lindsay soto

ANAHEIM – For 82 regular season games, the San Jose Sharks had the best record in the NHL and the league’s third-best power play.

In Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Ducks, they finally showed why.

The Ducks fought back to tie the game three times, but a Sharks power play goal midway through the third did them in.

After not scoring on 12 power plays in the first two games of the series, San Jose found the net twice, including the lone goal of the third period to down the Ducks 4-3. Anaheim’s lead in the series was trimmed to 2 games to 1, with Game 4 back at Honda Center on Thursday night.

"They are the best team in the league for a reason," said Ducks winger Corey Perry whose third period penalty led to the Sharks' winning goal. "We are still in the driver’s seat and have another game here on Thursday. We are still in great position. We have to use that home-ice to our advantage. If we come out like we did in San Jose, we’re going to alright."

With the score tied 3-3 midway through the third period, San Jose skated 5 on 4 thanks to a hooking call on Perry as he tried to strip the puck from Dan Boyle in the Anaheim zone.