Conn Smythe Trophy watch: Leading candidates after Game 2

In some ways, the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks’ most prominent Conn Smythe Trophy candidates probably haven’t changed much since we last took a look in mid-May. Yet with the field of teams down to two and Vancouver’s first two home games in the books, we can take a deeper look at which Canucks and Bruins players have the best chance to win the playoff MVP award. We’ll start with the Canucks since they’re up 2-0 in the series. Vancouver Canucks Frontrunner: Ryan Kesler –

One thing I think many potential voters overlook is the benefits Kesler receives from a matchup standpoint. He often draws easier opportunities to score since the Shea Weber and Zdeno Chara-type defensemen are usually sent at the Sedin twins. Let’s not forget that the Sedins took over the third period of Game 2 and weren’t much less dominant against the San Jose Sharks than Kesler was versus the Nashville Predators. Of course, the converse side of getting better chances to score is that he also often faces much more difficult defensive assignments than the Sedin twins. Kesler does a little of everything from scoring (19 points in 20 games), winning faceoffs (54.6 to Henrik Sedin‘s weak 45.6 percent) and killing penalties (he’s averaging 3:04 minutes of shorthanded per game, first among Vancouver forwards and second overall). He’s the do-everything forward for the Canucks and while many knew he was an impact player already, the 2011 playoffs have been a star-making experience for the American two-way forward. His big goals and assists late in many games make him a no-brainer No. 1 candidate … for now. Strong candidate 1: Roberto Luongo – For all the abuse he took in the first round, he’s been a huge difference maker in the playoffs. Despite a great performance by Tim Thomas in Game 1, Luongo stopped all 36 shots for a 1-0 shutout. He made 28 out of 30 saves to turn Boston away in Game 2 and really hasn’t had many low moments since struggling against the Chicago Blackhawks. Whether it’s skin-tight games against the Predators/Bruins or more wide-open affairs versus the Sharks and Blackhawks, he’s been the better goalie more often than not. Overall, his numbers are fantastic, with 14-6 record, .928 save percentage and 2.16 GAA. Strong candidate(s) 2 and 3: The Sedin twins – Henrik Sedin has a league-leading 21 points and Daniel Sedin has 18 himself. Kesler is the obvious frontrunner right now, but if Henrik or Daniel put together a couple more multiple point explosions like they did at times in the Sharks series, you just never know. Dark horse: Alex Burrows – The noted vegetarian might not be as steady of a threat as the other three forwards, but he’s made some huge plays in the postseason. Obviously, those two big OT goals would be the video clips of note, but he has 17 points in 20 games overall. Boston Bruins Frontrunner: Tim Thomas – The gulf between Thomas and any other Bruins contributor – even Zdeno Chara – seems pretty huge if you ask me. Thomas hasn’t always been pretty (and allowed a few bad goals, most notably that Game 2 OT tally), but the sum of his work has been astounding. If the Bruins get back into this series, it’ll probably take an astounding set of performances by Thomas, which would make his chances that much stronger. It’s been a great run either way, considering that fact that he has a .93 save percentage in the postseason, with a nice 2.27 GAA. Strong candidate: Zdeno Chara – It’s been an up-and-down playoffs at times for the Bruins big defenseman, but he’s done everything for Boston. He plays huge minutes (28:17 per game), shows a willingness to comply with wacky power play experiments and has more better days than bad ones amid a very suspect Bruins defense. Dark horse: David Krejci – The most underrated part of the Bruins’ team is their impressive top line, powered most by Krejci. He has 18 points in 20 games, including 10 goals (four game-winners). If Dan Hamhuis can’t play again, his line could create enough opportunities to turn this series around. An explosive finals round could give Krejci a solid chance to win the Smythe. *** With 2-5 games remaining, there’s still plenty of time for these (and other) players to improve their argument for one of the best trophies in hockey. Who’s your frontrunner so far?

It's not easy to make history in Detroit, but these Red Wings are close

The history, it’s everywhere. Joe Louis Arena oozes with reminders of the past, from Steve Yzerman Drive out front to walls painted with the name of every Stanley Cup-winning player.

Sometimes it's living history. Like when Ted Lindsay strolls by following a morning skate.

Or like Tuesday night, when Gordie Howe walked through the Red Wings’ dressing room, following one of the best games of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Red Wings won 3-1, bringing a smile to the face of Mr. Hockey.

