Detroit Red Wings at San Jose Sharks (-146, 5.5)
THE STORY: The San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings are following the script they wrote during their Western Conference semifinal series last year. Detroit is hoping to write a different ending as they try to extend this season's matchup with a victory in Game 5 at the HP Pavilion on Sunday. Last postseason, San Jose won three straight one-goal decisions and were blown out in Game 4 before eliminating the Red Wings on home ice. The stage is set for an identical finish this time around with the exception of the fourth contest, which Detroit won by one goal Friday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, VERSUS, TSN, RDS
ABOUT THE SHARKS: San Jose's quest for the first series sweep in franchise history ended with a 4-3 loss at Joe Louis Arena on Friday. The Sharks showed resiliency, however, as they battled back to forge a 3-3 tie after allowing the first three goals. Rookie Logan Couture recorded a goal and an assist while Ryane Clowe collected three assists. San Jose was outplayed for a good portion of the game and outshot in each period as it allowed 40 shots while registering 28.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS: Detroit had Joe Louis Arena rocking as it scored three times in the first 18:01 of the game to take a 3-0 lead. The crowd became deafeningly silent later on as San Jose chipped away at its deficit before tying the contest 74 seconds into the third period. But Darren Helm sent Hockeytown into a frenzy by snapping the deadlock with 1:27 remaining and helping the Red Wings stave off elimination. Captain Nicklas Lidstrom scored a pair of goals, giving him 54 during his playoff career. The first tally was his 181st postseason point, moving him ahead of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque for second among defenseman and tied him with Jaromir Jagr for 11th overall on the all-time list.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk recorded an assist Friday, giving him a team-leading 10 points this postseason. Lidstrom's two goals put him first on the club with four. Datsyuk and Jiri Hudler were the only Red Wings without a shot on goal in Game 4. Clowe is tied for second in the league with 12 points this postseason, one behind Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis. Clowe, Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi top the Sharks with four goals apiece.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Red Wings went 1-for-4 on the power play in Game 4 and have converted 25.8 percent (8-for-31) of their opportunities in the postseason. Detroit has a 77.5 percent success rate on the penalty kill. San Jose has scored just six goals on 40 power-play opportunities for a 15.0 percent efficiency. The Sharks also have been shorthanded 40 times, allowing nine tallies for a 77.5 percent success rate.
LAST WORD: "Well, I thought it was a real good job by you guys talking about retirement yesterday. I thought he answered that bell pretty good." - Detroit coach Mike Babcock on the media's speculation about the possible retirement of Lidstrom.
THE STORY: The San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings are following the script they wrote during their Western Conference semifinal series last year. Detroit is hoping to write a different ending as they try to extend this season's matchup with a victory in Game 5 at the HP Pavilion on Sunday. Last postseason, San Jose won three straight one-goal decisions and were blown out in Game 4 before eliminating the Red Wings on home ice. The stage is set for an identical finish this time around with the exception of the fourth contest, which Detroit won by one goal Friday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, VERSUS, TSN, RDS
ABOUT THE SHARKS: San Jose's quest for the first series sweep in franchise history ended with a 4-3 loss at Joe Louis Arena on Friday. The Sharks showed resiliency, however, as they battled back to forge a 3-3 tie after allowing the first three goals. Rookie Logan Couture recorded a goal and an assist while Ryane Clowe collected three assists. San Jose was outplayed for a good portion of the game and outshot in each period as it allowed 40 shots while registering 28.
ABOUT THE RED WINGS: Detroit had Joe Louis Arena rocking as it scored three times in the first 18:01 of the game to take a 3-0 lead. The crowd became deafeningly silent later on as San Jose chipped away at its deficit before tying the contest 74 seconds into the third period. But Darren Helm sent Hockeytown into a frenzy by snapping the deadlock with 1:27 remaining and helping the Red Wings stave off elimination. Captain Nicklas Lidstrom scored a pair of goals, giving him 54 during his playoff career. The first tally was his 181st postseason point, moving him ahead of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque for second among defenseman and tied him with Jaromir Jagr for 11th overall on the all-time list.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk recorded an assist Friday, giving him a team-leading 10 points this postseason. Lidstrom's two goals put him first on the club with four. Datsyuk and Jiri Hudler were the only Red Wings without a shot on goal in Game 4. Clowe is tied for second in the league with 12 points this postseason, one behind Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis. Clowe, Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi top the Sharks with four goals apiece.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Red Wings went 1-for-4 on the power play in Game 4 and have converted 25.8 percent (8-for-31) of their opportunities in the postseason. Detroit has a 77.5 percent success rate on the penalty kill. San Jose has scored just six goals on 40 power-play opportunities for a 15.0 percent efficiency. The Sharks also have been shorthanded 40 times, allowing nine tallies for a 77.5 percent success rate.
LAST WORD: "Well, I thought it was a real good job by you guys talking about retirement yesterday. I thought he answered that bell pretty good." - Detroit coach Mike Babcock on the media's speculation about the possible retirement of Lidstrom.
