iSharks - iHawks preview (San Jose Mercury News)
May 20, 2016 21:49:02 GMT -5
Rob, Beans (BOS), and 3 more like this
Post by Isaac on May 20, 2016 21:49:02 GMT -5
San Jose Mercury News
After a successful season by all accounts, the iSharks are busy preparing to take on the iHawks in the first round.
The iHawks finished with 90 points, which would have had them well out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. In the much weaker West, however, they managed to snag the first wild card, and the unenviable match-up with the dynamic iSharks. GM Rob Ranek has made clear that he was disappointed in this season, and only a deep playoff run might change his opinion.
There's hope for the iHawks against the iSharks, however mismatched the series may seem. The iSharks went 1-2 against the iHawks this season, with neither team scoring more than 3 goals in any game. Additionally, star RD Brent Burns will be out for the series, and unproven rookie Michael Brodzinski will step into Burns' role. Ashton Sautner, who played the entire season in the AHL, also will be in the lineup. Compared to the iHawks' star studded defensive corps, the iSharks have a weakness.
Here are some of the key players in the upcoming series:
RD Michael Brodzinski - GM Isaac Reid has spoken to great lengths of Brodzinski's prowess, and scouts have compared him to a young Brent Burns. Burns, of course, will be the man Brodzinski is replacing. He exclusively played with Marc-Edouard Vlasic in practice, and it can be expected that he'll play the vast majority of Burns' minutes. If Brodzinski can at least provide half the production of Brent Burns, the iSharks will be in a much better place.
G Michal Neuvirth – A Vezina frontrunner, Neuvirth will be tasked with picking up the slack left by the iSharks' defensive corps. Neuvirth might not be the most heralded goaltender in the league, but in terms of production there's very few that have been better since Neuvirth was traded from the iFlyers for Matt Nieto and Ben Smith. If he can keep up with the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, the iSharks will make short work of the iHawks.
iSharks' Power Play – The iSharks have one of the scariest power play units in the league. Adding Mark MacMillan in a deadline move has only helped them, and even the best penalty killers have struggled with stopping it. Sacha Guimond has stepped up, and will be trusted in Burns' absence. The iSharks' power play takes plenty of shots, scores plenty of goals, and should receive plenty of opportunities against an iHawks team that isn't afraid of the penalty box.
LD Marc-Edouard Vlasic and RD Martin Marincin – Both Vlasic and Marincin are heralded shut-down, stay-at-home defensemen. Vlasic-Burns was one of the top pairings in the iNHL, but Vlasic will have to learn to play with a new partner, while Marincin will have to prove his breakout season was no fluke.
LW Milan Lucic and RD Dylan McIlrath – Lucic and McIlrath led the iHawks in penalty minutes, with McIlrath finishing second in the league. If they cannot temper the aggression in this series, allowing the iSharks on the power play will only harm their chances of winning.
RW Patrick Kane and C Jonathan Toews – While the iSharks roll out 4 scoring lines and never relieve the pressure, the iHawks mainly rely on Kane and Toews to carry their offensive attack. Neutralizing these two is impossible, but the less opportunities they get the better the iSharks' chances of winning are. Sounds simple, but the iSharks' weakness is in their defense.
G Frederick Andersen – Andersen has had a difficult season, sporting only a .903 save percentage. He will need to step it up in the face of a heavy offensive attack sporting Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Mark MacMillan, and others. Despite having a star-studded defensive corps in front of him, the iSharks will undoubtedly create opportunities and shots. Andersen has to prove he's up to the task and worth his contract.
Chicago Penalty Kill - The iHawks have sported the 3rd best penalty kill percentage in the league. With their propensity to take penalties compounded with the iSharks' lethal power play, Chicago's penalty kill will have to perform. Special teams will play a major role in this series, and slowing the iSharks' power play will be crucial to the iHawks' chances.
Bottom line – the iSharks and iHawks couldn't be more different in terms of their philosophies and styles of play. The iSharks represent a new-age style, with youth mixed with grizzled vets with one goal – puck into the back of the net. The iHawks are old school, filled with grit and determination. Whoever forces the other to play their game will win.
