(Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks will try to complete a sweep of the Western Conference finals this afternoon, when they host the top-seeded San Jose Sharks in Game 4 from United Center.
Game 4, 3:00 P.M.: Blackhawks Hope To Sweep Sharks, Punch Ticket To Cup Final
The second-seeded Blackhawks have taken all three games in this best-of-seven series and can clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992 with another victory today. Chicago, which was swept by Pittsburgh in the '92 Cup Finals, hasn't won it all since beating Detroit in 1961.
Despite being down 3-0 in the series, San Jose hasn't been thoroughly outplayed by the Blackhawks in this best-of-seven set. Two of the Sharks' three losses have been by just one goal, including Game 3 on Friday, which the host Blackhawks won 3-2 in overtime.
Dustin Byfuglien notched the game-winning goal with 7:36 left in OT on Friday and gave his team a commanding lead in the series as well. Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell corralled a loose puck along the blue line at the right point and dumped the disc around the boards. Dave Bolland collected it behind the San Jose net and fed the puck in front, where Byfuglien one-timed it home.
“It was just a good forecheck. The puck came out high then was sent back down with good coverage. Bolland made a great play to lay it out in the slot and all I had to do was finish,” Byfuglien said of the sequence that led to the deciding goal.
Bolland added a third-period score, and Patrick Sharp also tallied for the Blackhawks. Antti Niemi was strong for the win, turning aside 44-of-46 shots.
“We can’t dwell on this one too long. We have to be ready to end it on Sunday. We have to make sure that Sunday is going to be our best game,” Bolland admitted.
The victory upped Chicago’s home record in this postseason to 4-3. The Blackhawks, who would visit San Jose for Game 5 on Tuesday if they can’t close the series today, were 29-8-4 as the host during the regular season.
Patrick Marleau registered both goals on Friday for San Jose and has scored the Sharks' last four goals in this series. The Sharks only tally in this set not scored by Marleau was Jason Demers' marker in the first period of Game 1.
Dan Boyle assisted on both for the Sharks, who have a ton of work ahead of them if they are to copy the Philadelphia Flyers' feat of recovering from an 0-3 series deficit in the previous round against Boston.
“The reality is we’re down 3-0. (It) happened a week ago with two good teams playing and Philadelphia found a way to come back, so there’s something to draw in there,” said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan. “Plus the fact that we’ve been in this series I think for every minute. That’s got to leave us feeling good.”
The problem for the Sharks is, prior to the Flyers' historic comeback last week, the previous team to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a series was the 1975 New York Islanders.
Evgeni Nabokov improved upon his Game 2 performance, surrendering three goals on 38 shots on Friday after allowing four goals on 22 shots in his past outing.
The Sharks, who have never made it to the Cup Finals, are 3-3 as the road team this postseason after going 24-14-3 away from San Jose prior to the playoffs.
This marks the first-ever playoff series between the Sharks and Blackhawks, but Chicago had the upper hand in the 2009-10 season series, taking three out of four from San Jose.
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