Canucks 3, Sharks 2 (2OT)
Kevin Bieksa's goal 10:18 into the second overtime period led Vancouver past visiting San Jose 3-2 Tuesday, moving the Canucks into the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1994.
The goal was set up on a bizarre play in San Jose territory. Vancouver defenseman Alex Edler attempted to shoot the puck deep into the Sharks' zone, but it connected with a stanchion and bounced right to Bieksa at the point.
As nearly every player on the ice went looking for the puck, Bieksa fired a wobbler that eluded Sharks netminder Antti Niemi, igniting a raucous celebration at Rogers Arena.
Ryan Kesler sent the game to extra time on a tip-in goal with 13 seconds left in the third period, setting the stage for Bieksa's heroics as the Canucks clinched the series in five games.
Alex Burrows had the other Vancouver goal while Roberto Luongo made 54 saves.
The Canucks looked like they were headed back to San Jose until Kesler - who missed part of the second period with a lower-body injury - tied things up. With the Vancouver net empty in favor of an extra attacker, Henrik Sedin fired a shot from the point that was redirected by Kesler past Niemi.
Devin Setoguchi gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead just 24 seconds into the third period, stunning the Rogers Arena crowd into silence. With the Sharks advancing into the Vancouver zone, Luongo came out to try and play the puck but Joe Pavelski reached it first, tapping it to Setoguchi with a wide-open net in his path.
The Canucks struck first at the eight-minute mark of the first period, with Burrows easily converting a pass from Sedin for his seventh goal of the postseason.
San Jose replied midway through the second period as a Dan Boyle wrist shot from the point was redirected first by the glove of Vancouver defenseman Keith Ballard, then by Patrick Marleau in front of the goal.