I wouldn't be suprised if the shark blow out the ducks this game, but I hope it at least it is a close entertaining game.
I actually thought the ducks outplayed the Sharks by a decent margin game 2, but the Sharks were very opportunistic at the end of the 1st, beginning of the 2nd to grab that 3-1 lead. The ducks had so many chances at point blank range, but Jones and the defense really pulled trhough.
I also wonder if the Ducks' physical play will begin to take a toll. The Sharks have been recipient of a lot of big hits/physical play.
I am still amazed how deep the sharks are, their 3 lines all look dangerous. I thought one of the key advantages would be the henrique/kase/ritchie line, but they have been non-factors to negatives.
I wish the ducks would paid Lindholm with Montour and Beach with Manson so that the defensive pairings were a bit more balanced.
Having to play Beach top 4 minutes over Fowler is a big killer for us. Petterson/Bieksa of course is a train wreck waiting to happen. Can't wait to see how the Sharks expose them in Games 3/4.
That Sharks line had 85 even strength points between the 3 of them in the regular season, and they're all young players - 2 of whom have been scratched or sent to the AHL at one point this season, and hadn't all found their game until later in the season.
All of them score at a borderline top-6 rate, but Meier and LaBanc drive possession at a borderline 1st line rate. Tierney, without Meier attached to him, tends to get caved in, but with Meier, his possession numbers are fine. LaBanc and Tierney excel on the PP and PK respectively as well. Timo Meier doesn't play a lot of special teams but he certainly helps them - he is top 10 in the NHL in penalties drawn.
They are a very strong 3rd line. I fully expected Timo Meier to be a guy that goes into a playoff series, has big expectations put on him in a big matchup, and dominates. What he is doing agains Anaheim is likely disappointing for Ducks fans, but he will probably be doing this to other team's 1st lines in the future.
In game 1, I thought he took over the flow of play with some big hits and strong high danger scoring chances.