SAN JOSE, CA – Game two of the Western Conference Semi-finals between the Colorado Avalanche and the San Jose Sharks saw the visiting Avalanche team grab an early lead. Milan Hedjuk’s goal on a slapshot at the 1:10 mark of the first period seemed to surprise Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov.
Joe Pavelski for San Jose was called for an interference penalty at 5:17 but the Sharks were able to keep the Avalanche off the scoreboard.
The next four penalties in succession were called against Colorado. Kyle Cumiskey was sent to the box for holding at 7:07. His penalty was killed by the Avalanche as was an interference call on Adam Foote four minutes later.
The third Avalanche penalty of the first period, a too many men on the ice – bench minor, was mere seconds from ending when Manny Malhotra wristed one by Avalanche goalie, Craig Anderson to tie the game at one each going into the first break.
Period number two opened up in a similar fashion as the first with an early Avalanche goal. Anderson set up Stewart on a breakaway a mere 24 seconds into the second frame.
Colorado and San Jose traded goals back and forth throughout the second period with a total of 6 goals scored.
Sharks defenseman, Rob Blake, sent a slapper top shelf at 3:43 to make it 2 to 2 followed by Hedjuk’s wrister to put the Avalanche up 3 to 2 twenty five seconds later. At the 7:10 mark Devon Setoguchi scored on a slap shot to even the score at 3 to 3.
Another penalty call on the Avalanche at 10:49 continued the lopsided Power Play chances for the Sharks but the Colorado team gamely killed off the Paul Stastny minor.
After more than 10 minutes without a goal from either team Yip scored on a wrister at 17:30 to put the Avalanche back on top 4 to 3.
Scott Nichol drew the Sharks even with a late period score on the backhand and the teams went into the second intermission tied 4 to 4.
After the scoring explosion in the middle period both teams came out more committed to defense and period three was played at a much more deliberate pace.
Stewart scored his second goal of the game on a wrist shot at 5:43 of third period and it was not until a very late goal at 19:28, with the goalie pulled for an extra skater, that San Jose was able to once again even the score.
The overtime period began with San Jose getting several good scoring chances before the Avalanche revved it up and had a few great chances of their own.
Unfortunately for such an exciting game the uneven penalty calling once again came into play when a phantom interference call on Avalanche Captain, Adam Foote, allowed the Sharks a man advantage that Setoguchi was able to cash in for the 6 to 5 win.
Shots on goal for the game were 52 for San Jose and 22 for Colorado.
The San Jose Sharks were assessed 10 penalty minutes compared to 16 minutes in penalties for the Avalanche.
Colorado and San Jose, with the series tied one game apiece, will meet in game three on Sunday April,18 at 7:05 P.M. at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
