Sharks Defeat Kings In Overtime
“This series is setting up like the first time we played, very hard and gritty.”---- Head Coach Todd McLellan

By Barbara Mason 4/15/2011
Bay Area Sports Drive

For San Jose Shark fans, everywhere it is a magical time of year.  It’s the playoffs and three guesses what these fans would like to see under their Christmas tree when this is all said and done.  A hint: it’s shiny and these fans have always asked for one but never gotten it.

Thursday night the Sharks took on their first round opponents, the Los Angeles Kings at HP Pavilion. Fans didn’t have to wait long for the first goal of the evening-28 seconds to be exact courtesy of #15 Dany Heatley (1at goal of the playoffs).  He was assisted by #29 Ryane Clowe (1^st assist) and #9 Ian White (1^st assist) to take the early lead 1-0.  This game one of the playoffs was off to the races. 

When San Jose went on their first power play, the Kings, number two on the pp kill were put to the test proving why they are second in the division.  The Sharks in turn were able to prove why they are number 4 on the kill as LA was unable to score on their first power play.  Halfway through the period the score remained 1-0 in favor of San Jose.    The period ended in fisticuffs courtesy of #55 Ben Eager and the Kings #13 Kyle Clifford; both of them existing the ice with a five-minute penalty for fighting.  It was a great first period for San Jose showing sustained intensity and defense.  What the Sharks needed in the second period would be a couple of insurance goals. 

That insurance goal didn’t materialize and instead it was the Kings scoring on their fourth power play to tie up the game 1-1.  #23 Dustin Brown scored his first goal of the playoffs assisted by #14 Justin Williams (1^st assist).    San Jose didn’t wait long to take back the lead when #39 Logan Couture (1^st goal) assisted by #29 Ryane Clowe (2^nd assist) and #3 Douglas Murray (1^st assist) scored the second goal of the game.   That goal came at 10:23 putting the Sharks back in control 2-1. 

L. A. took back that control with a goal at 16: 20 scored by #14 Justin Williams (1^st goal) assisted by #94 Ryan Smythe (1^st assist) and once again the game was tied 2-2.  As the second period came to an end, the game had taken an ugly turn for the Sharks.

Early in the third period, goalie Ante Niemi made what would probably turn out to be the save of the game preventing the Kings from taking the lead.  With less than seven minutes left in the game, San Jose was pelting King goalie Jonathan Quick to no avail.  The Sharks had momentum on their side but they desperately needed a goal.  With 2:11 left in the game, San Jose went on the power play via a tripping call.  With nothing to show for the power play opportunity, this game was headed into overtime.

It took nearly 3 quarters of the overtime period but San Jose finally prevailed when #8 Joe Pavelski (1^st goal) assisted by #29 Ryane Clowe (3^rd assist) and #20 Kyle Wellwood (1^st assist) squeezed one past Quick for the 3-2 victory.

“I thought there was a time in the game when we lost momentum,” said Coach Todd McLellan after the game.  “They (the Kings) sensed that and went after us and the momentum swung in the second period.  This series is setting up just like the first time we played, very tight, very hard and gritty.  They’re comfortable playing that way,” he said.

Just as in last year’s playoffs, it was Joe Pavelski making a big play when it was needed most.  “Pav’s a tremendous player for us and you can count on him in so many different situations,” said McLellan.  “He scores huge goals but that’s the real obvious part of his game.  The face-offs, the penalty kills, the battle on the boards and the defensive play are very important for that line on our team,” he said.

Game two will take place at HP Pavilion on Saturday night as this dogfight continues.  You can bet on another hard fought contest that hopefully goes the Black and Teals way.  The puck drops at 7:00.

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