The Vancouver Canucks might have scored first, but it was San Jose that got the Game 1 win in the playoff series between the two teams. Two Western Conference powerhouses began their quest for the Stanley Cup on Wednesday and while both played well, the Sharks were able to get the come-from-behind win to take an early 1-0 lead.
Roberto Luongo got the start for the Canucks over the injured Cory Schneider. Luongo has seen his share of postseason struggles and Wednesday night did not help his cause. While he played well in his return to the net, he could not hold off Dan Boyle and Patrick Marlaeu who knocked in two third period goals for the 3-1 win. The playoff loss adds yet another page into the odd season for the veteran goalie. While his regular season was mainly focused around trade talks, he has continued to play on.
Vancouver became the first home team to lose of the six games played so far in the playoffs. San Jose has not played well on the road this year so the loss does not look well for the Canucks. The Sharks won all three regular-season games against the Division champs. The series created a rematch of the 2011 Western Conference finals in which Vancouver came out on top. The Sharks are likely seeking revenge on the team that once ended their Stanley Cup dreams.
As the West heats up, the Pittsburgh Penguins continued their dominance in the East. They simply crushed the New York Islanders in Game 1, shutting the team out 5-0. Playing without captain Sidney Crosby proved to be no big deal as the team chipped away with each goal. The Islanders entered the postseason as the No. 8 seed, making their first playoff appearance in six years. It did not exactly go as planned. The shut out is the sixth of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's career, which tied a franchise record.
Pittsburgh has seen several seasons of postseason struggles. After winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, the team had three-straight early exits, something they would like to avoid. They hope to be back with Crosby for Game 2. The potential MVP has been practicing with the team but has yet to receive full medical clearance from team doctors.
