SHARKS BITE THEMSELVES

(Photo credit: Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

By Chris Carrano


A classic hockey game was shaping up at the Pepsi Center last night between the top seeded San Jose Sharks and the eighth seeded Colorado Avalanche. All it needed was a classic finish and what transpired last night is sure to be talked about for years to come.

The San Jose Sharks, who have authored the book on epic playoff collapses, added another chapter to their woeful story last night. Both goalies were superb throughout regulation. Avalanche net minder Craig Anderson stopped 50 shots and his counterpart Evgeni Nabokov, who didn’t have to work as hard, stopped all 16 Avalanche pucks that were launched at him. Suddenly, 51 seconds into the overtime period, the Sharks finally scored the game’s first goal. Unfortunately, they scored it into their own net and now find themselves down 2-1 to the Colorado Avalanche in this best-of-seven quarterfinal series.

Ryan O’Reilly was credited with the goal; although no one is absolutely sure his stick touched the puck. Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News described the bizarre sequence of events best: Sharks defensemen Dan Boyle attempted to pass the puck back to teammate Douglas Murray, who was behind the net. Instead, the puck ticked the shaft of O'Reilly's stick and squeezed past Nabokov, who was properly positioned, hugging the right post. But there was just enough space for the puck to somehow find the net.

"We didn't beat their goalie," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "We found a way to beat ours."

Anderson is used to seeing a large number of pucks being flung at him. He leads the NHL in shots faced and saves this season. Even though his team was out shot by the Sharks at a 3 to 1 margin, Anderson never lost focus and continued to make fantastic saves to keep his team in the game. Devin Setoguchi, who scored the overtime game winner for the Sharks in Game 2, tried to ram a puck past Anderson in front of the net, but “Andy”, as the fans were chanting all night long, managed to position his skate just in time to stop it. San Jose out shot Colorado 42-7 over the final two periods.

"When you work hard and you stay positive, good results happen and you get the lucky bounces," Anderson said. "It's remarkable."

"We can't change what happened," Nabokov said. "We should be proud of ourselves, the way we played. Sometimes, you have to tip your hat to Anderson. He played really well and he kept them in there."

Let’s hope the Sharks have short memories and put this one behind them quickly. I know their fans won’t.

AROUND THE NHL

The Phoenix Coyotes took back their home ice advantage with a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena yesterday afternoon. Petr Prucha, the ex-New York ranger, had the game winner at 8:16 of the third period and Sami Lepisto scored the fastest playoff goal in franchise history 29 seconds into the game that gave the Coyotes an early lead. Despite Vernon Fiddler being scratched and the loss of Shane Doan to an upper body injury, the Coyotes controlled the puck for most of the game.

"They just got better," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "With no Fiddler and no Doan, they had the puck more than we did." Game 4 is tomorrow night in Detroit.

Up at the United Center in Chicago, Blackhawks goalie Antii Niemi blanked the Nashville Predators 2-0 to even their best-of-series at one game apiece. Dave Bolland scored on a second period power play and Patrick Kane scored an insurance goal at 4:18 of the third.

"Nobody really filled his role," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "I thought their goaltender saw way too many pucks. We made it easy on him. ... You've got to fight for inches. We didn't fight for those inches. We need to be in his face a little more and make him fight through and find pucks.”

"Antti came off a game where we were all disappointed. It was a nice response by him," Chicago Joel Quenneville said. “We were more tenacious in the puck area, we had more traffic at the net, better board play and better in the scrum areas. ... There was more energy in our game." The series shifts to Nashville on Tuesday night for Game 3.

Across the border in Ottawa, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins took a 2-1 series lead over the Senators last night with a 4-2 victory. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each scored a goal to go along with goals from Alexei Ponikarovsky and Bill Guerin.

At one point the Senators thought they had tied the game with 40.8 seconds to go in the first period, but the referee ruled that the puck was kicked in. Game 4 is tomorrow night in Ottawa and the Penguins will surely look to put a stranglehold on the Senators.

And finally, down to Broad Street in Philadelphia last night where the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers battled in the night’s second overtime game (well technically it was the first).

Flyer’s tough guy, Daniel Carcillo, who has probably knocked out more guys on the ice than knocked pucks past an opposing goalie, was the unlikely hero last night scoring the game winner at the 3:35 mark in overtime.

Mike Richards set up the goal off a pair of shots against the sensational Martin Brodeur. Richards' first shot bounced off Brodeur. Richards then slid the second one past Brodeur to Carcillo -- who put it behind Brodeur. (espn.com)

"Richards was banging away and they seemed occupied with him," Carcillo said. "It was a pretty easy tap in for a game winner. I'm still kind of shaking. It was huge. It was awesome. Everybody dreams of a goal like that."

