SJS vs CAL
Posted on April 23, 2008 02:32 AM | Permalink
Jeremy Roenick received the news he wanted the day before with a text message from head coach Ron Wilson. The gist was to be ready for Game 7.
Roenick’s reply Tuesday night was loud and clear.
The San Jose veteran, who is looking for his first Stanley Cup title, scored twice and added a pair of helpers to lead his team to a 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames that advances the Sharks to the second round of the NHL playoffs.
“He better not sit me out Game 6 next series,” Roenick quipped. “He said he wanted me to rest but I think he was sending me a message to get my ass going. Message received.”
And replied to with a dream performance in a clutch game.
“I’ve had a lot of dreams, for sure, but my real dream happens in June. This is one step in the right direction,” Roenick said.
Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi also scored for a San Jose squad that had dominated the first 25 minutes but actually trailed the Flames 2-1.
Then came a four-goal outburst that pushed Calgary star goalie Miikka Kiprusoff from the nets and sent the Flames to the sidelines, first-round victims for the third straight year.
“I don’t know if it was 10 minutes, five minutes, whatever it was, that won them the game,” said Flames captain Jarome Iginla. “I don’t think we were assertive enough. We knew they were desperate and were gonna come out with a big push.”
When the Flames trailed midway through the first period, Iginla drew his team even. Owen Nolan’s breakaway tally early in the second-period had the Flames believing the upset was going to happen.
But the Sharks, who finished second overall in the regular season, stormed back.
“Miikka didn’t play very well but our team didn’t respond very well, particularly when we had a 2-1 lead,” said Flames head coach Mike Keenan. “That’s when we should have kicked it up a notch and maybe carried the play or at least neutralized the play rather than sitting in the position where we really ignited their resolve. You have to give them credit for really turning it up after they were down a goal.
“They just took control of the game from there on.”
San Jose will face Dallas in one Western Conference semifinal. Detroit meets Colorado in the other.
