The Blackhawks are an interesting match up for the Sharks, having finished with the third best record in the NHL, just one point behind SJ. True, they beat us three times in the regular season, but that was then and this is now...so let's take a minute to examine what it's going to take to win this series.
1) Ability to Score Quickly
Chicago has a young, fast team that can score in the blink of the eye, as evidenced by Troy Brouwer and Kris Versteeg's goals that occurred just 36 seconds apart in the second period of their last game. Dave Bolland added another goal in the second with just 45 seconds left in the period, and then Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien scored 35 seconds apart in the third. This team puts up big numbers quickly, and if we learned anything from the Vancouver series it's that if they catch you napping they will make you pay.
How SJ can neutralize:
-Score quickly themselves, and take it to the Hawks. Chicago isn't the only team that can put the puck in the net...the Sharks scored three times in 79 seconds against Detroit in Game 1.
-No mistakes in defensive zone: Boyle
- Puck control in the neutral zon ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Mitch Reber
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