Red Wings Vs. Sharks, Game 7: Setoguchi and Couture Gives San Jose 2-0 Lead After First

The home crowd in the HP Pavilion has been extremely loud through the first period of Game 7 and the home team has given them a reason to cheer with a 2-0 lead.

Devin Setoguchi gave the Sharks the early 1-0 lead on the first powerplay the Sharks got on the night. Joe Thornton sent a cross ice pass to Setoguchi which got goaltender Jimmy Howard moving left to right across the crease. Setoguchi found space in the net over the blocker shoulder of Howard to beat him.

Both teams have had chances, but the Sharks have seemed to take advantage of play more in the second half of this first period. The Sharks chances started at the 10:09 mark with Joe Pavalski coming into the slot area in front of the net trying to beat Howard low, but Howard was able to cover up the initial shot and eliminated any real chance for a rebound.

The Sharks continued to pressure the Wings in their own end which drew the Jonathan Ericsson penalty that led to the Setoguchi goal. The Sharks took a penalty 10 seconds later after Ryan Clowe ran into Jimmy Howard and drew a roughing penalty. Instead of the Sharks penalty kill killing much of the momentum from the Setoguchi goal, they effectively killed off the penalty without allowing many shots and even created a 2 on 1 breakaway of their own.

The Red Wings second powerplay 45 seconds after the first one ended played out much like the first one. The Sharks stifled the Red Wings in the offensive zone and the Wings did not create any good chances on net. The Wings did create their only real chances in the period shortly after the powerplay ended but goaltender Antti Niemi easily swatted away the shots.

Logan Couture gave the Sharks a two goal lead in the final minute of the period as he pounced on a rare Henrik Zetterberg turnover in the offensive zone. Couture rifled the puck over the glove of Jimmy Howard as soon as the puck was on his stick.

Both teams are putting their fair share of pucks on net as both goaltenders have had to do some work early. The Sharks are outshooting the Red Wings 16-11 in the period and Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi has made all eleven saves to keep the Red Wings scoreless.