(Sports Network) - The two-time defending Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings will try to earn a split in San Jose when they visit the top-seeded Sharks for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals tonight at HP Pavilion.
Detroit Looks To Even Series Against San Jose In Game Two
The fifth-seeded Red Wings, who earned a trip to the second round thanks to a Game 7 victory in Phoenix on Tuesday, were dealt a 4-3 loss in the opener of this best-of-seven series Thursday night at the Shark Tank.
San Jose, meanwhile, posted a six-game series win over Colorado in the opening round and is trying to get past the second round for the first time since losing to Calgary in the 2004 conference finals.
The Sharks picked up the 1-0 series lead thanks to another strong performance from Joe Pavelski, who scored a pair of goals, including the eventual game- winner early in the third period, to lift the West's No. 1 seed to the 4-3 decision.
Pavelski also had an assist for the Sharks, who had lost four consecutive series openers -- all at home -- before Thursday's win. Dany Heatley ended with a goal and an assist for San Jose and Devin Setoguchi also lit the lamp for the hosts. Evgeni Nabokov made 20 saves for the Sharks
The Sharks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and even scored twice in a span of 23 seconds on goals by Heatley and Setoguchi.
“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.”
Patrick Marleau was a late scratch from the opener with flu-like symptoms. Marleau, who led the team in the regular season with 44 goals and was second on the club with 83 points, is expected to be back for tonight's game.
Johan Franzen had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings in Game 1. 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.
“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.”
Red Wings winger Patrick Eaves suffered an arm injury in Game 1 and is questionable for tonight's test. Eaves had 12 goals during the regular season, but has yet to register a point in eight postseason games this year.
With another victory tonight San Jose, which had a 27-6-8 record as the host this year, can hold onto home-ice advantage and carry a 2-0 series lead into Detroit, where Games 3 and 4 will be staged at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings, who will host Game 3 on Tuesday, had a 19-14-8 record on the road this year.
Detroit went 3-0-1 in the regular season versus San Jose, which is coached by former Red Wings assistant Todd McLellan. The Red Wings won the first three meetings before a 3-2 shootout loss on Feb. 11 in which Nabokov made 50 saves.
Detroit and San Jose have met three times previously in the postseason with the Red Wings winning the last two series. The two clubs last met in the 2007 conference semifinals, with Detroit advancing in six games.
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