Marleau pots winner as Sharks sweep Canucks

SAN JOSE, California (AFP) –

Patrick Marleau (C) of the San Jose Sharks scores the game winning goal past goaltender Cory Schneider of the Vancouver Canucks in overtime of Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 7, 2013 in San Jose, California. The Sharks defeated the Canucks 4-3 to sweep the series 4 games to 0.

Patrick Marleau scored a power-play goal with 6:42 remaining in overtime as the San Jose Sharks swept the Vancouver Canucks out of the NHL playoffs with a 4-3 victory.

Canucks Swedish forward Daniel Sedin was whistled for a questionable boarding penalty at 13:03 of overtime that led to Canadian Marleau’s overtime game winner which lifted the Sharks to a 4-0 first round series win.

The Sharks now advance to the NHL playoff quarter-finals against an unnamed Western Conference opponent.

After Sedin was sent to the penalty box for hitting Tommy Wingels, San Jose’s powerplay went to work. Joe Thornton fired a shot that Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider stopped. But Schneider wasn’t able to control the rebound and the puck bounced over to Marleau who punched it home.

Forward Joe Pavelski, of the US, scored a pair of goals in regulation for San Jose, including the game-tying marker with 4:27 left in the third period to force overtime.

Brent Burns also scored, while passing specialist Thornton added a three assists for the Sharks. Finland’s Antti Niemi made 32 saves in the win.

Alexandre Burrows and Mason Raymond finished with a goal and an assist apiece, while Swedish defenceman Alexander Edler scored once for Vancouver, which suffered its second straight first-round post-season exit.

American Schneider stopped 43-of-47 shots in the loss.