Niemi Hot As the Sharks Fall in Game 1

If we found out one thing in Game 1, it was that this is going to be as exciting and gut-renching a series as we have seen in a long time. Another, a hot goalie is going to beat one that has been solid the whole playoffs 9 out of 10 times. It's just the way it is. Unfair if you're a Sharks fan, at least in this Game 1, but these NHL Playoffs have been unfair to many teams this year.

The final four teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are lopsided for each conference. In the West, you have the top 2 seeded teams, while in the East, you have the lowest-seeded teams. A little unorthodox but you cannot deny that these are the best 4 teams going. And in a series that boasts the top 2 teams for the West, we expected nothing different than a thrilling game to the final buzzer, and we got that in Game 1.

Disappointing is a good word to describe this game from a Sharks angle. 5 power plays and one result. That is 5 PP's more than Chicago had, which you can also take as a plus because that would mean the Sharks did not commit a penalty.

Still, the hotter goalie came out on top. If there was one lesson to be learned from this Game 1, play the full 60 minutes because if you are out of position for a second, as the Sharks found out on Dustin Byfuglien's game-winning goal, it will hurt you.

Respect Blackhawks' goalie Antti Niemi, though. The Sharks have run into another hot goalie, and that's all you can say. He out-dueled Evgeni Nabokov who was having himself a very nice game as well. But at the end of the game, the 1st star went to Niemi and the 2nd star went to Nabokov.

The Blackhawks are no joke, and neither are the Sharks, but Game 1 showed who was more prepared for this series, and it wasn't the team who had 5 PP's and didn't convert on any of them. Rusty.

2 things to take from this game for the Sharks, though. They managed to draw the 5 penalties while committing 0. Also, Nabokov is playing very well between the pipes, and 38 saves shows that. The only problem, Niemi had 44 saves. That remains the only difference in Game 1.