Game 4 is tomorrow night at the Wachovia Center.

Some information and quotes from ESPN.com were used in this story

TONIGHTS GAMES (All times EST)

Buffalo at Boston 7:00 pm. VS. (series tied 1-1)
Washington at Montreal 7:00 pm TSN (series tied 1-1)
Vancouver at Los Angeles 10:00 pm VS. (series tied 1-1)

NHL PLAYOFFS: DAY 1 WRAP UP

(Photo credit: Joe Sargent- NHL.com/Getty Images)

By Chris Carrano

SENATORS STIFLE PENGUINS COMEBACK ATTEMPT

(Ottawa lead series 1-0)

Suddenly that little bump on their road to defending the Stanley Cup became a little bit larger after last night. The Ottawa Senators stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 last night and snatched away the home-ice advantage for the defending champions in the process.

“Nobody’s picking us to win the series,” said Ottawa forward Jason Spezza.

Despite two goals from star forward Evgeni Malkin and three assists from their other star Sidney Crosby, the Penguins were held in check by Ottawa’s pesky defense. Malkin brought the standing room only crowd of 17,132 to its feet just 3:03 into the game with his first goal. After that, the Penguins could only muster one shot on net for the next 21:53. During that stretch, Peter Regin, Chris Neil and Chris Kelly scored goals for the Senators to give them a 3-1 lead.

The Penguins fought back as they came within one goal of the Senators on three different occasions. But each time they did, Ottawa answered back with goals of its own. Former Penguin, Jarkko Ruutu, ended up with game winner when he beat Penguins goalie Marc Andre-Fleury with a wrist shot 9:40 into the third.

"We can't hang our heads and just say something [like] 'We didn't execute,'" forward Alexei Ponikarovsky said. "We just have to do a better job. We've got to work and win the rest of them.”

Interesting facts (from ESPN.com)- Craig Adams scored after becoming the only player in the NHL this year to not score a goal despite playing in all 82 games…… Erik Karlsson became the first defenseman under the age of 20 to score a postseason goal since Wade Redden in 1997. (Seems like it’s been that long since Redden has scored too)

FLYERS EDGE DEVILS

(Philadelphia leads series 1-0)

In front of a sold out Prudential center crowd, the Flyers did what they’ve done all season against New Jersey: beat them. The Jersey Turnpike rivalry added another chapter last night as the Flyers took game one from their division rivals, 2-1, on impressive goaltending from their journeyman net minder Brian Boucher.

After a scoreless first period, Chris Pronger put the Flyers on the board with a power play goal at 9:25. Pronger backhanded his shot off the skate of Devils forward Brian Rolston and into the net. Mike Richards scored to make it 2-0 when he rifled a 35-foot shot that beat Devils goalie Martin Brodeur on his glove side.

Travis Zajac’s fluky goal at 17:17 of the third period gave the Devils a little hope, but Philadelphia was able to close it out. Despite having a four-minute power play early in the third period, the Devils only managed two shots on goal, which resulted in fans booing them as if they were Javier Vasquez of the New York Yankees.

Despite facing only 14 shots, Brodeur though his team “played decent”. He said, "Defensively, we did a great job. We didn't allow much. Offensively, the power play was the story of the game. We just couldn't get going. We couldn't get any momentum off it. We didn't do well."

COYOTES CLIP WINGS

(Phoenix leads series 1-0)

Penalties will kill you in hockey, and the Detroit Red Wings experienced that first hand last night. The Phoenix Coyotes used three power play goals to take their series opener at the Jobing.com arena in a 3-2 victory over last years Western Conference champions.

Derek Morris had the game winning goal and assisted on the other two as he earned the games first star honors. (Why didn’t the Rangers keep him???) Morris launched a shot off of Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard’s shoulder and into the net to give the Coyotes their first lead at 2:19 of the third period. It was Morris’ first career post-season goal. "He's got an absolute bomb," Howard said. "I was trying to come out as far as I could without giving up the backdoor."

Thomas Holmstrom scored the games first goal at 12:17 of the first period to put the Red Wings up 1-0. A little less than two minutes later, Keith Yandle’s power play goal tied it up. The celebration was short-lived however as Nicklas Lidstrom responded just 2:14 later with a power play goal of his own.

Wojtek Wolski, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline, tied the game at 6:15 of the second period when he one-timed a shot that was set up by Yandle. Wolski, has been a point-per-game player since coming to the desert.

There were some fireworks at the end of the game as the players were pushing and shoving each other. It was a physical game from top to bottom but in the third period, Lidstrom took a stick to the face from Phoenix’s Vernon Fiddler, which required five stitches to close. The ref didn’t call a penalty saying that Lidstrom was hit by his own teammate’s stick. "The [referee] would have been better off telling me he missed it," Lidstrom said.

