One of the biggest surprises this post season has got to be the run the San Jose Sharks are enjoying. The Sharks victory over the St Louis Blues gave them their first Stanley Cup appearance in their history.
While its unfair to give all of the credit to one player, Joe Pavelski has been a huge part of the Sharks success. He leads the league this post season with 13 goals and is in second with 22 points. His performance in the Western Conference Finals was the stuff of legend, as he got a point in every game. He managed four goals and nine points overall to turn the tables on the Blues and help the Sharks pull off another upset.
His supporting cast has also been on point. Brent Burns has been the guy managing the point on the power play, and it has resulted in four power play goals and nine power play points. He has been playing 25:05 MPG and has 20 points in the post season. Line mate Logan Couture leads the league with 24 points. The Predators probably are still having nightmares after Couture inflicted six goals and 11 points upon them.
The Sharks also at points this post season have looked like the team that just plain wants it more. That makes sense, when you think that a few core players are reaching the twilight of their careers. Joe Thornton has been electric on the Pavelski line. His 15 assists are only behind Couture, and he has been averaging a point every game. Patrick Marleau has been the most consistent performer not on the top line. He has been clutch for the Sharks, with one goal and five points in the team’s three close out games this post season.
Also important to take into consideration is the way the Sharks blue line has stepped up this post season. Marc-Edouard Vlasic is a top line defender in every sense of the word, as shown by his 13 +/-. Not far behind him is trusty veteran Paul Martin, who has a 10+/- . Justin Braun adds a level of physicality to the Sharks blue line that every team needs this time of the year.
While all of this is important, no team is winning a Stanley Cup unless they have a hot goaltender. Martin Jones hoodwinked the Blues offense, getting a shut out in two straight games. With a 2.12 GAA, Jones has answered the question marks people had for him as an inexperienced goaltender.