The San Jose Sharks team that showed up - errrrr - didn't show up in game one looked a whole lot like the Anaheim Ducks team that was quickly dispatched of in round one - slow, undisciplined, outmatched and outplayed.

Before I rip the Sharks for what they didn't do, I have to praise the Vegas Golden Knights for what they did. Behind another stellar Marc-Andre Fleury start, Vegas came out flying. They used their speed game perfectly. They easily backed San Jose's defense up enough for them to impose their offensive will. Brent Burns was terrible too. It was shocking really.

Martin Jones was not great, but this game is not all on him. Jones was pulled after allowing five goals on 13 shots. Aaron Dell made his first career playoff appearance, allowing two goals on 21 shots.

The Golden Knights scored seven goals by seven different players in the four-game sweep of Los Angeles. They scored seven goals by seven different players in game one of this series. That epitomizes the definition of a balanced attack and if they do this moving forward, God help the Sharks and whomever else gets in this teams way.

What makes the Golden Knights so dangerous is their ability to play any style. They can play a tight checking defensive game or play free-wheeling up and down hockey. It's like a team you would put together in the franchise mode of a video game. Crazy stuff.

The Sharks had no answer for anything the Knights did. Taking 10 penalties didn't help. Vegas scored three power play goals on the 10 opportunities and it appears San Jose will lose Evander Kane for at least one game. In his frustration, Kane cross-checked Pierre-Edourd Bellemare in the head. He was handed a five-minute major and game-misconduct for his best Corey Perry impression. Kane has a hearing with the league today.

San Jose was shell-shocked for sure and when they did have an offensive chance it was either gobbled up by Fleury or brought back the other way on a full speed rush. I was so impressed with the Knights transition game. It was men against boys. The house team versus the beer league team. Not encouraging for the San Jose faithful.

MAF made 33 saves for his third shutout in five postseason starts. This is the best MAF has looked, maybe ever. If the Sharks are going to beat him they have to take more high danger shots and hope for a rebound.

Vegas is 5-0 in these playoffs and they are a force to be reckoned with.

Hopefully this game is a was a wake-up call for the Sharks. Otherwise lookout. The blowout loss matched the worst loss in the franchise’s playoff history. San Jose lost to Calgary 9-2 way back in 1995. I'm hoping the Sharks saved their worst game for first.

San Jose did everything I criticized the Ducks for. It was way out of character for this team and I hope it was just an off night.

We will get a chance to see what this Sharks group is made of in game to. For all the good we saw against the Ducks, this version of the teal and black looked stodgy and disorganized. I would chalk up the lack of compete to rust after eight days off, but Vegas had nine days off and looked just fine.

I expect a better effort from the entire group, including Jones in game two. Will it be enough? A seven game series is a marathon. At least that's what they tell me.

Thanks for reading,
Steve

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