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The San Jose Sharks were the last team of eight to punch their ticket into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. No doubt they were involved in the toughest series and overcame a very underrated Calgary team that gave them all they could handle. It took seven games and some great play by veterans Joe Thornton and Jeremy Roenick in game 7 to advance, but the Sharks will play Dallas in the second round.Calgary was inspired in game 1, being a huge underdog, and jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead. Stephane yell started the scoring just 2:47 into the game and three minutes later, Dion Phaneuf scored on the power play. Ryan Clowe started off his terrific series as he scored only a minute later to cut the lead to 2-1. In the second period, Stephane Yelle added his second goal of the game to put the Flames up 3-1. Jarome Iginla picked up his second assist on the goal as well. Clowe also added another goal in the third period, but that was all the Sharks would get. 3-2 Flames for a 1-0 series lead.
The Sharks response in game 2 was loud and clear. They pounded Calgary with shot after shot, dominating the face-off circles as well. 4:56 into the second period, Joe Pavelski put one past Kiprusoff for a 1-0 Sharks lead. At the end of the second, Torrey Mitchell scored his first goal of the postseason, giving San Jose a coveted 2-0 lead. Calgary hurt themselves by taking 11 penalties in the final two periods, and were not able to score any goals. The Sharks won 2-0 and tied the series at 1-1.
Switching venues and heading to Calgary, San Jose carried all their momentum with them. Ryan Clowe score 1:31 into the game, followed by Patrick Marleau 3:19 in, and Douglas Murray 14 seconds later. Calgary was in a huge 3-0 hole not even four minutes in. They kept grinding until Cory Sarich hit on Patrick Marleau erupted the building. The Flames quickly scored as Jarome Iginla put one in on the power play. Langkow scored on the power play too in the second period and they lead was cut to just one. 1:18 into the third, Dion Phaneuf found the back of the net to tie the game, and with four minutes left, Owen Nolan scored the game winner. Calgary’s amazing comeback gave them a 2-1 series lead.
Jarome Iginla scored his third goal of the playoffs in the first period of game 4 to give Calgary and early 1-0 lead. The Sharks would wait until the second period until Ryan Clowe scored yet another goal to tie it up. Dion Phaneuf gave the Flames the lead again at the end of the second period on a pass from captain Jarome Iginla. However, the Sharks held Calgary to only 10 shots in the entire game. Two of the Shark’s fourteen third period shots, including Joe Thornton’s with 10 seconds left, found the back of the net. San Jose won the game 3-2 and went back home with the series tied 2-2.
Yet again, Calgary got on the board first in game 5 in San Jose with another Jarome Iginla goal. Seven minutes later in the second period, Joe Pavelski scored on the power play to tie the game. Another seven minutes later, Patrick Marleau put one past Kiprusoff to give the Sharks the 2-1 lead. Jonathan Cheechoo add two goals of his own in the first 8 minutes of the third period to San Jose a commanding 4-1 lead, but Calgary would make it interesting. A minute after Cheechoo’s second goal, Langkow scored to cut the lead to two. David Moss even scored with 1:17 remaining, but that’s all Calgary would get. San Jose took control of the series with a 4-3.
The “Sea of Red” in Calgary was ready as ever for game 6. Owen Nolan score midway through the first to give Calgary a 1-0 lead. When Calgary scores first, they were 1-2, but that all changed. Daymond Langkow added a goal with a minute left in the second period, and Mikka Kiprusoff took over from there. Although Calgary outshot the Sharks 25-21, Kipper stopped all 21 of them for his 6th career playoff shutout. Calgary won 2-0 and headed back to San Jose for game 7.
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