2016 NHL Playoffs, Rite of Spring: "You thought God was an architect"

[Alex Houston]

See, there they go again, getting my hopes up these next three weeks will be different...

[Cosmic]

3 hours ago, Alex Houston said:

See, there they go again, getting my hopes up these next three weeks will be different...

They've never had a lead in the third round before, so it will be, at the very least, a different kind of losing.

[Kramerica Industries]

9 hours ago, Cosmic said:

The Sharks' arena doesn't have room for the backup goalie to sit on the bench?!?!?!

 

There are a few arenas like that. I'm pretty sure Montreal is another place without a place where the backup goalie can sit. Nassau used to have the backups sitting somewhere in the crowd. 

 

Also observe that San Jose doesn't have a true "inside the glass" position either. That analyst sets up their perch on the far right-end (viewer perspective) of the Sharks' bench. Hard as it might be to believe, that arena was built a good 20 years ago before some more modern standards had been established.

[Alex Houston]

8 hours ago, Cosmic said:

They've never had a lead in the third round before, so it will be, at the very least, a different kind of losing.

 

This is true and it's even more mind boggling when you compare it to a fanbase like the Wings that's won multiple titles over a decade or two decade period. Like, I can't even imagine going through a postseason and saying at the end, "Eh, it's okay. They've won three in eight years. I'm set until retirement." This team has looked solidly better than St. Louis for the majority of the series and I hate that feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. They're the last team I root for who hasn't one once in my lifetime and I'm hoping I can be lucky enough to have the Big Four spots completed by the time I'm 30.

[Cosmic]

3 hours ago, Kramerica Industries said:

 

There are a few arenas like that. I'm pretty sure Montreal is another place without a place where the backup goalie can sit. Nassau used to have the backups sitting somewhere in the crowd. 

 

Also observe that San Jose doesn't have a true "inside the glass" position either. That analyst sets up their perch on the far right-end (viewer perspective) of the Sharks' bench. Hard as it might be to believe, that arena was built a good 20 years ago before some more modern standards had been established.

That's the part that really blew my mind... it's not like it's some old WPA building from the 30s or anything. I guess the early 90s were longer ago than I'm ready to admit.

[FiddySicks]

2 hours ago, Alex Houston said:

 

This is true and it's even more mind boggling when you compare it to a fanbase like the Wings that's won multiple titles over a decade or two decade period. Like, I can't even imagine going through a postseason and saying at the end, "Eh, it's okay. They've won three in eight years. I'm set until retirement." This team has looked solidly better than St. Louis for the majority of the series and I hate that feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. They're the last team I root for who hasn't one once in my lifetime and I'm hoping I can be lucky enough to have the Big Four spots completed by the time I'm 30.

 

I was thinking that the other day as well. It's been a pretty amazing decade to be a Bay Area sports fan, and it's still got 3 1/2 years left. 

 

 

[habsfan1]

So who had the Sharks and the Blues as the West finalists?

[Cosmic]

49 minutes ago, habsfan1 said:

So who had the Sharks and the Blues as the West finalists?

Only their mothers.

[ninersdd]

Desperation move? Hitchcock will swap in Allen for Elliott tomorrow. It's not like Elliott has been terrible(though he maybe could've had one or two of the ones he's given up).

[AHcreative]

3 hours ago, ninersdd said:

Desperation move? Hitchcock will swap in Allen for Elliott tomorrow. It's not like Elliott has been terrible(though he maybe could've had one or two of the ones he's given up).

A little desperation, a little because Elliott's looking tired, and a little to spark the offense. 

[Dynasty]

The Lightning bounced back, and I think this series has a good chance of going 7.

[Alex Houston]

21 hours ago, Bucfan56 said:

I was thinking that the other day as well. It's been a pretty amazing decade to be a Bay Area sports fan, and it's still got 3 1/2 years left. 

 

I'd be cool with some continued even year magic. Very cool with it. 

[AHcreative]

This series is over if the Blues don't win by picking up at least three goals. We need a big game from Tarasenko, Schwartz, Steen, Backes, and Brouwer. Of course, Allen has to be air tight in net, too. Given the Sharks recent habits in the playoffs, this series is far from over, but if the Blues drop this one, it'll be tough to come back. 

[AHcreative]

They really need to do something about these coaches challenges. Maybe if the refs can't figure it out in 30-45 seconds, the play stands. This slows the game down WAY too much. 

[ninersdd]

Embarassing. Obviously the Blues have played much better, but it feels like the Sharks are just shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly.

[DarkJourney]

So it begins..........glub....glub.....glub.

[Morgan33]

What a response from the Blues!  I thought they were finished after being shut out back-to-back, and inexplicably switching to Jake Allen, but this team just will not quit.  Hopefully this series is decided in a game seven showdown.

[habsfan1]

I know both teams have a history of choking in the playoffs. But the thing is, they can't both choke this time.

[Still MIGHTY]

 

49 minutes ago, habsfan1 said:

I know both teams have a history of choking in the playoffs. But the thing is, they can't both choke this time.

 

Yes they can.

 

This series will be decided by whoever loses the least.

 

Game 7, quattuordecuple overtime, kicked into their own net.

[Alex Houston]

Disappointing game for sure, especially on a national stage, though both series have mirrored each other in a weird way. One team looked good in Game 1 and 4, while the other has looked better in 2 and 3. Quite frankly, we'd expect for this to go to six or seven at least, though I definitely expect the Sharks to respond much better to the changes in Game 5 and at the very least, make this series go the distance.