SAN JOSE, California - defenders are prominent, high-scoring forwards are working in the defensive zone and Antti Niemi has played in the same way he did when he hit San Jose from play-offs a year ago.
That all added to another win for the Sharks and a 2-0 series lead against the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference semi-finals.
Ian White and Niclas Wallin scored their first goals of the playoffs, Niemi has 33 shots and the Sharks set up a complete representation of beat the Red Wings 2-1 Sunday.
Niemi has helped to kill three penalties in the opening half of the first period and have countless big saves in the final two periods of perhaps his best match since helping Chicago playoff sweep San Jose in the Conference finalsa year ago.
"We love him on our side much better," forward Dany Heatley said. "It is a stable guy." He makes saves that he should do so; It is placed. And many of its decisions, should not do. He changes games for us sometimes. ?
White scored on a power play in first period and Wallin extended the lead early in the third period as the Lup sharks together two of their best games back to back to jump on top of the Red Wings for the second consecutive year.
While Detroit could be faulted for a lack of rest to fall into a 3-0 hole, in San Jose, a year after a series of first round in seven games, the Red Wings have rested this year after sweeping Phoenix. But that made no difference against a determined sharks team which has won 10 of 12 games against Detroit.
"We were not good enough," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "They have won more battles we did.". In doing so they end up with the puck when we do. They held serve in the House. "We have to lick our wounds on the flight home."
Jimmy Howard was once more strong for the Red Wings, making 35 saves, but had little help from his teammates. The Red Wings hoping to change their fate when the series moves to Detroit for games 3 and 4 from Wednesday evening.
Controlled Sharks into second period and took the power of the dashboard to rare Wallin at the beginning of the third. He skated in the offensive zone and fired a shot that hit off the coast of Howard shoulder and helmet, the reason in the air and the Tomb in the net for a 2-0 lead.
“We were not good enough. They have won more battles that we have. In doing so they end up with the puck when we do. They held serve in the House. We have to lick our wounds on the flight home.
"-Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock"
It was the fourth goal of the Wallin in 83 playoff, but the first in the regulations.
"It's good to score goals," he said. "I am not that kind of guy, but I can draw the puck, too." Just let it go and see what happens. A lucky bounce. ?
Frustration of Detroit quickly materialized as Tomas Holmstrom takes a penalty draft on Jason Demers to cancel a game of power and Niemi kept coming up with big saves. His best moments came when he stopped Nicklas Lidstrom of the point, then Danny Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg on the third at halfway rebounds.
The Red Wings finally pierced with a goal of game power by Zetterberg with 6: 02 remaining. They could not get the equalizer, with the best chance coming when Lidstrom hit the post late in the period.
"We just turn around and go home", said Lidstrom. "It's the way you approach." You can not am sorry for yourself. We have to rebound as a team. It has been two close games, and they break each time. ?
The two come goalkeepers big in a second period that included lots of hard hits, scoring chances and animosity that when Ben Eager in San Jose and Todd Bertuzzi Detroit fell into the bench of the Detroit Red Wings during a melee. The two is almost once again after serving coincidental roughing penalties, but Bertuzzi did not respond when Eager abandoned his gloves. Eager received a sentence of 10-minute misconduct.
Niemi stopped a breakaway helpless by Darren Helm during the early period and made two nice cases against Zetterberg on a game to Detroit shortly after. Niemi also has a tough on Zetterberg judgment, in the last minute playing more like the goalie who helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup last season that the one who shot twice in the first round against Los Angeles this year.
"It is spectacular, said captain Joe Thornton sharks." It is the reason why we are in the playoffs and it feels like every time that it is in the net. It gives us a chance to win. ?
Howard has been even better in the second and should be as sharks controlled the game for much of the period, winning two-thirds of the faceoffs and outshooting Detroit 19-9.
Howard robbed Devin Setoguchi, and Dan Boyle in the period and made a stop diving on Patrick Marleau at the end of a power play. Even when a puck has managed to slip by Howard, the sharks could not mark as striker Pavel Datsyuk cleared a puck loose from the goal line after a great effort by Douglas Murray almost gave a goal.
The room was strong from the outset and has obtained more frantic when the Sharks broke out to a rare advance it playoffs when beaten white Howard with a breath through a screen on a set of power with Justin Abdelkader box for asking.
That came after the Red Wings managed only three shots for six minutes with the man advantage in the first 10: 23 of the game.
"We must find answers," Niklas Kronwall, said the Defender. "We must make adjustments." "I know what is happening with power play".
Game notes
The Red Wings have lost six of their last seven series when behind 2-0, with the only victory coming in the first round against Vancouver in 2002. ... San Jose had allowed nine goals straight first-period tally before White.
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