Will the Sharks come again and win the Western Convention finals?

The San Jose Sharks are down Three-2 to the St. Louis Blues within the Western Convention finals. However they’ve come again from such a deficit earlier than, as they engineered a comeback in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights within the first spherical. Have they got one other such run in them? Our specialists debate.

Will the Sharks come again and win the collection?

Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL author: I am about 80 p.c on the St. Louis Blues closing out the collection in six video games, and about 20 p.c on the Sharks rallying to win it. That 20 p.c relies much less on logic than on the truth that … look, I’ve coated San Jose for 3 rounds. I’ve seen stuff you would not consider. A rally from down three video games to at least one. A phantom main penalty in a Sport 7 and their energy play scoring 4 instances through the ensuing man benefit. An obscurely enforced offside play caught by a coach’s problem, taking away a objective in one other Sport 7. A blatant hand move in an additional time earlier than a game-winning objective on this collection.

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I’ve seen sufficient to think about there’s one thing cosmic happening right here. However I’ve additionally seen Erik Karlsson trying like he must be getting prepped for offseason groin surgical procedure, and a Sharks offense that has gone drier than day-old toasted ravioli, with only one objective since Sport Three. What the Blues took away from that recreation wasn’t frustration with that blown hand move name, however an acknowledgement that it ought to have by no means reached that second by way of Logan Couture’s 6-on-5 objective close to the top of regulation. Sport 5 was the end result of that training, because the Blues by no means took their toes off the fuel pedal in a 5-Zero rout. That killer intuition — the Blues are Four-Zero in elimination video games or video games that pressured one — and Jordan Binnington’s continued unflappability inform me to consider within the 80 p.c … whereas side-eyeing the 20 p.c. Blues in six.

Emily Kaplan, nationwide NHL reporter: I just like the Blues to win this collection, since they solely have to win one of many subsequent two. The Sharks are banged up, and Sport 6 appears like it will likely be performed with out not less than a few of their hobbled stars, or some not taking part in at 100 p.c (Peter DeBoer is taking part in coy on Erik Karlsson, Tomas Hertl and Joe Pavelski updates).

However say it goes to Sport 7. St. Louis is the perfect street workforce in these playoffs, going 7-2 thus far. The Blues’ forecheck is stifling proper now. They’re getting manufacturing from throughout — 18 totally different gamers have scored — whereas the top-end forwards equivalent to Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz are discovering their stride. What’s extra, they’ve a locked-in, scorching goaltender. These are the identical components that helped information the Bruins into the Stanley Cup Closing, and I see St. Louis becoming a member of them there.

Chris Peters, NHL draft and prospects author: There is just one approach the Sharks can get again into this collection, and that’s Martin Jones taking part in out of his thoughts. Because the Sharks’ offense stagnates, it is nearly totally on Jones to not less than give them an opportunity. Nevertheless, if that is San Jose’s hope, the chances are not of their favor. Jones has given up three or extra objectives in 4 of the 5 video games thus far this collection, and hasn’t had a degree of consistency this season that offers one religion he’ll discover it now. Jones has a .902 save share in these playoffs, by far the bottom mark of his profession, and a minus-Eight.51 objectives saved above common. Even with these numbers, he is nonetheless a goalie who’s able to flashes of brilliance, and we have seen that at instances this postseason.

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This Sharks workforce has gotten some bounces and so they’ve additionally been excellent for stretches of this postseason, however they’re dropping the proverbial struggle of attrition right here. You surprise if perhaps their luck has lastly run out. I consider the Sharks can come again, however provided that Jones locks it down and San Jose’s depth steps up in a serious approach. This workforce has thrived on emotion and have had their backs in opposition to the wall sufficient instances this postseason that they are going to combat again. In the long run, there isn’t a rational motive to choose the Sharks, however how a lot of this postseason has been rational? I am going to chunk. Sharks in seven.

Dimitri Filipovic, hockey analytics author: I would like to play the position of satan’s advocate right here, as a result of it is boring once we all agree about one thing. However after what we simply witnessed over the weekend, it actually appears like we will not in good conscience faux that issues are something however bleak for the Sharks proper now. It is not simply that the Blues beat them by a decisive margin on the scoreboard, but it surely’s the way wherein they did it that is awfully tough to shake proper now for anybody hoping that San Jose can flip this collection round. Whereas St. Louis seemed like a well-oiled machine that was firing on all cylinders, the Sharks had been dropping like flies. That is finally why it is arduous to speak your self into selecting them, as a result of it is unimaginable to know what you are going to get from their finest gamers.

At numerous factors throughout Sport 5, Hertl, Pavelski and Karlsson had been all within the locker room tending to their illnesses. Even when every of them do play in Sport 6, it is honest to surprise what sort of form they’re going to be in, and the way a lot they’re going to have left within the tank to contribute. That is particularly the case for Karlsson, who hasn’t been capable of correctly end back-to-back video games now, and has seemed like a shell of himself bodily as he tries to combat by the accidents which have utterly sapped him of his trademark mobility. Not solely is he having bother going again to retrieve pucks, however when he does get it, he is fighting navigating the Blues’ forecheck with out that elusiveness.

For the Sharks to win this collection, they should beat St. Louis off the frenzy with their pace benefit, however with out Karlsson with the ability to constantly transition the puck up the ice, they have been utterly neutralized at 5-on-5. Well being can usually be the deciding issue this time of yr, and the Blues definitely have the sting there for the time being. St. Louis wins this collection.