SAN JOSE, California, May 22 (Reuters) - The Vancouver Canucks were on the brink of their first Stanley Cup in 17 years after a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday gave them a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference final.
Sami Salo scored a pair of goals just 16 seconds apart in the second period when the top-seeded Canucks netted three shots to take a 3-0 lead as they rebounded from Friday's 4-3 loss to the Sharks.
Vancouver will host Game Five in the best-of-seven series on Tuesday when they will bid to reach their first Stanley Cup since 1994.
The Canucks, who earned the league's best record in the regular season, are still in search of their first ever title.
On Sunday, the franchise moved perhaps one step closer to ending that drought behind 33 saves from goaltender Roberto Luongo, who helped the visitors contain San Jose despite the absence of top defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome.
Both players were injured during Game Three, but Vancouver showed little drop-off and Luongo was enjoying a 4-0 shutout lead before San Jose's Andrew Desjardins got his team on the board at 7:02 in the third.
Ryane Clowe added a wrist shot score with 4:05 remaining to trim the Sharks' deficit but the Canucks fought them off in the closing minutes to earn the win.
Sami Salo scored a pair of goals just 16 seconds apart in the second period when the top-seeded Canucks netted three shots to take a 3-0 lead as they rebounded from Friday's 4-3 loss to the Sharks.
Vancouver will host Game Five in the best-of-seven series on Tuesday when they will bid to reach their first Stanley Cup since 1994.
The Canucks, who earned the league's best record in the regular season, are still in search of their first ever title.
On Sunday, the franchise moved perhaps one step closer to ending that drought behind 33 saves from goaltender Roberto Luongo, who helped the visitors contain San Jose despite the absence of top defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome.
Both players were injured during Game Three, but Vancouver showed little drop-off and Luongo was enjoying a 4-0 shutout lead before San Jose's Andrew Desjardins got his team on the board at 7:02 in the third.
Ryane Clowe added a wrist shot score with 4:05 remaining to trim the Sharks' deficit but the Canucks fought them off in the closing minutes to earn the win.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire