Sharks Fall In Regular Season Finale, 4-3, In Overtime
April 7, 2007

San Jose looked to take their last attempt at the Pacific Division
title, but it would take a victory over Vancouver and some help from
the Columbus Blue Jackets later in the evening against Anaheim.

San Jose surrendered the opening goal just two minutes into the
contest. Kevin Bieksa beat the defense to a loose puck and put a
close shot on Nabokov from a difficult angle. The stop was made, but
the rebound squirted beyond some Sharks defenders and directly to
Matt Cooke. That shot appeared to bounce off Patrick Marleau and past
Nabokov.

Two minutes later, the Canucks lead was 2-0. This time a simple point
shot by Sami Salo was tipped out front by Taylor Pyatt and the puck
slid inside the far post.

After killing off a Vancouver penalty, San Jose began asserting
themselves offensively and forced Brent Sopel into a slashing
penalty. The Canucks penalty killers were up to the task as well and
the score did not change.

The Canucks were taking every liberty with Joe Thornton in the game's
opening 15 minutes and then the Sharks reached their boiling point.
When Thornton was knocked down away from the play, all 10 skaters on
the ice quickly paired. Few real punches were landed, with the best
coming when Craig Rivet landed an upper cut on Rory Fitzpatrick.

Trevor Linden tripped up Cheechoo with 1:08 left in the first, but
the power play would have to continue in the second as Vancouver took
their 2-0 lead to the break.

With just five seconds left in the Sharks second period power play,
Team Teal lit the lamp. A Thornton delivery to Milan Michalek, who
was parked in front creating havoc, bounced off the winger's leg,
closing the gap to 2-1.

The physical play was still in full force for both clubs early in the
second, but Markus Naslund went a bit too far when he tripped up Joe
Pavelski and the Sharks went hunting for their second power play
tally of the stanza. When Cheechoo entered the zone on the rush,
Brendan Morrison hooked him down, giving the home club 25 seconds of
five-on-three time.

Despite multiple efforts by the Sharks power play units, Vancouver
stopped both advantages, and San Jose avoided giving up a shortie
when Nabokov made the big save on a Canucks odd-man rush.

Vancouver forced themselves into a second five-on-three deficit when
Jan Bulis hooked down Marc-Edouard in the slot on the power – and
this time the Sharks converted. Ron Wilson took the opportunity to
use his timeout and draw up the tying tally. It finally came when
Marleau's shot whistled by the net and came out the other side right
to Thornton. The Seagate Technology Sharks Player of the Year calmly
settled down the puck and pushed it over the goal line.

Just as in the Anaheim contest two nights ago, the Sharks rallied
back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the contest. Whether San Jose would be
alive in the Pacific Division race would be decided in the third
period.

The third began with four-on-four play as Steve Bernier and Mattias
Ohlund were sent to the box for roughing as the second period
concluded. The Vancouver went on the advantage with Cheechoo was sent
to the box. However, the only highlight came when Kyle McLaren
crushed Bieksa into the boards behind Nabokov.

When Curtis Brown was sent to the box with 14 left in the third, it
provided Vancouver with their third tally. A point shot by Bieksa
through a screen found it's way to the back of the net and the Sharks
would have to rally for a late goal.

As the third reached it's midway point, a Bernier shot rang off a
defender's leg to a wide open Clowe. Parked at the sided of the net,
the winger from Newfoundland smacked the puck for what appeared to be
the tying goal – instead, it was a highlight save by Luongo.

The comeback became a bit more difficult when Thornton was called for
boarding with 5:06 left. The PK groups, specifically Grier, Brown,
Goc and Rissmiller did their jobs and the Sharks still had a chance.

With 33 second left in regulation, Cheechoo tied the game on a
brilliant feed from Thornton. The goal extended the game into
overtime, giving the Sharks an opportunity to grab the extra point
and the temporary lead in the Pacific Division race.

But Vancouver killed San Jose's comeback chances just 34 seconds into
overtime. Mattias Ohlund's blast from the point clipped a stick at
the point and fluttered over Nabokov's shoulder. The goal clinched
the game and the Northwest Division title for the Vancouver Canucks.