The San Jose Sharks managed to finally get their first two-goal lead of the series, but failed to hang on as the Chicago Blackhawks scored four unanswered goals to win the game and sweep the Conference finals, 4-0.
The Sharks played about as well as could be hoped, yet were unable to respond with the Blackhawks took the game to a different level late in the second period and on into the third. A borderline penalty call late in the third led to a Dustin Byfuglien power play goal, before Kris Versteeg iced the game and the series with an empty-netter in the final minute.
For the Blackhawks, the door is now open for the Stanley Cup, just four wins away from justifying all of the bad years, all of the high draft picks and salary spent.
The Sharks must regroup, and look at what was perhaps their final chance to get this far as it’s likely the Sharks will a have a bit of a different team next season.
We’ll have more on this game and the series win by the Blackhawks coming up.