Back Against The Wall

You're down two games to nothing; and everyone is writing you off especially your home town. It's a low that is indescribable. It's bad enough when a team is having problems clicking, having everyone else dump on them is not helping things. What I am afraid of is what could happen. A fire could be lit underneath the Sharks, that could be a problem for the Ducks. I love the way the Ducks have been playing, and enjoy the two game lead, but if Randy (head coach) is smart, and I know he is, the Ducks are well aware of what could happen.

Right now the Shark players are reading all the bad press; "Big Joe" is reading about what a disappointment he is again; the Sharks head coach is reading about the fact that he's a rookie coach, and can't match up to Carlyle. The Sharks locker room is breathing heavily right now, and waiting to burst. Tonight's game is monumental. Its not game three for the Ducks. Its not the first home game for the Ducks. Its not the first round anymore. Tonight's game is game seven of the Stanley Cup finals for the Sharks. You see, something interesting starts too manifest itself in the mind of an athlete right about now. Its called doubt. And immediately after doubt sets in it is followed by anger, followed by desperation. The Sharks are a mad and desperate team right now, and tonight is the night they explode. They've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. The good news? most mistakes happen when a team loses its cool. The bad news? They just might be able to instill some doubt in our own team.

I am looking at this series the way I did when we faced Vancouver in 2007. I knew they were a good team, and knew they could potentially be trouble for us, but nothing happened. I kept saying after every game, "They'll show up tonight," to which they never did.This is a great series because there are two very important questions that are being asked by every NHL expert: Are the Sharks choking? or are the Ducks just that good? After tonight, there will be 4 games left for the answer. it's going to be amazing; it's going to be loud (Mr. P); it's going to be a war; it's playoff hockey....the greatest time of the year. So here's a video to get your juices flowing for tonight.....here is tonight's anthem! Go Ducks!