Sharks vs Red Wings; San Jose Survives, Takes 2-0 Lead
Antti Niemi hasn't played like a hockey goalie for a while. He had a tough series against LA, allowing a total of 18 goals in 6 games against the Kings. But now, the Niemi that ousted the Sharks last year is playing for the Sharks this year.
He's playing well.
Niemi allowed just 1 goal in 34 shots as the Sharks survived the Red Wings 2-1 and took a 2-0 series lead. Ian White and Niclas Wallin scored for San Jose, with each scoring their first playoff goal.
San Jose fans were in it and on their feet the entire game. The crowd got even louder early in the first period, when Logan Couture was knocked down by the stick of Justin Abdelkader, and a power play was awarded to San Jose.
The Sharks got the puck into their offensive zone, and with about 20 seconds left in the PP, Dany Heatley took the puck up, pulling the defender with him. He sent a pass back to Ian White, who waited, set up his shot, then fired. It hit the top left corner of the goal, and the crowd erupted. San Jose led 1-0.
Benn Ferriero was called for a four-minute high-sticking call, but Antti Niemi made sure Detroit wouldn't tie the game. Detroit had a good chance, but Niemi stopped the puck with his leg, then covered it to make sure no Red Wing could tap it in. San Jose cleared the puck enough times to kill off the penalty.
Some fighting led to more penalties in the first period and throughout the game. In the second, Todd Bertuzzi and Marc-Edouard Vlasic were called for penalties when they fell into the Detroit bench. If you love fights in hockey, tune in to a Red Wings-Sharks game. You'll find plenty fights there.
Despite only taking seven shots, the Sharks still led 1-0. Detroit had taken 12 shots, but Niemi saved them all. A lot of Detroit shots were off-target, but for the ones that were on target, Niemi saved them.
In the second, Niemi needed to save them. Darren Helm stole the puck from San Jose and had a 1-on 0 breakaway. Helm fired a shot from close up, but it bounced harmlessly off Niemi and away from the net, where San Jose got the puck. Detroit's chance to tie was gone.
However, if we're taking about chances, San Jose had a lot. The Sharks had shots from close range, shots that were poked away from the net at the last second, shots that ended with a glove save from Jimmy Howard, shots that deflected off of Howard, and shots that barely missed the net. San Jose fired 19 shots in the second period, but they couldn't score any goals.
In the third, San Jose had another good chance. Niclas Wallin skated up right side, beat his defender, and fired a wrist shot from 38 feet. Howard deflected it into the air, but he couldn't find it. It went up into the air and snaked down into the net, and San Jose had a 2-0 lead.
Niemi would protect that double-goal lead for while, making a nice glove save midway through the period and using his body to block another one. However, there was one he couldn't block. Henrik Zetterburg received a pass from Pavel Datsyuk and shot a one-timer into the net. Detroit was down 2-1.
Niemi got Detroit's best efforts, but he saved every shot from then on, making nice saves with his body, and watching shots just miss the net. Niemi may have gotten lucky a couple times on shots that just missed, but San Jose didn't get much luck in this game.
13.1 seconds remained when Joe Thornton won a faceoff against Datsyuk and San Jose cleared the puck. Time ran out, and San Jose again emerged victorious. The Sharks are up 2-0 against the Wings for a second straight year.
Game 3 is Wednesday night in Detroit.
He's playing well.
Niemi allowed just 1 goal in 34 shots as the Sharks survived the Red Wings 2-1 and took a 2-0 series lead. Ian White and Niclas Wallin scored for San Jose, with each scoring their first playoff goal.
San Jose fans were in it and on their feet the entire game. The crowd got even louder early in the first period, when Logan Couture was knocked down by the stick of Justin Abdelkader, and a power play was awarded to San Jose.
The Sharks got the puck into their offensive zone, and with about 20 seconds left in the PP, Dany Heatley took the puck up, pulling the defender with him. He sent a pass back to Ian White, who waited, set up his shot, then fired. It hit the top left corner of the goal, and the crowd erupted. San Jose led 1-0.
Benn Ferriero was called for a four-minute high-sticking call, but Antti Niemi made sure Detroit wouldn't tie the game. Detroit had a good chance, but Niemi stopped the puck with his leg, then covered it to make sure no Red Wing could tap it in. San Jose cleared the puck enough times to kill off the penalty.
Some fighting led to more penalties in the first period and throughout the game. In the second, Todd Bertuzzi and Marc-Edouard Vlasic were called for penalties when they fell into the Detroit bench. If you love fights in hockey, tune in to a Red Wings-Sharks game. You'll find plenty fights there.
Despite only taking seven shots, the Sharks still led 1-0. Detroit had taken 12 shots, but Niemi saved them all. A lot of Detroit shots were off-target, but for the ones that were on target, Niemi saved them.
In the second, Niemi needed to save them. Darren Helm stole the puck from San Jose and had a 1-on 0 breakaway. Helm fired a shot from close up, but it bounced harmlessly off Niemi and away from the net, where San Jose got the puck. Detroit's chance to tie was gone.
However, if we're taking about chances, San Jose had a lot. The Sharks had shots from close range, shots that were poked away from the net at the last second, shots that ended with a glove save from Jimmy Howard, shots that deflected off of Howard, and shots that barely missed the net. San Jose fired 19 shots in the second period, but they couldn't score any goals.
In the third, San Jose had another good chance. Niclas Wallin skated up right side, beat his defender, and fired a wrist shot from 38 feet. Howard deflected it into the air, but he couldn't find it. It went up into the air and snaked down into the net, and San Jose had a 2-0 lead.
Niemi would protect that double-goal lead for while, making a nice glove save midway through the period and using his body to block another one. However, there was one he couldn't block. Henrik Zetterburg received a pass from Pavel Datsyuk and shot a one-timer into the net. Detroit was down 2-1.
Niemi got Detroit's best efforts, but he saved every shot from then on, making nice saves with his body, and watching shots just miss the net. Niemi may have gotten lucky a couple times on shots that just missed, but San Jose didn't get much luck in this game.
13.1 seconds remained when Joe Thornton won a faceoff against Datsyuk and San Jose cleared the puck. Time ran out, and San Jose again emerged victorious. The Sharks are up 2-0 against the Wings for a second straight year.
Game 3 is Wednesday night in Detroit.
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