With 10 games left in the NHL season, teams are starting to focus on the playoffs. Hockey guru Barry Melrose has always stressed the importance of "it's not how you start, but how you finish" and it seems that the New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks have taken it to heart.
The off-season was a busy one for the Rangers, landing both free agent prizes Chris Drury and Scott Gomez, making them the clear preseason favorite to win the Eastern Conference. But the pieces didn't fit exactly the way the team expected. Starting 3-6-1 out of the gate, it was evident that the chemistry between the team wasn't quite there yet. The teams forwards consisting of Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka, along with Drury and Gomez, were looked upon as being one of the deadliest units in the league; however, their offense was abysmal. Jagr, one of the games most feared offensive players, is on pace statistically to have his worst season since his rookie campaign.
The one upside for the Rangers was their defense. The Rangers have one of the most active defensive groups, and in turn have helped generate needed offense throughout the season. Henrik Lundqvist, the clear Most Valuable Player of this team, is having a phenomenal season in net, and has been able to steal the Rangers a couple games they had zero business winning. The down point of the season for the Rangers also happens to be the turnaround point for them as well.
On Feb. 14, the Rangers faced off against the Montreal Canadians and built a 5-0 lead at one point in the game. Then they somehow managed to squander that lead and lose 6-5. For a Canadian's franchise, which history spans over the course of a hundred years, it has never seen a comeback of that magnitude before, but it seems that in the face of adversity, the Rangers came together.
All cylinders are now firing and the Rangers look to shake up the Eastern Conference. Posting a 10-2-3 record in their last fifteen games, they are poised to battle both Pittsburgh and New Jersey for the Atlantic Division lead. Although they are currently seven points back, there are still pivotal games left against divisional foes, and it wouldn't be an unreal picture for them to slip up to the top. It seems that the team has finally gelled, playing like what we expected from them in the beginning of the year.
The San Jose Sharks went into a slump, losing five straight games. Then they came back and won 10 straight, placing themselves atop the tough Pacific division, which includes powerhouses teams like the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks. A deadline deal acquisition is paying dividends for the Sharks, who acquired defensemen Brain Campbell from the Buffalo Sabers, and have yet to lose in regulation since Campbell joined the team. The Sharks defensive core is more known for their size and physical play more than their offensive abilities. Campbell brings an offensive mind set that is greatly needed and can help out especially on a struggling power play that truly lacks a quarterback along the blue line.
Goaltender, Evgeni Nabokov has played remarkably and is the first goalie in the league to hit the forty win mark and has a good chance of picking up a Vezina trophy for the league's top goalie. Often criticized for his small size, Nabokov is able to compensate with his cat like reflexes and solid positioning in net.
The importance of winning the Pacific division can not be stressed enough if the Sharks wish to make a deep playoff run. Winning their division will lock up a second seed in the playoffs, and will allow them to face an easier opponent in either Calgary or Vancouver, both of which they should defeat in four game series. However, failing to secure the division will draw either Dallas or Anaheim in the first round, and I don't believe the Sharks have enough to beat either of those teams. The Ducks have too much speed along to boards to counteract the Sharks physical game and Dallas is deep enough to outmatch the third and fourth lines.
There is one player on the Sharks lineup whose play down the stretch will undoubtedly determine where they fall in the standings. Patrick Marleau is having the worst season of his eight-year pro career, but if he can return to the form that we are used to seeing from him, he can help push the Sharks over the edge in their division. Statistically, Marleau only has 38 points in 68 games, but he has turned it up lately. With the speculation of trade talks diminishing, Marleau's production has increased, recording 19 points in 26 games. If the Sharks want any chance of making a deep playoff run, they will need Marleau to continue playing the way he has for the rest of the season.
With 10 games left in the regular season both the Rangers and Sharks are peaking at the right time, and this means trouble for everyone else in their conference.
Emre Aksoy's NHL column runs every Tuesday. He can be reached at Emre.Aksoy@UConn.edu
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