I've said this several times this season... the Sharks have one of the best bottom 6 core in the league. These guys are very under rated and the media seems to not notice.
Other reasons:
1. Jones has been a wall like the SCF playoff run, and unlike the 1st round exit to the Oilers last year.
2. Kane has been the missing piece that enabled Deboer to not raid the other lines' talent. He's also been the spark plug that Doug Wilson talked about needing following the SCF loss to the Pens.
What??? Jones was far and away our best player in last seasons loss to the Oilers.
Y
3. This is not the same team and style as that SCF run season. These guys are much faster which the Ducks are not handling.
4. The Ducks game plan does not exploit the Sharks weakness. Their game plan seems to be pounding square pegs into round holes as if we are in a time-warp back about 5 or so years ago. I have to wonder what the heck is the Ducks coach thinking, but I like it.
5. Deboer is not making stupid coaching mistakes in the playoff games either. He's buttoned it up.