Call the San Jose Sharks Flame-Retardant Duck hunters. And call me one happy camper.
The Sharks won the Pacific Division for the third year in a row. In the journey that brought them here, they had arguably more to say about the failure of the rival Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames to make the playoffs than anyone.
San Jose won both season series, albeit only by goal differential (thanks to a 9-1 shellacking in January) against the Flames. But the Sharks' victory in Calgary Tuesday was the first step in the Flames' elimination that night; coupled with Colorado’s victory an hour later, their hopes were extinguished.
The Sharks absolutely dominated the Ducks this season, winning the first five matchups before falling in the series finale. In the other 73 games they played this season, the Ducks had 84 points—a point percentage of .575. Had Anaheim gotten even the same percentage against the Sharks, they would be just one game back of Colorado for the final Playoff spot.
At least after being embarrassed by the Ducks in the ...
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Article written by MJ Kasprzak