Pat Caputo: Red Wings Must Play Harder And Smarter Than They Did In Game 1
Rare are nights during the postseason when the Red Wings' effort and focus can be legitimately questioned.
The opener of their Game 1 Western Conference semifinal series at San Jose Friday was an exception.
The final score read a 2-1 loss. However, were it not for a stellar effort in the net by embattled Red Wings' goalie Jimmy Howard (what Detroit goalie has not been "embattled?") it could have easily been 5-1 or 6-1.
Red Wings' captain Nicklas Lidstrom scored early in the game. The Red Wings played from that point on as if they were trying to cling to the lead.
San Jose carried play. The Sharks often won the battles for loose pucks. The Red Wings allowed 18 shots on goal in the second period alone, and were nearly out-shot by a 2-to-1 margin for the game. The Sharks were the aggressors. Not in terms of physical play, but in regard to going to the net.
