Well folks, it is official, the San Jose Sharks will have to wait at least another year to get a taste of the Stanley Cup Finals. This time the Vancouver Canucks are the latest team to add a disappointing chapter to the Sharks huge playoff aspirations. It was a Kevin Bieksa bizarre overtime goal which lifted the Canucks to its first final since 1994, when they lost to the Rangers in 7 games. Alexander Edler shot a puck, which appeared to be going into the safety netting according to Sharks players, but instead took a bounce of the belt buckle close to the corner and went right to Bieksa for the slapper, which knuckled into the net.
The Sharks were the better team in the game, but it was not enough as it appeared they wasted their last effort. In fact the Sharks maintained a 2-1 lead until Ryan Kesler about 8 seconds left deflected the puck into the net to tie the game. Shots were 56-34 for the Sharks, but Luongo had the killer instinct and it seems like the Canucks are a team of destiny.
As for the Sharks, their playoff disappointments continue. In 2004, they lost in 6 games to the Calgary Flames, in 2010 they lost to their current goaltender Antti Niemi and the Blackhawks. And now, its the Canucks. If you ask me Joe Pavelski was not big Joe that he was in 2010, but the biggest disappointment was Dany Heatley. Next up for the Canucks, they await the winner of Bruins-Lightning. If Boston wins tonight, they will face Vancouver in the Finals. It seems that Monday May 30th is the target start date for the Finals.
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