I apologize for the most ridiculous, clichéd headline imaginable, but last night's game completely shifted midway through the second period and the Sharks ended up running away with it. It was actually a mirror image of Game 4 against Nashville, when the Sharks got into a track meet with the Preds during the first period and settled down the rest of the way.
First Half - Detroit took San Jose out to the woodshed early on, and it could have turned ugly if Nabby hadn't stood on his head. The Sharks were running around in their own end, and could have had a 3-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes. Rivet took a couple bad penalties and the Wings were moving the puck really well, keeping the defense off balance and driving the net.
"You have to credit them, they came out hard and came ready to play," Nabby said. "We had a few breakdowns but didn't panic."
We saw the San Jose defense playing tentatively early on, and it was clear Babcock had prepared his guys for a strong start. Knowing the Sharks defense isn't great in transition, the Wings had two guys forecheck and two more standing up at the blue line, intercepting several clearing attempts and keeping the pressure on Nabokov.
One thing the Sharks have to be concerned about is their penalty kill, specifically their weak presence in front of the net. I mean, it looked like Bertuzzi and Cleary had leprosy or something. Rivet would come in and give a little bump now and then, but they were left all alone to screen Nabby, and this series would be completely different if Holmstrom was healthy to whack and deflect shots in the slot.
Offensively, Guerin was the only guy moving his feet in the first half, battling down low around the net and in the corners. It didn't translate to any goals early, but I thought it sent a big message to the team that they needed to wake up and start moving. Gradually San Jose came to life and it was theirs to lose once the second half rolled around.
Second Half - San Jose flipped the switch midway through the second and Clowe brought the crowd to life with his fourth of the playoffs, going to the net and finding a rebound. The entire game turned, and the Wings couldn't get the puck out of their zone, allowing San Jose to cycle down low and wear the defense down.
While the first period was probably the worst we've seen from the Sharks in the series, the third was easily the best. Detroit couldn't get any speed through the neutral zone, and Hasek was tested with several chances in front.
Cheechoo notched the winner with seven minutes remaining, gathering in a rebound on McLaren's point shot and making a nice move in front to put it past Hasek. "I just shut my eyes and shoot it. I'm not a power play specialist. Cheech did all the work, I just wanted to get it on net."
The Sharks didn't get any freebies the way they did in the first two games, but they outworked the Wings and went to the net. That's how you score goals in the playoffs, especially against Hasek. "Me and Cheech's goals probably wouldn't didn't reach the back of the net, but we'll take it," Clowe said.
Once again, Bertuzzi came unglued a little bit, taking two bad penalties in the final 23 minutes. I've talked to Detroit fans who felt he was going to push them over the top, but he's been a major drawback in this series. His first penalty shifted the momentum further in San Jose's direction, and his trip with three minutes remaining all but sealed it for the Sharks.
"Hockey's all about momentum and you have to stay disciplined," Nabokov said. "Once you start taking penalties it kills the momentum, and we could see that it in the third period."
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I think the Sharks got a real boost from last night's game, and played a much more complete 60 minutes than they did in either of the first two games. The Sharks were up and down during the regular season, never really trusting themselves to step up against the league's best teams, but you could see their confidence in the room at the end of the night. They're still a young group, but there isn't any awe or hesitation when they talk about the Wings, just a confidence they can go out and win. They can put a stranglehold on Detroit tomorrow night.
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Also, it was great hanging out with Eklund and Eric O'Dell at the game, two very friendly, passionate guys who love hockey and they're always looking to help it grow down here in the states. It's great to be associated with good people who care so much about the game. Thanks also to all the Shark fans who came out last night and put on a great show with their intensity. I always get goose bumps when a capacity crowd roars and rocks the way the Tank did last night. Enjoy the games tonight everybody.
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