Oh wow! What a hockey game between Vancouver and San Jose in game one. The great thing is this series will only get better and better as the series progresses!
- The animosity was evident even before the game officially started. Ryan Kesler and Joe Thornton jawing at the opening puck drop was the first sign of things to come.
- Thornton was the best player early in the game. But like the entire Sharks team he seemed to tire in the second half of the game, just as the rusty but rested Canucks really found their legs.
- “They eventually beat us at the type of game we wanted to play,” said Sharks coach Todd McLellan. That's interesting. The Canucks did the same against Nashvlle and to some degree Chicago. That's a good thing.
- The Sedins had a pretty strong game, complete with the winning goal obviously. Ryan Kesler was not nearly as noticeable offensively.
- The Sharks had a lot of unnoticeable players in this game. That will change.
- Roberto Luongo continues with his bad-goal-a-game play. At least it came early in this one.
- I thought the Canucks third line - in particular Raffi Torres - were really strong.
- Late in the third, while playing 4 on 4, the Canucks got caught on an icing with two wingers - Alex Burrows and Daniel Sedin - but no center. If they had enough time, I'm sure Coach Vigneault would have tried to get Henrik and Daniel to switch jerseys for the faceoff. But Daniel - after Burrows was thrown out of the circle - made a real smart play by pushing the puck forward.
- San Jose will benefit from the extra time off as these two teams don't play again until Wednesday. They played a strong game at times and with a bit of rest they will make this a very long series.
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