Western Conference
Vancouver Canucks 3, San Jose Sharks 2 -- If you like fast paced hockey, this is the series for you. The Sharks came out firing as captain Joe Thornton scored an unassisted goal with barely a minute left in the first period to take the lead. Patrick Marleau scored his second goal in as many games to give San Jose the 2-1 lead midway through the second period. In the third period, it was all Vancouver. At 7:02 in the third, Kevin Bieksa blasted a one timer past Sharks goalie Antti Niemi to tie the game, and a minute later Henrik Sedin buried a rebound less than a minute later after a Dany Heatley elbowing penalty put Vancouver on the power play. Sedin's power play goal gave the Canucks a lead they would not relinquish, as they continuously put pressure on Niemi who was brilliant with 35 saves. His efforts were not enough to steal the game for San Jose, who find themselves down 1-0 in the series despite playing well early.
Vancouver leads the series, 1-0.
Next Scheduled Game
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins, 8:00 p.m. EDT, on Versus -- The Lightning used an unusual lapse of focus by Bruins' goalie Tim Thomas to score three goals in 85 seconds, all the scoring they would need to take Game One by a 5-2 margin. The Bruins' offense couldn't get past the Tampa Bay blue line consistently enough to keep the pressure on the unflappable Lightning veteran Dwayne Roloson, who stopped 31 of 33 shots he faced. Tampa Bay has now won eight straight playoff games, dominating the past two series after falling down 3-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Another win on Boston's ice could put the Bruins in a big hole, and the Lightning closer to their second Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history.
Tampa Bay leads the series, 1-0.