West Matchup: (1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) San Jose Sharks
| San Jose Sharks | Detroit Red Wings | |
| Power Home | 0.505 | 0.629 |
| Power Away | 0.658 | 0.552 |
| Power Total | 0.581 | 0.591 |
| Goals For | 258 | 254 |
| Goals Against | 199 | 199 |
| Diff Per Game | 0.720 | 0.671 |
| PowerPlay | 22.4% (2nd) | 17.1% (21st) |
| PenaltyKill | 83.3% (14th) | 84.6% (7th) |
| PP+PK | 105.70% | 101.70% |
Key players for San Jose: Evgeny Nabokov, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo
Key players for Detroit: Dominik Hasek, Todd Bertuzzi, Nicklas Lidstrom
Analysis: I watched most of the San Jose - Nashville series, and I can hardly believe how good the Sharks are. Their forwards are so big, so strong, so relentless, they just wear down your defencemen until there’s nothing left. Nashville wasn’t able to get anything going and by the time they rolled into games three and four their blueliners were looking over their shoulders after every play. Now, they didn’t have to deal with a Norris winner like Lidstrom but Nashville did have a solid, deep blueline.
Detroit’s forwards will have to carry the play because San Jose’s weakest point is most definitely its blueline. Nabokov is playing with passion and will be tough to beat. If the Sharks get their power play going, this series could be over almost before it starts.
The good news for Detroit fans is that their team has gotten past the first series hump and Pavel Datsyuk scored more in the first 6 games of the playoffs than in about the previous 25 games. Look to Detroit to stretch out the series, but the longer it goes, the more the tide will swing in San Jose’s favour. The Sharks are now my current favourite for the Stanley Cup.
Prediction: San Jose in 6
May 5th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I don’t believe that to be true. I think that if Hasek can stay stron and not give up stupid plays like he has, the relentless shots that Detroit puts on net, night in and night out, plus with the on ice sight that Datyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstorm bring, I see Detroit winning this series in 7.
May 5th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Detroit is certainly not making me look good with my predictions this year.
And San Jose, who looked so good in soundly thrashing the Predators in the first round, have looked very ordinary in most of this matchup.