Sharks win pivotal Game 3

My last post suggested that the Sharks may struggle to win in the first round against Anaheim. But, under no circumstances did I expect the Sharks to lose the first two games of a series at home.

After all, the Sharks were 32-5-4 in the regular season at home, including no back to back home losses in regulation.

Unfortunately, it happened.

The Sharks had been struggling to put the puck in the net down the stretch. There struggles continued due in large part to the play Jonas Hiller. Hiller saved 77 of 79 shots in the first two games, and the Ducks claimed a 2-0 lead despite being outshot by 36 in the two games combined.

The Sharks had to have Game 3, and they knew they were going to need get traffic to the net. Defenseman Dan Boyle crashed the net and scored two goals, Rob Blake had a goal and Patrick Marleau tipped in the winner in the Sharks 4-3 victory.

And that nonexistent power-play that doomed the Sharks in the first two games showed up. They were 2 for 4 with the man advantage, including Marleau's winner with less than ten minutes to go.

The question is -- has Hiller lost his touch?

If the Sharks can continue to apply pressure to Hiller, a comeback may be within their grasp.