Game 6: First Period

1st Period

Through the first five minutes, there were a lot of hard hits. No one took the early advantage as defense was key. During this time, only two shots on goal were made. Seven minutes in, Forsberg had a breakaway that he hit wide of everyone. That was Nashville's only real attempt towards goal early. 

Turnovers plagued the Sharks throughout the first half of the first period, but the puck stayed in Nashville's defensive end for most of that time. Through nine minutes, San Jose had taken the only two shots. Hard hits have been a theme. Nashville leads that column 9-5. The first TV break was with 10:45 left.

Shortly after the break, the Sharks broke open the scoring with 10:05 left on what appeared to be a goal by Marc-Edouard Vlasic. A replay would be taken to see if Chris Tierney tipped the puck above the crossbar. After about a minute, it was determined that his stick was below the bar. He would be credited with the goal.

With 8:09 left, Tierney would score again after Pekka Rinne got crossed up after multiple shots. While falling to his back, the puck just slid under Rinne. With the Sharks taking a quick 2-0 lead, the Nashville crowd was taken out of the game. 

San Jose kept up the pressure. It seemed like every time you looked up, Nashville was skating backwards. A sense of urgency was felt early and often. 

With five minutes left in the first period, Nashville had been out shot 6-2. Things were getting desperate. With 4:33 left, the Sharks were going for a line change when they turned the puck over in the neutral zone. A slow flying shot from Roman Josi found its way past Martin Jones to cut the lead in half. Nashville appeared to have the momentum turning and the crowd back into the game. 

After the TV break, the Sharks would threaten relentlessly. After nearly a solid minute of attacking, Renne would drop on a save to stop play. 

For the remaining time of the period, Nashville would live in the Sharks' half of the ice. San Jose would be put on their heels until the intermission. It was clear that Nashville was the aggressor. If that wasn't enough, after a blown whistle on a save, a scuffle breaks out in the crease on San Jose's end with just 15 seconds left. A double penalty was issued for roughing to both Craig Smith of Nashville and Vlasic for San Jose. It will be 4-on-4 for the first 1:45 in the second.

The intermission would come with the Sharks leading 2-1 behind Tierney's pair of goals.

-Dug

@chansm1th