Canucks 3, Sharks 2
Henrik Sedin's power-play goal 8:21 into the third period lifted the host Vancouver Canucks to a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference final.
With Dany Heatley serving an elbowing minor, Vancouver defenseman Christian Ehrhoff fed a pass from the point to a streaking Sedin, who fooled Niemi with a deke to the backhand before sliding the puck into the wide-open net. It was just the second goal of the playoffs for the defending Hart Trophy winner.
Maxim Lapierre and Kevin Bieksa had the other goals for the Canucks, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday night. Roberto Luongo had a 27-save performance to preserve the win.
Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau countered for San Jose while Antti Niemi stopped 35 shots in defeat.
The Sharks took advantage of a Luongo gaffe to open the scoring at 18:47. His clearing attempt from behind the goal landed right on the stick of Thornton, who beat Luongo five-hole as the netminder scrambled back into the net.
The Canucks drew even early in the second period on Lapierre's first goal of the postseason. The gritty forward one-timed a pass from Jannik Hansen past Niemi from in close at 1:49.
Marleau restored the San Jose lead at 8:44, redirecting a Dan Boyle wrist shot from the point over Luongo's glove. The Canucks pressed for the equalizer late in the period, but couldn't push the puck past Niemi during an extended goalmouth scramble.
Vancouver finally tied it at 7:02 of the third period. Alex Burrows skated deep into the San Jose zone and fed a pass to Bieksa, whose wrist shot from the right circle got past Niemi.