Breakout Stars and One-Hit Wonders of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs
by Bruce Ciskie
Most coaches will feed lines about how their team's "best players have to be our best players" come playoff time.
While this statement is obviously true, and the championship contenders will usually see it happen, the role players are the ones to watch.
More often than not, we'll get to see a handful of relative unknowns who use the Stanley Cup playoffs as a springboard to bigger and better things in the future.
We'll also see guys perform big in the playoffs, then fizzle out after that, as the weight of expectations just becomes too much to bear.
With that in mind, who are the breakout stars and one-hit wonders from the 2010 playoffs?
by Susan Slusser
Momentum was on the Sharks' side on Saturday night going into Game 6 at Denver. San Jose was coming off a dominating win that provided a series lead, Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov had taken over from Craig Anderson as the hot goaltender of the matchup, and the prevailing feeling was the No. 8 Avalanche were wearing down.
And yet, Colorado's primary talking point was that all the pressure remained on top-seeded San Jose, one win away from truly putting away the hideous memory of last year's first-round fiasco against eighth-seeded Anaheim.
Sharks win series, 4-2
Sharks 5, Avalanche 2: Recap | Box Score | Series Page
by Christopher Botta
We're bringing back the 2-on-1 this week to discuss the finalists for all of the NHL's major awards. Today, Bruce Ciskie and Chris Botta debate the Calder Trophy for the rookie of the year. The finalists are Matt Duchene of Colorado, Jimmy Howard of Detroit and Tyler Myers of Buffalo. 
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Joe Pavelski is called "Little Joe" in the Sharks' dressing room to differentiate him from Big Joe - Jumbo Joe Thornton.
Pavelski is differentiating himself in other ways, too, in top-seeded San Jose's tight first-round series against No. 8 Colorado. The second-line center has been the Sharks' go-to guy, scoring his third goal of the playoffs on Thursday night in San Jose's 5-0 victory over the Avalanche.
Pavelski's power-play goal was the Sharks' second score of the night, and it provided the first lead of more than one goal in the entire series, for either team.
"You're never going to hear me complain about cushions," Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov said with a grin.
Nabokov nabbed his seventh career playoff shutout, and the Sharks took a 3-2 lead in the series, which they could wrap up in Denver on Saturday night. The game time has been set for 10 p.m. Eastern.
Right now, Pavelski is the Sharks' No. 1 star through the first five games, with three goals and two assists.
"Joe is playing good hockey for us," said Ryan Clowe, who is one of Pavelski's wingers along with Devin Setoguchi. "He's determined. He's not the biggest guy, he gets his nose dirty, he's reliable, he has a nose for the net. I just try to get to the net because he loves to shoot it and Seto does, too. I like our line. We're hungry, hungry to produce. We knew we needed secondary scoring and we've done that.
Sharks lead series, 3-2
Sharks 5, Avalanche 0: Recap | Box Score | Series Page
by A.J. Perez
Dan Boyle slid across the crease on his back nine minutes into overtime to deny a pass to Colorado Avalanche forward Paul Stastny who could have but sealed another early-round exit for the San Jose Sharks with the flick of his wrist. Plays like that made it a different night for Boyle and the Sharks, as Joe Pavelski scored midway through the first overtime period to seal a 2-1 victory over the Avalanche at Pepsi Center Tuesday night. "We were happy for two minutes," Boyle said. "Two minutes after we got in here (the series) is 2-2. Not to be a party pooper, but all we did was tie up the series." Boyle had a matter-of-fact demeanor, which still understandably contrasted to his posture after Game 3. Boyle took full responsibility Sunday night when his clearing attempt --- which was deflected slightly by the stick of Avs forward Ryan O'Reilly - landed in the Sharks' net in the first minute of overtime.
Series tied, 2-2 Sharks 2, Avalanche 1: Recap | Box Score | Series Page