The NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals began on Memorial Day in Pittsburgh, PA, as the Penguins hosted the San Jose Sharks. The Pens won the Eastern Conference final after surviving a seven-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning; while the Western Conference Sharks were able to dispatch the St. Louis Blues in six games. This marks Pittsburgh’s fifth trip to the finals, but the Sharks, however, are entering unchartered waters, competing for the Cup for the first time.
Both teams made coaching changes prior to reaching the post-season: San Jose brought in former New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer last off-season, while Mike Johnston was fired from the Pens and replaced by Mike Sullivan in December.
This year’s Stanley Cup showcases two young, rookie goaltenders: Martin Jones with the Sharks and Matt Murray of the Pens. Although Murray was pulled from the Conference Championship for inconsistency, he was able to bounce back during games 6 and 7. Jones was traded twice during the off-season, first from the Los Angeles Kings to the Boston Bruins, and then to San Jose.
Offensively, the Pens are hitting their stride. Team Captain Sidney Crosby was instrumental in moving past the Lightning, and is still considered the league’s best player. (He finished the season as a finalist for the Art Ross trophy.) Plus, with Phil Kessel, Patrick Hornqvist and the always dangerous Evgeni Malkin, the Pens have enough firepower to match the Sharks. There’s also the unsung hero of this post-season, rookie Bryan Rust, who recently scored three goals in two playoff games.
San Jose’s offense is just as deep. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, captain Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl, and scoring leader Logan Couture have been on point this post-season, leading the league in goals (63). The real strength of the Sharks, however, might be on the blue line. Norris Trophy finalist Brent Burns is that tall, fearsome guy with the Viking beard. He, along with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Roman Polak and off-season acquisition Paul Martin, have been steady, productive and punishing.
The Sharks also made a play for Joel Ward last summer. Ward is the type of player that you don’t hear about much during the regular season, but come playoff time he’s Mr. Clutch. Another move the Sharks made was signing Danius Zubrus; Zubrus was cut from the Blues earlier this season. He is as healthy as can be right now, and one of the better defensive forwards.
Prediction: These two teams split the season series 1-1. The Pens are favored by Vegas, and rightfully so. A number of current Pens have been on both sides of the coin, having lost in 2008 and winning in 2009. Pittsburgh is a very fast team and there is no denying how talented they are on offense. But the Sharks are equally good up front and better defensively. Goaltending is a huge factor as well, and Jones has been more consistent than Murray throughout. The coaches are wild cards, as neither DeBoer or Sullivan have won before. For me, I’m taking the Sharks in six.
I’ll be tweeting from the NHL Combine and the NHL Draft live in Buffalo, NY, so be sure to follow along on Twitter @wolf3328.
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