Finals - Game 4: Vancouver 2 @ San Jose 3

Do or Die

Game 4 was Vancouver's chance to come back in the series. Coming off an impressive win the previous night at the Shark Tank, the Canucks practiced the things they did so well and hoped to continue it in the game. If they faltered they would be down 3-1 in a series.

The practice and Trevor Linden's words of encouragement seemed to work. Early in the 1st the Canucks would take the lead. Sedin would walk into the San Jose zone while his teammates were changing, and rip a shot past Nabokov. It would be the first time all series that a team would score in the 1st period.

The Canucks would take that momentum into the 2nd period. Early in the second Linden would back up his words with a goal. Similar to the Sedin goal, Linden would carry the puck into the Sharks zone and blast a screened shot that would give Nabokov trouble. So with a 2 goal lead halfway through the 2nd and with both teams playing great defensive hockey, it seemed as the game was over. But the Sharks would not lie down and die. It would be the grind line that would give the Sharks some life. Brown would be given a breakaway. With Loungo having a terrific game, the fans were surprised when Brown was able to fake out Loungo and get the Sharks on the board. The goals seemed to give life to the Sharks and the capacity crowd at the Shark tank.

The Sharks would now have the momentum heading to the next period. They would use this momentum very early on. On what seems to be a reoccurring event with Guerin...Guerin would blow past the defense and get a goal just 35 seconds into the period. The Sharks now had everything on their side. The knew if they could pull off the comeback the Cup would only be 1 game away. With Coach Critter shouting out words of experience the Sharks would listen. At the 7:00 mark of the 3rd period Bell would get a similar goal to Linden's previous. Bell crossed the Vancouver blue line and blasted a shot that flew by Loungo.

Despite the two early goals, Nabokov was brilliant and the Sharks would hang on..despite a few close calls and a strong push by the Canucks...to win the game and go up 3-1 in the series and be 1 win away from the Cup!

Stats:
Van @ SJ
28 shots 24
39 hits 28
8 faceoffs 14

3 Stars:
Nabokov 26 0
Bell 1 0
Guerin 1 0