Canucks rally to beat Sharks in Game 1

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Defenseman Kevin Bieksa tied it 7:02 into the third period, Henrik Sedin scored on a power play 1:19 later, and the Vancouver Canucks came back to open their first Western Conference final in 17 years with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night.

Maxim Lapierre scored his first of these playoffs, and Roberto Luongo made 27 saves - and a brutal first period giveaway - for the Canucks. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Vancouver.

Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau scored, and Antti Niemi stopped 35 shots for the Sharks, coming off an emotional, draining Game 7 victory over Detroit on Thursday night.

San Jose took a 2-1 lead into the third period thanks to a goal on its only power play, and the gift from Luongo. But after failing to finish several great chances late in the second, Vancouver finally converted in the third.

San Jose, which almost blew a 3-0 series lead before beating Detroit, went up late in the first period thanks to a generous pass from Luongo to Thornton.