Vancouver beats San Jose in five games to advance to Stanley Cup Finals
Game 1: Canucks 3 Sharks 2
VANCOUVER – Facing a San Jose Sharks team fresh off a grueling seven game series against the Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver fell behind early in the first period when Shark captain Joe Thornton capitalized on a failed Roberto Luongo clearing to score the first goal of the series.
Trailing 2-1 in the final period, the Canucks did what they have done well all season, score in the third period. Kevin Bieksa shot the puck past Shark goalie Antti Neimi’s blocker pad to tie the game. Just 30 seconds later the Sharks Dany Heatley was called for an elbowing penalty. Canuck captain Henrik Sedin, who had been quiet to this point in the playoffs took a pass from Christian Erhoff and skated right up near the goal, deked the goalie and scored on a backhand shot past Niemi. The power-play goal stood up as the game winner as Vancouver held on in the final 10 minutes to win game one.
Maxim Lapierre scored early in the second period for Vancouver and Patrick Marleau scored a power-play goal later in the second to take the lead before Vancouver came back with the two goals in the third.
Game 2: Canucks 7 Sharks 3
VANCOUVER – The Canucks not only dominated game two, they demoralized the Sharks by scoring five straight goals in a 7-3 rout to win the first two games of the series at home.
The game was up for grabs after Patrick Marleau scored a power-play goal to tie the game 2-2. But the tides turned in the second period started by Kevin Bieksa. Christopher Higgins founds a streaking Bieksa and passed the puck up the ice as he skated by two defenders on a breakaway and fired a quick low shot past Neimi to give Vancouver the lead. Bieksa also dropped the gloves and won a fight against an over-matched Marleau. Vancouver Sun
In the third period with the game in reach, Sharks enforcer Ben Eager took two unnecessary penalties which Vancouver capitalized on to blow the game wide open. Higgins and Daniel Sedin scored power-play goals and Aaron Rome and Mason Raymond also scored in the final period. A frustrated Eager scored late in the third to stop the Canucks five goal run and roughed up Luongo after his goal.
The Sharks once again got off to a fast start with a Logan Couture power-play goal in the first period, but undisciplined play led to Vancouver blowout victory.
Game 3: Sharks 4 Canucks 3
SAN JOSE – The Sharks jumped out to a three goal lead, two on power-play goals to start the series 5-5 on the power-play. Marleau scored twice and Clowe added a goal in the first period as the Sharks took control early. Vancouver chipped away at the lead in the third period as Alex Burrows scored unassisted.
After a Dan Boyle power-play goal, the physical hits and raw emotion escalated the drama. Vancouver lost two defensemen to big hits from Sharks enforcer Ted McGinn. Christian Erhoff and Aaron Rome left the game after bruising hits from McGinn which later earned him a game misconduct penalty for his boarding hit on Rome.
Dan Hamhuis and Kevin Bieska scored power-play goals to bring Vancouver within one goal, but they could not find the equalizer as San Jose won a game they desperately needed.
Game 4: Canucks 4 Sharks 2
SAN JOSE – Vancouver scored three goals in a one minute 55 second span during three consecutive 5-on-3 power-plays in the second period in turning point in the series. Kesler opened the scoring with a one-timer on the left side past Neimi. Sami Salo added two slap shot goals shortly after on precise passing by Henrik Sedin.
In the third period, Henrik Sedin skated the puck in deked the goalie and passed through Nemi’s legs to Burrows who tapped the puck into the net on a beautiful play. Henrik Sedin finished the game with four assists, a team playoff record. Vancouver’s three goals within a two-minute span was a NHL playoff record.
San Jose squandered golden opportunities to take control of the game in the first period. Vancouver was penalized five times in the opening period, with four-line winger Tanner Glass called for roughing 30 seconds into the game. Raffi Torres also picked up a penalty to end the first period, which gave the Sharks the intermission to plan for a full power-play. Vancouver killed 10 minutes of penalties and wasted no time in scoring the Sharks miscues. San Jose was assessed sloppy interference, too many men on the ice, and delay of game penalties, which continued to give Vancouver a two-man advantage in a critical part of the game. Marleau and Clowe scored for the Sharks to narrow the lead, but the damage had already been done.
Game 5: Canucks 3 Sharks 2
VANCOUVER – Kevin Bieska scored the winning goal in double overtime to knock off the San Jose Sharks Tuesday night to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Vancouver trailed 2-1 with 30 seconds left when Kesler won a crucial faceoff and scored off a rebound to tie the game with only 14 seconds remaining.
Burrows scored to open the game in the first period with both Sedins picking up assists on the play. Marleau scored his eighth goal of the playoffs to tie the game in the second period. The Sharks took the lead thirty seconds into the third period thanks to Devin Setoguchi, who scored when Luongo strayed too far from his net.
Kesler left the second period with a leg injury, but their was no way a team leader was going to stay out of a game of this magnitude with the Stanley Cup Finals on the line. Kesler returned to start the third period and was the difference maker, tipping in the equalizer with just seconds remaining.
Higgins had a shot to win the game in overtime on a breakaway, but Neimi made a spectacular save. Luongo, who made 53 saves, compared to Neimi’s 31, was brilliant an clutch, keeping the game within reach in regulation and shutting down the Sharks in overtime.
The game winning goal was a surprise to everyone except Bieksa who scored. The puck caromed awkwardly off the glass on the sideboards and out to Bieksa just inside the blue line. His quick shot beat Neimi inside the right post before the goalie -- or mostly everyone else on the ice -- could find the puck.
Now the Canucks advance to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1993. What an exciting time to be a Canucks fan. Go Canucks Go!
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