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Aneroid's Patrick Marleau has had four goals in the Western Conference Final's first three games, with game four set for today

The NHL Western Conference final resumes this afternoon in San Jose, where the Vancouver Canucks have a two-one series lead.

The Sharks cut into that lead with a 4-3 win on Friday, with Aneroid's Patrick Marleau scoring twice in the contest. Marleau has broken out in this series, with four goals in the first three games.

Sharks forward Ryane Clowe says Marleau's on a pretty good streak now, adding one of the first things about him is his speed, and when he's strong and winning the battles for the puck, opponents are always chasing him. Winger Devin Setoguchi says Marleau's picked up his game after getting some criticism from the media in the series against Detroit, saying that his teammates have always believed in him, especially in the last series when he was doing the little things but just not putting the goals in the net, and now he's the catalyst of the team.

 

In the Eastern Conference Final, Tampa Bay rallied from a 3-0 first period deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 5-3, and even the series at two games apiece.  Mike Smith was perfect in goal for Tampa after replacing Dwayne Roloson, who was lifted after allowing three goals on nine shots.