NHL Playoffs: 5 Things the Sharks Must Do To Win Game 4

The San Jose Sharks came through when they had to, winning Game 3 and avoiding a 3-0 hole.

"Every game for us is Game 7," said team captain Joe Thornton, acknowledging the team's need for victories at a press conference after the game.

"We realize how important tonight was, and the next game is going to be just as important."

It may sound cliche, but every game is Game 7 for San Jose now.

It will be awful difficult for the Sharks to win the actual Game 7 in Vancouver, should the series advance that far.

Splitting the series is a must heading into Vancouver. It will give the team the ability to steal Game 5 and come home knowing they can close out the series.

The following are five things the team must do to split the series tomorrow.

5. Logan Couture Must Return and Be 100%

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 20: Alexandre Bolduc #49 of the Vancouver Canucks checks Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks near the bench area in the first period in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilio

Logan Couture left the game after a knee-on-knee collision with teammate Ryane Clowe.

Visibly shaken, Couture hobbled to the bench from the offensive zone, gingerly placing pressure on his knee as the play transitioned across the ice.

"Logan will be fine," said head coach Todd McLellan after the game. "He'll be playing in Game 4."

Couture stayed in the locker room for an extended period after the collision but joined the bench late in the game.

"I was excited about seeing him [return to the bench]," continued McLellan. "At that point he sat down. He wasn't quite ready to go so we got him out of the situation."

Couture is tied with Patrick Marleau for the team lead with seven goals in the playoffs.

He is a vital part of the team and must be playing at full capacity in the next game.

4. The Sharks Must Take Advantage of Canucks' Injuries

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 20: Vancouver Canucks team doctor Bill Regan attends to player Aaron Rome #29 after Rome was checked into the glass by Jamie McGinn #64 of the San Jose Sharks (not in photo) in the third period n Game Three of the Western Conference Fi

Aaron Rome was upended by a massive hit from Jamie McGinn that warranted a five-minute major penalty.

"If I was Aaron Rome I'd be upset right now," said Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault after the game, "but I know they got the right call on the ice."

Additionally, Christian Erhoff left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

After the game, Vigneault said both players could miss Game 4.

"We hope that everyone is healthy," said McLellan after the game. "We don't want to see that happen to anybody."

However, this is a big hit to the Canucks' impressive defensive corps.

They had Keith Ballard, a $4 million player, in the press box at various times throughout the playoffs and he'll play, but the Sharks will have an opportunity to capitalize on a thinner Vancouver blue line.

3. Special Teams Will Be Important Again

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 18: Dan Boyle #22 of the San Jose Sharks follows through on his shot from the point in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals against the Vancouver Canucks during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 18, 2011 in

The Sharks gave up two goals on the McGinn's five-minute major but were able to kill a five-on-three and otherwise kept the Vancouver power play at bay.

"[Teams] are going to get a lot of chances," said defensemen Dan Boyle, referring to the five-on-three power play.

"It took a lot of sacrifice from the boys and it was a huge, huge kill."

Should San Jose avoid taking egregious penalties like McGinn's boarding call last night and Eager's tripping and boarding penalties in Game 2, this team is capable of keeping Vancouver's potent power play from finding the back of the net.

As for the power play, the team entered the night at 100 percent and scored three of their four goals with the extra man.

"Our penalty kill—we gave up two goals, but it came through when it needed to on five-on-three," said McLellan after the game.

"And the power playthe difference at the end of the night was the five-on-three goal."

2. The Fourth Line Must Be: Ferriero, Desjardins, Mayers

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GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 26: Andrew Desjardins #69 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on March 26, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-1. (Photo by Christi

Ben Eager and Jamie McGinn have contributed on the fourth line, and McGinn has been much more disciplined that Eager, but both players are taking penalties that are detrimental to their team's success.

After McGinn's boarding call on Aaron Rome, the Canucks scored twice and could have potentially taken the game over again.

"I don't think there was any intent (to injure Rome) on Jamie's behalf," said McLellan. "In dealing with Ben Eager, Ben played four games against us last year and played very effectively for Chicago. He has the discipline to control himself."

However, if the Sharks will want to keep those guys in the press box in order to let their heads cool.

Ben Ferriero scored a game-winner against Detroit and provides a lot of energy on the forecheck.

Andrew Desjardins, who had only played in 17 regular season games this year, took back-to-back penalties in Game 4.

"It's just an unfortunate thing," said Desjardins in reference to taking back-to-back penalties. "I came out at the wrong time...and I gurees I could have waited, but you've got to move on from it."

He almost made up for it later in the game, however, when he nearly capitalized on a two-on-one with McGinn but was snared by Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo.

"He gets across there pretty quick and takes away the bottom of the net," said Desjardins of Luongo. "It's just unfortunate that I didn't get it quite high enough."

1. Patrick Marleau Must Keep Up His Hot Streak

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 20: Patrick Marleau #12, Joe Pavelski #8, Joe Thornton #19 and Dany Heatley #15 of the San Jose Sharks celebrate teammate Dan Boyle #22 of the San Jose Sharks' goal in the third period as Mason Raymond #21 of the Vancouver Canucks hang

Since scoring the game-winner in Detroit, Patrick Marleau has scored in four straight games.

Last night, he had two.

"I am playing with some really great players," said Marleau after the game, "one of the best passers in the league who's just getting to some good areas and finding me and pucks are starting to go in."

He holds no resentment toward former teammate Jeremy Roenick, who called him "gutless" during the Detroit series.

"It's nice to produce and help the team win," continued Marleau, "but what it boils down to is wins right now and doing what it takes to win."