Can we even call this an upset at this point?If you had been watching this series and not known which team was the Presidents' Trophy winner and which was the eighth seed, you would probably think the Ducks were the favorites in this series. They have dominated the play despite getting out shot in each game, a testament to goalie Jonas Hiller and the Ducks defense.
Hiller has been calm under the playoff pressure all series long. The funny thing is, so are the Sharks -- they just haven't had much of a pulse. They looked a half step behind for most of the night and never played with too much urgency, even when trailing 2-0 in the third and staring a 3-1 series hole in the face.
That point was driven home by Joe Thornton. Halfway through the third, Thornton made a poor play in his own zone by centering the puck. It was intercepted by Ryan Getzlaf, whose shot was tipped home by Corey Perry and was the nail in the coffin of the game and likely the series.
Rookie Bobby Ryan continued his stellar play by scoring two goals for the Ducks in the second period. Hiller finished with 31 saves and his second shutout of the series. He has allowed only six goals through four games, four of which came in the Sharks' Game Three win.
The series now shifts back to San Jose for Game Five on Saturday night with the Sharks now facing elimination and down two games. Judging by the look of the game tonight, and how both teams have played during this series, that could likely be the final game of the series.
