Sharks only show in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Outside of Canada, there aren't many U.S. markets more passionate about their hockey team than San Jose.

Sitting about an hour south of San Francisco in the Silicon Valley, there's a small town feel to San Jose even though it's the 10th-largest city in the country.

The Sharks are really the only show in town and the people here love them.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan laughed when recalling what everyone said last summer when all-star winger Dany Heatley asked out of Ottawa and ultimately was traded here.

"Some of the pundits out there said he could go to California and just hide," McLellan said. "That's not what it's like in San Jose by any means. You can't hide here in San Jose when you play for the Sharks.

"It's such a passionate hockey community. I don't know how I get that across to the rest of the hockey world, but I know you can't walk down the street, you can't go for dinner because they know who you are and expect big things from you. They are as passionate as any fans in the league."

HP Pavilion is always sold out and it rivals the United Center as being one of the loudest buildings in the NHL.

It was loud on Sunday for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals until Dustin Byfuglien sucked the air out of the place by scoring with 6:45 to play, giving the Blackhawks a 2-1 win.