His franchise was still alive.

He’s one of the great players of all time. Arguably the greatest. He led some of the best teams to ever play the game.

And yet, none of the Red Wings greats accomplished what this 2011 squad is on the verge of doing. None of the names on the wall did this.

After dropping the first three games of the Western Conference semifinals to the Sharks, the Red Wings have now won three straight. They could become just the fourth team in the history of the NHL to win a playoff series after facing a 3-0 deficit.

The first in Red Wings history.

“We’re not worried about putting something in history. That’s not what we’re here for,” Red Wings forward Dan Cleary said. “We’re here to win a game. We’re here to move on. We all know we want to win at the end.”

It’s about Stanley Cups, we know that. But by carving a story for the ages, this one has the potential to be more special than some of the rest.

The fans in Detroit felt it.

With 9.5 seconds left, and the outcome settled, a frenzied Joe Louis crowd cheered as the lyrics “California, California, here we come!” blared over speakers. The Red Wings were headed back to San Jose for Game 7 on Thursday. Usually it’s Eminem or Kid Rock firing them up, not theme music from The O.C. But it was fitting.

They were witnessing history. Potentially, at least.

“It was fantastic,” Henrik Zetterberg said. “You know what? I don’t think it’s been as loud since I got here.”

It provided the Red Wings the energy they needed in the third period. They dominated this game -- absolutely dominated -- yet it was scoreless after two periods, despite Detroit enjoying a 32-13 shot advantage. Credit Sharks goalie Antti Niemi for that, along with a couple missed opportunities, like when Darren Helm failing to convert a pass from Zetterberg into a goal, or Cleary missing an open net after beating Niemi.

The energy from the building was sapped momentarily when a Logan Couture shot trickled past Jimmy Howard to give the Sharks an improbable 1-0 lead in the third period.

But one bad goal doesn’t beat these Red Wings. We’re having a hard time figuring out what does.

“You keep playing,” Howard said. “That’s the beauty of this game is that you know it’s never over until the final buzzer. No matter what the score is, you keep going.”

That goes for games. That goes for this series.

The final buzzer didn’t sound when the Sharks took a 3-0 series lead. Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said there were conversations among the players after the Red Wings dropped the first three games of the series, and the message from the captain was consistent.

All they had to do was win one game to keep this thing going. When they did that, the focus shifted to the next one.

Here they are.

“We can’t relax because every game has been so tight and so close,” Lidstrom said. “We’re not done yet.”

Sharks forward Joe Pavelski made a wise observation after his team beat the Red Wings to take a 3-0 series lead. Every one of the teams left in the playoffs has had four-game winning streaks this season. He knew the Red Wings were capable of this.

So it’s not a stunned Sharks team that heads back to San Jose. Every game has been close, and chances are the final one will be too. These Sharks won’t just roll over and let the Red Wings coast into history.

“Just ask Detroit. They lost three in a row and their confidence wasn’t frayed. We’re a confident group still,” Sharks center Joe Thornton said after the loss. “You work 82 games to get home ice in these Game 7’s. Now we just have to make it work.”

These are two franchises with dramatically different histories. If the Sharks win, they can alter theirs. If the Red Wings win, they add to theirs.

Until one of those things happen, the significance of Game 6 remains unclear.

“We haven’t really done anything yet,” Zetterberg said. “It’s first to four. You have to go in and play a good Game 7 and win that. If we don’t do that, no one will remember us.”

Sharks take 3-0 lead with another OT win over Wings

Devin Setoguchi completed the hat trick at the 9:21 mark of overtime to give the San Jose Sharks a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 3 of a Western Conference semifinal series.

In the extra session, Joe Thornton caught up to the puck at the right boards and stopped there. He looked up and sent a pass to the top of the right circle for Setoguchi, who snapped a shot on net that went off the stick of Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg and sailed into the net for the win.

"You need heroes and you need people to step up and he was the guy tonight," said San Jose head coach Todd McLellan. "He's got a tremendous trigger and always puts himself in a good position to shoot the puck."

Dan Boyle tied the game with 4:08 to play in regulation while Thornton finished the game with three assists for the Sharks, who have a 3-0 lead in this series and will look to close it out in Detroit on Friday.

