The Detroit Red Wings closed out the San Jose Sharks in fashion as Mikael Samuelsson did away with 2 first period goals, slowly sinking the Sharks to their watery grave in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. They will now advance onto the Western Conference Finals to face the Anaheim Ducks.
Starting off the game tonight I had this very big empty feeling in the back of my stomach. I had a feeling that the Wings were going to come out on top… but I was afraid at what it was going to cost them. In the beginning of game 6, the Sharks came out pounding away at the Red Wings. Big hits left and right. Lidstrom, Chelios, Lebda, Maltby, all the Red Wings had huge targets on their backs. I knew it down deep in my heart that if the Sharks continued to hit the way they did… they would eventually wear down the Red Wings and have a very strong chance of taking this game. But with 10 minutes left in the 1st period, the Sharks just stopped hitting. The Wings took advantage with it. They were up 2-0 by the end of the first. Dominik Hasek proved his valor once again earning a shut out as the Sharks peppered him with everything and anything they could throw at him. There were many good opportunities for the Sharks, but some of the better shots were handicapped with a rolling puck that wouldn’t sit still on their stick. Jonathan Cheechoo even missed a open net as Detroit defense men crashed into the goal to cover Hasek as he tried some of his mid-game acrobatics.
While reading some of the San Jose forum posts… it seemed to me as alot of the San Jose fans had counted the Sharks after the game 5 loss to the Red Wings. The fans came out in full force and provided a good spark for the Sharks… they were just unable to put it onto the ice and turn it into momentum.
The question now becomes, what happens with the hot mouthed Ron Wilson that was fast enough to put blame on non-producing stars such as Thorton, Cheechoo, and Guerin. When it is my personal opinion that it is all within the coach to put the inspiration out there for the players to act upon. The Sharks do have a very talented team, I just believe that the coaching staff wasn’t able to utilize it to the best of their ability.
For the Detroit Red Wings it is onto the Western Conference Finals to face the Anaheim Ducks. To me, this is a personal battle because I am good friends with a player on the Ducks, Chris Kunitz. Chris and I went to college together at Ferris State University in Michigan. I followed the Bulldogs of Ferris State to the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Ice Hockey playoffs while playing in the pep band. (Go Dawgs!) I drafted him on my fantasy hockey team, just because I knew what type of an impact he was going to have for the Ducks. I’ll have to do my research, but I know the Red Wings had a hard time during the regular season against the Ducks. It should be a great series.
In the end… it was a very good series Sharks fans… I’m sorry that either team had to lose, because the sport of hockey is such a great one. Congrats to the Detroit Red Wings!
