ANAHEIM, Ca – The intensity continued in game 3, at the Honda Center, before 16,277 fans. The teams traded goals back and forth until the Sharks were finally able to hold off the Ducks to finish the game with a score of 4-3.
This was a game that highlighted the value of the defensemen, as five of seven goals were scored by defenders. The net-minders on both sides had a few tremendous saves, Evgeni Nabokov had 27 saves and Jonas Hiller made 31 saves.
With the Ducks up 2-0 in the series, a physical game was on the horizon. Early in the first period, Douglas Murray was assessed a five minute high-sticking penalty to Ryan Getzlaf, leaving a small gash under his chin. But, as has been routine for the series, the Ducks were not able to capitalize off the power play.
The Sharks, Rob Blake would be the first to score in this game at 5:34 as a result of a ricochet off the skate past Hiller by one of the Duck’s defenders, with an assist to Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
Then, at 11:12, a goal assisted by Getzlaf to Bobby Ryan (2nd in series), was kicked into the net by Nabokov as he attempted to block the loose puck. Ryan Whitney was also credited with an assist on the play.
The Sharks were finally able to break through on the man advantage, to get the go-ahead goal at 13:07, with a goal by Dan Boyle with assists registered to Joe Thornton and Devin Setoguchi.
But the Sharks lead would be short lived. At 14:50, following a face-off in the neutral zone, Ducks’ James Wisniewski (unassisted) slapped a quick shot from just inside the blue line near the wall sending the puck past Nabokov’s blocker into the far side of the net, to even the score at two apiece.
Tensions between both teams continued to increase, until a fight broke out between Douglas Murray and George Parros with just over a minute left in the period. More pushing and shoving brought the close of the first period. The Ducks out shot the Sharks 20-8, and the score tied at two apiece.
Boyle started off the scoring in the second period, with a wrist shot to the back side of Hiller, just out of his reach on a rebound. The assists went to Joe Pavelski and Ryan Clowe to put the Sharks back in the lead again, 3-2 at 1:05.
Then at 11:50, Chris Pronger would score for the Ducks, with a shot through the slot to the back of the net, unassisted. The teams were even again at 3-3. The Sharks were able to get more shots at the goal during this period and led the ducks in shots on goal 13-8.
The only goal in the third period, on a Sharks power play, came at 10:33. A wrist shot by Patrick Marleau from a feed by Blake and Boyle, putting the Sharks ahead again, 4-3.
Contact the writer at: shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com
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