Sharks 4, Canucks 3
Patrick Marleau scored twice as the host San Jose Sharks held on to beat Vancouver 4-3 in Game 3 of the NHL's Western Conference final on Friday night.
The Sharks used a parade of power plays to subdue the Canucks, who saw their lead in the best-of-seven trimmed to 2-1. San Jose, which scored three times on 10 man-advantage opportunities, will host Game 4 Sunday afternoon.
San Jose opened the scoring at 3:56. With Max Lapierre serving an elbowing minor, Joe Thornton fed a pass from behind the red line to a wide-open Marleau, who slapped the puck between Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo's pads.
Ryane Clowe scored his fifth of the post season to extend the lead. Dan Boyle's shot from the point was stopped, but Clowe flicked a backhand rebound past Luongo for San Jose's fifth power-play goal in as many chances in the series.
Marleau scored his second of the night - and fifth in the past four games - on a breakaway at 17:25, beating Luongo on the glove side.
After Alex Burrows finally put Vancouver on the board at 1:09 of the third, Boyle restored the three-goal edge on a two-man advantage, firing a slapshot from the point that beat Luongo between the legs.
The game took an ugly turn midway through the period after Sharks forward Jamie McGinn rammed Vancouver's Aaron Rome into the corner boards. McGinn was given a boarding major and a game misconduct while Rome was helped off the ice and did not return.
Vancouver struck twice on the ensuing man advantage. Dan Hamhuis blasted a one-timer over Niemi's shoulder with 6:21 remaining, and the Canucks closed to within a goal at 16:04 after Kevin Bieksa's slapshot from the point caromed off San Jose defenseman Ian White and past Niemi.
The Canucks pressed for the tie, but Bieksa was whistled for hooking with 51 seconds left to end the threat.