Kevin Bieksa's double-overtime goal sends the Canucks into the Stanley Cup final

The party has started in downtown Vancouver. That’s because the hometown Canucks are making only their third trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs in their 40-year history, thanks to a stellar performance by goalie Roberto Luongo.

Tonight at Rogers Arena, the Canucks won the Western Conference final with a 3-2 victory in double-overtime over the San Jose Sharks.


Kevin Bieksa scores a bizarre game winner.

Kevin Bieksa scored the game winner at 10:18 of double overtime to become the hero. His goal was followed by a ticker-tape celebration as the crowd erupted in joy.

Now, the Canucks must await the outcome of the Boston-Tampa series to learn the identity of their next opponent.

In 1982 and 1994, the Canucks came up short in the Stanley Cup finals to the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers, respectively.

The Sharks were 14 seconds away from winning tonight’s game when Ryan Kesler tied the score at 19:46 of the third period. In regulation time, San Jose outshot Vancouver 36-20. By the end of the first overtime period, Luongo had made 50 saves, and he turned aside four more shots in the second overtime.

In the third and first overtime periods, no penalties were called, which outraged Canucks fans on a few occasions.

Canuck Alex Burrows opened the scoring at 8:02 of the first period, assisted by the Sedin brothers.

Patrick Marleau tied the game midway through the second period by tipping in a shot by Dan Boyle on a power play. Devon Setoguchi put the Sharks in the lead at 0:24 of the third period before Kesler’s dramatic game-tying goal near the end of the frame.

Chris Higgins had a chance to win the game for the Canucks in the second overtime when he went in alone on a breakaway, but he was unable to beat Shark goalie Antti Niemi.

Comments

5 Comments

Japhil

May 24, 2011 at 10:08pm

Way to go Canucks, congrats!

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honk your horns, idiots

May 24, 2011 at 10:25pm

Nice goal losers.

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You

May 24, 2011 at 11:17pm

Sloppy game all around. Glad that one's over.

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njk

May 24, 2011 at 11:50pm

Bring the cup to the true north strong & free!

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Evan D.

May 25, 2011 at 4:34am

May 24th, 1994 - Canucks win Western conference in Game 5 double-OT over Toronto.

May 24th, 2011 - Canucks win Western conference in Game 5 double-OT over San Jose.

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