Sharks Open Semifinal Round With 4-3 Win Over Red Wings

San Jose, CA (Sports Network) – Joe Pavelski scored a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner early in the third period, as the top- seeded San Jose Sharks held off the fifth-seeded Detroit Red Wings, 4-3, in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series at the Shark Tank.

Pavelski also had an assist for the Sharks, who had lost four consecutive series openers — all at home. Dany Heatley ended with a goal and an assist for San Jose, which is trying to get past the second round for the first time since losing to Calgary in the 2004 Western Conference finals.

Devin Setoguchi also lit the lamp for San Jose, which beat Colorado in six games to avoid another opening-round exit. Last year, the Presidents’ Trophy- winning Sharks were ousted in six games by the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks.

Evgeni Nabokov made 20 saves for the Sharks, who were without center Patrick Marleau (illness).

Johan Franzen had a goal and an assist for the two-time defending Western Conference champion Red Wings, who needed all seven games in the first round to take down the Coyotes. Dan Cleary and Brian Rafalski also found the back of the net in defeat.

Jimmy Howard, a Calder Trophy nominee, turned aside 23-of-27 shots for Detroit, which won in six games against San Jose when these two teams met in the conference semifinals in 2007.

Game 2 of this best-of-seven series is scheduled for Sunday in San Jose.

Ahead 3-2, San Jose started the third period with a 5-on-3 power play, and Pavelski capitalized with just eight seconds left on the two-man advantage. Dan Boyle controlled the disc at the point and slid a pass to the bottom of the right circle for Pavelski, who snuck a shot under Howard’s pads for a 4-2 lead.

Detroit, though, responded with a goal at the 2:57 mark to make it a one-score contest again. Pavel Datsyuk, positioned at the left circle, slid a backhand pass to Rafalski, whose snap shot from the right circle beat Nabokov.

The Red Wings pulled Howard late for an extra attacker, but Nabokov held strong in net to preserve the victory.

“It was a good game. We think we have a good team and we think it’s going to be a good series,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “They obviously got off to a good start here tonight. We made a couple mistakes.”

The Sharks scored three times in a span of 1:19 near the middle of the first period to take control.

Pavelski’s power-play goal got the burst started at the 9:05 mark. Boyle, who was positioned along the right boards, passed to the slot for Pavelski, who rocketed a wrist shot past Howard.

Just 56 seconds later, Heatley lit the lamp to give the home club a two-goal cushion. Joe Thornton controlled the puck behind the net and passed out front for Heatley, who found the back of the net.

Setoguchi then capped the fastest three goals in San Jose’s playoff history at 10:24. Pavelski, who was being pushed to the ice, fed a cross-ice pass to Setoguchi, who chipped the disc into a wide open net.

“We came out real hard,” Heatley said. “Obviously, going up 3-0 was a big bonus for us. But they’re a team that doesn’t go away and they certainly didn’t tonight.”

The Red Wings got on the board at 11:40. Jonathan Ericsson made a cross-ice pass from along the right boards to Cleary, who was in front for the easy tip- in.

Franzen’s wrister from the left circle made it 3-2 at the 4:45 mark of the middle period.

Detroit and San Jose have met three times previously in the postseason with the Red Wings winning the last two series…Detroit went 3-0-1 in the regular season versus San Jose…Ryane Clowe, Marleau and Douglas Murray scored three goals in a span of 2:02 in a 4-3 loss at Calgary on April 13, 2008…Sharks defenseman Niclas Wallin missed the game with a lower-body injury…The Red Wings went 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Sharks went 2-for-6 on the man advantage.