There is sure to be some carryover for Game 2.

SHARKS BITTEN BY OWN MISHAP

(Colorado leads series 1-0)

The ghosts of playoffs past seem to haunt the San Jose Sharks and they were definitely in the HP Pavilion last night. Rob Blake, who was used to scoring big goals for the Colorado Avalanche during his career, scored another one for them- but this time he was wearing a Sharks jersey. Such is life for the Sharks who dropped their playoff opener 2-1 last night and probably has fans thinking about the “same ol’ Sharks.”

Blake’s “goal” came with 50 seconds left in regulation when Chris Stewart’s centering pass deflected off his skate and into the net.

Down 1-0 in the third period, Sharks’ forward Ryan Clowe’s misaligned shot from the boards made its way through a screen by Joe Pavelski and past Colorado goalie Craig Anderson at 7:59 to tie the game. In what may have been thought to have reversed the Shark’s post-season misfortune, the goal only delayed the inevitable.

"If you're thinking about that kind of stuff you're not in the right mental frame of mind," Clowe said. "What are losses in the past years going to do for us? These guys have a lot of character. The visiting team always wants to steal a game on the road. We would too. We just have to bounce back, work it out in practice, and come back

Craig Anderson made 25 saves, including a 6-shot flurry during a San Jose power play. "The first game is an important game, let's not kid ourselves," Colorado coach Joe Sacco said. "But there's still a long ways to go. We are the eight seed and they are the one seed. Not a lot of people are giving us a chance in this series, and the pressure is on them. We played to our identity tonight right from the first start."

Information from ESPN.com was used in these stories.

TONIGHT’S GAMES (All times EST)

#8 Montreal @ #1 Washington 7 pm VS.
#6 Boston @ #3 Buffalo 7 pm CBC
#6 Los Angeles @ #3 Vancouver 10 pm VS.

2010 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS PREVIEW

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS - 1st Round
By Adam Bernard

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(8) Montreal Canadiens vs. (1) Washington Capitals
SEASON SERIES: Split 2-2
The Canadiens find themselves in the same predicament as last year - a 1st round opponent that they have no chance of beating. Goalie Jaroslav Halak has played superbly for the Canadiens this year and the Canadiens offense can break out in spurts. But Washington is too good and too deep for Montreal to have a chance against. Washington's goaltending can be had and Halak is capable of stealing a game for Les Habitents, but look at this as a tune-up for the Capitals 2nd round match-up (which I think will be a rematch with Pittsburgh). Expect Ovie will use this round as a prelude for the showcase he'll put on in the 2nd round.
PREDICTION - CAPITALS IN 5

(5) Ottawa Senators vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins
SEASON SERIES: Split 2-2
Ottawa has had a great season and has been playing great hockey since Head Coach Cory Clouston took over last season. While I think we’re seeing the return of a powerhouse Sens team (like we saw just a couple of season ago), they are not ready to knock off the defending champs. Pittsburgh has too many good players and as long as Marc-Andre Fleury doesn’t implode, the Penguins win in a short series. Look for Sens F Jarkko Ruutu to go after Evgeni Malkin’s foot injury when possible.
PREDICTION - PENGUINS IN 5

(7) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (2) New Jersey Devils
SEASON SERIES: Flyers 5-1
It seems like these two teams always have a hard-fought and physical series when they meet in the playoffs, and this time will be no different. Interesting note about the Atlantic – the Devils swept the season series with Pittsburgh, the Penguins beat the Flyers 5-1, and Philly has beat the Devils 5-1. Playoff series come down to goaltending and I can’t see Brian Boucher out dueling Martin Brodeur. Marty has played very well since the Olympics and should have the rest he needs. Travel will be easy but winning this series won’t be.
PREDICTION - DEVILS IN 7

(6) Boston Bruins vs. (3) Buffalo Sabres
SEASON SERIES: Bruins won 4-2
This is the only series with a chance of an upset in the 1st round in the East. Boston scored the least amount of goals in the East (only Calgary scored less goals) in the regular season, but they play very well in their own end of the rink. You beat Buffalo by limiting their scoring opportunities since you won’t beat Sabres G Ryan Miller often. While Buffalo doesn’t score a lot themselves, I can see Miller taking the series by himself. Expect a very physical series between two division foes. While I really think Boston has a good chance…
PREDICTION - SABRES IN 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(8) Colorado Avalanche vs. (1) San Jose Sharks
SEASON SERIES: Split 2-2
Last year we saw why the Sharks were less than thrilled when Anaheim fell to 8th place in the West on the last day of the regular season. As good as San Jose was last season, they are a Dany Heatley better this season. While the story of this year’s Avs shouldn’t be overlooked (very young core, Craig Anderson’s fantastic play between the pipes, Joe Sacco’s performance as a rookie coach), they will not go beyond the 1st round in the team’s first playoffs in the post-Joe Sakic era. Expect a lot of scoring this series.
PREDICTION - SHARKS IN 6

