The series so far has been defined by home ice advantage. As in 3 games down, 3 wins for the home team. If San Jose wanted to stay in this series, they need to pulling for that advantage to continue. Luckily, I’m going to include Antti Niemi as home ice advantage.

May 21, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) celebrates with defenseman Dan Boyle (22) and center Logan Couture (39) after Couture

GAME RECAP

The way this series is playing out, if you don’t have the heart to push for second chances you aren’t going to win game. Just over 5 into the first frame, that sentiment gets put on display. Coming from behind the net, Joe Thornton feeds Brent Burns in front of the net. The first shot is stopped but the puck come back to Big Joe, who feed Burns again. This time there would be no more chances as Burns gives the Sharks a 1-0 lead early in the game.

Early into the second period the collisions involving Dustin Brown in this game reach two. First he collided with Patrick Marleau, and early in the second got run into by Logan Couture. Brown would be fine, Couture looked a little worse for wear, especially coming off the awkward injury last game. He would stick around in the game though, and on a power play later in the period would prove to be the difference maker. A point shot from Dan Boyle would deflect off Couture’s body, giving the Sharks a 2-0 lead in the game. Minutes later one of the biggest blown calls of the post season occurred, A point shot that Niemi couldn’t handle began trickling through his legs. With the puck clear in the open behind the goalie, the whistle is blown by the behind the net ref heartbeats before the puck could be tucked away across the crease. Bad call by the ref, and this game stays at 2-0.

With 10 minutes remaining in the third, the Kings get a little redemption as Mike Richards is able to sit on the door step and jam home a rebound. The game is 2-1, but that sting of that no goal looks like it is still hurting the Kings. Despite the late game surge, the Kings weren’t able to get back into this game, and the series evens up at 2 and takes on a whole new life.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1 – Logan Couture

2 – Antti Niemi

3 – Joe Thornton

It was one of those game where you knew the home team had to win. Not that they were going to, but that they had to. There was that air of necessity in San Jose as the Sharks welcomed their close neighbours the Los Angeles Kings into their arena for the first time this post season. Trailing 2-0 in the series, the home team needed a win to keep themselves competing. And a win they got, drawing this series to 2-1 for LA.

May 18, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) is mobbed by his teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings in overtime of game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

The playoffs are all about starting strong. It’s hard to bite and claw your way back in to a game. San Jose took this advice to heart, and on an early power play, unleashed the man known as Dan Boyle. 90 Seconds into the first frame, Boyle takes a feed at the point and unload a puck on the net. Just like that, the Sharks take an early lead in this game, putting LA behind the 8 ball early. Just after the midway point of the period, Brad Stuart would dish the puck out into the slot to a waiting Tyler Toffoli who would pot this in the net and tie the game at 1. The problem is that Brad Stuart plays for the Sharks and makes a terrible clearing pass up the center of the ice, making his Atom, PeeWee and Bantam coaches collectively cringe.

Early in the second period, after losing Martin Havlat to an undisclosed injury, Logan Couture is taken awkwardly into the boards and would leave the game for a little while. Clean check into the boards, just weird positioning in case there was concern. The second period was all San Jose pressure and all Jonathan Quick denying that pressure.

Not to be outdone, Antti Niemi decided he would go about stopping everything in period 3. Whether this led to some frustrations, or it was just indisciplined play, the Kings found themselves on the opposite side of a 5-3 heading in to OT, unlike game 2. It didn’t take long for the story to unfold the same way, but for different teams. With Logan Couture back in the lineup (he returned earlier after the injury),and sitting in the slot, the puck found its way on to his stick, and then very quickly in to the back of the net.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1 – Logan Couture

2- Antti Niemi

3 – Jonathan Quick