Game 1: San Jose 5 @ Montreal 1

San Jose starts off the playoffs on a high note.


In a surprise announcement prior to the first game of the series, San Jose GM Critter3 announced that the Shark Tank has been pre-booked by Dora The Explorer for the time span of the first round series! In a decision between GM Critter3 and GM Frankididou it was decided that Montreal would be awarded the home advantage throughout their series......aka, for some reason Critter3's 360 kept freezing during the loading screen whenever he tried to host the game. Reason unknown, but hopefully it won't happen again. It was a much anticipated series for Craig Rivet, who had been traded to the Sharks midway through the season. The fans at the Bell center welcomed Rivet back with a standing ovation, but Rivet knew the fans would not be cheering for him.

Right from the first face off the San Jose Sharks were in playoff mode and it seemed like Montreal was just trying to keep up. With hard work Grier was able to get the first goal of the game shorthanded when he backhanded a one-timer through the 5-hole of Huet. The goal quieted the capacity crowd to a few rumblings in the stands. Shortly after while still on the PP, the Canadiens had a chance to tie it up on a one-time shot while Nabokov got caught trying to play the shot and not the pass. But the Montreal player shot it right into the chest of Nabokov for the easy stop. The missed opportunity seemed to knock out any life that the Canadiens may have been showing. Marleau and Goc were able to get a goal each on breakaways to give the Sharks the 3-0 lead.

The game would get even worse for the Canadiens in the third when Guerin would get credited for a goal put in by Huet's own D-man. If there was one guy on the Canadiens bench that could give life to the team it was Saku Koivu...and he did just that. Even thought the game was pretty much over, Koivu showed that the Habs would not roll over and die. In a brilliant display of determination Koivu picked up a loose puck and headed for the Sharks net. After losing the puck twice but taking it right back from the person who stole it from him, Koivu streaked into the Sharks zone and put it by Nabokov to get the Habs on the board. The Sharks however would get another breakaway goal to finish off the game and getting 5 goal on 22 shots.

Going into game two it seemed like the speed of the Sharks, Koivu's heart, Huet's game, and the Shark's positional play would be the deciding factors of the series.

Stats:
SJ @ Mtl
22 shots 19
18 hits 43

3 Stars:
Grier: 1 1
Marleau 1 0
Brown 0 2

Summary:
1st:
SJ: Grier - Brown, Vlasic (SH)
SJ: Marleau - Michalek, McLaren
2nd:
SJ: Goc - Brown, Grier
3rd:
SJ: Guerin
Mtl: Koivu
SJ: Clowe - Rivet