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Red Wings hope to bounce back in Game Two

Apr 28, 2007 - 2:10 PM San Jose at Detroit 3:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference semifinals Sharks lead, 1-0

DETROIT (Ticker) - San Jose Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov turned in a strong effort in his Game One shutout. The Detroit Red Wings won't stay off the scoreboard forever.

Blanked in the playoffs for the first time in three years, the Red Wings host the Sharks in Game Two of the Western Conference semifinals Saturday, hoping to even the series at a game apiece.

Nabokov stopped 34 shots in the opener, benefiting from the absence of Detroit left wing Tomas Holmstrom, who missed the game with an eye injury and likely will sit out Game Two as well.

Holmstrom tallied 13 power-play goals during the regular season, and his absence was obvious as the Red Wings failed to score on any of their three chances with the man advantage.

Defenseman Matt Carle and Mike Grier scored 24 seconds apart midway through the first period as the Sharks stole home-ice advantage with a 2-0 victory.

After winning three of four regular-season meetings with the Red Wings, San Jose continued its impressive play against the top seed in the conference in this one.

Following its quick scoring burst, San Jose turned things over to Nabokov, who posted his fifth career playoff shutout and first since blanking Calgary in Game Three of the 2004 conference finals.

"I'm trying to play a game at a time, to win every game I'm out there, to give the guys a chance to win," Nabokov said. "I'm just concentrating and not trying to think too ahead of myself."

The former Calder Trophy winner kept Detroit scoreless in a postseason game for the first time since Miikka Kiprusoff of the Flames posted consecutive shutout wins in Games Five and Six of the 2004 conference semifinals.

With the victory, San Jose improved to 3-1 on the road in the playoffs. It recorded a league-leading 26 wins away from home during the regular season.