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No. 1 Star: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Luongo's 54-save performance backstopped the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals, as they won Game 5 in double-OT over the San Jose Sharks, 3-2, to win the Western Conference Finals by a 4-1 count. He was great when they needed him: Making 15 saves in the first period during a Sharks' barrage and making 16 saves in overtime.
No. 2 Star: Kevin Bieksa, Vancouver Canucks
Bieksa's fourth goal of the series and fifth of the playoffs — a quirky, bouncing one-timer after Alex Edler's dump in bounced off a partition and back to the blue line — gave the Canucks the double-OT victory at 10:18 of the second extra session. His goal came 17 years after Greg Adams scored in double-OT to send the 1993-94 Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals. Bieksa was also a plus-3.
No. 3 Star: Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks
The clutch Sharks forward came to play in Game 5, picking up two assists that included one on a diving play to set up a Devin Setoguchi goal in the second period. He was also 14-8 on faceoffs.
Honorable mention: The Sedins worked their magic on the Canucks' first goal, setting up Alex Burrows for his seventh of the postseason. … Ryan Kesler tied the game at 19:46 of the third period with Luongo pulled. … Patrick Marleau scored his eighth goal via the power play, tying both Bill Barber and, ahem, Jeremy Roenick with 53 in his playoff career. … Antti Niemi made 31 saves in the loss. … This Douglas Murray hit on Kesler was one of the best of the postseason:
Did you know? Joe Thornton confirmed he played through Game 5 with a separated shoulder.
Dishonorable mention: The officials may have missed a deflection by Daniel Sedin on a critical icing call on the Sharks late in the third period that led to the tying goal. But it wasn't the first or last call they missed in Game 5. There's letting them play, and then there's calling nothing.* … Dany Heatley played a more active game with six shots on goal and solid defense, but again failed to tally a point.
Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks; 2. Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins; 3. Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; 4. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins; 5. Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks; 7. Sean Bergenheim, Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Dwayne Roloson, Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Kevin Bieksa, Vancouver Canucks; 10. Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins.