Sharks 2, Red Wings 1
Defensemen Ian White and Niclas Wallin netted their first respective goals of the postseason and Antti Niemi turned aside 33 shots as the San Jose Sharks posted a 2-1 home triumph over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
Ryane Clowe notched a pair of assists for second-seeded San Jose, which will skate into Hockeytown with a 2-0 advantage. Game 3 is in Detroit on Wednesday.
San Jose opened the scoring just 4:54 into the first period. Dany Heatley skated in from the blue line and into the right faceoff circle before alertly turning back and feeding White. The defenseman sized up his chance before wiring a shot past a screened Jimmy Howard for his first career postseason goal.
Wallin doubled the advantage 99 seconds into the third period after wristing a shot from the right faceoff circle which deflected off Howard's glove and into the net.
Niemi's biggest save came 2 1/2 minutes into the second period when he denied Darren Helm on a shorthanded breakaway. Last year's Stanley Cup-winning goaltender permitted the lone goal to Henrik Zetterberg with just over six minutes remaining in the third period to improve to 6-1 in his career against the Red Wings.
With Detroit on a power play, reigning Selke Trophy winner Pavel Datsyuk wired a centering feed to Zetterberg, who quickly wristed it just inside the left post for his first of the postseason.
Howard finished with 35 saves for third-seeded Detroit.