SAN JOSE, California - in a series filled with some of the greatest stars of hockey and the most accomplished players, is someone who has spent almost the entire second half of the season in minors who came up with the largest play - the day of his birthday no less.
Little used Benn Ferriero scored 7: 03 in overtime in his debut match on a deflected goal that gave the Sharks in San José, a 2-1 victory on the Red Wings in Detroit Friday night in game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinal series.
"Must always be ready," said Ferriero, who provided the capper perfect of his 24th birthday. "You never know when they will appeal to you." You will practice and do everything you can be ready to play. When your number gets called you must be prepared. ?
Ferriero kick hit off the coast of Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart stick and exceeded Jimmy Howard for the game winner seconds after the Red Wings had killed a penalty four minutes. Stuart violently his stick on the ice at the rejection after the goal, the Red Wings to fall back into their series with the Sharks.
Ferriero has only seven goals in 57 games of the season regular and played only once in the NHL after February 5 this season.
"You never know who will be the hero," said defenceman Dan Boyle sharks. "You never know where it will come." This is just an example of just shooting, just making the net in overtime. You never know what will happen. ?
Joe Pavelski scored the equalizing goal on the game of power in the third period for San Jose. Antti Niemi made 24 saves as the sharks won their fourth hours additional game of this postseason.
In the first period for Detroit, Nicklas Lidstrom scored the day after his 41st birthday. Howard made 44 saves, including three in the Justin Abdelkader double minor for asking, but had little chance on the Ferriero deflected winner game.
"It is very disappointing, especially after the leader for most of the game," Lidstrom said. "" "". We could kill this penalty four minutes in overtime. They kept coming at us; our guy came out of the box, and it is still a rush in our area. This is what happens in the playoffs. You will have these oscillations of momentum. ?
Game 2 is Sunday in San Jose.
After be averted more than two periods by Howard, the Sharks finally pierced in the middle of the third on their third power play out night with Todd Bertuzzi for boarding Pavelski.
Joe Thornton took a big shot from just inside the blue line that Howard has stopped, but Pavelski lays low rebound of flight with his stick and in the net tied with 9: 38 to go with first power play goal from San Jose in four games this postseason.
Pavelski played a major role in the San Jose victory series over Detroit a year ago, scoring four goals in the first two games, including the equalizer tally in the third period of game 2. It was one of two third-period returns in this series for the Sharks, who got him again in the first game this year.
The Red Wings killed an another power play later in the third and withstood a flurry of end of San Jose, with Howard doing a pad difficult to save on a deflection by Dany Heatley to send the game to overtime.
"There were not enough," said Howard. "All that matters is to win." I felt well there and I saw lots of fire. ?
Led by a strong turn by the Couture line, Logan, Ryane Clowe and Heatley, Sharks dominate the room in the first half of the second period, but were unable to score. Howard made a tough on Pavelski judgment and helped kill a power as Detroit maintained the head play despite being outshot 16-2 in the first 10 minutes of the second period.
Detroit allowed two shots the rest of the period and was likely to extend the lead, but a blow rolled along the goal line and away from the net, and arrested Niemi Jiri Hudler shot per minute of closure of the wrist.
It is the third time in five seasons these teams met in the second round, each team has won once.
The Red Wings have been rested, with eight full days off since their sweep of Phoenix in the first round. This is in striking contrast with their one day off the coast of last year after a series of seven games against the Coyotes, who has been a factor in their fall behind 3-0 in the series.
Free time also allowed two of the most powerful players in Detroit to heal the wounds which maintained at least a part of the first round action. Johan Franzen, who led the team with 28 goals during the regular season, has recovered from his injured left ankle that forced to miss game 4 against the Coyotes. Top scorer Henrik Zetterberg is also back after missing the first round with a left knee injury.
There was a feeling process from the start, with both teams apparently mistrustful of a mistake at the beginning. San Jose killed a game of power at the beginning, before the Red Wings from Percé term when Pavel Datsyuk has obtained the puck on the boards and fed Lidstrom in the slot for a slap shot that beat Niemi from glove.
Game notes
The last player to get his first goal in the playoffs in his first playoff game EO Niko Dimitrakos in San Jose, Game 1 of the first round against St. Louis in 2004. ... Detroit Mike Babcock lit 48 coach Friday.
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