Facing a three-game deficit, the San Jose Sharks found that sweet spot where desperation and relaxation blend.

The result was a 2-1 stayin' alive victory in Game 4 Wednesday at American Airlines Center. One quarter of their mission is complete.

"We had nothing to lose," Sharks coach Ron Wilson said. "Let's go out and have some fun. Create a challenge out of a chance to make history when you're down 3-0."

Facing elimination, the Sharks said they needed the emotional investment of a Game 7, times four.

The schedule might have been a break, too.

If any team was prepared for back-to-back games in the playoffs, it was San Jose. The Sharks were 11-4-1 in the second game of consecutive games during the regular season.

They stayed true to their game plan, even after Devin Setoguchi's dreadful turnover gave the Stars a second-period goal. If anything, a potential breaking point turned into an emotional turnaround.

The options were either a comeback or the golf course.

"You hope you have that resiliency," Wilson said. "I think our bench actually rallied around Seto."

Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov helped too, although not intentionally.

For the second straight game, a giveaway on the power play gave Sharks captain Patrick Marleau a breakaway goal.

"We're going home and feel pretty confident about ourselves," Marleau said. "That being said, we still have a lot of work ahead of us."

The Sharks finally got a timely power-play goal after Mike Modano was whistled for a delay-of-game penalty for shooting the puck out of play.

Mired in a slump that produced one man-advantage goal in 16 attempts, San Jose got the goal-ahead goal.

Milan Michalek, the Sharks' most dangerous forward in the series, scored in front. Perhaps more important, the goal was set up by Joe Thornton.

Thornton finished fifth in the NHL with 96 points in the regular season. Through three games, he had been limited to just one assist.

For Thornton and the Sharks, it was a start.

"If we lose tonight the season is over, and a lot of these guys aren't ready to go home yet," defenseman Brian Campbell said. "We're still alive ... and we're still a part of the series."