Canucks and Sharks - Game Three Scoring Chances

Yeah, we're starting with Game Three, but Games One and Two should be up later this weekend, hopefully before Game Four tomorrow afternoon. And besides, who wouldn't want to start with the only game that had a positive outcome? In the first two games of the series, Vancouver looked dominant, and I expect that the chances will bear that out. In this game, the Sharks dominated through the first period before getting themselves into penalty trouble in the last two periods. The Canucks weren't able to do much with their five-on-three in the second, but did take advantage of the five-minute power play near the end of the third and almost stole a game in which they didn't play well. Scoring chances and more after the jump.

Scoring Chances

For those who'd like a definition: a scoring chance is defined as a clear play directed toward the opposing net from a dangerous scoring area - loosely defined as the top of the circle in and inside the faceoff dots, though sometimes slightly more generous than that depending on the amount of immediately-preceding puck movement or screens in front of the net. Blocked shots are generally not included but missed shots are. A player is awarded a scoring chance anytime he is on the ice and someone from either team has a chance to score. He is awarded a "chance for" if someone on his team has a chance to score and a "chance against" if the opposing team has a chance to score. Finally, a big thanks to Vic Ferrari for making the whole damn thing possible with his awesome scripts.

The last Canucks' goal and the last Sharks' goal both weren't registered as chances, but the story of the game is without question the number of penalties. It's not often that almost half of the game is played on special teams, and you've got to think that this was somewhat in response to Ben Eager's running-around in Game Two, which if the games continue to be called tightly, is a nice contribution from him. The Sharks have had the best power play all season, and they were also had the better penalty differential - in the regular season the Sharks were short-handed 274 times compared to 289 PP opportunities for a +15 differential, while the Canucks were short-handed 312 times compared to 296 PP opportunities for a -16 differential - so a tightly called game likely favors our heroes from California. The Canucks also had two defenders go down, but they're deep on the back-end, so even though losing Christian Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome hurts, Andrew Alberts and Keith Ballard are both very capable of filling in.

Out for Game Four Because of Rapture

3. Jamie McGinn - That five minute penalty was ridiculous. I tend to agree with Douglas Murray's assessment ("I get hit like that ten times a game") that the referees were calling the result of the play more than the play itself. On the whole, McGinn played a very physical game and was one third of a Sharks' line that more than held its own at evens, which you can't say about the team's middle six forwards who have continued to struggle.

2. Joe Thornton - This man is the straw that stirs the drink on the power play and he was stirring like a madman last night. With three assists, Thornton is now the leads the league in playoff points, but it wasn't just his work at the offensive end that was stellar. Thornton played about half of his even strength time matched against the Sedins, and won that head-to-head matchup 3-1 in terms of scoring chances. He also played about four and a half minutes on the power play

1. Patrick Marleau - He scored the first goal of the game by getting into good position for a Joe Thornton pass, and scored again with a great shot on a breakaway near the end of the first period to put the Sharks up by three heading into the intermission. He's not the straw that stirs the drink on the power play, but he is a big part of the success, and that power play really helped them to win the game. He also didn't take a single penalty, which on this night was quite an accomplishment.

Out for Game Four Because of Poor Play (I Wish!)

3. Andrew Desjardins - He played a pretty good game, but took a couple of bad penalties, one of which but the Canucks down two men. Now, it's not his fault that Ryan Kesler decided to do his best rendition of Milan Hejduk's goal celebration (minus the goal) on that play, but Desjardins needs to make sure he doesn't get his stick on skates.

2. Henrik Sedin - As I mentioned already, this group was beat up at even strength. So far in the series the Sharks have only been able to count on a strong performance from one line, so if the Sedins (who are supposed to be the best players in the league) can win that match-up, the Sharks don't stand a chance. Last night, however, the Sedins didn't come close.

1. Alexandre Burrows - The third member of the ineffective Sedin line, Burrows was also extremely ineffective on the penalty kill. He made things even worse by taking a really stupid penalty in the third period to give the Sharks a five-on-three, which they scored on to make the game 4-1. This was easily one of his worst games of the playoffs.