close for comfort” series win over the Nashville Predators. That is, if paranoia wasn’t already present given the inexperience of young netminder Antti Niemi as he entered his first postseason with colossal expectations weighing on his shoulders.
To say Niemi has eluded all criticism and skepticism would be a complete misnomer, but Niemi has certainly done his share to ward off those who believed he would be the sole enabler for an early Chicago departure. In the playoffs thus far, Niemi has produced an 8-4 record, with a 2.57 GAA and .909 save percentage. These stats certainly pale in comparison to the men playing in front of him, specifically likely Conn Smythe candidate Jonathan Toews, whose league leading 20 points and 14 assists (also tops in the league) round out a deep forward corp that has helped propel the ‘Hawks to ownership of the highest Goals For average (3.33) of any of the four remaining playoff teams.
Still, the key to victory for the Blackhawks in this series lie neither in net nor in the four rotating lines, but rather on the blueline inbetween. Chicago’s defenseman, a combined plus-eleven in the playoffs, will be counted on to defeat a star-studded San Jose lineup that has gone from choke artists to dominance in a matter of weeks. The player most notable on the Blackhawks blueline will be d-man Duncan Keith, whose minus-1 rating remains the only negative rating of any Chicago blueliner in the team’s top four defenseman. Paired with Brent Seabrook, the duo will likely see substantial ice team against the Sharks’ Marleau-Thornton-Heatley line and will be required to contribute on special teams as well.
Chicago fans have found themselves bouncing back and forth between the favorite and underdog throughout the postseason. As aforementioned, the San Jose Sharks now find themselves as the favorites to hoist Lord Stanley. If the Blackhawks enter this series expecting a San Jose collapse of past seasons’ lore, than the chokers’ crown may be passing the torch this spring.
Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS CEO & Editor-in-chief
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
@NHLHotStove
Joe Depto
NHLHS Pittsburgh Penguins / The Hockey Guys Correspondent
jdepto@nhlhotstove.com
@PensHotStove
