May 26/14, San Jose, CA - For the first time in 5 years, the San Jose Sharks will not be handing out the year end awards at the end of the regular season. The Sharks clinched a playoff spot yesterday with a victory over the Nashville Predators. The Sharks dropped the last game of the season to the Vancouver Canucks. The Sharks will be facing the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs. During the season, the Sharks played the Oilers 6 times and of those 6, the Sharks only won two. "Going off the season stats, the Oilers probably think this will be an easy season." Says Sharks GM Kurt Fulmore. "But that was the regular season. This is playoff time now. Anything can happen in playoffs."
This is a totally different team that the last Sharks team that was around when the Sharks last made the playoffs. The only player that was on that team was netminder Kari Lehtonen. "We are all excited, especially me, to be back in the playoffs." commented Lehtonen. "Never thought about it till it was mentioned but yeah, I'm the only left around from the last time the Sharks made it to the post-season."
For others on the team, it will be their first kick at the can in the post-season. "It's awesome that we get to go on and be in my first playoffs." commented Shark centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. "It was a rough season last year so to be going there this year, it's pretty awesome." When asked about the post season, Kevin Poulin said, "I'll most likely be riding the pine for the most part but if I do get called upon, I hope I can help the team get to the ultimate prize." "It's pretty exciting." Said Sharks winger Jakob Silfverberg. "To be in the post season your rookie season, I'm excited. Looking forward to getting out there and having fun and hopefully going all the way."
The Sharks did end the season on a sour note. They only won 1 game in their last 8 games. When asked about that, captain Patrick Marleau has this to say: "We just couldn't get it going for a stretch there. We dug down deep and got that playoff spot clinched. But we need to get our (expletive deleted) and do a better job in the playoffs. We got the monkey off our back and got it. Now it's time to get down to business."
Game one of the first round series starts on Thursday in Edmonton.
