It is this type of game that every young hockey player dreams about growing up and tonight the Sharks and Wings find themselves in the same do-or-die situation. The Red Wings clearly have all the momentum after coming back from an 0-3 series deficit, winning three straight and putting all the pressure squarely on the Sharks. That never feels good but especially for San Jose fans who have gotten used to their team underachieving in recent years. NHL fans recognize that this could be the second time in two years that a team could come back from such a deficit and with Detroit getting plus money here it isnt surprising that they are seeing slightly more of the action.

However, Vancouver was in a similar spot to the Sharks last round. Everyone, including experts, bettors and even local media had questioned the mental toughness of the Canucks (who have been known to underachieve as well) heading into Game 7 after losing three in a row. Yet in that game we saw the Canucks

San Jose will have to channel that energy towards succeeding on the power play because that could be the key to them winning and moving on. The Sharks are 5-0 SU in these playoffs when scoring a power play goal and have obviously been shutout with the man advantage the last three games. They are 0-10 on the PP in those three games recently but it is not like Detroit has a top-notch PK.

In the end though it is tough not to side with the home ice here no matter how much people believe the Sharks look like a beaten team or they are the perennial chokers. Vancouver was in the same spot mere weeks ago and we all saw how they responded and I think the Sharks do a similar thing.