Speaking of NorCal sports…

Northern California’s only NHL hockey team, the San Jose Sharks, have reached round two of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs, and are currently leading the Detroit Red Wings in that best-of-seven series 1-0 in games. The next game is tomorrow night.

The Sharks have had a strong season. After eliminating the Nashville Predators in the first round, San Jose and Detroit are renewing old playoff hostilities:

The teams also have some playoff history dating back to the Sharks’ post-season debut in 1994. San Jose shocked the top-seeded Wings, ousting their highly favoured foes in a seven-game classic.

However, the Wings returned the favour the following season, sweeping the Sharks in the second round.

If the Anaheim Ducks (who play in the same arena that is the rumored future home of the Sacramenno Kings) dispatch with the Vancouver Canucks in round two and the Sharks get by Detroit, it’s quite conceivable that round three of the NHL playoffs will feature an all-California Western Conference Final, with the NorCal Sharks playing the SoCal Ducks. Those would be some bragging rights. The winner of that series would then go on to play in round four – more relevantly known as the Stanley Cup Final – against the best team in the east.

3 thoughts on “Speaking of NorCal sports…”

  1. i actually atended a couple games during that ’94 playoff show down. it’s pretty awesome that the Sharks have been contenders every year since. that was also marked the last season we could afford tickets.

    i’d love them to go against the anaheim ducks too.. it would sure beat the hell out of the Anaheim Bullfrogs / Oakland Skates game i also attended. Though there was a few shining moments, including the Bullfrogs climbing out of the bench, into the stands to brawl with fans.

    california love!

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  2. td, that ’94 run was a great playoff series. They were such underdogs, but with the KLM line, and with Arturs Irbe in net, you couldn’t help but cheer for the Sharks. The Sharks have quietly been one of the NHL’s more successful franchises since the team’s recent inception.

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