from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

Nobody knows the San Jose Sharks better than their two California rivals.

Bruce Boudreau, while still coaching the Anaheim Ducks last month, was most afraid of one team entering the playoffs: the Sharks. He shared that with ESPN.com the day after the Sharks eliminated the Los Angeles Kings.

"Their speed," Boudreau reiterated Tuesday night via text message. "Their young guys have come so far this year."

The Sharks, you might argue, had no better tuneup for their Western Conference finals showdown with the St. Louis Blues than the team they beat in the opening round.

The Kings and Blues are two of the heavier teams in the West, and the speed that gave L.A. such headaches in the first round is now, through two games of the Western Conference finals, giving St. Louis issues as well.

continued

Game highlights are below...