After the Canucks swept San Jose in Vancouver, including a 7–3 embarrassment Wednesday night, San Jose needed to get one back.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan told Versus before the game “A very wise friend once told me, ‘You aren’t in trouble in a series until you’ve lost at home.’ We haven’t lost at home.” San Jose needed to stay out of trouble.
The Sharks came out on fire, outskating and outshooting the Canucks, capitalizing on Canucks’ defensive errors, and running up a 3–0 lead in the first period.
“We realize how important tonight was,” captain Joe Thornton told ESPN. “We realize what’s at stake. The guys showed up and the fans were into it. They gave us an extra boost.”
Patrick Marleau scored two goals in the first period and an assist in the third.
“Pucks have started going in for me,” he told Versus after the game. “They weren’t going in for me against Detroit, but I tried to stick with it and I’m playing with some very good players, so I just keep going to the net, and they find me me, and I chip in a few.”
The second period was scoreless—barely. Both teams had three fruitless power play opportunities. Vancouver fired 13 shots at Antti Niemi, while at the other end Roberto Luongo turned away 14 shots. Vancouver had the offensive advantage throughout the period, but couldn’t get the puck past Niemi.
San Jose went to pieces in the third period, despite Vancouver getting 20 minutes in penalties. Vancouver scored one minute in, and the Sharks seemed to crumble. Finally, Vancouver handed them a five-on-three advantage and Dan Boyle scored what proved to be the game-winning goal.
“They fought to the end—we gotta give them credit,” Boyle told Versus. “but the first period was key—we came out real well. Our power play was another key tonight.”
“This is the way we should be playing, Patrick Marelau commented. “We have to play this way more consistently. If we play this way for 60 minutes consistently, we win more shifts that way and we win more games.
“We’d like to do a little more five-on-five, stay out of the penalty box—something we are going to get better at next game.”
Injuries were another key in this game.
Defensemen Aaron Rome and Christian Erhoff both got laid out by Vancouver’s Jamie McGinn, and both might miss Game Four because of their injuries. McGinn might be suspended for Game Four for getting two major penalties.
Sharks center Logan Couture also had to head to the locker room with an injury late in the third period. He might be back for the next game.
The Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks face of Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern. The game will be broadcast on NBC.