Keys to victory:
iSharks – Control the puck and draw plenty of penalties.
iHawks – Force San Jose to play their game and minimize the iSharks' opportunities on both the power play and even strength.
Prediction – iSharks in 6.
After a successful season by all accounts, the iSharks are busy preparing to take on the iHawks in the first round.
The iHawks finished with 90 points, which would have had them well out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. In the much weaker West, however, they managed to snag the first wild card, and the unenviable match-up with the dynamic iSharks. GM Rob Ranek has made clear that he was disappointed in this season, and only a deep playoff run might change his opinion.
There's hope for the iHawks against the iSharks, however mismatched the series may seem. The iSharks went 1-2 against the iHawks this season, with neither team scoring more than 3 goals in any game. Additionally, star RD Brent Burns will be out for the series, and unproven rookie Michael Brodzinski will step into Burns' role. Ashton Sautner, who played the entire season in the AHL, also will be in the lineup. Compared to the iHawks' star studded defensive corps, the iSharks have a weakness.
Here are some of the key players in the upcoming series:
RD Michael Brodzinski - GM Isaac Reid has spoken to great lengths of Brodzinski's prowess, and scouts have compared him to a young Brent Burns. Burns, of course, will be the man Brodzinski is replacing. He exclusively played with Marc-Edouard Vlasic in practice, and it can be expected that he'll play the vast majority of Burns' minutes. If Brodzinski can at least provide half the production of Brent Burns, the iSharks will be in a much better place.
G Michal Neuvirth – A Vezina frontrunner, Neuvirth will be tasked with picking up the slack left by the iSharks' defensive corps. Neuvirth might not be the most heralded goaltender in the league, but in terms of production there's very few that have been better since Neuvirth was traded from the iFlyers for Matt Nieto and Ben Smith. If he can keep up with the likes of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, the iSharks will make short work of the iHawks.
iSharks' Power Play – The iSharks have one of the scariest power play units in the league. Adding Mark MacMillan in a deadline move has only helped them, and even the best penalty killers have struggled with stopping it. Sacha Guimond has stepped up, and will be trusted in Burns' absence. The iSharks' power play takes plenty of shots, scores plenty of goals, and should receive plenty of opportunities against an iHawks team that isn't afraid of the penalty box.
LD Marc-Edouard Vlasic and RD Martin Marincin – Both Vlasic and Marincin are heralded shut-down, stay-at-home defensemen. Vlasic-Burns was one of the top pairings in the iNHL, but Vlasic will have to learn to play with a new partner, while Marincin will have to prove his breakout season was no fluke.
LW Milan Lucic and RD Dylan McIlrath – Lucic and McIlrath led the iHawks in penalty minutes, with McIlrath finishing second in the league. If they cannot temper the aggression in this series, allowing the iSharks on the power play will only harm their chances of winning.
RW Patrick Kane and C Jonathan Toews – While the iSharks roll out 4 scoring lines and never relieve the pressure, the iHawks mainly rely on Kane and Toews to carry their offensive attack. Neutralizing these two is impossible, but the less opportunities they get the better the iSharks' chances of winning are. Sounds simple, but the iSharks' weakness is in their defense.
G Frederick Andersen – Andersen has had a difficult season, sporting only a .903 save percentage. He will need to step it up in the face of a heavy offensive attack sporting Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Mark MacMillan, and others. Despite having a star-studded defensive corps in front of him, the iSharks will undoubtedly create opportunities and shots. Andersen has to prove he's up to the task and worth his contract.
Chicago Penalty Kill - The iHawks have sported the 3rd best penalty kill percentage in the league. With their propensity to take penalties compounded with the iSharks' lethal power play, Chicago's penalty kill will have to perform. Special teams will play a major role in this series, and slowing the iSharks' power play will be crucial to the iHawks' chances.
Bottom line – the iSharks and iHawks couldn't be more different in terms of their philosophies and styles of play. The iSharks represent a new-age style, with youth mixed with grizzled vets with one goal – puck into the back of the net. The iHawks are old school, filled with grit and determination. Whoever forces the other to play their game will win.
Keys to victory:
iSharks – Control the puck and draw plenty of penalties.
iHawks – Force San Jose to play their game and minimize the iSharks' opportunities on both the power play and even strength.
Prediction – iSharks in 6.