Crunch time for Sharks and Avs | SI.com's Rink Side Blog

By Kostya Kennedy, SI.com

A few thoughts on tonight's games in the Western Conference.

Sharks at Stars, 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN
(Stars lead two games to none)

Think playing Calgary for seven games takes a toll? The Sharks wouldn't admit to any lingering effect, but after going to the brink with the scrappy and grating Flames, then losing in OT in Game 1 to Dallas, San Jose's third period breakdown in Game 2 might have been foreseen. Now the Sharks and Stars play three games in four nights, a rough stretch at any time. This is now the time for impact players Patrick Marleau and especially Joe Thornton -- who has played well this postseason -- to reach into their deepest reserves.

Dallas is proving to be a deceptively resourceful team. Their confidence level has steadily grown, Marty Turco has refused to be daunted. The Stars now have Sergei Zubov back and, he says, ready to play increasingly important minutes. Tough stuff. The mettle of the Sharks and the legacy that this talented group will leave may well be defined over the next three nights.

Red Wings at Avalanche, 10 p.m. ET, VERSUS, TSN
(Wings lead two games to none)

Their at times shaky goaltending and defensive vulnerability, which was exposed during defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom's late season absence, led people to forget just what a good, complete team Detroit is. That they did so well in the regular season doesn't mean they aren't built for the playoffs. Who knows just what Johan Franzen's been fueling up on (I'll have what he's having), but we do know that Lidstrom, the deserving Norris Trophy winner is fully back (and so, by the by, is the Wings' hellbent forward Darren McCarty, which adds a little juice to this rivalry). We also know that if Peter Forsberg is not healthy and producing for the Avalanche -- and perhaps even if he is -- Detroit will make this series a short one. To make matters more ominous for the Avs, Ryan Smyth will be sidelined for Game 3 with a foot injury likely incurred while blocking a shot in Game 2.

Comments (8) Add A Comment

April 29, 2008 03:26 PM ET

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The Stars lead two games to none... Get that - a BIG none.

pgibby

Rowlett , TX

Total Comments (9)

April 29, 2008 05:11 PM ET

What happens when they win the series? Your big none will be a big WON!!

damon6

Phoenix , AZ

April 29, 2008 05:27 PM ET

Go SJ and Avs!

My hockey pool is counting on you!!

KOBERULEZ

April 29, 2008 06:07 PM ET

ok ok .... not so fast.... yea the Stars might have taken 2wo from SJ back in San jose..... but if you remeber the Sharks were the Road Warriors of the league, almost 30 wins during the regualr season.
They can win away from home, in which they will.
The series will return to the TANK!!!
It will not be 4 games 4-0 sweep for Dallas.
They also play the next two games back-to-back games the next 2wo nights....
It will be a longet series than 5 games!!!
GO SHARKS, BIG JOE, Little JOE, Shelly.

BIG G

Sausalito , CA

Total Comments (1)

April 29, 2008 06:40 PM ET

The contrast between the two sections of this article is deceptive. You should give the Stars more credit. In fact, you could partially revise most of what you said about the Wings to say the following about the Stars:

Their at times shaky goaltending and defensive vulnerability, which was exposed during defenseman Sergei Zubov's 36-game absence, plus a March slump, led people to forget just what a good, complete team Dallas is. That they did so well in the regular season doesn't mean they aren't built for the playoffs. Who knows just what Mike Ribiero's been fueling up on (I'll have what he's having), but we do know that Zubov, a player that should be a Norris nominee almost every season, is back. We also know that if Patrick Marleau keeps jumping over shots and is not producing for the Sharks -- and perhaps even if he is -- Dallas will make this series a short one.

There. Fixed!