Is It Playoff Time Already?

This morning, I opened up my inbox and found over 30 Google Alerts regarding tonight's game between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks. Granted, this game will help determine the final standings of the Pacific Division, but it is only one game out of 82 regular season contests. What makes this game more special when compared to the other seven times the Sharks and Ducks met this year? Isn't this just another game worth two points? Well, according to all of the buzz surrounding tonight's contest, many people are saying "no".

The reason some think that tonight's game is huge is due to the timing. The Western Conference is so tight right now, that the Sharks could finish anywhere from the 2nd seed all the way to the 7th seed. In addition, this match-up is between two squads that many analysts pegged as front-runners for the Stanley Cup even before the season started. Over the past week, I have read numerous articles and blog posts that think this game will be a preview of the Western Conference Finals (if the seeding allows for it). In fact, a friend of mine even predicted that the winner of tonight's game will be the team to eventually win the Cup. I somewhat agree with the "playoff preview" argument, but I completely disagree with the "Stanley Cup" assumption.

Tonight's meeting will be an exciting match between two very skilled teams primed to go deep into the post-season. Both the Sharks and the Ducks will be fighting intensely for bragging rights and the Pacific Division Title. However, I disagree with those who think that the Stanley Cup Champion can only be either the Sharks or the Ducks. Though I hope that San Jose does win it all, the post-season is simply too long and filled with too many variables to make such an assumption based on the outcome of a single game.

There are a lot of things that can happen during the playoffs. For example, a goalie can get hot or go cold, a coach can put together a bad lineup, or a referee can make a terrible and costly penalty call. In addition, there is always the possibility of injuries as well. Even if one single key player goes down, an entire series' outcome can change...all you have to do is look back at the Sharks' performance after Milan Michalek went down against the Edmonton Oilers.

Bottom line: tonight's game is critical to the standings, but I hesitate to crown the champ before the playoffs even begin.

A San Jose Sharks Blog