All three games in the series have been decided in overtime.

Antti Niemi stopped 38 shots for San Jose, which also went up 3-0 in the semifinals last season against Detroit before winning the series in five games.

Nicklas Lidstrom had a goal and an assist while Pavel Datsyuk and Patrick Eaves each had a goal for Detroit, which has dropped seven straight playoff games to San Jose by one goal. Jimmy Howard made 34 stops in the loss.

"It's a tough loss and it's especially tough cause we had the lead late and let them tie the game," said Lidstrom. "We just have to dig deep and find a way to win the next game."

The first goal of the game came at the 12:57 mark of the first period when Setoguchi tipped in the puck from in front on the power play to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

Detroit, though, tied the game with 19.3 seconds left in the opening frame as Lidstrom's one-timer from the slot off a turnaround backhand pass by Zetterberg beat Niemi for a power-play marker.

The Red Wings took a 2-1 lead when Eaves backhanded in the puck from the left circle after a scramble in front at the 13:59 mark of the second.

The Sharks tied the game with a power-play tally less than a minute later when Setoguchi blasted a shot from the left circle that he didn't get all of, but got enough to beat Howard.

Skating on the power play later in the second, Detroit took a 3-2 advantage as Datsyuk's sharp wrister from the left circle off a feed from Zetterberg beat Niemi with 1:43 left in the middle frame.

The Sharks were able to send the game to overtime when Kyle Wellwood sent a blind, sweeping pass from the deep left boards that made its way over to the right side for Boyle, who snapped a shot into the net.

Game Notes

Lidstrom's goals was the 29th of his playoff career, breaking Denis Potvin's mark for defensemen and tying Mario Lemieux for fifth-place all-time. His assist was his 128th in the playoffs and tied him for fifth with Doug Gilmour...Both teams went 2-for-4 on the power play...Thornton has seven assists in the playoffs.

Kings' elimination ends season of broken promises

The Kings gave it a good shot and that's something . . . though it's not a lot of consolation after a season that promised to advance them another step along the path to Stanley Cup contention instead ended with another first-round playoff elimination.

Joe Thornton's goal off a broken play 2 minutes 22 seconds into overtime gave the San Jose Sharks a 4-3 victory over the Kings at Staples Center and a six-game triumph in their hard-fought playoff series. Devin Setoguchi carried the puck and threw it into the slot, where Patrick Marleau whacked at it. The puck stayed in the slot and Thornton prodded it home from near the left post.

The Kings had shown resilience in erasing deficits of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 but the second-seeded Sharks' depth proved too much for the seventh-seeded Kings to overcome. Losing Anze Kopitar to an ankle injury late in the season not only depleted the Kings' offense, it threw off balance their defensive structure, and though they tried to compensate with grit and grinding and Jonathan Quick's sometimes spectacular goaltending, they fell short.

They haven't won a playoff series since 2001 and have been eliminated in the first round in two straight seasons.

"At the end of the day, we weren't as good as they were," defenseman Jack Johnson said. "To go out in the first round is really disappointing, especially with our expectations."

Kings Coach Terry Murray pointed to poor puck management and the missed opportunity of a five-minute power play the Kings gained late in the third period and carried into overtime. However, the Kings' season was probably too up and down, and that pattern repeated in the playoffs.

"I look at it as a very good year, a very successful year," Murray said.

After seeing the Sharks take 52 shots at Quick in Game 5, Murray said he was less concerned with the quantity of shots than the quality — but he said the Sharks had too many "Grade A" chances. They had a 16-shot barrage in the first period Monday but the Kings' defense was sharp about clearing rebounds out of the slot and out of danger and that helped keep the game scoreless.

Quick held off the Sharks as long as he could, but he was finally beaten at 2:58 of the second period after an extraordinary effort by the line of Marleau, Thornton and Kyle Wellwood. The three buzzed around the Kings' zone and caused two turnovers before Thornton controlled the puck below the goal line and had time and space to feed an onrushing Wellwood, who lifted the puck under the crossbar for his first goal of the series.

The Kings got a scare at 6:37 of the second period when steady defenseman Rob Scuderi caught an accidental skate in the face and had to go off for repairs, and their depth was tested a few seconds later when Matt Greene went to the penalty box for delay of game. They survived that and came back to tie the score a little later, after Thornton got a double-minor for high-sticking Richardson.

