Sharks Defeat Ducks in Game 3 4-3

Down 0-2 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, critics and fans were quick to jump on the San Jose Sharks. The power play was 0-12. Their top players Thornton, Marleau, Boyle, and Blake combined for just one assist at home. Dan Boyle said after the home loss in Game 2 that "most teams don't come back from (being down 0-2). We have to decide if we're going to be like more teams or if we want to be something special." Dan Boyle and the rest of the all-stars on the Sharks solved all their problems in one game, never allowing the Ducks to lead once and securing their first 2009 postseason win 4-3 in Anaheim.

The first period was what everyone expected out of the interstate rivalry: a rough, fast-paced, penalty-filled shootout. San Jose started the game roughly, as Patrick Marleau took a 4 minute double minor as he high-sticked Ryan Getzlaf under the chin and drew blood. But under 20 seconds later, Getzlaf was called for an interference penalty as he pushed Joe Pavelski into the boards. With the extra space, both teams had opportune breakaway chances, but both goaltenders were better. But after offsetting roughing minors put the teams back on the 4 on 4, the San Jose defenseman, who were critical in the offensive success throughout the regular season, contributed to the first goal. Marc-Edouard Vlasic created a turnover in the offensive zone and fed Rob Blake, who slapped the puck off of a Ducks forward and past Jonas Hiller to give San Jose a 1-0 lead. But on their first power play attempt of the game, Anaheim evened things up, as Bobby Ryan put a shot that went behind Evgeni Nabokov. Nabokov never saw the puck, and before he realized where it was, he skated backwards and pushed it into his own net. Under 2 minutes later, Dan Boyle broke the ice on the San Jose power play. Joe Thornton fed Boyle across the crease, and Boyle shot the puck off the post, which caused it to rebound off the back of Hiller and into the net for a 2-1 San Jose lead. Again under 2 minutes later, a bad turnover on an attempted breakout by the Sharks led to a James Wisniewski slap shot that barely grazed the inside of the far post to tie the game once again 2-2.
The Sharks started things off quickly in the second period. Joe Pavelski threw the puck from the sideboards through traffic in an attempt to have the puck rebound into the net. Instead, it slid across everyone and right onto Dan Boyle's stick, who tapped the puck into a wide open net to score his second goal of the night and give San Jose their third lead of the night 3-2. But the Sharks let Anaheim right back into the game, as Pavelski tried to desperately clear the puck while he was on his back. But the puck slid to the high slot and right onto Chris Pronger's stick, who one-timed a blast to the top right corner of the net before Nabokov could get his glove out in time, and the game was tied once again 3-3.
Both teams became defensive as they settled for a relatively calm third period. But Anaheim's first penalty since late in the first period proved to be costly. Rob Blake threw a puck to the slot, and Marleau deflected it perfectly to the far side of the net, barely redirecting it past Hiller's extended leg, and scored the power play goal to give San Jose the win 4-3.

After going 0-12 on the power play in their first two home games, San Jose went 2 for 4 with the man advantage. Anaheim, who emphasized not taking too many penalties, played a very disciplined games, with some help from leniant refereeing. The first period had 26 penalty minutes handed out; the second and third period had a single two minute minor each, one to each team. San Jose outshot Anaheim 20 to 8 in the first period, but the Ducks outshot the Sharks in the last 40 minutes 22 to 15. Dan Boyle, who assisted on the game winning goal, had his first career 3 point playoff game. James Wisniewski's late first period goal was his first playoff career goal. Marleau, Thornton, Boyle, and Blake combined for 4 goals and 3 assists. San Jose Sharks sophomore skater Torrey Mitchell played in his first NHL game in game 3, as he recovered from a lingering leg injury and was informed right after the pre-game skate that he would start on the third line. The first fight between the division rivals in the postseason occured late in the third period, when George Parros took exception to a Douglas Murray hit on Teemu Selanne, and the two long-time rivals had an even brawl with nobody falling down to the ice. Anaheim still leads the series 2-1, and the next game will be Thursday night in the Honda Center.