Reply #2: I've never been so tense watching a hockey game

[Upton]

It's one thing to lose a series, quite another to go down in NHL history for losing a 3-0 series lead. You already know that with your Bruins, but a loss last night would have given all sorts of ammunition to those who believe the Sharks are playoff chokers and want to blow up the team, get rid of GM Doug Wilson or even McLellan. Last night, the future direction of the franchise lay in the balance. It was being called the biggest game in Sharks' history. To see them come through under that kind of pressure was especially gratifying..

The Bay Area media had been all over the Sharks and their most recent scapegoat Marleau since game 5. And some of the comments on the Sharks boards have just been way over the top....agreeing with JR's "gutless" comment and much much worse.

Thornton has always been my favorite player since he came to San Jose. And even though he's had an excellent playoffs, if the Sharks had lost in that fashion under Jumbo's first year of wearing the C, it could have had devastating consequences for those of us who appreciate all he's done for this franchise and want him to remain a Shark for the rest of his career..

Vancouver was a tough matchup for the Sharks all year..in 4 games, each team had a SO win, but the Canucks also won 2 in regulation.. after last night though, I can only be optimistic.