Sharks 2, Red Wings 0
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Antti Niemi was perfect for a second straight night.
San Jose's goalie stopped 27 shots one night after shutting out Anaheim as the Sharks beat
the Detroit Red Wings 2-0 in front of a sold-out HP Pavilion on Thursday night.
The Sharks have opened a critical seven-game homestand with consecutive victories and won
three straight overall. Detroit saw its five-game road winning streak end.
San Jose scored late in the first period and early in the third to support their suddenly
hot netminder.
Sharks captain Joe Thornton picked off a pass by Detroit rookie defenseman Brian Lashoff
and fed Brent Burns, who deposited his fifth goal of the season over the left shoulder of Red
Wings goalie Jimmy Howard 2:07 into the third period to make it 2-0.
The first penalty of the game didn't come until 10:44 left in the third period when San
Jose forward T.J. Galiardi was whistled. But Detroit did little with the five-on-four, putting
two shots on goal and icing the puck once.
Much like the opening 20 minutes, the second period was fast-paced and penalty-free.
Detroit outshot the hosts 9-7 in the scoreless period.
The Sharks scored the only goal in the first period as Joe Pavelski received a fortuitous
bounce to collect his 10th of the season. Working from behind the Detroit goal, Pavelski
pushed the puck out front and it bounced first off the stick of Niklas Kronwall and then off
of the defender's left skate past Howard with just 1:01 remaining in the period.
Detroit held a slight 7-6 edge in shots in the first period, even though it didn't take its
first shot until 7:06 elapsed.
The Red Wings lost forward Johan Franzen late in the second period to a lower-body injury.
NOTES: The Sharks extended a streak of either leading or being tied at the first
intermission to all 15 home games this season after Pavelski's goal late in the first period.
... Forwards Adam Burish and Michal Handzus were San Jose's healthy scratches. Defensemen Kent Huskins, Carlo Colaiacovo and forward Patrick Eaves did not dress for Detroit. ... The Red
Wings return home for a two-game homestand that starts Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks. ... San Jose's pivotal seven-game homestand continues with a visit by the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday. The Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars follow with visits every other night. ... With the April 3 trade deadline looming, scouts from 10 teams had seats in the press box. They included the Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and New York Islanders.
