SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — For a franchise that has endured more than its share of playoff disappointments, the end to this season for the San Jose Sharks might rank right at the top.
Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler, left, celebrates his game-tying goal with less than 14 seconds left in the third period of Game 5. 
If it happens on ice and it involves hitting and scoring, The Times's Slap Shot blog is on it.A game-tying goal after a questionable call in the closing seconds of regulation, several prime scoring chances in overtime turned aside by a goalie at the top of his game, and a fluky bounce that led to a season-ending goal in double overtime.
It all added up to a second straight season that ended a step short of the team’s first appearance in the Stanley Cup finals as San Jose lost, 3-2, to the Vancouver Canucks in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
Now the Sharks head into another off-season wondering what it will take to get this supremely talented team past the conference finals hurdle.
“You could ask 27 teams, and I think they’re a little jealous at the success we’ve had,” the captain Joe Thornton said. “For whatever reason, you know, you get down to the top two teams in your conference, and they’re pretty good teams. To get here is an accomplishment, but next year, we’ve got to beat it.”
The Sharks have had the second-best regular-season record, behind Detroit, over the last seven seasons, but they have not been able to translate that into a championship. San Jose was swept by eventual champion Chicago last year and then lost in five games this season to the Canucks.
“I think a successful season is winning a Cup, and anything less is not good enough,” forward Patrick Marleau said. “It’s just frustrating to see it slip away like that.”
While the Sharks blew a third-period lead in Game 1, lost their composure late in Game 2 and were done in by five blown power-play chances and a record three 5-on-3 goals allowed in Game 4, the last game may haunt them most.
Kevin Bieksa’s game-winner came after Alex Edler’s dump in caromed awkwardly off the glass on the sideboards and out to the defenseman just inside the blue line. Bieksa’s quick shot beat Antti Niemi inside the right post before he — and almost everyone else on the ice — could find the puck. That was only possible because of an apparent blown call late in regulation that allowed the Canucks to tie the game. With the Sharks clinging to a 2-1 lead in the final minute, Dan Boyle was called for icing on a clear from behind his net. But replays showed the puck hit Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin, which should have negated the call.
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