Sharks preview: Evgeni Nabokov
by Casey Richey on Apr 28, 2010 12:08 PM CDT
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Previewing the next round of the playoffs, we're going to look at the Sharks and their goaltending situation. Since I already talked about Jimmy Howard at the beginning of the Phoenix series, I'm going to just focus on Nabokov for this one.
Nabokov turned in another great regular season for the Sharks, earning 44 wins (the second highest of his career) and only 16 losses in 71 games played. His goals against average was pretty high at 2.43 (a full .17 higher than Jimmy Howard) but he was luckily backed up by a team that scored plenty.
Nabokov's first round was pretty easy in terms of work load. There were 3 games in which Nabokov faced fewer than 25 shots and 2 of those he faced fewer than 20. Expect that to change as the Wings will attempt to bombard him with shots in the series.
His positives: Nabokov has great puck vision and quick pads. His glove hand is solid and he has decent rebound control. He has fairly good composure and is capable of carrying a team when needed. He keeps square to straight-on shots with good angles. He gets to the ice quick and covers the ice level well.
How to beat him: The Olympics were showcase enough of Nabokov's flaws. He was far too aggressive and the passing of the Canadian team left him well out of place. Now the Wings aren't Team Canada but they are one of the better passing teams in the league. Capitalizing on Nabokov's positioning is key for the Red Wings to have success.
Nabokov won the Calder Trophy in his first full season in the NHL and is facing a candidate for this season at the other end of the ice. Nabokov's experience is contrasted by Howard's first run in the playoffs. Howard has shown he can handle the pressure of the playoffs but the Sharks offense is a whole different beast than the Coyotes one. Same could be said for the Red Wings offense compared to the Avalanche one so each goalie will be facing a very tough task.
Check back for defense tonight, offense tomorrow.
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If the Redwings Pass Like They Did in Game 7
Over in Four!
Time for Shark Jokes
I heard that Shark Tank Management scheduled the Eagles this weekend because they didn’t expect the Sharks to make it past the 1st Round.
After (badly) losing game 6 at home, I had my doubts about our prospects this year, but once again this team has responded very well to adversity and tightened up when they really needed to tighten up. We will still have problems if we can’t win at home, but that’s one of those weird situations where not having home ice advantage might work for us.
I’ll be pulling for Chicago in their series, not because I like them better than the Canucks, but because I’d rather play two rounds on the west coast than three. Best to do two in the first couple rounds, then get back into the swing of Eastern Standard Time before facing the puss-ass East who rarely has to venture outside their own time zone. Going CHI-PHX-VAN or PHX-CHI-VAN or something similar would suck pretty badly, and I think PHX-SJS-CHI is probably a good chain under the circumstances.
I’m also (don’t laugh) halfway pulling for the Pens, because I want to face them in the Finals and take the Cup back from them directly. GO WINGS!
No Limits.
I hope Montreal wins tonight
so the Pens play the Flyers in the next round. I’d love to see Pronger take a shot or two at Rosby
by handsomerob1 on Apr 28, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions
I do too
I like the Caps, but I think I like the Original Six more. I think the Flyers-Pens series could be an interesting one, but I suspect a lot of how it turns out will depend on Boucher. I tentatively expect the Pens to win, but then again I predicted Devils in 6 so who knows. If I were a Pens fan I’d rather face the Flyers than the Devils, though.
No Limits.
flyers would not play the pens next round
regardless of who wins tonight
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Apr 28, 2010 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Happy Birthday Lids btw
big 4 0
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
and scored two goals
but our players are old and outdated so our time is coming to an end… oh yeah, unless you count franzen, filpulla, datsyuk, zetterberg…
Wings fan in SJ
Just want to say that I just bumped into HANK (#40) at the mall here in San Jose on my lunch break! He was on the phone so I didn’t get to really chat or take a pic, but I did say “good luck, Hank- go Wings” and he pointed and smiled.
Best lunch break ever.
by tkn on Apr 28, 2010 4:16 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
I think this will be a great series
Sharks better take advantage of a “tired” Red Wing team tomorrow…although i don’t mind playing right away off the momentum of Game 7…just sucks because i will miss most of the game…why no 1030 start urghh…anyway
Wings in 6
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
I'm excited
Though I’m first and foremost a Wings fan, there are a number of other teams I’ve liked for a long time, one of those teams being the Sharks. I like the way both teams play hockey; this should be a lot of fun to watch.
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