Sizing up the playoff picture for the Sharks
While the Sharks hold their collective breath until they learn the severity of Marc- Edouard Vlasic’s injury, let’s ponder San Jose’s playoff picture — barring, of course, a collapse in the season’s three weeks.
No first- round Stanley Cup playoff matchup is going to favor the Sharks if they’re without Vlasic, their top defenseman, who left Thursday’s eventual loss at Arizona with eight minutes remaining after absorbing a hard — but clean — forecheck by Coyotes captain Shane Doan.
Assuming Vlasic is available in mid- April, here are the challenges the Sharks could face: Anaheim Ducks: If they finish second and third in the Pacific Division — in either order — the two intrastate rivals will meet, with the higher seed getting home- ice advantage. Anaheim won three of the four meetings this season. Both teams have made several personnel changes since their last meeting ( Feb. 2) so it’s wise not to make much of the early season results. Anaheim relies on a heavy forecheck and timely production from Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. Ryan Kesler would be matched against either Joe Thornton or Logan Couture, and a big question mark would be whether Ducks goalie John Gibson, 22, can handle playoff pressure. If not, Frederik Andersen is waiting in the wings. Anaheim led the league in penalty kills and was second on the power play before Friday. Pressure would be on San Jose’s sub- par PK to rise to the occasion. Los Angeles Kings: This rematch of the 2014 first- round series happens only if the Ducks win the division while the Sharks and Kings finish second and third. It might be the best- case scenario for San Jose, even if it does conjure memories of that epic series, which the Sharks lost after going up 3- 0. Los Angeles, which visits San Jose on March 28, has been trying to find the right combination on defense since Robin Regehr retired and Slava Voynov cut ties with the team. While the Kings still play a defensive system and goals are at a premium, San Jose might be more successful wearing down the L. A. blueline over the course of a long series than they would be against any other opponent. The Kings are eighth on the power play and 16th on the kill. Nashville Predators: It’s unlikely, but if the Sharks overcome L. A.’ s seven- point lead and leapfrog the Ducks to win the Pacific but have fewer points than the Central champs, they could face the Central’s fourth- place finishers, probably the Predators. It would mean more travel, but besides owning home ice, the Sharks would avoid playing a SoCal rival — and the Kings and Ducks would play each other. The Predators have picked it up offensively, are middleof- the- road on special teams and rank 11th in goals- against on the strength of Pekka Rinne’s work in goal. The Sharks have lost the first two meetings with Nashville by a combined score of 8- 3 and visit the Preds on April 2. Colorado Avalanche: The Sharks and Avs could play in a West 2 vs. 7 or 1 vs. 8 first- rounder. San Jose beat Colorado twice, lost once and fell during a shootout. It wouldn’t be bad travel, considering it’s a Central foe. The Avalanche rank 21st in goals- against, but goalie Semyon Varlamov is streaky and can win a series on his own. Colorado is 12th on both the power play and penalty kill. The Sharks would have to deal with the Avs’ speed and high altitude in Denver. Minnesota Wild: Again, a possible 2- 7 or 1- 8 matchup only if the Sharks win the Pacific. The Wild would pose travel challenges similar to Nashville, but might be the least worrisome opponent. Minnesota has undergone a coaching change and struggles to score. The Wild are 12th in goals- against, 13th on the power play and only 28th on the kill. San Jose and Minnesota have split two meetings and play in St. Paul on April 5.