The San Jose Sharks won the first round of their heavy-weight bout with the Los Angeles Kings and I'm still trying to catch my breathe.
Despite playing very well, the Sharks just barely survived a Kings team that did not play its best game. That said...we are in for a treat as this series is already shaping up to be everything we expected it to be and (fingers crossed) possibly more.
Sharks' captain Joe Pavelski played like a man on a mission, scoring two goals including the game-winner just seconds into the third period. Pavelski put his team ahead for good on a beautifully executed wraparound with Anze Kopitar riding him like a county fair pony. The captain's outstanding individual effort was the difference in a game that was tied three times and had several lead changes.
We need more efforts like that from the Sharks core.
In the games' waning moments with Kings goalie Jonathan Quick on the bench for the extra attacker, the Sharks did just enough to hold a relentless Kings' attack in check.
I fully expected the Kings to find a way to get the equalizer and eventually win in overtime. That would have been such a Kings thing to do. It was probably the most intense minute of hockey for San Jose in quite some time (Since 2014?).
Martin Jones was very solid in the win, making 21 saves to earn his first career playoff victory.
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I'm very happy with the way the Sharks played. They pretty much set the tone of the game early and anybody who thinks this is the same 'ol Sharks team is in for a very rude awakening.
That said.... These are the (bleeping) LA Kings. This Kings team is rich with a championship pedigree up-and-down that entire freaking lineup. San Jose played a very good game and were still lucky to win. That is a compliment to the Kings.
I know, I know...The Kings got a couple very good bounces, BUT L.A. is team that gets those bounces because they never stop coming at you. As a group, the Kings never get too high or too low emotionally and its still way too early in this round to feel any nerves. They are the NHL's version of the starfish. If you cut off one limb, another grows back in its place.
And while It's great to see the Sharks up 1-0...I wouldn't dwell on these warm and fuzzy feelings for too long. The Kings are never out of anything, even when they are down 0-3.
Los Angeles allowed two goals off faceoff losses, took too many penalties and allowed the Sharks' forecheck to dictate the pace of the game. Don't expect this to happen again.
L.A. and head coach Darryl Sutter will adjust and correct these mistakes. Will Pete Deboer and the Sharks be able to do the same? P.S. Milan Lucic is a beast. He is built to be a playoff hero.
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Game 2 is Saturday at Staples Center at 7:30 p.m. PST on NBCSN. Check your local listings.
thanks for reading, Steve