Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison delivers his insights into the world of hockey, on and off the ice.
Sharks have much more to lose than Flames
Comments (8)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 | 12:13 AM ET
By Scott Morrison
“Well, it's the seventh game, if you don't win you're out. If I have to manufacture desperation, we are in dire straits. Our players know what's at stake.”
That penetrating glance into the obvious was brought to you by San Jose Sharks coach Ron Wilson, and he is as obvious, of course, as he is right.
The loser tonight in San Jose, either the Calgary Flames or the Sharks, is indeed out.
But it is not quite that simple, though in many ways it is.
There is much more at stake for the Sharks tonight, specifically the future of the coaching staff and the roster as we know it.
It is highly doubtful that management will resist making significant change again if this team doesn't at the very least reach the Stanley Cup final, nevermind put away the pesky Flames.
Remember, a year ago it took general manager Doug Wilson several weeks and several meetings before he announced that Ron Wilson and his staff would return for another kick at it. He also resisted making major roster changes, although he did eventually add Brian Campbell at the trade deadline.
But how do you stand pat if you lose in the first round, especially after being the hottest team in hockey over the final month of the season? That can be viewed as nothing more as yet another tease of what this team can be.
Know this: if there is a Wilson going out the door it is Ron first, then Doug, and we doubt the latter will be let go.
As for the Flames, a loss tonight is not high on their list of things to do, again obviously, but it would be a little easier to swallow only in that they were a seventh seed and expectations, at least from the outside, were different.
They will, however, lament having blown a 2-1 lead with two late goals in Game 4, including the winner by Joe Thornton with nine seconds remaining on home ice. Win that night and the series would have been over Sunday and today would be a day for shoveling snow.
In the end, the keys remain the same. Jarome Iginla has to be one of the three stars when the night is over and goaltender Miika Kiprusoff, as he did Sunday night, must outplay Evgeni Nabokov. When those two stars have aligned the Flames have won in this series. When they didn't they lost. That is the reality that confronts and ultimately may limit them, if not this series then deeper into the spring.
Bottom line, let's get beyond the obvious of Ron Wilson, which is really more rhetoric than honesty: Flames win and Wilson is done. Sharks win and Wilson still has to prove himself next round.
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About the Author
Scott Morrison, the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fameís 2006 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, has been covering hockey for 25 years. The Toronto native began his career at the Toronto Sun in 1979. After spending more than 11 years as a hockey writer and columnist at the paper, Morrison became Sports Editor in 1991 and led the section to being named one of North America's top-ten sports sections in 1999 - the first sports section in Canada to receive the AP Sports Editors North American Award. Scott, a former two-term president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, joined Rogers Sportsnet in 2001 as Managing Editor, Hockey, and is currently both a commentator on Hockey Night in Canada and a columnist for CBC.ca.
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Comments (8)
Kevin Good
Am I the only one that cant believe that Playfair puts out Ericson #8 and Sarich #6 our 2 worst defenceman at the same time on a penalty kill. Ericson has been out for all the goals I think. I want Playfairs head for that rediculis move. Kevin
Posted April 23, 2008 12:01 AM
Sean
Calgary
It's over,when big Robin rocked big Joe Sunday in cowtown the sharks colective teeth fell out. Jerome, Kipper,Dion and the boys will be celebrating later tonight as will the rest of this city.......
Posted April 22, 2008 06:45 PM
JS
Calgary
Let's hope the NHL has assigned senior crew for tonights game and not a couple of up and comers. We remember 6 calls in a row against the Flames. Take them out of the equation to give the Flames a chance to claim Game 7 and head for Detroit.
Posted April 22, 2008 05:14 PM
Richard
Victoria
Oh, baby this will be good! Smash and crash Flames and keep that forecheck going and cycle, cycle, cycle! Run the Sharks through the boards and they will melt like snow on the California part of the I5 in mid-August! If the refs don't interfere as they have seemed to do allot to Calgary in this series Calgary will win. They have the experience and the bigger heart, a.k.a Game 3. Go Flames Go!
Posted April 22, 2008 05:02 PM
Randy
Ottawa
If the Sharks lose, they'll be the Ottawa Senators of the West. Great team, tons of talent but no playoff pedigree....
Cheers,
Posted April 22, 2008 02:28 PM
Jason
Calgary
I am a die hard flames fan, but how do the Flames get off easy by stumbling into the post season? Isn't this a cup contender at season start? I think both teams are great, but I cannot see either get past Detroit next round, especially the Sharks. Both teams have much to lose, but Calgary has been the much better team when the refs aren't controlling the play.
Posted April 22, 2008 11:50 AM
Mark
Vancouver
Absolutely right. Unfortunately for the Sharks, not only does their top end feel the heat but perhaps some of the high end core players as well. What good is a core of underachievers? Everyone consistantly says how good San Jose's lineup is but a lineup is only as good as it's playoff run. Maybe they aren't that good, afterall what are we basing it on if they bow out in the first round? As a bandwagon Flames supporter this postseason I am hoping the players feel the pressure as much as the coaching staff, as they should.
Posted April 22, 2008 08:05 AM
Richard
Toronto
Woo woo, gonna be total mayhem with crazy energy.
Posted April 22, 2008 03:21 AM