Game one could have gone better in a lot of different aspects. It’s good that it’s a 7 game series right?
- Puck drops at 8 p.m., airs on Versus
- First period will be crucial. The Wings fell into an early 3 goal hole as the Sharks scored in rapid succession. The odd part was that Detroit was playing well up until the penalty that gave the Sharks their first power play goal. If the Red Wings come out hungry (like the first part of the first period in Game 1) and play like they want it then they can get some early pressure on Nabokov and keep the pressure in his end.
- I touched on this yesterday, but the penalty kill and power play both have to play better. Both of the San Jose units are good so the Wings need to play better to be on par with them.
- The Wrath of the Johan will be felt. I have a feeling that Franzen will finally flip that switch. He had a great goal in game one and then the high sticking penalty that he was ticked off about might have flipped the switch for him to say that he needs to have a bigger impact. With his size, he should be able to maneuver well in the San Jose zone and create chances for himself or his linemates.
- Paging Tomas Holmstrom, Tomas Holmstrom. Holmstrom has a total of 4 points this post season. Very un-Homer-like. It was clear in game one that the Sharks don’t like Holmstrom in Nabokov’s face and they pressured, cross-checked, and shoved him all night long to send that message. Props to him for taking the abuse but he might need to do that on the power play and power play only.
- Jimmy Howard will rebound today. Howard has shown that he can shake off the bad games and play great the next game out. I think we’ll see a stellar performance out of the rookie tonight and his confidence will be soaring. Howard will adapt to the different style of the Sharks attack and with his lateral speed he can be effective against a Sharks team that passes well.
- A split in San Jose would be ideal. Heading back to Detroit down 2-0 would be pretty damn bad given what the Sharks roll out in their line-up every night.
- Anyone else like the space that the Sharks give up in the defensive zone compared to how Phoenix was? I do.
- Joe Pavelski needs to be held in check. The way he’s playing, he’s just as much (if not more so) of a threat as Heatley/Marleau/Thornton. Pavelski is tied with Mikael “go ___ yourself” Samuelsson for the playoff lead in goals with 7. Pavelski is playing great and is positioning himself very well on the ice and crashing the net. Brad Stuart, he’s your man to hit now.
- Plain and simple, Detroit needs to put more shots on Nabokov. Detroit was constricted in game one on shots that Nabokov actually had to save. They need to make Nabokov and San Jose work harder and it will generate more chances for scoring. Detroit put only 23 shots on net in game one (which also makes Nabokov’s save percentage look pretty bad) but need to put more on throughout game two.
- Patrick Eaves is questionable for the game following an arm injury he sustained against Phoenix. If Eaves can’t go, Jason Williams will fill his spot in the line-up. Eaves is a big part of the penalty kill so whether or not he plays will be pretty important.
- Nice glass of Marleau, please. Patrick Marleau might be out still with the flu. He’s apparently close to returning but anyone that’s had the flu knows how that can be.
- Fear The Fin is the SB Nation blog for the Sharks.
