Once again Roberto Luongo was the difference in the game

 

Michail Boncea (HV)

 

San Jose Sharks came out strong and was the better team for much of the first two periods. Vancouver strong stay at home style defence combined with Roberto Luongo excellent play kept San Jose high offensive style and talent at bay. It is not that San Jose offense didn’t have many excellent scoring chances. It is just that Luongo always found a way to stop them, turning by the end of the game 38 shots including 21 of the 22 shots he faced in the second period, which was the turning point of the game. The crowd gave Luongo standing ovations after his key second period save on Marcel Goc.

 

San Jose Joe Pavelski scored the first goal in second period at 1:10, the assists went to Milan Michalek and Christian Ehrhoff. Vancouver Canucks Tylor Pyatt scored the second goal of the game in the second period at 12:31, the assists went to Marcus Naslund and Kevin Bieksa. Vancouver Canucks Daniel Sedin scored the third goal of the game in second period at 14:49, the assists went to Tylor Pyatt and Henrik Sedin. Brendan Morrison scored the final goal of the game in the third period at 19:50 and the assist going to Marcus Naslund.

 

After the game during the post game interviews San Jose Head Coach Ron Wilson said that Luongo kept stopping the pucks and that was the difference in the game. He went on to say there should have been two or three goals scored by San Jose early in the game and in the third period Vancouver had five guys back not worried about scoring and playing defense style so they couldn’t score because of it. Roberto Luongo said that it feels good when the home crowd gives you an ovation but you have to remain focused on the game. As well he went on to say that all he did was what he was supposed to do and that was to make the key saves when it counts and as well that it takes 20 guys on a team to win a game not just one person.

 

 

© Michail Boncea