San Jose Sharks defeat Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in Game 7 of semi-finals – NHL Play-offs Update
The San Jose Sharks finally defeated the Detroit Red Wings after losing three consecutive matches to them in the last game of the National Hockey League (NHL) play-off Western Conference semi-finals 3-2, at the HP Pavilion Centre in San Jose, California.
The Sharks took a commanding lead in the first period after Devin Setoguchi scored his sixth of the post-season on Detroit’s first penalty of the match-up when Jonathan Ericsson was sent packing for holding Torrey Mitchell. The All-Star rookie player for
San Jose Logan Couture made his presence felt as he extended the lead also on his sixth of the play-offs and fourth of this series alone with 59 seconds remaining in the first period.
Detroit replied back with less than seven minutes remaining in the second period as Henrik Zetterberg on his third of the post-season, lessened the deficit and brought the game within reach as they ended the period down 2-1. Patrick Marleau was fed the puck
from centre ice and flew through the Red Wings’ defensemen to fire it past Jimmy Howard and raised the bar 3-1, which at that point seemed to have become a difficult task with less than eight minutes remaining in the last. Nearly two minutes later, Pavel Datsyuk
fired off another Detroit goal but they could not get another one to tie up the match but both teams fought hard until the final minutes.
Detroit had outshot the San Jose Sharks again by 40-30, but their goalie, Antti Niemi remained steadfast and blocked 38 of 40 shots while the experienced Jimmy Howard fell short on three and stopped 27 attempts at the net. The Sharks managed to kill all
four added man advantages they gave to the Red Wings throughout the match, while Detroit had given three of which they managed to override two.
Avoiding a near collapse in the semi-finals, something they are known to do, the San Jose Sharks will be entering the Western Conference finals for the second straight time against the Vancouver Canucks who will surely put up a good fight.
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