Canadiens Lineup
Perreault – Koivu – Zednik
Dagenais – Ribeiro – Ryder
Juneau – Bulis – Dackell
Langdon – Kilger – Ward
Markov – Rivet
Bouillon – Brisebois
Komisarek – Quintal
Theodore
Garon
1st Period
1-0 Sharks: Sharks get a power-play after Zednik takes an unnecessary elbowing penalty. Stuart scores high on Theodore from the right faceoff circle after collecting a rebound from a Damphousse shot. Ward had to much separation from Stuart on the play allowing him to take the shot, Ward attempted to block it, but failed.
Notes: Habs look to be suffering from jet-lag, at least in the early stages of the game so far. Shots were 8 a piece in the 1st, and the Canadiens won 13 of 19 faceoffs. Newly acquired Alexei Kovalev is not in the lineup for the Habs, and Andrei Markov is despite having a sore foot.
2nd Period
1-1 Habs Score: Yanic Perreault gets the goal, after a hardworking play by Zednik. Zednik fights along the right boards to get by the Sharks D-man to set up an odd man rush for the habs, Richard then passes the puck cross-ice to a wide-open Perreault who roofs it on Nabokov.
2-1 Sharks: Damphousse gets the goal, and the Sharks 2nd powerplay goal of the game. The Sharks were on the PP because of a Quintal crosschecking penalty, right after the habs killed off a Komisarek high sicking penalty. Sharks won the faceoff, passed from D to D , and Stuart took a shot that Damphousse tipped and went right through Theodore.
2-2 Habs Score: Habs get the goal back quickly, Ryder makes a few nice moves, then feeds the pointman Markov with a nice pass, Markov unleashes a cannon shot that beats Nabokov. Even strength goal.
3-2 Sharks: Sharks score yet another PP goal. Damphousse sets up the play behind the net, finds an open Sturm right in front of Theodore, Sturm makes no mistake and scores the go ahead goal. Habs are taking way too many careless penalties and getting burned.
4-2 Sharks: Niko Dimitrakos scores for the Sharks. Habs sloppy coverage allows Niko to have an open left lane to the net on Theodore, Nike blows a show by Theodore which Jose might like to have back. Habs are showing signs of fatigue, or just lazyiness anyways.
Notes: Sharks outshot the habs 17-9 in the seconds and have a 25-17 edge overall. Habs have won 28 faceoffs and lost 18 after 2. Canadiens are 0/2 on the PP , and have allowed 3 sharks goals on 6 PP attempts.
3rd Period
4-3 Habs score: The Canadiens finally get a powerplay goal of the own, scored by Mike Ribeiro. Brisebois with the shot from the point which is stopped by Nabokov, the puck goes behind the net, Ribeiro gets the puck and it looks like he intentionally banks the puck off Nabokov’s goal-pads into the net, intentional or not, it worked , 4-3 Sharks in 3rd.
GAME OVER
Final Score: 4-3 Sharks
Final Shots: 29-28 Sharks
Final Faceoffs: 38-28 Habs