One Smokin’ Hot Birthday Present
“I think it went pretty well tonight.”--- #78 Benn Ferriero

By Barbara Mason 4/29/2011
Bay Area Sports Drive

Friday night the Stanley Cup Western Conference semi-final began at HP Pavilion as the San Jose Sharks took on the Detroit Red Wings in game one. 

The Detroit has been in a wait and see mode for the past eight days after sweeping the Phoenix Coyotes 4-0.  The San Jose Sharks have just come off a very difficult and physical series against the Los Angeles Kings taking the series in six games.  While we can’t expect to see last year’s Red Wings, what can we expect?  We can expect a very challenging series for San Jose and that’s a given.  Scoring opportunities have to be taken advantage of and there will be very few second chances.  The winner of this series will be the team that wants it more. Red Wing Coach Mike Babcock put it simply.  “It’ll be about execution, will, determination and whoever can do it better, longer.”   

It was Detroit who drew first blood off the stick of #5 Nicklas Lidstrom for his first goal of the playoffs taking the early lead 1-0.  He was assisted by #13 Pavel Datsyuk.  The period would end with Detroit leading by the slim margin.  Shots on goal were nearly even with San Jose taking 9 shots to Detroit’s 8. In a very evenly matched first period this game could go either way.  

The second period brought with it a lot of Shark intensity taking 7 shots on goal in the first six minutes.   Getting one past Red Wing goalie Jimmy Howard however was proving to be a difficult assignment.  Mid-way through the period both teams were called for roughing in the net as both teams went four on four.  As the period came to an end, San Jose had taken 27 shots on goal, 18 in the period and having nothing to show for it.  The Sharks had clearly dominated the period and had to carry that momentum into the third period.      

Going into the third period, the Sharks needed to wake up the sell-out crowd that had become very restless as the defensive battle continued.  The Sharks first goal of the game came on the power play at 10:22 to tie up the game 1-1.  #8 Joe Pavelski ((4^th goal) was assisted by #19 Joe Thornton and #22 Dan Boyle.  The defensive battle continued through the period ending in the deadlock and the teams were headed into sudden death overtime. 

    Several minutes into overtime the Sharks went on a four minute power play and there was the opportunity they could not afford to squander.  They didn’t get that power play goal but scored shortly thereafter to win the overtime 2-1.  It was #78 Benn Ferriero scoring his first goal of the playoffs in his first playoff game ever.  He was assisted by #39 Logan Couture and #22 Dan Boyle at 7:03.  It just so happened to be Ferriero’s birthday and that goal was one smokin’ birthday present; one he will no doubt ever forget.  “Bring some energy, get in on the fore-check and basically play a solid game,” said Ferriero of tonight’s game plan.  “You don’t have to be flashy out there, you just have to do little things and I think it went pretty well tonight,” he said.    

Joe Pavelski was able to draw three penalties in this game giving the Sharks numerous scoring opportunities.  “When you get that many opportunities you have to get one eventually and we were able to find one.  I think we created a bit of momentum there in the overtime,” said Pavelski after the game.  He felt that persistence was a factor in this game.  “We seemed to get a little better in each period and get a little more momentum going.  They’re a good team; it could have gone either way at times.” 

It is a quick turnaround for both teams playing game two on Sunday afternoon as the Sharks will try to take both home games and travel to Detroit up 2-0.  In game one San Jose was the determined team, the team that executed at crucial times resulting in the overtime win.    

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