LOS ANGELES — The Kings were cruising along with a four-goal lead. Then came an offensive barrage by the San Jose Sharks so swift and stunning that Los Angeles never could answer.
Settle down: Officials break up a fight between the Blackhawks and Canucks during their playoff game on Tuesday in Chicago. The Blackhawks won 7-2. AP
Devin Setoguchi scored 3:09 into overtime to give the Sharks a 6-5 victory and a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.
"This is a game that you don't expect to happen. I don't think it will repeat itself," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "We were very fortunate to come back from that deficit. We're excited about it, but we also know the mulligan we used won't be available to us again."
It was San Jose's second overtime win in three games after taking the series opener 3-2.
Setoguchi's wrist shot beat Jonathan Quick to cap the Sharks' rally from a 4-0 deficit in the second period, when the teams combined for seven goals.
"The second you hang your head and feel sorry for yourself then it turns into six, seven, eight to nothing," Setoguchi said.
"We got that goal in the second period and all of a sudden the light turned on that we can do it, we can get pucks past this guy. We got it deep, worked hard, we beat guys off the wall. We got the second and third opportunities that led to the goals."
Game 4 is Thursday at Staples Center.
After all the scoring in the second period, both teams failed to convert scoring chances in the third, when there were no penalties.
Antero Nittymaki stopped 11 shots after replacing Antti Niemi, who was pulled early in the second after the Kings scored their fourth consecutive goal.
Quick made 30 saves for the Kings, who had no shots in overtime while the Sharks had two.
"It stings right now. We got to let it go right away," Kings defenseman Matt Greene said. "You give yourself tonight, you feel bad about it, but tomorrow's a new day. It would have been the same way if we'd won 4-0. We have to try to get back and get this series tied up."
Patrick Marleau triggered three straight goals and five altogether by the Sharks in the second when he tipped in a shot at 3:08 for his first point of the playoffs. He and Niclas Wallin assisted on Setoguchi's game-winner.
"It's definitely a little bit of a confidence booster for us," Setoguchi said. "They're going to be hungry and they're going to be ready to avenge this game."
Blackhawks 7, Canucks 2
In Chicago, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville was asked this week if Dave Bolland should even play against the Canucks with the Blackhawks trailing in the series 3-0.
Why risk using a guy coming off a concussion when the chances of winning a series seemed so bleak?
Bolland provided the answer Tuesday night. Emphatically.
After missing 17 games, the versatile center was more than ready to play and showed what an impact he can have. Bolland scored a goal and had three assists as the defending Stanley Cup champs avoided being swept with a 7-2 win.
"A huge boost," Quenneville said. "We certainly fed off his presence."
With the Canucks still leading 3-1, the opening-round series shifts back to Vancouver's Rogers Arena for Game 5 on Thursday night.
Bolland passed a final physical test Tuesday morning and was cleared to play for the first time since March 9. He said he wasn't that rusty.
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