Two unanswered goals in the third period lifted the San Jose
Sharks past the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 Sunday night in the Western
Conference Stanley Cup semifinals at HP Pavilion.
SAN JOSE
Two unanswered goals in the third period lifted the San Jose Sharks past the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 Sunday night in the Western Conference Stanley Cup semifinals at HP Pavilion.
Joe Pavelski, the NHL’s leading goal-scorer in this year’s postseason, scored twice in the game, including the equalizer while on a power play 4:40 into the third period. Joe Thornton netted the game-winner at 12:37.
San Jose takes a 2-0 lead into games Tuesday and Thursday in Detroit. If needed, the fifth game of the best-of-seven series would be Saturday night in San Jose.
“We’ve got to get ourselves regrouped,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “As long as we can hold serve at home, we’re back here best two out of three.”
Detroit overcame a 2-1 deficit with a power-play goal in the second period and an even-strength goal two minutes into the third period. Patrick Marleau, back from a one-game bout with the flu, was still in the penalty box after taking a roughing penalty at the end of the second period when Detroit grabbed the 3-2 lead.
After never holding the lead in Thursday’s opener — a 4-3 victory by San Jose — Detroit struck first Sunday at 6:51 of the first period on an unassisted goal from All-Star Pavel Datsyuk.
Thornton’s cross-ice pass at the blueline was picked off by Datsyuk. Despite facing two defensemen at the redline, Datsyuk veered past the defense and whipped a shot from the top of the left circle that found the far right corner past goalie Evgeni Nabokov.
San Jose converted its second power-play chance of the first period to leave it 1-1 at the 9:01 mark.
The Sharks needed only five seconds to turn an offensive-zone face-off into a goal. Marleau won the face-off, pushing the puck to Dany Heatley in the slot. Heatley passed to Pavelski at the left point and Pavelski moved to his right before launching a shot that found the inside of the right post.
Pavelski was the impetus for a go-ahead goal at 10:32 of the first. Defenseman Douglas Murray drilled a clearing pass out of the Sharks zone to Pavelski at the blueline. Pavelski worked along the left boards, then pulled up and found Ryane Clowe open in the low slot. Clowe accepted the pass and then pulled the puck between his legs toward the net — the puck dropping between goalie Jimmy Howard’s pads.
Tomas Holmstrom’s pressure at the top of the Sharks’ crease led to Detroit’s next two scores.
After Heatley was called for slashing 11:24 into the first period, the Red Wing power play unit responded with the tying goal at the 13:17 mark. Brian Rafalski’s hard shot from the left point was redirected by Holmstrom past Nabokov for the forward’s 41st playoff goal.
Detroit needed the full two minutes of power-play time in the second to go up 3-2. Niklas Lidstrom’s line drive shot from the left point flew past Holmstrom and San Jose defenseman Rob Blake before diving past Nabokov for the final Red Wing lead of the night.
Detroit was called for six two-minute penalties in the third period.
“The reality is that you can’t have momentum if only half of your players can get on the ice, because they are sitting in the penalty box all night long,” Babcock said.
San Jose earned a 5-on-3 power play 5:34 into the third period when Niklas Kronwall’s hooking call followed a holding penalty on Todd Bertuzzi.
The Sharks scored at 4:40 when Pavelski skated toward a pile of players at the Detroit crease and whacked the puck past Howard. Thornton keyed the play with a pass from behind the net that allowed a point-blank shot by Heatley. A short rebound in the crease became Pavelski’s ninth goal on the postseason.
“Obviously, he’s in the zone right now,” San Jose coach Todd McLellan said of Pavelski.
“He had 11 shots on goal. He feels very comfortable, but he’s earned that. He’s a catalyst right now.”
Detroit was at full strength when the Sharks scored the winning goal. Lidstrom’s stick broke inside the San Jose zone. Heatley chipped the loose puck past Lidstrom and set off on a 3-on-1 rush. As Thornton and Marleau skated along, Heatley drilled a low shot that Howard kicked aside. Detroit’s lone defender on the play, Rafalski, tried to slap the puck away but Thornton intercepted the attempt and put the puck in the back of the net for his first playoff goal of the season.
“I was fortunate,” Heatley said of the deciding play. “Lindstrom entered the zone and his stick broke. I tried to make a shot low-blocker side.
“I thought Dany was going to pass it,” Thornton said. “I just shoved (the rebound) in.”
Detroit’s comeback bid was hampered by late penalties at 16:05 (Valtteri Filppula tripping) and 18:56 (too many men on the ice).
“We were shorthanded 10 times, so any way you look at it, you’re not going to win any games being shorthanded 10 times,” Babcock said.
