ST. LOUIS -- The Western Conference final between the Sharks and St. Louis Blues is taking place in the middle of an election cycle. So perhaps it made sense that the politicking would ramp up a notch on the eve of an important Game 2 at Scottrade Center.
There was campaigning Monday for more penalty calls on the Blues by the Sharks' Pete DeBoer, and a one-man rapid response team in the form of St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock, who shot back at those suggestions and wondered if the DeBoer was "whining for calls."It all underscores how big a role special teams figures to play in the outcome of a close series, as the Sharks went 0 for 3 on the power play in Sunday's Game 1, and the Blues went 1 for 2 in their 2-1 victory.