NHL Playoffs: 5 Things the San Jose Sharks Must Do to Beat the Vancouver Canucks

With his goal in Game 7, Patrick Marleau is off the schneid.

"He takes some heat," said teammate Joe Pavelski in reference to Marleau, "but it shows what kind of person he is.

"Someone says [that he needed the goal], it's not right. There's a lot of guys that could have been better and there's a lot of lines that could have been better throughout the series."

Confidence radiated from the locker room after the game and at practice on the following day.

"It's a proud city over there," said Logan Couture, "a lot of fans, Canadian market, so it's going to be intense and I'm looking forward to it."

Vancouver is many people's favorite to win it all this year.

"You use the number one and their name comes up beside it in almost every category," says head coach Todd McLellan. "We're looking forward to the challenge, because it will be one heck of a challenge."

The following are five things the Sharks must do in order to win the series.

Tom Schreier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official interview materials from the San Jose Sharks.

5. Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton Must Be Better Than the Sedin Twins

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 12: Patrick Marleau #12 and Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after Marleau scored a goal in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley

"It's crazy how the series is going," says Couture. "There's two teams with players who have been criticized throughout the playoffs and two teams that are going to prove something."

The comparison starts with their superstars.

Team captain Henrik Sedin has only one goal in the playoffs and both twins are minus-8.

Marleau's goal may have given him the boost he needed to get the scoring going again.

"Patty's been through an awful lot," said McLellan after the game. "This year is no different than any other year: Patty, Jumbo, they became the lightning rods and when it doesn't go well, people question them."

Thornton played with a vengeance in the Game 7 and that must carry over as well.

4. Joe Thornton Must Set the Tone as the Leader

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 12: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after they beat the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 12, 2011 in San Jose, Califo

Piggybacking off that last slide, Thornton needs to play with the passion he had in Game 7.

"He's our leader," says McLellan, "and as he plays, we play."

"He's the catalyst," says teammate Devin Setoguchi. "He's got to be the best every night for us, and then we follow."

The team insists that his inner fire is fueled by his desire to play for his teammates, rather than to quiet the media.

"He really wants to win," says Couture. "I think it rubs off on the other guys."

3. Ryan Kesler Must Be Shut Down

Rich Lam/Getty Images

VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 7: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck while being pursued by Mike Fisher #12 of the Nashville Predators during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanle

"He's obviously elevated his game at this time of the year," says McLellan. "He's a big, strong man. Speed through the middle...and seems to have a strong will right now."

Kesler has five goals and 15 points in the playoffs.

It will be Thornton's job to keep him in check.

"I think Ryan Kesler will be facing off against Joe Thornton," says McLellan. "At least that's the approach they'll take."

2. They Need to Adjust to Playing the First Two Games Away from the Tank

Rich Lam/Getty Images

VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 7: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates with Kevin Bieksa #3 and Alexander Edler #23 of the Vancouver Canucks after scoring against the Nashville Predators during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conferen

"First time in three years here that we've started on the road," said McLellan. "You go there to win Game 1, then you approach Game 2 and come home. You can't make any more out of it than that.

"We all understand, at this time of year, the impact that home crowds have."

The 'Nucks have a reputation around the league for having one of the hardest buildings to play in.

"Vancouver's going to be loud," says Couture. "We played there in the regular season and it was loud, and I can imagine what it's going to be like in the playoffs."

Winning a game in Vancouver is a must.

1. Scoring Must Come from All Lines

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

DETROIT - MAY 4: Ryane Clowe #29 of the San Jose Sharks sets up in front of Jonathan Ericsson #52 of the Detroit Red Wings in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 4, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Det

"I just felt like we had really good depth," said Ryane Clowe after the series. "Detroit had a really good fourth-line and we showed how good our depth was and you need depth against Vancouver."

Clowe leads the team with four goals and 13 points.

Logan Couture, Devin Setoguchi, Kyle Wellwood and Joe Pavelski, all depth players, have made major contributions throughout the series.

The Canucks are notorious for their depth and San Jose must match their second-, third-, and fourth-line production in order to make up for any deficiencies in scoring from the top line, which will be hounded by Vancouver's elite defensive corps.