Red Wings 3, Sharks 2
RED WINGS 3, SHARKS 2: Joey MacDonald turned aside 31 shots as Detroit edged San Jose for its NHL-record 23rd consecutive home victory.
San Jose provided a stiff challenge for the Red Wings but couldn't hand the home side its first loss at Joe Louis Arena since Nov. 3 against Calgary. The loss dropped the Sharks to 1-3-1 on their season-high nine-game road trip.
MacDonald, making his eighth start in place of the injured Jimmy Howard, improved to 6-1-1 on the season and has surrendered two goals or fewer on seven occasions.
Henrik Zetterberg had the lone goal of the opening period, firing a backhander past San Jose netminder Antti Niemi at 6:30 for his fourth goal in the past six games.
Detroit went up 2-0 midway through the second frame, taking advantage of a poor Brent Burns clearing attempt to bang home a rebound past Niemi.
San Jose trimmed the deficit with a bizarre power-play goal less than four minutes later. Logan Couture redirected a shot which bounced off the top of the net and was knocked in by Detroit's Justin Abdelkader.
Officials allowed the goal following a brief video review, giving Couture 25 goals on the campaign. The 22-year-old has four goals and 10 assists over his last 11 games.
Darren Helm restored the two-goal edge seven minutes into the third period, snapping a shot from the high slot past Niemi for his first goal in 15 games.
Patrick Marleau made things interesting with 4:44 remaining, banging home a loose puck at the edge of the crease
GAME NOTEBOOK: Niemi finished with 25 saves. ... Miller finished with a goal and an assist for his first multi-point effort since Dec. 17 against Los Angeles. ... Abdelkader and San Jose's Ryane Clowe brought fans out of their seats with a spirited fight with just over five minutes remaining in the third period. ... Howard is expected to return to the Detroit lineup Tuesday against Chicago.