The Vancouver Canucks got the whale off their chest and beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 to win the seventh and deciding game of their Western conference quarterfinal series.
The Stars forced last night's game after tying the series with a pair of wins. But Vancouver - wearing blue, green and white for the first time in the playoffs since 1976 - dominated the second and third periods.
Star Joel Lundqvist took advantage of Vancouver's timid opening and beat goaltender Roberto Luongo with a wrist shot.
Henrik Sedin finally solved Stars' goaltender Marty Turco on a power play late in the second. Turco hadn't allowed a goal since Trevor Linden's Game 4 winner.
"We came out a little nervous to start the game," said Linden. "In the second period, we got our game on track and started playing with confidence."
Linden redirected a Mattias Ohlund shot on a third-period power play to score the eventual winner.
"Every game was close and a grind, it was tough, it was fun," Turco said. "As long as it was, as up and down as it was, that's what hurts the most."
Penalties hampered Dallas' chances to tie the game.
Taylor Pyatt and Bryan Smolinski scored empty net goals.
The Canucks are now 5-4 in seven-game series. The Stars are just the third club Vancouver has eliminated since 1994.
The Canucks visit the Anaheim Ducks tomorrow to begin the Western conference semifinal.
