Four things San Jose Sharks need to do to win against Vancouver Canucks in Game 2 of finals
San Jose Sharks are still most probably stunned about what happened to them in game one of the National Hockey League playoff Western Conference finals against the top seed in the division, Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.
Vancouver had been down 2-1 entering the final period but they bounced back as Kevin Bieksa and Henrik Sedin scored consecutively almost a minute apart to take the match in a flash. Game one could have gone to the Sharks, but all of a sudden, they let their
defences down and the Canucks took advantage of that situation. Playoff games cannot be taken easy. Even for a second a team cannot let its guard down and a perfect example of the outcome that follows is the game one matchup against Vancouver and San Jose.
“I thought our team looked tired. I thought our team looked sluggish,” San Jose Coach Todd McLellan said. “There's nights when we lose our legs, but our minds are still pretty sharp, and I didn't think that was the case tonight. It started between the ears
and it worked all the way through the body. We were like dogs chasing cars on the freeway. We just weren't catching anybody.”
There are four things the San Jose Sharks not only need to do, but must do if they are thinking of closing in on the Canucks during game two, because if Vancouver take a 2-0 lead, things will only get harder for the Sharks who have high hopes vested in this
playoff series. The Sharks need to:
Get more physical
Coming into the game one after a tiring seven-game series against Detroit Red Wings showed how much energy the previous semi-final series had really taken out of them. A team which is extraordinary in its physicality looked more like a bunch of players who
were just ready to fall down any moment and drown into slumber.
The Canucks outshot the Sharks 38-26 in game one, which is something they really have to work on. 26 is not a sufficient amount of shots in any game if one is looking to win. Detroit used to accuse the Sharks of being too physical with their goalie Jimmy
Howard and that is the same way they need to play against Roberto Luongo.
Outrun Vancouver players
Keeping the puck in your own defensive end will only tire out your own players who have to keep on fighting for control over it. Moving the puck more downwards and making Vancouver struggle for a chance is another important aspect in winning. Until and unless
the Canucks burn themselves out chasing the puck, San Jose will continue facing shot after shot on their net.
Control the penalties
Vancouver only gave two penalties throughout the match while San Jose gave more than double (5). Henrik Sedin’s game winning goal was due to a San Jose penalty which could have been avoided if the discipline was maintained. Playing physical does not mean
getting penalised- it should be done in a transparent and skilful manner.
Make special teams
Every team has a special team within themselves and that is the perfect solution to San Jose’s current problems. They need to create a special number of players that can confidently tackle the San Jose onslaught and lock them down both offensively and defensively.
San Jose need to effectively take advantage of every power play opportunity that comes to them, otherwise getting through Luongo will become an unachievable feat.
Only time can tell whether San Jose will be able to make it even in game three which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. They sure have the capabilities to, but knowing how to use them will be the determining factor of the series.
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