Ducks coach Randy Carlyle noted the differences between this Stanley Cup Playoff run and the one from a year ago.
"Again, it's a different team, different group of players," he said. "I know the resolve in our room. I guarantee you we're not going to lay down.
"And we didn't lay down tonight. We were much more physical, much more involved in the game. We made some mistakes and basically gave them goals. When you gift things in the playoffs you're going to end up on the wrong side of the score."
The Ducks squandered a superb showing from defenseman Hampus Lindholm, who was strong in both ends, setting up the game's first goal by Jakob Silfverberg 40 seconds into the first period, and scoring on the power play at 7:51 of the second period to cut San Jose's lead to 3-2.
He also set the early physical tone with a hard hit on Sharks forward Evander Kane, catching Kane in the mouth with a shoulder check at 4:52 of the first period.
"I never try to hit someone to just hit," Lindholm said. "I try to hit to get the puck."
Lindholm sounded a bit defiant when asked about the Ducks ability to rally in the playoffs.
"Of course, as I said … people have stopped believing in us quite a lot this year," Lindholm said. "Somehow we've been coming back a lot this year. We've got guys in this room that know how to do it."
Said defenseman Brandon Montour: "We've been down two before. They've got to win four. The series isn't over."