GDT WCF Gm 3: 5/15/19 | 7 PM CT | vs Sharks | NBCSN

[theohall]

The comforting factor for the San Jose Sharks is they've been here before. "Been there, done that" always provides a calming feeling for professional athletes.

What remains to be seen is where the journey goes from this point.

As the Sharks prepare to visit the St. Louis Blues for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night, it's with a sense of deja vu. In all three of their Stanley Cup playoff sets this year, the Sharks opened with a big victory but dropped Game 2 with a disappointing performance.

"The one thing I take comfort in is our character, our ability to bounce back and ability to recognize what we've got to fix it," Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said after his team's 4-2 loss in Game 2. "We've done that the entire playoffs.

"Hey, this isn't going to be easy. It's not supposed to be easy. We're down to the last four teams. Look at their record since January, and they're the best team in hockey."

In the opening round of the postseason, the Sharks fell behind the Vegas Golden Knights three games to one before winning three in a row -- capped by a one-for-the-ages comeback in Game 7, when they erased a three-goal, third-period deficit and won in overtime.

Their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche was a win-one, lose-one clash in which the Sharks won every odd-numbered game, the benefit of home-ice advantage.

San Jose's experience is on the plus side of the ledger, but there are some disturbing elements in play right now, too. The biggest is the lack of offensive production from their depth players. Sure, the top two lines are producing -- especially Logan Couture -- but their bottom six forwards, especially the third line of Joe Thornton, Marcus Sorensen and Kevin Labanc, have gone missing.

"I don't think we've played up to our capabilities in a while now," said Couture, who leads the league in playoff goals (13) and points (19). "We did just enough to beat the Avalanche, but we haven't played our best hockey since that Vegas series. It's discouraging. It's frustrating because we're going to need everyone here if we're going to beat these guys, because they're a very good hockey team."

Yet, it's the Blues who are receiving depth production these days, while many of their big guns -- notably Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko -- are misfiring, a big reason St. Louis is 1-for-26 on the power play over the past eight games.

"That's how we're built," Schenn told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's kinda been like that all year, whether the back end's scoring or guys are stepping up. We didn't have too many 20-goal scorers, and we had 99 points on the season."

The most consistent producer for the Blues has been Jaden Schwartz, who netted just 11 goals in a disappointing regular season but has a team-high nine in the playoffs.

"It's definitely the funnest time of the year," Schwartz said. "I had some struggles earlier that I haven't really had before, but once playoff starts ... I don't know (if) you just embrace the games, have fun with it. I don't really try to think too much about it."

[WaukeeBlues]

Can we score a fakkin power play goal at some point?! EVER?!

Blues 4
Sharks 3

PP goal, Tarasenko.

Shooting for the stars, might as well.

[theohall]

Hoping to see the defensive changes from Game 2 carry over into Game 3. Berube needs to keep Pietrangelo away from the Timo Meier line. Preferably have Bortuzzo and Edmundson out against them to try and match that lines physical nature.... but - hit with purpose, not just to hit.

Try to get 19/27 and Tarasenko out against the Thornton line. Thornton's line has not been good in the playoffs and is vulnerable at even strength and could be a solution to getting 91 going.

Keep 55 in 27s spot on the PP and don't panic if 55 makes a 27 like mistake. We've seen enough of 27 on the power play and he just isn't getting it done. Let someone else (besides 29) get a fair shake at the job. Especially a guy who has better reach, a better shot and moves the puck more quickly.

Other than that, limit turnovers and try to beat the Sharks defensive pressure the same way they did in Game 2.

[Portland Blues]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I think we finally get to playing dominant at home like game 6 vs Winnipeg and game 7 vs Dallas.

Blues 2(Tarasenko, Steen)
Sharks 0

Welcome to the forum!

[glen a richter]

Welcome to the forum, love the optimism.

No chance whatsoever that any game in this series ends 2-0. More likely 7-4.

[StL Dan]

I'm expecting the Sharks to come out strong. But, I also see the Blues countering with sustained momentum shifts, as well.

I think it was Jax, who in an interview yesterday, said he thinks the Sharks and Blues are going to take turns at delivering 5-10 minutes worth of punches at each other the rest of the series.

Just Win

LGB

[theohall]

And it's back to the D pairings which started the series.

[gaijin]

Just Win

And as a great American once said, don't suck.

[Portland Blues]

HERE WE GO!!!111!!

[ibldbl]

Penalty in the Ozone on Perron. Weak call.

[Portland Blues]

C'mon Perron - don't take penalties in the offensive zone.

[Robb_K]

Great kill by The Blues!!

[Portland Blues]

Yikes, hope Dunn is ok.

[Portland Blues]

Shit, one of their hippies scored.

[Portland Blues]

Nice that my Comcast cable froze and then came back to 2-0 San Jose.

[ibldbl]

And another hippee goal. Blues need to wake up!

[heff]

As I get older, I tend to notice what refs don't call more than what they do.

[Portland Blues]

And another hippee goal. Blues need to wake up!

And the national announcers are wetting themselves over the Sharks.

[Portland Blues]

4 SOG in the 1st...not awesome.

[ibldbl]

Steener!