It took three games and four overtime periods in game 6, but the Dallas Stars finally beat the San Jose Sharks. The series was by far the closest of the semifinal round as the Stars and the Sharks played 5, one-goal games and four games went to overtime. Game 6 was the eighth longest overtime game in NHL history. Evgeni Nabokov and Marty Turco made some of the greatest saves of the season, but it ultimately was ended by captain Brendan Morrow of the Dallas Stars, advancing them into the Western Conference Finals round.
The series got underway in San Jose for game 1 as the Shark Tank was rockin’. Milan Michalek scored early in the second period to put the hometown team up 1-0. But like so many times in these playoffs, Dallas responded in quick fashion, striking on the power play just a minute later. Brendan Morrow scored later in the second to give the Stars a 2-1 lead in a critical game 1. However, Jonathan Cheechoo netted the game-tying goal as three Sharks crashed the net with three minutes left in the game. The game was tied 2-2 and would go to overtime. 4:39 into the OT period, Mattias Norstrom fed Brendan Morrow the puck cross-ice and he buried the one timer past Nabakov. The Sharks lost game 1 at home for the second straight series.
In game 2, the Sharks were the team that struck first again. This time Joe Pavelski scored midway through the first period, only to be answered by Mike Ribeiro of Dallas five minutes later. The game remained 1-1 heading into the second period, where, 14:54 in, Michalek scored his second goal of the playoffs. The Sharks looked in control going into the third, however, Dallas exploded for 4 third period goals. Brad Richards scored the first of the period only 32 seconds in, followed by Mike Modano and Niklas Hagman twice. For the second straight series, Dallas stole the first two games on the road and would head home up 2-0.
Game 3 in Dallas was the tightest of the series. San Jose scored first again when Patrick Marleau scored a shorthanded breakaway goal with seconds remaining in the first period. San Jose was able to keep the lead all of the second, but Dallas came out flying again in the third. 47 seconds into the period, Zubov scored on a 5 on 3 power play, somewhat fixing the mistake he made by feeding Marleau the puck on his goal. Dallas outshot San Jose 9-4 in the third period, but could not muster any more goals. The game went to another overtime as Mattias Norstrom proved to be the hero this time. 4:37 in, he fired a puck from the point that found the back of the net giving Dallas a 3-0 series lead.
Game 4 marked the first time in the series that the Sharks did not get the first goal. As San Jose went 0-3 in the first period on the power play, Dallas took advantage and scored the first goal 5:25 into the second period as Jere Lehtinen got the goal. Patrick Marleau responded on yet another shorthanded breakaway just four minutes later. The game was 1-1 heading into the third period, where this time San Jose came out with a jump. Playing with desperation, Michalek scored his first of the game on the power play and San Jose took the lead 2-1, which they held on to for the remained of the game, forcing game 5 with a 2-1 win.
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In San Jose for game 5, the Sharks continued to ride the momentum of the last game, at least in the first period. Jere Lehtinen scored on the power play midway through the second period for the game’s first goal. Brendan Morrow scored towards the end of the period to give Dallas a huge 2-0 lead heading into the third. However, the Stars wouldn't have the lead for long. Milan Michalek scored 6:20 into the period, followed by Brian Campbell five minutes later. Regulation ended in a 2-2 tie and the game went to the third overtime of the series, with Dallas winning the previous two. However, Joe Pavelski scored only 1:05 into overtime to win the game for the Sharks, forcing a game 6 back in Dallas.
Game 6 in Dallas proved to be a classic, by far the best game of the playoffs this year and the 5th longest in NHL history. All the action happened in overtime, but in order to get there Antti Miettinen scored in the second period with Ryan Clowe tying it up just 1:39 into the third period. The game went to OT 1-1.
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The teams went back and forth, but San Jose dominated much of the first two overtimes. Nabokov made the save of the year when he robbed Brad Richards on a one timer. The entire crowd was convinced the puck went in and it even had to go to replay. But Nabokov clearly stopped the puck right before or on the goal line in midair, either way it didn’t count. A little while later, Marty Turco decided to get in on the action and make an amazing save himself with a beautiful kick save on Marleau on a two on one.
In the third overtime, the first penalty in 70 minutes hockey time was called. The play was a penalty by definition, but to call a chinsy penalty like that after putting the whistle away for the entire game was a bit cheap. However, San Jose who had had pressure for most of the overtimes lost it on the power play and did not score. In the 4th overtime, Dallas was rewarded with a power play of their own off a trip by Brian Campbell. Dallas was able to take advantage of a tired Sharks line and the man advantage and Brendan Morrow tipped home the game winning goal midway through the period.
Morrow also set an NHL record with 19 hits in one game and Marty Turco set a new career record and Dallas franchise record by making 61 saves. That is also the most by any player of the playoffs this year. The Stars advance to play the Red Wings in Detroit on Thursday.
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