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Sharks See This As Game 7

May 20, 2011, 8:54 PM ET [ Comments]
Tim Panaccio
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Sharks coach Todd McLellan promised some changes for Game 3 tonight in San Jose.

Based on warmups, I would think this is it: a new fourth line of Jame McGuinn, Andrew Desjardins and Jamal Mayers.

Asked Joe Thornton what has to be different tonight and he gave me a one-word answer:

"Win."

On the follow-up, he talked about the importance of getting a forecheck going. Been a while since we've seen one in this series from the Sharks. Just getting the puck up ice has been an exercise in futility with all the neutral zone turnovers.

“I still say the neutral zone has to be better,” Dan Boyle said at the morning skate. “Coming up the ice with speed. We can certainly take an alert from these guys where their defensemen jump in late.

“We’ve got to find those opportunities, too. Right now, they’re not there. Or, at least, I’m not seeing it. We just got to find a way of being a little bit better coming up the ice.”

Sharks all say they are treating this one as a Game 7. Well, if the world ends tomorrow, I guess this qualifies for a Game 7.

McLellan didn't pull punches saying he told some people where he stands on their play in this series and where it needs to go.

“Everybody responds differently,” McLellan said. “Some guys need to see it and quite frankly, need to be pushed. Other guys need to be sat down and their progress needs to be reviewed … how they got there … all pointing toward a collective effort and then the results.”

Those conversations are likely with Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi, Ryane Clowe and Boyle.
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