The End of the Line for San Jose
For the better part of the last 13 years the San Jose Sharks have consistently been one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Despite this they did not make it to the Stanley Cup Finals until last season, and that was a year after they missed the playoff in 2015. For most of the 2016/17 season the Sharks looked like they could make another run to the Stanley Cup Finals, but a late season slump carried over into the playoffs as they were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in six games. Losing the finale Saturday Night at home 3-1.
San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) watches as the Edmonton Oilers celebrate their tying goal during the third period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
The series was billed as the young Oilers against the veteran Sharks, with the Oilers inexperience costing them dearly in the opener, as the Sharks rallied to win 3-2 in overtime, taking advantage of Edmonton’s undisciplined play. The Oilers though took advantage of the Sharks age the next two games, as the lack of Joe Thornton in Game 2, really began to haunt the Sharks. After being blanked in two straight games the Sharks exploded for seven goals in Game 4 to even the series with a 7-0 win. Game 5 in Edmonton would be where the series was ultimately decided. The Oilers scored early to answer the Sharks onslaught in Game 4, but found themselves down 3-1 late in the second period. Instead of trying to build on the lead, the Sharks went into a defensive shell trying to run out the clock, but the Oilers eventually tied the game and won in in overtime 4-3.
On Saturday Night, the Sharks were flat again, as the Oilers took control of the game, with two goals in the second period, one by Leon Draisaitl 54 seconds in, and another Anton Slepyshev nearly a minute left. Both goals came on breakaways for the younger Oilers. The Sharks got on the board with a goal by 19-year veteran Patrick Marleau with just under eight minutes left in the game. The Sharks would not be able to get any close, as Connor McDavid put the game on ice with an empty net goal in the final second.
The San Jose Sharks congratulate the Edmonton Oilers after losing Game 6
With most of their team well past 30, and young up and coming teams like the Oilers rising in their division the Sharks will face a serious cross road this off-season as the window of opportunity could be closed, leaving management with a decision to begin breaking down the team and rebuilding or fade into oblivion with an aging team in a young man’s game.
Frank Fleming is the Creator of the Sportsecyclopedia.com