The Vancouver Canucks were swept by the San Jose Sharks in their Western Conference quarterfinal following a 4-3 overtime loss at the HP Pavilion on Tuesday night.
Patrick Marleau scored on the power play at the 13:18 mark of the extra session to send the Canucks packing. Vancouver was clinging to a 3-2 lead late in the third period but gave up the tying goal with 4:27 left in regulation time.
Mason Raymond, Alex Burrows, and Alex Edler scored for Vancouver who were not happy with the officiating in the series and were fuming at the fact that San Jose’s last two goals came on the power play.
However, Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin bemoaned his team’s lack of discipline and refused to lay the blame on the referees.
“This year, this is not the way we wanted it to end,” he said. “It was almost like we were a first playoff team going to the box too many times.
“A lot of guys have been together a long time. It’s disappointing because you only have so many chances.”
Joe Pavelski led the Sharks’ attack with two goals with Brent Burns and Marleau chipping in with one apiece.
The Sharks were deadly on the power play, scoring seven times in four games and was a major reason why they swept an opponent in the NHL playoffs for the first time ever.
Logan Couture could sense Vancouver’s frustration but opined that the referees did a good job in the four games.
“They were never happy this whole series about the officiating but all the penalties were penalties and the refs did a great job,” he said.
“They were undisciplined, they took penalties and we capitalized.”
The Vancouver Canucks were swept for the fourth time in franchise history and a plethora of questions remain about whether the current crop of players can bring the city its first Stanley Cup.