Wings beat Sharks, 3-2
I already made some brief comments about last night’s game in the previous post so this one is dedicated to reaction from the blogosphere.
Mike Chen @ Battle of California:
Neither team has put in a consistent effort throughout this series. Does that mean there’s an ebb and flow to who’s better or does it just mean that both teams are coasting from time to time? There’s been huge amounts of apathetic and/or stupid play from both sides, which makes me think the latter.
Even though it’s a three-game series with two at the Joe, I’m not jumping off a bridge just yet. The Sharks have given these games away, meaning that they were in control for most of the time. They know they can win at the Joe and they know that when they show up — such as the third period of Game 3 — they’re the better team. Two consistent efforts, that’s all I’m asking for.
In my opinion, I don’t think San Jose is the better team deserving of the series win. I believe both the Wings and Sharks are pretty evenly matched and could very well see this series going to seven games. I think both teams could definitely play better and it has been frustrating watching the Wings dominate for a portion of the game and then have the Sharks dominate for a portion of the game. A team needs to own the game. Not the first period.
I disagree with Mike that the Sharks controlled most of last night’s game. Yes, the Sharks had moments where they dominated the ice, but I have to go with the Wings (even if they were done by 2 goals for some time, they still controlled the puck).
Quotes from the press conference after the game from PJ @ Sharkspage:
Ron Wilson: “They are a damn good hockey team. They were desperate. Again, I need a couple guys to wake up in the series or it is going to be over. You can’t take a week off in the second round of the playoffs. If you only have one line that is being creative offensively, they are going to focus on that and try to deny chances. We need more contributions from other people.”
Mike Babcock: “This is exactly what I expected. I actually expected to win the other night, but I thought we would go home 2-2. They are a real good team, and we are a real good team. That is why it is so hard to control games. Both teams are used to controlling the tempo of the whole game. That is what happens all year long. That is why you don’t think you played that good, because the other team is on top of you, you are on top of them. The play is usually about half and half…
It is a best of three now, and as the gentleman said we are going home. There hasn’t been much momentum carried from game to game in this series in my opinion. It is going to be a battle of wills. I read something about a lot of these series are decided by inches. Tonight our goal goes off the bar. That is how tight it is, and that is how close it is.”
Dave @ Gorillia Crouch:
So the good sign for the Red Wings - well, besides the fact they’ve tied the series- is that two of their key contributors made major contributions last night. Homer was finally able to make his mark on this series and Schneider got off the schneid and broke through. Robert Lang has been up and down this season but he was also Detroit’s leading scorer in the previous two playoffs. So getting another key goal from him is another great sign for the Red Wings. Helene St. James reported in the article I linked above that Nick Lidstrom spoke with Lang briefly before the game and told him to stay positive and to work hard and things will turn his way.
Many Red Wings fans worried about playing San Jose in the playoffs, but after 4 games there is no reason to doubt that Detroit belongs on the same ice as San Jose. It’s been a highly competitive series and it is still any team’s series.
Matt @ On the Wings:
What a finish. Definitely not for the faint hearted! From Robert Lang’s shocker to Mathieu Schneider’s booming game-winner, I flinched at every San Jose shot and gift-wrapped scoring chance, and stiffled yells on every decent Wings scoring opportunity. Watching your team on the line like that is not fun, but it feels so good afterwards.
Still, there are a lot of things they need to work on. The comeback was spectacular, but overall, their game was not. Hopefully tonight will get them on the right track as the series becomes a best-of-three.
Peterborough Pete @ From Behind the Mask:
I really have to get some sleep but let’s just say…The Wings dominated in the face off circle, the Sharks turned the puck over 24 times, the Wings directed the puck 80 times towards the Sharks net (49 shots, 16 missed shots, 15 blocked shots) - that’s amazing…that’s a recipe for disaster…combine that with the comedy of errors by Rivet and McLaren on the Lang Goal (oh least we forget the blown save by Nabby on that one) and then the Rivet penalty in OT with the Hannan clearing attempt up the gut and you get a lose…almost every time…in the end the Hockey Gods ensured that the best team on the ice tonight won this game…
Despite all that the Sharks actually had this game in the bag - they had the Wings dead and buried, under a minute, puck down low in the Wings end, empty net and they turn the puck over…instead of the dump and tie up in the corner. Did I mention before the Sharks lack of ability to play 60 minutes? I’m just saying…
Just a quick word on the refs tonight…just brutal for both teams. Missed the obvious too many men on the Sharks on the Goc goal, missed a couple of icing calls, were crossed up and divided on several calls…they guys were basically a joke tonight…
The Dream of a semi final of Californication just took a huge blow tonight…
Can’tStoptheGrier @ Shaved Ice:
I still can’t believe it happened. Robert Lang, who has been invisible for the entire series, slips in alone and puts one past the rock steady Nabby to tie the game with 34 seconds left in regulation. Nabby, who made 46 saves in another heroic performance, fell to the ice and looked to the rafters in disbelief. Did this really just happen?? And Robert Lang of all Wings? Unreal.
Detroit stole Game Four and all it would have taken was 39 seconds. That’s it. Five more seconds of penalty kill in the 2nd period. 34 more precious ticks of the clock to go up 3-1 in the series and it’s lights out Motown. Instead, it is gut check time. The Sharks need to dig deep to pull this off. Detroit has all the momentum. They won two games they had no business winning. By all accounts, this series could very well be over. Instead, we will see what the team is made of….and I’ll tell you what. I don’t think it is a bad thing. Let me tell you why.
The Sharks are the most talented team in the playoffs. I still believe that.
While I definitely understand his shock of Lang scoring that big of a goal, I completely disagree with the statement “They won two games they had no business winning.” Yes, they did come from behind in two games. But neither team has played a full game at their best. And it’s not like the Wings played so poorly that they had no business winning. It’s been a very competitive series between two excellent teams. And the Sharks have had their share of flukey goals in this series too. Personally, I think whichever team wins this series will win the Western Conference even if Anaheim gets a bit more rest.
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