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NHL Playoffs worth watching

After years of the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings dominating the National Hockey League playoffs, it has been refreshing this season to see both take an early exit from the competition. With three teams left who have never won a Stanley Cup, we as viewers are most likely going to see a team that has never won the trophy finally raise it above their heads. This has made the 2016 edition of the playoffs one of the most compelling to date.

As a San Jose Sharks fan, of course I still have a vested interest in what happens at this point, given that the Sharks have exorcised some demons in order to get to the Western Conference Finals. Also, it means I have little to no love for the Blackhawks and Kings come playoff time. However, I also respect what both clubs have been able to build over the years.

The Sharks have been in the league since 1991, but have never advanced past the conference finals. I have been a fan since Day 1, but I will admit there have been times when that faith has been tested thanks to the incredible run of bad luck they seemingly have had over the years.

This year’s group started out so poorly that expectations dropped like a rock in October and November. The team’s streak of home sellouts ended along with their typically strong early season play, making those expectations fall.

Perhaps that is why, when this season is looked back upon after the playoffs end and teams have time to reflect on everything that has transpired, this will be a season to remember for the Sharks. They had a very pedestrian record at home, going 18-20-3. Usually the SAP Center, or HP Pavilion, or Shark Tank, or whatever it known as this week, is one of the most difficult places to play. Not so much this season.

Where the Sharks shone was on the road, as they posted a record of 28-10-3, which was the best in the league. They continued that trend in the opening round, as they went into Staple Center, home of the Kings, and took both of the first two games in the series handily. Upon returning to the SAP Center, the Sharks promptly lost Game 3.

Since then, the Sharks have been extremely impressive, finishing off the Kings in five games before eliminating the Nashville Predators in seven games, including two games, Game 5 and Game 7, where the Sharks outscored the Predators 10-1.

Their opponent for the conference finals is St. Louis. The Blues have exorcised some demons of their own, eliminating the Blackhawks in seven games before defeating the Dallas Stars in seven as well.

The Blues have not been to the conference finals since 1986, when they lost to the eventual Cup Champion Calgary Flames. Typically a team that has trouble deciding from night to night who should be playing goal, the Blues have uncharacteristically gone with Brian Elliott throughout April and May. The decision has paid dividends, as they have gotten to the conference finals. Of course, Vladimir Tarasenko has been pretty good as well.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the other team that has never sipped from Lord Stanley’s cup. Without superstar forward Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman, this run was unexpected by those outside of the organization, but perhaps that is what makes it all that more compelling. They lost starting goaltender Ben Bishop in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Hopefully that will not be the straw that breaks their collective backs, as they deserve better than having another freak injury end their run.

The fourth team remaining is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Winners of two Cups, the Penguins reinvented themselves this season after getting off to a rough start and firing Mike Johnston as head coach. Mike Sullivan has come in and done a very credible job of keeping all of the Penguins’ high-priced talent focused on the game’s biggest prize.

No matter what happens over the course of the next few weeks, one thing is certain: The NHL playoffs are without some of the biggest names. That might be exactly what makes them so compelling to watch.

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