Sharks grind it out in 7

[angryjay93]

In a long, grueling series that tested the wills of every player on the ice, the San Jose Sharks managed to outlast the Kings in what will go down as one of the most memorable series of all time. The matchup featured two teams who were complete opposites of each other. The Kings featured Jeremey Roenick, Briand Bradley, and Don Sweeney that led a bruising defensive minded team to a second place finish and a first round bye in the conference finals. The Sharks featured the likes of Pierre Turgeon, Mark Recchi, and Jimmy Carson that razzled and dazzled their way to the 5th seed and an upset victory over the 4th seeded Boston Bruins in the first round.

Neither style prevailed as both teams locked horns for 7 exhausting games of momentum changing goals, saves, and hits. The results of each game are below.

Game 1: 4-3 OT LA

Game 2: 3-2 SJ

Game 3: 4-3 OT SJ

Game 4: 4-3 LA

Game 5: 4-3 LA

Game 6: 4-3 OT SJ

Game 7: 4-3 SJ

7 one goal games, 3 overtime games and 6 games that ended with a 4-3 score. Jeremey Roenick provided some late game heroics in game 5 as he conducted an incredible come back to score two goals in the last 70 seconds. Roenick provided timely goal scoring and great defense all series. Joe Niuewendyk pitched in with a pair of goals in game 7 to make up for Brian Bradleys lack of production throughout the series.

On the San Jose side, Mark Recchi did everything he could to keep with Roenick, Carson pithced in a few timely goals and Turgeon finally came alive with a hat trick in game 7. Alexei Gusarov scored two big goals in the series to keep the sharks alive in game 2 and game 6.

"We arent sure just how many people out there gave us a chance in this series. We faced an absolute defensive powerhouse in LA and we knew we werent going to score all the time on them, we just had to stay solid in our own zone and convert whatever few chances we were going to get," said the Captain Pierre Turgeon.

No lead was safe in this series as San Jose took countless leads into the 3rd period only to seem the evaporate and then have to reestablish them.

"This was just a sick series, there were no big leads, no one really dominated out there, everything was just an absolute battle, LA gave us a hell of a time, one bounce going in there direction could have changed the whole series and we could be going golfing right now. Instead, we kept battling by coming back in game 6 and 7 to grind out some victories, a series like this one will only make us stronger, we never feel we are out of it and this only strengthens that belief," said an exhausted Recchi.

There is still more on the table for the Sharks though, they will now face the vaunted Chicago Blackhawks who absolutely mopped up the league this year en route to the top seed in the west and showed their power in a 4 game sweep against an upstart Vancouver team.

"We're going into a series with a team that just had our number all year, but were playing the best hockey of the season right now and they will have to win this series, were not going to give it to them. If we thought we were underdogs these last two series, it doesnt compare to this one, were gonna come at Chicago, were not going to let them stay comfortable, were going to give them everything can handle and see where everthing falls, thats all a coach can ask for," said coach Angry jay in a post game conference.

Good series, gr81, you nearly gave me a heart attack with all those one goal games. i didnt think it was possible, but this series tops the one i had with hokkeefan a few months ago.