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#1
#2 San Jose faces #7 Calgary
By the Numbers
San Jose 108 pts.
2.64 GPG
2.28 GAA
18.5% PP
85.8% PK 1st in the NHL
Calgary 94 pts.
2.77 GPG
2.74 GAA
16.8% PP
81.2% PK
Sharks overview
Goalie E. Nabokov was probably the most consistent goalie in the league this year and should win the Vezina. He had no safety net this year (Toskala) and performed brilliantly, especially early in the season when his mates were stumbling along. He was overused, so will fatigue become a factor? He is not used to shouldering that kind of load like his counterpart in Calgary.
The Sharks went 17-3 after the acquisition of d-man B. Campbell. He will need to have a big series to help generate some offense. Campbell has only 34 playoff games under his belt. The rest of the Sharks blue line offers a little bit of everything except offense. C. Rivet is their best other rearguard.
J. Thornton continues to accumilate a lot of points upofront for the Sharks. P. Marleau had a rotten year and will look for redemption in the playoffs. Marleau does have 31 goals in 73 playoff games. IMO, the key to the Sharks going a long way in the playoffs will be the play of J. Cheechoo. When he is scoring regularly, the Sharks can play with any team. He had a very nice stretch late in the season before an injury took him out. He was also horrible for the first half of the season and his numbers have sharply dropped the last 2 years.
M. Michalek and J. Pavelski will also be counted on to add secondary scoring. A big plus for the Sharks is the return of R. Clowe. If he is healthy, he adds more size and some scoring to their thin forwards rank. J. Roenick scored several game winning goals for the Sharks and any scoring from him will be a bonus.
Flames overview
M. Kiprusoff again played in over 70 games and his numbers slipped again. It is doubtful he can have the type of run he had in 04, but an improvement is necessary for the Flames to upset the Sharks. CUJO has his back.
D. Phaneuf leads the Flames from the blue line with a booming shot and big hits. The rest of the Flames d-men are all big, but not very mobile. A. Aucoin adds another big shot. I think the Flames d-men match up well with some of the Sharks big forwards.
J. Iginla leads the forwards for this thin team. Iginla has played in only 41 playoff games with 26 of those games coming in one year. K. Huselius and D. Langkow must help on the scoresheet. A. Tanguay is one of the bigger pussies in the league and his playoff numbers are not up to snuff, especially when you consider who his linemates have been over the years.
M. Lombardi and veterans C. Conroy and O. Nolan need to add secondary scoring to help the top line. Nolan had a decent comeback year and surely will look forward to meeting his old team.
Coaches and Intangibles
R. Wilson will be fired if he loses this series; yeah, he is under pressure. M. Keenan surprised many by not imploding and leading the Flames to a playoff spot. It seems both of these coaches greatest accomplishments were a long time ago (the 90's). I don't see them being much of a factor.
Both teams are relatively healthy and will be ready to go.
To me the biggest question of this series will be if Captain Marleau and his mate Thornton can lead the Sharks to victory. Most would agree that Marleau is not captain material and that Thornton has always been a regular season phenom that disappears in the playoffs. On the flip side, Iginla is generally considered a very good leader and will do what it takes to lead his team.
Can Nabokov's play and the Sharks very good special teams be enough to eliminate the Flames? Can either team generate some offense from their 2nd lines? Can Kiprusoff steal a game or two in the Shark tank?
The Pick
I am waiting for another book(s) to put out their numbers, but I will take a chance on the Flames at big plus money. This will be a physical series and I don't trust the Sharks psyche until they can prove they can get it done when adversity strikes.
I do expect many to be on the Flames as their "upset special".
I expect a lot of low scoring/OT games in this series. Totals of 5 should be the norm.
FWIW the Flames were 3-1 vs the Sharks this year.
When the game is on the line, would you rather have Thornton or Iginla? Campbell or Phaneuf? Nabokov or Kiprusoff? Those are the 6 "studs" in this series and I will take the boys from Alberta even though the Sharks are on a great roll.
I'll post the number I got when I pull the trigger.
0
,he went 15 wins 1 loss 2 no decisions,with a GAA 1.90 .Kipprusoff played in 76 games this season,allowing 3+ goals in 41 of those 76 games.Nabokov on the other hand played 77 games,only allowing 3+ goals in 22 games.Now like NFL football ,were the QB is the most valuable postion,its the same thing for NHL hockey,it starts from the goalie.Clearly the better goaltender is Nabokov hands down.If the Sharks come out and play thier style of hockey they should be able to dominate a Flames team that struggles to score 2 goals in any game.In order for the Flames to take this series they are going to have to hold the Sharks to 1 goal or less every single game.Thats just not gonna happen here.Iggy cannot do it all by himself and his supporting staff , 
.That series goes 5 games tops.Sharks take both games at home , lose the 3rd game in Calgary,win game 4 in Calgary and come home to close it out in 5. 
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