THU 3 | DEN 2

Denver, CO- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves are in the playoffs for the first time in their brief three-year history on the Superior lakehead. But if you think they're simply happy to be here--you're dead wrong.

>>>

>>>"We're here to stink up the place," said Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard. "We're fine being the underdogs and no one giving us a chance. But we plan on making a statement and solidifying our place here."

>>>

>>>In front of a raucous crowd at a packed Denver Coliseum in Colorado, the Timberwolves first had to overcome the jitters associated with a powerful opening for the home team Spurs, and settle things down early to maintain control.

>>>

>>>Through the first twenty minutes, both clubs would feel each other out. Not wanting to do too much and get caught too deep with the puck without back-end support. The period would end 0-0 with Denver getting 15 shots in on Thunder Bay's Jonas Hiller to the Timberwolves 6 on Martin Brodeur.

>>>

>>>"We did what we wanted to do there," said Timberwolves centre, Mike Fisher. "We did what we had to do. Probably let too many shots get in on Hiller. But he seen the shots taken and made routine saves."

>>>

>>>The second period started and almost finished the same as the opening period. But at 17:54, Denver's Marco Sturm finally opened up the scoring by putting his team up 1-0

>>>

>>>Not to be outdone and wanting to keeping things equal going into the second intermission, Patrick Sharp (pictured) netted the first ever playoff goal for the Timberwolves at 18:36.

>>>

>>>Looking to build on some momentum, the Timberwolves turned the ice in their favour and started to really pick their spots and taking quality shots on the veteren Brodeur.

>>>

>>>At 4:57 into the third, Sharp scored his second of the game to take the lead for the first time in the game from Matt Niskanen and Marc Savard.

>>>

>>>Less than three minutes later, rookie Bryan Little took a feed from Mike Zigomanis and buried a wrister five-hole on an out-of-position Brodeur to make it 3-1 Thunder Bay.

>>>

>>>Petr Sykora would end up breaking through a poorly executed "trap" system and bring the Spurs within one at 15:08. But the damage was done, and the Timberwolves tightened up their blueline to go onto to win their first ever playoff game, 3-2.

>>>

>>>"The outcome is what we set out to do," said Timberwolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "We did what we needed to do for the win. But we also have alot of work to do if we want to continue this success in the post-season. Jonas [Hiller] seen way too many shots. He also seen most of those shots, but we have to clean up our own end. We have the offense to score at will. But we really need to not continue to give them the room inside our blueline like we did here."

>>>

>>>Thunder Bay will get some help on the backend, as Sheldon Souray returns to the lineup for Game 2 after suffering an undisclosed injury in the final game of the regular season. The Alberta-natives booming shot will be a welcome addition from the point.