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PHT Predicts: Sharks vs. Kings -- Who do you have?

Antti Niemi, Dustin Brown

San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi, left, of Finland focuses as Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown approaches during the shootout of their NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Los Angeles. Brown scored on the attempt and the Kings won 4-3 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

AP

It’s an all-California battle in the playoffs (that reminds me of a website) and while both teams aren’t exactly cutthroat rivals (that hate is reserved for Anaheim) they still find ways to play some intense games. Dealing with each other in the playoffs amps things up to a new level. For San Jose, they’re still shaking off that “playoff choker” tag and their new blood is helping to do that. Logan Couture joins last season’s playoff hero Joe Pavelski to team up with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dany Heatley.

The Kings have to make due without superstar Anze Kopitar but they might get back scorer Justin Williams in time for the playoffs. Guys like Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown are going to need to be huge to keep up with the high-powered Sharks. With Antti Niemi going up against Jon Quick, there should be some goaltending style on display.

As for how we see things going in this series, Kings and Sharks don’t play too well together.

James says:
The Kings flopped their way to the seventh seed while the Sharks have been crushing every team in their path (at least so it seems). The fact that they have a goalie with championship jewelry on his finger rather than playoff baggage in his head bodes well. The idea that they might have some secondary scoring beyond perennial scapegoat Joe Thornton is even better. The Kings have the kind of defense that could frustrate San Jose, but much like Pittsburgh in the East, I just don’t think Los Angeles hast the juice for much more than a win or two.

It’s the Sharks in 5 with a series that includes Dan Boyle out Doughty-ing Drew Doughty.

Matt says:
This series could get ugly fast. For a team that would go through goal droughts throughout the regular season, the last thing they could overcome is to lose their one, elite forward. Without Anze Kopitar (and Justin Williams), the margin for error is far too thin for the Kings. It’s a shame that they’d lose their one irreplaceable player only a couple weeks before the playoffs. Without him, the margin for error is just too small. Sharks in 5 (and it might not go that long).

Joe says:
It’s a huge bummer that Anze Kopitar isn’t playing for Los Angeles. With him, the Kings would at least have someone the equal of Patrick Marleau or Joe Thornton out there to match up against them. Instead, the Kings are terribly weak up the middle and the roll the Sharks have been on the entire second half of the season should continue into the playoffs. Anyone talking about the Sharks being playoff chokers this round will find themselves without something to talk about during this round. Sharks in 6.

We’re not pro-regicide here, we just think that if you threw a king into a tank with a shark, the results should be as expected. Disagree with us? Feel free to vote in the poll and let us know what you think.

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