Fansided

Stanley Cup Final 2016, Penguins vs Sharks: Preview and predictions

By Dave Stevenson

Dec 1, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Dainius Zubrus (9) clears the puck away from Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. The Penguins won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports.
Dec 1, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Dainius Zubrus (9) clears the puck away from Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. The Penguins won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports. /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Preview

The Stanley Cup Final will be a curious battle between the Penguins, a team with an elite offense and an underrated defense, and the Sharks, a team with an elite defense and an underrated offense. Whichever can best stop the other one from doing what they do well will likely wind up winning the Stanley Cup.

Pittsburgh’s offense is a very fast tempo offense that loves to move the puck up on the ice for breakaways. General Manager Jim Rutherford and head coach Mike Sullivan did a great job in realizing their team’s greatest strength and turningit into a weapon. They have received a huge boost from rookie goaltender Matt Murray, who could become the first player since Ken Dryden to win a Conn Smythe before being eligible to win the Calder. Their defense will be tested without Trevor Daley, who is likely out for the entire Stanley Cup Final, but he hasn’t ruled out a return.

San Jose’s offense is brutally efficient, but their calling card is their defense. Head coach Peter DeBoer changed his team’s identity while still letting his talented forwards do their job. Norris Trophy finalist Brent Burns leads a blue line that has steamrolled through some darn good offenses in the playoffs.

Sharks defenseman Paul Martin is underrated, but he has played a significant role in helping Burns turn into the complete defenseman that he is. Burns is best when he’s aggressive and having a defensive stalwart like Martin as his partner helps that. Marc-Edouard Vlasic is their most important defenseman because he shuts down his opponent’s top lines. Tyler Toffoli, Vladimir Tarsenko, and Filip Forsberg are all excellent players. Each did nothing against the Sharks because they spent most of their time being blanketed by Vlasic. Martin Jones has made saves when necessary, but he is nothing spectacular. Then again, with the Sharks defense, he hasn’t exactly gotten much of an opportunity to prove himself. San Jose has the defensive depth necessary to shut down the Penguins top two lines.

Next: Prediction

Home/NHL