Pittsburgh Penguins v Tampa Bay Lightning
After the game 5 blow out of the Penguins, Tampa Bay bring the 6th game back looking for a better result than previous attempts on home ice. The Penguins took both game 3 and 4 by a 3-2 scoreline.
Steve Stamkos finally got going in game 5, picking up his first ever playoffs goals. Stamkos, Gagne and Kubina all bagged a brace and Tampa will be looking for more contributions across the team rather than all the scoring coming from St Louis. They didn't start particularly well against the Penguins last time out but somehow managed to get themselves infront. They will need to start better and not rely on luck. They have the players and they will have the fans behind them so i can't see this being a problem.
The Penguins will want to get their powerplay going for once as they have got only 1 goal in 24 attempts so far. If they can start picking up goals on this, they will see the series out. They will be worried that Fluery has looked shakier as the series has gone on, being chased out after 4 goals in game 5. I can't see them going with Johnson for game 6 as he conceeded 4 after replacing Fluery himself. You just hope he doesn't suffer the same fate as Luongo did, being pulled after a blow out and following it up by being chased again in another blow out the game after.
I think that could be the key area in this game. I don't like Rolson. I don't think he is a good enough netminder to lead a charge to the finals. He has never been a top end netminder and i think the Lightning didn't have many options when looking for a netminder who could possibly do a job for them.
Fluery has looked good one game and then bad the next. He is a top end netminder however and has the ability to pull out the game winning performance. If Roloson manages to get his team through game 6, don't expect him to be able to get them through game 7. Tampa Bay will need another blow out.
San Jose Sharks v LA Kings
Another series that could hang on the performances of the netminders. Quick was absolutely awesome in game 5, saving 51 of 52 shots to give the Kings a 3-1 win in San Jose. They will need another performance along those lines if they are to keep the Sharks forwards at bay. LA Are another team, who after stealing a win in the first 2 away games blew their 2 home games and faced an elimination game in game 5. They staved that one off and now have to get their 1st win on home ice to get this to a game 7.
In the last 2 previews of the Kings i have said Doughty and Johnson are important to get the Kings scoring. I still think this is the case but they have got goals from all over the team so far with 12 different goal scorers. If they can keep doing this that will subsudise the fact Doughty and Johnson haven't contributed with goals in the last few games.
The Sharks are always going to be a danger going forward and will still be scratching their heads how after 52 shots they only came up with 1 goal. Clowe and Pavelski have been the most dangerous so far but Thornton still has to get firing on all cyclinders, so does Heatley. Niemi was chased from the net last game after conceeding those 3 Kings goals on 4 shots and it will be interesting to see if he starts in game 6. is GAA is 4.30 at the minute and his SP 0.855%. Nittymaki in his brief time in goal is at 0.967%, conceeding 1 on 30 shots and could be ready for a start.
I'd expect goals in this one again. If LA can play defensively like they have in the 2 games in San Jose where they have won 4-0 and 3-1 they could win this. Like i say though, i expect goals and if the Kings get involved in a shoot out, the Sharks will outscore them. I can see the Sharks going through in game 6.
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