Update (10:50 AM): George Malik has some excellent post-game comments here and his media round-up is here. - Matt

… First off, this one lived up to the hype from an excitement and passion standpoint. In the final minutes, I found myself having the same stomach flips I usually have in the playoffs. It was a thrilling finish, to be sure.

However, I also found myself as pissed off throughout the game as I generally do in playoff games that go badly. Throughout the game, I was reminded many times just how much I dislike the Sharks. I had forgotten. 

… Credit goes to the Sharks for the win. They came out of the gates flying and only had to deal with the Wings playing at their best for relatively short bursts throughout the game. San Jose came in with a chip on their shoulders and a mindset that they had something to prove. It colored everything in this game, from their in-play actions to those after the whistle.

Some of their post-whistle antics could be interpreted as the acting out of an inferiority complex, but the success they had tonight showed a team full of confidence. This team is nearly to the point now where the Wings are out of their heads and where future meetings can be decided on pure skill and will to win. 

… As for the Wings, their performance was a disappointment. They looked good in spots, but overall looked fairly average. The two breakaways that led to goals in the third were pathetic displays, as was their showing on the first goal of the game. They played well enough to keep it close, but never hit that high gear.

… I was disappointed with the Sharks’ tendency to fall down seemingly whenever they were touched by a Red Wing stick or glove. They are a far better team than that, and shouldn’t need to resort to diving tactics as part of their overall strategy to win. 

… Pavel Datsyuk had yet another strong game. His play to Johan Franzen for the Wings’ third was spectacular and he remained a threat all night. 

… I thought Henrik Zetterberg showed good jump tonight. He made a nice individual effort assisting on the Wings’ 5th goal and notched a nice one of his own earlier in the game. 

… Osgood was hung out to dry on nearly all six goals, but could have stopped one or two more.

… The Franzen injury was definitely a big one. The Wings really could have used his tendency for clutch goal-scoring in the third period. 

… It looks like Patrick Marleau was off-sides on his game-winner. So what? He never should have been able to break in behind the Wings defense, regardless of whether or not it was onsides. That the linesman may have missed it is no excuse for bad defense. Edit: More on this in the comments. - Matt

… My wife said after the game that if this was a preview of the Conference Finals, home ice advantage is going to be huge. I do not relish the thought of such a series. 

… I will say, though, that it’s worth bearing in mind that this is still January and this game was only worth two points, not a series. It sucks, but I’d rather it happen now than in June.