Sharks Beat Red Wings in OT to take game 1

SAN JOSE (AP) — a series filled with some of the biggest stars from hockey and most talented players, was someone who spent almost the entire second half of the season in the minors that came with the biggest game — on his birthday no less. By Jason o. Watson, US Presswire

A group of sharks players surround center Benn Ferriero after he scored the winning goal in overtime against the Red Wings.

By Jason Watson, us Presswire.

A group of sharks players surround center Benn Ferriero after he scored the winning goal in overtime against the Red Wings.

Little used Benn Ferriero (FSY) scored 7: 03 into overtime for his playoff debut on a deflected goal that gave the San Jose Sharks a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night in game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. "You always have to be ready, "said Ferriero, who provided the perfect capper for your 24th birthday. "You never know when they are going to ask you. You will through practice and do everything possible to be ready to play. When your number gets called you've got to be ready. "Ferriero shot hit off Detroit defenceman Brad Stuart (FSY) stick and got past Jimmy Howard (FSY) for the game winner just seconds after the Red Wings had killed a penalty four minutes. Stuart hit his stick to the ice in disgust after the goal, as the Red Wings again fell behind his series for the Sharks. Ferriero has just seven goals in regular season games 57 career and played only once in the NHL after 5 February this season. "You never know who will be the hero," said sharks defenseman Dan Boyle (FSY). "You never know where he is going to come from. This is just one example of just shooting, just put it on the net in overtime. You never know what will happen. "Joe Pavelski (FSY) scored the tying goal on the power play in the third period for San Jose. Antti Niemi (FSY) made 24 saves as the sharks won their fourth overtime game of this postseason.Nicklas Lidstrom (FSY) scored in the first period of Detroit the day after his 41st birthday. Howard made 44 saves, including three during Justin Abdelkader (FSY) twice minor for high sticking, but had little chance in/game-winning goal Ferriero is very disappointing, especially after leading for most of the game, "Lidstrom said."We were able to kill the penalty four minutes into overtime. They continued to come to us; our guy was coming out of the box and was still a dispute in our region. This is what happens in the playoffs. You'll have these oscillations momentum. "Game 2 is Sunday in San Jose After being frustrated by two periods by Howard, the third shark finally broke through in their third power play of the night with Todd rivalry with (FSY), outside half for boarding Pavelski. Joe Thornton (FSY) had a big shot from just inside the blue line that stopped Howardbut Pavelski batted the rebound down the air with his stick and into the net to tie it with 1: 38 to go with the first power-play goal by San Jose in four games this postseason.Pavelski played a large part in the victory of San Jose series over Detroit a year ago, scoring four goals in the first two games, including the tying tally in the third period of game 2. That was one of the two series ran third period for the sharks, who did it again in the premiere this year.The Red Wings killed another power play later in the third and withstood a late wave of San Jose, with Howard doing a tough pad save on a detour by Dany Heatley (FSY) to send the game into overtime. "It was not enough, "said Howard. "All that matters is winning. I felt good out there and I saw a lot of shots. "

Sharks lead 1-0.

Friday: San Jose 2, Detroit 1

Sunday: San Jose, 3 p.m. (NBC)

Wednesday: at Detroit, 8 hours (Versus)

On May 6: at Detroit, 7 hours (Versus)

x-may 8: at San Jose, 8 hours (Versus)

x-may 10: at Detroit, TBA (Versus)

x-may 12: in San Jose, TBA (Versus)

x-if necessary. All times ET

Led by an energetic shift from Logan Couture line (FSY), Ryane Clowe (FSY) and Heatley, the sharks dominated the game in the first half of the second period but were not able to check. Howard made a tough stop in Pavelski and helped kill a power game as Detroit kept the lead despite being outshot 16-2 in the first 10 minutes of the second time.Detroit allowed two shots the rest of the period and had chances to extend the advantage but shot rolled along the goal line and the net, and Niemi stopped Jiri Hudler ... aka (FSY) on a wrist shot at closing time.This marked the third time in five seasons that these teams met in the second round, with each team winning once.The Red Wings were rested, with eight full days off since his sweep of Phoenix in the first round. This is in contrast with their one day off a year ago after a series of seven games against the Coyotes, who was a factor in falling behind 3-0 in the series.The time off allowed two of the most powerful of the Detroit players to heal injuries that kept him out of action for at least a part of the first round. Johan Franzen (FSY), who led the team with 28 goals in regular season, recovered from an injured left ankle that forced him to miss game 4 against the Coyotes. Top scorer Henrik Zetterberg (FSY) also is back after losing the first round with an injured left knee.At the beginning, there was a feeling-out process with both teams seemingly terrified of making a mistake. San Jose killed an early power play before the Red Wings broke midway through the period when Pavel Datsyuk (FSY) has the puck on the boards and fed Lidstrom in slot for a slap shot that beat Niemi to the glove side.Notes: The last player to get his first playoff goal in OT her first playoff game was Niko Dimitrakos (FSY San Jose), in 1 game in the first round against St. Louis in 2004. ... Detroit coach Mike Babcock turned 48 on Friday.