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Avoid The Nightmare: Sharks Need A Win In Game 2 Versus Avalanche
SAN JOSE (Sports Network) - The best team in the Western Conference this year will try to avoid falling in a 2-0 series' hole tonight, when the San Jose Sharks host the eighth-seeded Colorado Avalanche at HP Pavilion.
The top-seeded Sharks, who were knocked out by eighth-seeded Anaheim in the first round a year ago, lost Game 1 of this best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series on Wednesday, dropping a 2-1 decision to the visiting Avalanche.
Last year, the Sharks entered the playoffs fresh off a 117-point season that netted them the Presidents’ Trophy and high expectations. San Jose, which has won three straight Pacific Division titles, hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since losing to Calgary in the 2004 Western Conference finals.
Colorado, meanwhile, is back in the playoffs just one season after finishing last in the Western Conference with 69 points. The Avs have made three playoff appearances in five seasons since the lockout.
Chris Stewart was credited with the game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation on Wednesday to stake Colorado to the early series' lead. Stewart's shot from behind the goal line deep in the Colorado offensive zone actually deflected in off the skate of San Jose defenseman Rob Blake.
John-Michael Liles also scored for the Avalanche, while Craig Anderson recorded 25 saves in the victory.
“There’s still a long way to go,” Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said. “We’re the eight seed, they’re the one seed, certainly not a lot of people are giving us a chance in this series. The pressure is on them.”
Ryan Clowe scored the only goal for the Sharks and Evgeni Nabokov allowed two goals on 30 shots for San Jose.
“We have to be better. They didn’t give us much time and space,” Clowe said. “We were pretty solid defensively, but you have to get more pucks to the net. We need to be sharper.”
Joe Thornton, who led San Jose with 89 points this year, had five shots on goal but no points in the opener. His linemates, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley, also failed to reach the scoresheet in Game 1. Marleau and Heatley had 83 and 82 points, respectively, this season, making San Jose's top line one of the most-feared units in the game.
San Jose was 27-6-8 as the host during the regular season, while the Avalanche were 19-20-2 on the road. Game 3 of this set is scheduled for Sunday night in Denver.
The Avalanche are trying to become the third eight seed in five seasons to knock off the top-seeded club. However, the Sharks had the better of the season series, going 2-1-1 and winning both games in San Jose.
These two clubs are meeting in the postseason for the fourth time, with the last matchup coming in 2004. The Sharks won that series, 4-2, in the semifinals before losing in six games to the Flames in the conference finals.
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