Johnson got the puck on net, with Trevor Lewis driving for a tip or rebound, and the puck came out to the right side. Justin Williams fired it over the glove of the lunging Antti Niemi at 13:27, the Kings' first power-play goal since Game 2.

The tie was broken at 16:52 by defenseman Jason Demers, who was wide open to take a pass from Joe Pavelski and snap a shot inside the far post from the right circle.

The Kings had an answer for that and for another go-ahead goal by San Jose, ratcheting up the tension in the building to new heights.

Smyth made it 2-2 18 seconds into the third period on the uncontrolled rebound of a shot by Jarret Stoll and they continued to press. The Sharks regained the lead at 8:48 on an odd play. Ryane Clowe was trying to pass the puck across the ice but it got tipped up in the air. Brad Richardson couldn't play it and it was pounced on by Dany Heatley, who rifled a shot past Quick from the left faceoff dot.

The Kings capitalized on another power play — while Demers was banished for interference — to pull even at 3-3. Niemi stopped Stoll's first, long shot but Trevor Lewis scored on the rebound at 11:39 from deep on the right side.

But that was the Kings' last hurrah.

Sharks know they can win in L.A.

The San Jose Sharks had another meltdown on home ice Saturday night and made another in-game switch at goaltender.

So instead of celebrating a series-clinching win over the Los Angeles Kings, the Sharks are preparing for Game 6 Monday night and facing a brewing goaltender controversy after suffering a 3-1 loss at HP Pavilion.

The good news for the Sharks? They get to play their next game in Los Angeles, where they've won two straight, scoring six goals each time.

"It's the playoffs. Anything can happen," Sharks captain Joe Thornton said after the loss. "We realize this. We realize it's going to be a long, hard series. We expected they were going to try and come quick. We played well for 60, but just not good enough and we'll have to play better next game.

"The upside is we play well in L.A. We played well in L.A. through Games 3 and 4, and now we just got to go win down there."

The Sharks suffered a humiliating 4-0 loss to the Kings in Game 2 at HP Pavilion, when they were booed off the ice. This time they spotted Los Angeles a quick 3-0 lead, committing a flurry of turnovers that the Kings capitalized on.

Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Clifford and Dustin Penner each scored a goal in the first 8:42 of the opening period against Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi. That was it for Niemi, who gave up those three goals on just four shots. He gave way to backup Antero Niittymaki, who held the Kings scoreless the rest of the way.

Niemi was also pulled from Game 3 for Niittymaki in Los Angeles after the Kings took a 4-0 lead early in the second period. The Sharks rallied to score five goals in the second and went on to win 6-5 in overtime that night, but Niemi was back in goal for Game 4.

So, does Sharks coach Todd McLellan have a decision to make at goaltender for Game 6?

"We have one every night to make," McLellan said. "We feel that we have two quality guys. Again, you look at the goals. The first one was a heck of a deflection. … The second one he makes a great save on the 2-on-1 that shouldn't exist. You turn the puck over and the rebound goes in the net. So I'm not sure you finger the goaltender for that one. And then the third one he's fairly deep in his net, and I think he knows that, but at that point we needed to change something."

Sharks forward Ryane Clowe said it wouldn't surprise him if Niemi started Game 6.

"On the other hand, Niitty, you've got to give the guy credit. I mean, coming in cold again and making some great saves," Clowe gushed. "Too bad we couldn't get a couple for him. He made some game-saving (saves) to give us an opportunity to stay in it."

Kings coach Terry Murray never considered making a change at goaltender, even after Jonathan Quick gave up those 12 goals in two losses in Los Angeles. Quick rewarded his coach by making 51 saves on Saturday night. The Sharks weren't surprised to see Quick respond the way he did.

"He's an elite goalie so nights are going to happen like that," Sharks forward Logan Couture said. "If we can get 50 on him or 40 on him in L.A., I think it will be a little different story. We knew he was going to bounce back. He's a great goalie for a reason."

Patrick Marleau scored the only Sharks goal, hammering a rebound past Quick to make it 3-1 at 5:43 of the second, but that was their last goal, although far from their last chance. The Sharks had three of their four power plays after that, but the Kings killed the final three, just like they did the first one.

