Sharks in Dangerous Waters

Home ice advantage proved to be no advantage for the San Jose Sharks. The Chicago Blackhawks did what they’ve done all postseason long, continuing their road dominance.

The ‘Hawks record now stands at 7-1, away from the United Center. Now down 0-2, the Sharks are hoping to seize the day in Chicago’s home barn, where they are a modest 3-3 thus far.

Not that the boys by the ‘Bay are any better playing away from HP Pavilion, winning three and losing two. This has to change in order for the top seeded Sharks to get back into this series though.

It’s not impossible, as we have seen in several series throughout these playoffs, to come back from seemingly insurmountable deficits. The Blackhawks are well aware of that though and they are a team that is starting to flex their pre-season expectation muscles.

See many thought this Original Six franchise from the proverbial Windy City was primed and ready to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time in over 40 years. For much of the season they looked like the team to beat out west.

The Sharks, to their credit, got back into the contenders discussion during the season, despite the first round disaster from last season and promptly took the top seed away from the Hawks. Unfortunately, the men in black…and teal are looking fairly inferior to the pre-season media darlings.

In Game 1, Antti Niemi absolutely stole the show, making 45 saves and many of them the highlight reel kind. Dustin Byfuglien, someone who I will mention in a little while as well, broke the tie with a bullet from the high slot that Evgeni Nabokov simply couldn’t track.

Nabokov was sharp, outside of letting in a weak goal by…Sharp, Patrick Sharp. His wrister from just inside the blueline is something that simply a tight game like this one was shaping up to be allowed. But it did and it gave way to the hulking power forwards game winner.

So, it was onto Game 2 and the Sharks feeling confident, despite being down early in the series. The great whites on the team were looking to have big games and get their team in the win column.

It was not to be on this night.

Instead, it was Chicago’s big chiefs who took control for these newly found road warriors and have now put San Jose in a precarious predicament, to say the least.

Led by “Captain Serious” Jonathan Toews and that Byfuglien guy again, the ‘Hawks seized a three goal lead, a little less than the midpoint of the contest. Andrew Ladd also helped build this stout lead and Niemi was able to hold the fort, just enough.

Patrick Marleau did score two goals, albeit one of them during garbage time. Joe squared have been quiet so far. Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski haven’t been a factor thus far in this series…unless you count impressive two-handed Paul Bunion-like chops.

Luckily Dave Bolland didn’t suffer anything significant as far as injuries are concerned. Joe Thornton avoided a potential suspension due to Bolland being unharmed, more or less.

Frustration or not, a leader like Thornton needs to set a better tone than trying to hurt someone late in a game that was already well in-hand for the visitors.

Instead of using your stick as a weapon, Thornton, why don’t you attempt to do the other sort of damage with your hockey stick and put up some points?

Chicago will definitely not forget that, but they will attempt to take care of business before they take care of business. Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Dany Heatley, Ryane Clowe and the rest of these Sharks need to follow Chicago’s lead and try to cut their lead in half tomorrow night.

If they fall down 0-3 in this series, it will most likely spell T-H-E E-N-D. And these aren’t the Boston Bruins they will be trying to make history on if this scenario plays out the way I’ve suggested.

Chicago is battle tested, talented and most importantly has been here before.

The Sharks have too, but not with this group. Back in 2004, the last time this franchise made it this far, the core was significantly different. Only Nabokov was here when they fell to the hands of the Calgary Flames.

Different team, similar result? We’ll know more tomorrow evening.