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Gagne helps lift the Lightning

TAMPA, Fla. - Mike Smith has joined Simon Gagne in hurting the Boston Bruins during the postseason. Smith was perfect in relief of goalie Dwayne Roloson, and former Flyer Gagne snapped a tie in the third period for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who erased an early three-goal deficit and evened the Eastern Conference finals with a 5-3 win in Game 4 over the Bruins on Saturday.

Lightning winger Simon Gagne celebrates his third period goal in Game 4 against the Bruins. (Chris O'Meara/AP Photo)
Lightning winger Simon Gagne celebrates his third period goal in Game 4 against the Bruins. (Chris O'Meara/AP Photo)Read more

TAMPA, Fla. - Mike Smith has joined Simon Gagne in hurting the Boston Bruins during the postseason.

Smith was perfect in relief of goalie Dwayne Roloson, and former Flyer Gagne snapped a tie in the third period for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who erased an early three-goal deficit and evened the Eastern Conference finals with a 5-3 win in Game 4 over the Bruins on Saturday.

Roloson was pulled in the first period after he allowed three goals on nine shots. Smith came on and made 21 saves as the Lightning avoided dropping into a big hole against the surging Bruins. Boston will host Game 5 on Monday.

"There's no time to think," Smith said. "It's just one of those things where we got behind the 8-ball there in the first. That's why I'm on the bench, to come in and kind of settle the team down and give them a little bit of a momentum. It ended up working out."

Gagne scored the winning goal last season for the Flyers when they rebounded from a three-games-to-none deficit and a 3-0 hole in Game 7 to beat the Bruins in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

"I think what happened last year, it's behind [us]," Gagne said. "Things are different now. I'm playing with a different team. Boston is a different team. Right now it's just going out there and trying to be the difference in the game."

Sharks 4, Canucks 3

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Patrick Marleau got San Jose off to a fast start, Antti Niemi preserved the lead with spectacular shorthanded play in the second period, and the Sharks hung on for the win they desperately needed after losing the first two games in Vancouver.

Marleau scored twice in the first period, Niemi made 27 saves, and the Sharks capitalized on 10 power-play chances to beat the Canucks Friday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference final.

"We realize how important tonight was," captain Joe Thornton said. "We realize what's at stake. The guys showed up and the fans were into it. They gave us an extra boost."