Let’s start with this: Filip Forsberg isn’t playing bad. He’s being matched up with the best of what San Jose has to offer, and San Jose has a lot to offer. The Sharks are a deep team, and their top line features generational talent that we’re all supposed to feel sorry for, and Joe Pavelski.
The luxury of the Mike Fisher line with James Neal and Colin Wilson is that line can take the tough draws, and the Johansen line can take some of the less difficult ones. But sooner or later, we should expect something to go in the net for Filip Forsberg.
5v5 For the Series
Scoring Chances: +12 (61 for, 49 against)
High-Danger Scoring Chances: -4 (20 for, 24 against)
Shot Attempts/Corsi: 53.4% for
Unblocked Shot Attempts/Fenwick: 52.2%
Shooting Percentage: 0%
Shots: 13 on net, 9 missed, 9 blocked
Points: 0
Taking a deeper look at Forsberg’s series against the Sharks; here is how he’s played 5v5 and whom he’s played well/poor against:
TOI: Time on Ice, SAT: Shots attempted for vs. against, all data is from War-on-Ice.com.
GAME 1:
15:28 of 5v5 TOI, -2 SAT
11:22 with Ribeiro, -2 SAT
Played 7:28 vs. Brent Burns, -1 SAT Played; 6:33 vs. Matt Nieto, +0 SAT
GAME 2:
14:05 of 5v5 TOI, +3 SAT
11:38 with Ribeiro, -1 SAT; 10:10 with Smith, +2 SAT
Played 9:06 vs. Burns, -2 SAT; Played 5:18 vs. Joel Ward & 4:47 vs. Joonas Donskoi, -6 SAT each
GAME 3:
15:25 of 5v5 TOI, +3 SAT
13:05 with Smith, +4 SAT; 10:41 with Ryan Johansen, +2 SAT
Played 9:06 vs. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, +6 SAT; Played 2:30 vs. Burns & 3:56 vs. Ward, +4 SAT each
GAME 4:
25:27 of 5v5 TOI, -8 SAT
21:34 with Ryan Johansen, -4 SAT; 19:34 with Smith, -6 SAT
Played 11:07 vs. Burns & Martin, -4 SAT; Played 11:47 vs. Justin Braun & Vlasic & 3:56 vs. Ward, -4 SAT
GAME 5:
13:09 of 5v5 TOI, +13 SAT
10:33 with Ryan Johansen, +15 SAT; 10:58 with Smith, +13 SAT
Played 11:16 vs. Burns & Martin, +14 SAT
GAME 6:
14:57 of 5v5 TOI, +5 SAT
12:09 with Ryan Johansen, +5 SAT; 11:34 with Viktor Arvidsson, +4 SAT
Played 8:13 vs. Braun & Vlasic, +11 SAT, Played 6:06 vs. Burns & Martin, -5 SAT
It’s easy to understand how people view that the Church of Corsi kinda goes out in the window in the playoffs as teams are more likely to do some out of character tactics to win if needed. That stat is more for habit. But there is concern that Forsberg has yet to provide the production he did in the regular season. However, the effort is there.
Honestly, Forsberg hasn’t been great this postseason, mostly because that’s what happens in the postseason to your best players: they become targets. (Playing beside the ghost of Mike Ribeiro for the majority of the playoffs hasn’t helped, by the way) And the best players find a way to produce in spite of being a target. Hopefully, he’ll find a way to get on the board. If the Sharks are going to focus their defensive specialists on the Fisher line, Forsberg and Johansen will need to create some offense in game seven.
It’s hard and almost unfair to put the pressure of a playoff game seven on the shoulders of a guy on his entry-level contract, especially with the veterans on this team… but some production would be nice.
News & Clips
Willie stopped by AtoZ Sports to spread the gospel this morning:
What’s been the best game of the playoffs so far? – Sportsnet.ca
It’s not even a debate around here.
Kessel: From castoff to Conn Smythe candidate – Article – TSN
Castoff is a bit strong. No one considered wise was doubting Kessel’s ability when he left Toronto.
I missed this during the morning links, but here’s Terry Crisp on the Wake Up Zone from yesterday:
Caps play-by-play man doesn’t want to hear that Washington ‘choked’ – The Washington Post
“Don’t say that word around Joe Beninati.”
Gene Collier: Penguins capitalize on Orpik’s blunders | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Orpik, due to his misdeeds in this series, got the Suter treatment.
Home-ice advantage hasn’t meant much in Blues-Stars series – ProHockeyTalk
Dallas at home with no pressure vs. Blues on the road with a sense of urgency. Hmm…
Home-ice advantage hasn’t meant much in Blues-Stars series – ProHockeyTalk
Dallas at home with no pressure vs. Blues on the road with a sense of urgency. Hmm…
Elliott will be the Blues’ Game 7 starter | Morning Skate | stltoday.com
For once, Hitch doesn’t mess with it.
Dallas Stars: Gosselin: These numbers should make Stars fans feel good — or jittery — about Game 7 | SportsDay
Do the numbers spell out “G-O-A-L-T-E-N-D-I-N-G”?