Sharks hoping what happens in Vegas doesn't stay beyond Game 1

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The Sharks learned an object lesson in Game 1 on Thursday. Everything that could go wrong did in a 7-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, and then some. 

On the night, Vegas scored as many goals as it did in four first-round games, including two more on the power play. San Jose earned one more penalty minute (31) than the four preceding games combined (30). 

On the brighter side, the Sharks gave up two fewer play opportunities than...all of the first round? 

It was just that kind of game, an eerily similar contest to San Jose’s 8-1 win in Game 3 of the first round against the slower, penalty-prone Anaheim Ducks, only in reverse.

As colleague Ray Ratto noted this morning, the Golden Knights were far faster Thursday night, and they made the Sharks pay in transition. Four of the five goals that chased Martin Jones came off of the rush, as Vegas tore through the neutral zone with ease.

The Golden Knights were able to create quality chances using their speed, managing 10 high-danger scoring chances in about 33 minutes of five-on-five time, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Sharks gave up more high-danger chances in Game 1 than all but one game in the first round, when the Ducks generated 11 such chances in an additional 12 minutes of even strength play. 

San Jose and Vegas spent so little time five-on-five because the Sharks couldn’t stay out of the box. Arguably, this was where Game 1 of the second round mirrored Game 3 of the first the most. 

Joe Pavelski taking a slashing penalty so soon after stepping out of the box for another penalty in the third period was uncharacteristic. Evander Kane’s cross-checking penalty after the whistle blew on the same sequence could cost him money, as well as time on the ice. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, the recipient of Kane’s cross-check, did not skate Friday morning, and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculated that Bellemare’s health would play a role in any supplemental discipline. 

The frustration was understandable, given the scoreline. But it was still largely surprising, considering that San Jose wrote the book just last round on how to needle a slower opponent.

These Sharks are in a much better position than those Ducks, however. They’re not facing elimination, for one, and can still salvage a split before returning to SAP Center. 

They’ll need to, as the Sharks cannot win the series without winning (at least) once on the road. The prospect of winning in Sin City becomes more difficult with each passing game, especially considering they’re still winless in Vegas. 

The team alluded to it after the game Thursday, but the most important deficit after Game 1 was ‘1-0’ in the series, not 7-0 on the scoreboard. Now, they find themselves in a position rare among  sightseers on the strip.

That what happened in Vegas doesn’t stay there in Game 2. 

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