"He made a lot of good saves," Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle said. "What did we have, 52 shots? Obviously not all quality chances, but we had a lot of looks. Obviously a handful of mistakes early and three pucks were in our net. Other than that, you can’t question the work ethic or the heart. Everybody was trying hard. Just stupid mental errors early."

San Jose Sharks clinch No. 2 West seed with win

Maybe it did take all 82 games, but the uncomplicated part is over.

The Sharks earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference at HP Pavilion on Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes, playing the kind of hockey they hope will carry over into the Stanley Cup playoffs that begin this week.

The complicated part -- whom the Sharks will face in the first round -- remains to be sorted out Sunday with the Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, Coyotes and Nashville Predators all a possibility.

"The intensity was there, and it was something we needed to experience this week so we can get ready for what lies ahead," said coach Todd McLellan, whose team had looked uninspired for long stretches in losing its previous two games.

Goals by Ian White, Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture provided the offense, but it was goaltender Antti Niemi, who made 35 saves while giving up a goal to Lauri Korpikoski, who earned much of the credit for the two points that gave San Jose 105 for the season.

"Was he good? When we made mistakes, he was there to make some tremendous saves," McLellan said. "There's not many nights on the bench where I turn to the coaches, and we're all going 'Wow!' "

Had the Sharks lost, they would have had to wait until the outcome of Sunday morning's game between the Detroit and Chicago to know their final spot in the standings, but the Red Wings can no longer catch San Jose for second place.

Now, if Chicago wins in regulation or overtime, the Sharks will face Phoenix. If Chicago loses in overtime, the Sharks will face the Blackhawks. If Chicago loses in regulation, the Sharks will face Los Angeles. And if Chicago wins in a shootout, the Sharks will face Nashville.

The No. 2 seed is significant only if the Sharks advance beyond the first round because it guarantees home ice in the next one.

The Sharks had struggled since clinching the Pacific Division title Monday night, getting blown out in Anaheim and dropping a 4-3 decision Friday night in Phoenix.

San Jose was also missing injured forward Ryane Clowe for a third consecutive game, with Benn Ferriero called up from Worcester to fill Clowe's spot in the lineup.

The game was scoreless into the second period when White's goal at 7:11 on a 52-foot one-timer capped a 57-second sequence that saw the Sharks put three shots on net, send two wide and had three others blocked.

"It seems whenever you get momentum and get some shots off, there's a good chance you're going to get the puck back," White said. "It was a great momentum shift for us, and fortunately one of them went in."

White had gone 21 games without a goal since being traded from Carolina in February, but had one in each of the past two games.

Pavelski's power play goal at 18:37 of the second period from just outside the crease was his 20th of the season and enabled the Sharks to finish the season as the only NHL team with seven players to hit that mark.

Phoenix got on the scoreboard at 8:36 of the final period when Korpikoski blocked a shot by Jason Demers, then scored on the breakaway that followed, but Couture's 32nd goal of the season on a power play at 18:29 assured the Sharks of their second-place finish.

The Sharks finished the past two seasons as the West's No. 1 seed, reaching the Western Conference finals a year ago after being upset in the first round the previous season. Vancouver topped the conference this season.

"Going into the playoffs, we're all excited about it," McLellan said. "I think there's less talk and less hype about our team, which will help us. We've experienced the Vancouver scenario -- I have as a coach more than once -- and that's a tough one. We like where we're at, and it's up to us now to get ready and be prepared."

From White's perspective, it's all good.

"I've been warming up for this for six years now," said the well-traveled 26-year-old defenseman who will be seeing his first postseason action after 401 NHL games.

The victory was McLellan's 152nd since taking over behind the San Jose bench, enabling him to tie Mike Keenan for most NHL wins by a coach over his first three seasons.

But that is one record that the Sharks coach considers less than meaningful.

"You're asking me about a stat that's really quite irrelevant when it comes to me, and I bet Mike Keenan would tell you the same thing," McLellan said recently. "It's different eras, the games are tracked differently."

Seventeen of McLellan's victories, for example, came in the shootout. When Keenan set the mark between 1984 and 1987, games that weren't resolved in overtime ended as ties.

Annual team awards for 2010-11 went to Niemi as the Sharks MVP and Logan Couture as rookie of the year by a media vote. Patrick Marleau won the title of "fan favorite" in online voting.