(5) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) Phoenix Coyotes
SEASON SERIES: Split 2-2
Consider the following: the Coyotes ownership situation is a mess, Dave Tippett takes over for Wayne Gretzky late in the off-season, and the team is built around a young core of players. Now consider that Phoenix has been comfortably in 4th place for about a week. Dave Tippett should win coach of the year and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov should be nominated for the Vezina. It’s a shame that Phoenix ran in to the hottest team in the league in the 1st round. Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock has had his team playing great hockey since he donned gold in Vancouver. Goalie Jimmy Howard has played very well for the Wings this year and should get some Calder consideration. Detroit will be the only lower to seed to win a series in the 1st Round.
PREDICTION - RED WINGS IN 6

(7) Nashville Predators vs. (2) Chicago Blackhawks
SEASON SERIES: Blackhawks won 4-2
It seems like the Predators always run in to an opponent in the 1st round that they can’t beat. Ask anyone in the Central Division and they’ll tell you that Nashville is a tough opponent night in and night out. But the Blackhawks know the Preds well and are too talented for Nashville over the course of a 7 game series. As long as Chicago goalie Antti Niemi doesn’t get cold feet in his first playoffs, the Blackhawks win in a short series.
PREDICTION - BLACKHAWKS IN 5

(6) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Vancouver Canucks
SEASON SERIES: Canucks won 3-1
If LA’s goaltending down the stretch (maybe the gas tank went to “E” for Jonathan Quick in his first full season) didn’t falter, I’d say this is the closest match-up of the 1st round. While the Kings are a well put together team, they need more playoff experience. Vancouver has been playing solid, consistent hockey throughout the season and it won’t stop here. Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo will face a shooting gallery but can handle it. Expect a Sedin Twin Showcase in this series.
PREDICTION - CANUCKS IN 6

2010 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

By Chris Carrano

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Capitals vs. #8 Canadiens- Montreal has no shot against the President trophy winning Capitals. The Caps are too deep and talented and will be way too much for the Habs to handle. Capitals in 4.

#2 Devils vs. #7 Flyers- These two Atlantic division rivals typically do not like each other and I expect an intense, physical, penalty filled series. Watching these two teams play each other in the playoffs is a Ranger fan’s worst nightmare. The playoff experience of Marty Brodeur and company should be enough to get the Devils through the first round. Devils in 6.

#3 Sabres vs. #6 Bruins- The Buffalo Sabres return to the post-season after their Eastern Conference finals run a few seasons ago. They’ll face a Bruins team that stumbled a little bit down the stretch, but still managed to finish in sixth place. The main attraction in this series will be the battle of Team USA net minders: Buffalo’s Ryan Miller against Boston’s Tim Thomas. Sabres in 5.

#4 Penguins vs. #5 Senators- Ottawa also makes its return to the playoffs after a brief absence, but unfortunately it runs into a talented and deep Penguins team that beefed itself up at the trade deadline. The defending champs will look to close out the Igloo in style and I expect Ottawa to be a small bump on their road. Penguins in 5.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Sharks vs. #8 Avalanche- The Avalanche were left for dead at the start of the season, then surprised everyone by being in contention for a postseason berth. They briefly fell out of the top eight, but managed to slip in over the Calgary Flames. The Sharks do not have the pressure of being the President’s trophy winners this time around, but they do have a history of choking in the playoffs. They’ll make it past the first round, but not without a little bit of a scare. Sharks in 6.

#2 Blackhawks vs. #7 Predators- The Blackhawks have been one of the best teams in the West all season long and they are poised for another run at the Western Conference finals. Despite their issues in goaltending, their offense should be enough to get them past the Predators. Blackhawks in 5.

#6 Kings vs. #3 Canucks- The upstart Kings, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2002, will have to find a way to beat Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, as well as limit the amount of times the Sedin twins end up in the box score. Luongo has fallen apart in big games and since I feel compelled to pick an upset, Im picking this one. Kings in 7.

#4 Coyotes vs. #5 Red Wings- On paper, this should be the best series of the first round. The surging Coyotes, who have no idea where they’ll be playing in the future, take on one of hockey’s premiere dynasties in the Detroit Red Wings. With all the young talent and acquisitions the Coyotes made at the deadline and all of Detroit’s veteran playoff warriors healthy and at the top of their game, this is a series a true hockey fan will love. Coyotes in 7.