Sharks-Stars: Marty Turco Steals Game One

At least no one can fault San Jose for its effort.  We may, however, still be able to fault the special teams play.

In a 3-2 overtime loss to Dallas, San Jose failed to kill just one penalty (4-of-5 makes them 20-for-27 in the playoffs: 74.1%), but that was the difference.  Patrick Marleau leapt up as Mike Modano's point shot came at him, allowing it to slide beneath him and helping to screen the puck. 

I do not accept the announcers' explanation that he was "trying to make himself bigger" because he thought the puck would come up off the ice.

Why would you do that?  To block a puck that might be higher than your 6'3" frame?  What is it going to do, fall back to the ice?  It's not a field goal attempt in football.

Either he was avoiding getting struck, and this is no time for self-preservation, or he used poor judgment, and this is no time for that either.  Especially from your captain.

Meanwhile, the Sharks' power play did not score once (0-for-4 tonight makes them 6-for-35 on the post-season, or 17.1 percent).  This time it was not because pucks were being passed around the perimeter; it was because of Marty Turco.  He stopped 25-of-27 shots (.926 save percentage) and thwarted many opportunities through traffic.

His counterpart, Evgeni Nabokov, stopped just 15-of-18 (.833), although he could hardly be faulted on at least the two regulation goals.

The Sharks played well, as their 3:2 shot ratio would indicate.  Moreover, they had four more shots both missed and blocked than the Stars, displaying their superiority in the puck-possession style both teams favour. 

San Jose played with intensity, winning 59 percent of faceoffs and outhitting the Stars 31-27.  However, it may have resulted in the extra penalty; the way the Dallas power play is working, that is not a recipe for success.

My three stars:

1. Brendan Morrow: the Stars' captain was +1 and scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to go with four hits and a blocked shot.  He was also the official first star of the game.
2. Jonathan Cheechoo: the Sharks' winger had the game-tying goal with 3:02 left in regulation to go with a +1 rating, a hit, and a blocked shot.  The official second star was Mike Ribiero, who had two assists and a +1 rating but was 2-of-9 in the faceoff circle.
3. Marty Turco (see above).  The official third star was given to Cheechoo.