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Checkmate: Sharks rally from four-goal deficit, down Kings in OT

Apr 20, 2011 - 7:10 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - There was the Miracle on Manchester. Now, there's the Nightmare at Staples Center.

Devin Setoguchi scored 3:09 into overtime, and the San Jose Sharks stunned the Los Angeles Kings, rallying from a four-goal deficit to post a 6-5 victory in Game 3 of the club's Western Conference quarterfinal series.

In the extra session, Sharks forward Patrick Marleau carried the puck along the left wing and dished to Setoguchi driving down the middle and he fired a shot past Los Angeles goaltender Jonathan Quick to give San Jose a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series.

"It's something we have to understand that we were very fortunate to have come back from that deficit," said San Jose head coach Todd McLellan. "We're excited about it, but we also know the mulligan that we used tonight won't be available to us again."

The Miracle on Manchester is the moniker assigned to Game 3 of the Smythe Division semifinals between Edmonton and Los Angeles on April 10, 1982 at The Forum, the Kings' former home.

The Kings scored five third-period goals after being down 5-0, with LA's Daryl Evans supplying the overtime winner.

On Tuesday, the situation was nearly reversed as San Jose fell behind 4-0 on a Brad Richardson tally 44 seconds into the second period, which spelled the end for Sharks starting goaltender Antti Niemi, who was replaced by Antero Niittymaki after making only six saves.

San Jose responded with five goals in the second, including a pair of tallies from Ryane Clowe.

The comeback started at the 3:08 mark, as Marleau converted a slap-pass from Dan Boyle at the right side of the net. Then, on a power play, Clowe took a pass from Logan Couture and fired a shot that deflected off the stick of Los Angeles defenseman Willie Mitchell and slid between Quick's pads at 6:53.

Couture, one of three nominees for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, one-timed Ian White's cross-ice pass behind Quick from the right circle at 13:32 to draw San Jose within 4-3. White returned to the lineup after missing Game 2 with a head injury that he sustained in the series opener on a hit from behind by Jarret Stoll that resulted in a one-game suspension for Los Angeles forward.

The Kings responded 15 seconds after Couture lit the lamp, as Stoll, back from his banishment to the press box, whipped a backhand pass to the front of the net that Ryan Smyth tapped in.

Clowe, though, struck again with 1:25 remaining before Joe Pavelski potted the tying goal with 31 ticks left.

"That's as bad as it gets in the second period for sure," said Los Angeles head coach Terry Murray.

After combining for seven goals in the middle stanza, it was only fitting the teams played a scoreless third period.

Mitchell and Kyle Clifford put Los Angeles ahead 2-0 with goals 13 seconds apart in the first period. Michal Handzus then accepted a pass in the slot from Dustin Penner and fired it past Niemi with 1:38 to go in the opening frame.

Game Notes

Niittymaki stopped 11-of-12 shots to record his first career playoff win. He also made his first postseason appearance since May 2, 2006, when he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers...Quick, coming off a 34-save shutout in Game 2 on Saturday, surrendered six goals on 36 shots...Boyle, White and Niclas Wallin each had two assists for San Jose...Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday evening in LA.