Vancouver
Post-season Stats
Roster |
The big advantage the Canucks had heading into the playoffs was that opposing teams couldn't concentrate on just one player, or one line. That's certainly continued through the first two rounds. Vancouver has five players ranked in the top 30 of post-season scorers and the emergence of Ryan Kesler has only made the team more balanced in the playoffs. |
The Canucks love to make life difficult for themselves and their fans. Vancouver simply has problems closing out teams, with the proof coming in their dismal 2-4 record in elimination games. They also rank last of the four remaining teams with a collective minus-4 rating, the only team in the red in that category. The main culprits? Henrik and Daniel Sedin, along with Christian Ehrhoff, who are a combined minus-21. |
He's shutting down the opposition's top player, he's killing penalties, and now Ryan Kesler has found his scoring groove. After being limited to only four assists in the opening round, Kesler broke out in a big in Round 2, scoring five goals -- including game-winners in both Game 3 and 4 -- and nine points in the last three playoff contests. Nashvile coach Barry Trotz went so far as to compare Kelser to hockey's ultimate leader: Mark Messier. |
San Jose
Post-season Stats
Roster |
It's safe to say that the Sharks love playing with the lead. San Jose holds a 6-2 record when scoring the first goal in the playoffs. San Jose's aggressiveness has helped them reach the West final. The team averages 36.5 shots per game, near the top of the heap in the playoffs. Of course, getting timely goals doesn't hurt either as San Jose has won all four overtime games it has played. |
Special teams remain a sore spot. The power play unit has only converted seven times on 51 chances (13.7 per cent), although five of those goals did come in the second round, so the slight improvement is a good sign. But the penalty killing hasn't been much better. The Sharks have allowed opponents to score nine goals on 52 chances (82.7 per cent), a rate that could hurt the club late in games if it doesn't clamp down. |
Winger Ryane Clowe is showing the rest of the hockey world what the San Jose Sharks already know. Clowe is having a breakout post-season, scoring four goals and notching 13 points so far -- tied for second in the playoffs. Clowe has also been dynamite on faceoffs and has a solid plus-6 rating. It's been Clowe's consistent all-around game that's been a major boost to the Sharks' Stanley Cup pursuit. |
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