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Sharks hope to force Game Seven

May 4, 2008 - 1:27 PM San Jose at Dallas 9:00 pm EDT Western Conference semifinals Stars lead, 3-2

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The San Jose Sharks refused to go down without a fight.

Looking to make the most improbable comeback in the NHL playoffs in 33 years, the Sharks will try to even their Western Conference semifinal series at three wins apiece Sunday when they visit the Dallas Stars for Game Six.

Joe Pavelski scored 65 seconds into overtime as the second-seeded Sharks scored three unanswered goals to stave off elimination and post a 3-2 triumph over the Dallas Stars on Friday in Game Five.

Milan Michalek and All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell netted third-period goals and Vezina Trophy finalist Evgeni Nabokov finished with 24 saves for San Jose.

The Sharks are attempting to become the first team to overcome a three-games-to-none deficit since the 1975 New York Islanders accomplished the feat. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the only other team to make such a dramatic comeback in the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals.

"We know it is playoff hockey, being down 3-0 is not easy," Pavelski said. "They are feeding off (each other and) trying to close us out and we are fighting for our lives. This team wants to play another game."

Jere Lehtinen and captain Brenden Morrow scored and Marty Turco made 19 saves for the Stars, who squandered a two-goal lead in the third period.

"Every game we lose, we give them more life," Morrow said. "But I like our position a lot more than theirs. They still need to win two, we need to win one. They're going to try and say the pressure's on us, but I like our position a little bit better."

"We know (winning) four is tough, and it always is," Dallas center Mike Modano said. "A closing game is hard, but we headed in the right direction tonight with an all-around effort and everything that we did. (We hope to) continue that and get ready for Sunday night. It's going to be a big game for us."