Columbus, Ohio - On the eve of Game 1 of the Western Conference Final the Sharks are pleased to be facing a tough Columbus squad. "We know no matter who we play it is going to be a difficult series, if you get this far you deserve to be here, theres no ifs ands or buts about it" stated Peter Forsberg during a relatively light media scrum in the road dressing room at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus. All the attention is for the hometown boys, which is no surprise to the Sharks, Scott Neidermayer knows why, "They had a very successful season and they are supposed to be here, the hype around the city is amazing. It's a great hockey atmosphere, I just want to get started." The top 2 teams in the West will battle for the right to go to the Stanley Cup finals, does it get any better?
The Blue Jackets beat out the Sharks for the Conference title by a narrow 3 points as the lead changed hands more than once throughout the final stretch of the season. The two meetings between the teams saw Columbus win both by scores of 4-3 and most recently 5-0, those 2 games determined the Conference title, "Don't tell me regular season games don't mean anything" said GM Astles, "Our 2 games against the Blue Jackets determined the Conference, now they have home ice advantage, and that could be huge in a game 7 situation."
The Sharks spent a light practice looking at possible line combinations, but nothing will be set in stone until game time tomorrow night. All the team would say is that there best players have to be their best players for them to have any chance of winning.
Going into game 1 of the Western Final Jose Theodore feels confident, "I've gotten off to a couple slow starts in series, but the last one versus the Wild I felt I really progressed after game 1, I just need to keep the pucks out, and the boys upfront need to put the puck in the net, that's all."
The 2 teams will face off tomorrow at Nationwide Arena in Game 1, who knows who will win, this is a tough series to call. The prediction that we will make is that SOMEONE will win the West in 7. Who you ask? Stay tuned.
Jose Jaws
San Jose Tribune
The Blue Jackets beat out the Sharks for the Conference title by a narrow 3 points as the lead changed hands more than once throughout the final stretch of the season. The two meetings between the teams saw Columbus win both by scores of 4-3 and most recently 5-0, those 2 games determined the Conference title, "Don't tell me regular season games don't mean anything" said GM Astles, "Our 2 games against the Blue Jackets determined the Conference, now they have home ice advantage, and that could be huge in a game 7 situation."
The Sharks spent a light practice looking at possible line combinations, but nothing will be set in stone until game time tomorrow night. All the team would say is that there best players have to be their best players for them to have any chance of winning.
Going into game 1 of the Western Final Jose Theodore feels confident, "I've gotten off to a couple slow starts in series, but the last one versus the Wild I felt I really progressed after game 1, I just need to keep the pucks out, and the boys upfront need to put the puck in the net, that's all."
The 2 teams will face off tomorrow at Nationwide Arena in Game 1, who knows who will win, this is a tough series to call. The prediction that we will make is that SOMEONE will win the West in 7. Who you ask? Stay tuned.
Jose Jaws
San Jose Tribune