This wasn't supposed to be a cake walk for the San Jose Sharks, but they are not looking like President Trophy winners in the early going in the series against the Anaheim Ducks. San Jose, who ended the season with the most points of any NHL team during the regular season couldn't muster a single goal in their 2-0 loss to the much lower seeded Ducks. Right now the two teams look like they're heading in opposite directions: the Sharks have been less than spectacular in the late stages of the season, while the Ducks have been winning more and more games.
The Sharks ended the regular season by losing 3 of their last 5 games (a 5-2 drubbing by these same Ducks) and lost 4-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes and a 1-0 shootout loss to the even worse Colorado Avalanche. The Anaheim Ducks finished the regular season with a 10-2-1 run as they clinched a playoff spot.
Looking back farther, since Feb 22nd, the once high-flying Sharks have won only 2 games by more than a single goal. From the start of the season until then, the Sharks lit up other teams like a peanut gallery. Maybe it was due to injuries, as Mike Grier, Ryan Clowe and team captain Patrick Marleau all missed a lot of games at the end of the season.
More fans are asking about the absence of Joe Thornton. Sure, Thornton played, but he was The Invisible Shark in last night's game. Big Joe didn't register a single shot on the Ducks net until the final minute! This guy is being paid millions and he hasn't ratcheted up his game. If you are being paid Thornton-like dollars, you had better play like a maniac and hit everything in a Ducks uniform. Thornton's play was noticeable for his absence. Step it up Joe, or the Sharks will make yet another 1st-round exit.
In the game, both goalies were excellent. The Sharks' Evgeni Nabokov and the Ducks' Jonas Hiller kept the score 0-0 until the third period. Nabokov was in his usual fine form and the Ducks' rookie goaltender Hiller really looked sharp in his first playoff action. Hiller earned his shutout with a 35 save performance from the 27-year-old netminder. He stated that he did have previous playoff experience (including some game 7 action) when he played in the Swiss League. But he looked ready last night as the Sharks could not solve the Ducks goalie.
Scott Niedermayer finally scored against Nabokov at the five minute mark and the Sharks couldn't get anything past Hiller. There were a few close calls, but Hiller's best friends, the crossbar and posts stopped all that eluded the Anaheim goaltender. Ryan Getslaf who had been held scoreless by San Jose in 12 previous contests scored Anaheim's 2nd goal.
All in all, this is a bad omen for the San Jose Sharks. Beaten (shutout no less!) by a team that ended so far behind them in the regular season, and the 2nd straight loss to the Ducks. The Ducks have now gone 8-0-2 in their last 10 games and are showing that even a lower seeded team can compete with the top NHL teams when the playoffs roll around. Now, to see if they can do it again in game 2 before they head home to Anaheim with at least a split.
GAME 2: Sun Apr 19 @ San Jose 10pm
GAME 3: Tue Apr 21 @ Anaheim 10:30pm
GAME 4: Thu Apr 23 @ Anaheim 10:30pm
GAME 5: Sat Apr 25 @ San Jose 10:00pm
GAME 6: Mon Apr 27 @ Anaheim TBD
GAME 7: Wed Apr 29 @ San Jose TBD
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