We were in Vancouver already when the Sharks were holding their brief media availability before heading north for Game 5 yesterday.
Someone asked Sharks coach Todd McLellan about whether his team now finds itself battling demons from the past. That is, a San Jose club that has been expected to make the Stanley Cup Final - if not win it _ for quite a long time.
Flyer fans can surely appreciate the irony in that in Philly, we've had similiar thoughts but of WINNING the Cup, not just making the Final.
McLellan got rather defensive about the question but his answer was pretty good. Some of his players offered their two cents when they were available to us at their hotel here in Vancouver.
I think Ryan Clowe nailed it when he said that San Jose can probably play a bit more relaxed this game because the pressure now is on the Canucks to end the series and everyone expects them to do that.
Play looser, Clowe said.
Joe Thornton has a bad shoulder from that Raffi Torres clean check in Game 4 but he's going to play. Since Thornton is not a shooter but a setup guy, I don't see his injury as being a deterrent in terms of still being able to have an impact in the game.
It will affect him on faceoffs. And if he's not taking draws, then we know Thornton's injury is bad.
It has not been revealed is whether the shoulder is bruised, separated or dislocated. If it's either of the last two, then that could significantly impact his ability tonight.
So who's gonna win and will the demons come out if the Sharks lose?
Here's my story on CSNCalifornia.com:
click here
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