This addition to our Five for 25 series was particularly challenging, but I think we got a good mix of historic and recent in here thanks, at least in part, to some great suggestions on Twitter. These are, at the very least, some of the top five games in San Jose history. Looking forward to seeing your top five in the comments.
5. Sharks vs. Red Wings, Game 3, Western Conference Semifinals, 2010
The Sharks held a 2-0 series lead entering their first game at the Joe Louis Arena in this series, but it was the Red Wings who went up by a pair of goals in the first period. San Jose got one back to end the period and a pair of goals in the third forced overtime, where Joe Thornton found Patrick Marleau to put the Sharks up 3-0 in a series they’d win in five games.
4. Sharks vs. Stars, Game 5, Western Conference Semifinals, 2008
This is one of four games that went to overtime in this six-game series that eventually went Dallas’ way. It looked like the Stars were going to take the series in five as they staked themselves to a two-goal lead in the second period. The Sharks had a comeback in them, though, as Milan Michalek and Brian Campbell scored in the third to force overtime and a much younger Joe Pavelski had a winner in him.
3. Sharks vs. Flames, Game 7, Western Conference Quarterfinals, 1995
The road team went 5-2 in this series — that fifth win went the Sharks way at the Olympic Saddledome. Igor Larionov carried the puck around the net, only to have it knocked off his stick. The puck was then recovered by Ray Whitney who buried it, sending the Sharks to a series victory and a date with Detroit in the semifinals. None of those games are making this list.
2. Sharks vs. Kings, Game 3, Western Conference Quarterfinals, 2011
This game couldn’t have started any worse for the Sharks. Los Angeles took a 4-0 lead early on, but…well, just watch. You know how this one goes. This is one of the greatest Stanley Cup Playoff comebacks of all time and is certainly the greatest Sharks comeback in franchise history.
1. Sharks vs. Red Wings, Game 7, Western Conference Quarterfinals, 1994
The 1994 San Jose Sharks had no business being in this series. They had no business being in this game. And yet…there they were. This is the game that will get Jamie Baker a god damn statue outside of SAP Center one day, and rightly so. The Detroit Red Wings were some kind of unstoppable, demonic monster and the Sharks managed to sink them.
Alright, what do you got? What’s your top five?
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