Game Day Report: Sharks @ Red Wings
By Ryan Bayer
Feb 28, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) blocks a shot by Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) during a shootout at HP Pavilion. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Today the San Jose Sharks continue their four game road trip with a stop in the Motor City to take on the Detroit Red Wings. When these two clubs last saw one another, it was at HP Pavilion on March 28th in which the San Jose Sharks defeated Detroit by a 2-0 shutout. The goal scorers in that conteste for the Sharks were Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns, Pavelski recorded his tenth and Burns registered his fifth of the season. Tonight’s contest marks the third and final meeting between these Western Conference teams. As of today both are tied on the season series with 1 win a piece. Detroit’s victory over San Jose dated back at the end of February on the 28th that featured a 2-1 shootout win. Red Wings Damien Brunner recorded the lone goal in the shootout win.
Big story: With fourth and 13th place in the Western Conference separated by just 10 points, the Sharks and Red Wings are in the thick of a cluttered playoff push. San Jose held fifth place in the conference entering Wednesday’s play, while Detroit has dropped four of their last six and are holding on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
In their last game the Sharks were once again a virtual no show against the Columbus Blue Jackets this past Tuesday, as they were shutout 4-0. This past game against the Blue Jackets was some what of a repeat from their prior meeting in Columbus on February 11th, in which San Jose was humiliated by a 6-2 final. So San Jose will need to put that lose behind in Hockeytown. The good news for the Sharks was they managed to collect points in eight of their last nine games.
Meanwhile for the hosts of the night, they too are coming off of a lose of their own as they were shutout by the St. Louis Blues this past Sunday by a final score of 1-0. For Detroit, in the last nine games have posted five wins and four loses, which includes an overtime victory in Colorado.
Tale of The Tape:
Sharks
Goals per game: 2.36 (25th)
Goals-against per game: 2.41 (7th)
Power play: 18.5 percent (12th)
Penalty kill: 86.9 percent (4th)
Red Wings
Goals per game: 2.49 (21st)
Goals-against per game: 2.54 (14th)
Power play: 18.1 percent (15th)
Penalty kill: 80.0 percent (21st)
Sharks: 20-12-7, 47 points, 3rd Pacific Division, 5th Western Conference
Red Wings: 19-15-5, 43 points, 3rd Central Division, 8th Western Conference
Mar 24, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) skates with the puck against the Phoenix Coyotes during the first period at HP Pavilion. San Jose defeated Phoenix 4-3 in shootouts. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports
Who’s hot: Brent Burns has eight points in his past nine games for the Sharks, while TJ Galiardi has three points in his past four games. … For the Wings, Gustav Nyquist has three points in his past four games while Henrik Zetterberg has eight points in his past 10 games.
***Big Story and Who’s Hot Report: Courtesy of the San Jose Sharks.***
Official Link: http://sharks.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2012020601&navid=DL|SJS|home
Injury Front Update:
Sharks: TJ Galiardi (soreness) is questionable. Scott Hannan (neck) is out.
Red Wings: Darren Helm (back) is out for the season. Todd Bertuzzi (back) and Mikael Sanuelsson (upper body) are out.
****Injury status update by: Kevin Kurz.****
Official Link: http://www.csncalifornia.com/blog/kevin-kurz/sharks-red-wings-glance-1
Today’s contest has a 4:30p PST puck drop and can be seen on CSNCA HD and can be heard on 98.5/102.1 KFOX.
LET’S GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!
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