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Big-time Benn: OT goal gives Sharks win

Apr 30, 2011 - 5:50 AM San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Benn Ferriero scored 7:03 into overtime to give the San Jose Sharks a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Skating in his first playoff game on his 24th birthday, Ferriero picked up the puck at the left boards and from the top of the circle he threw a shot on net that hit off the stick of Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart and went into the net.

Joe Pavelski scored a power-play goal halfway through the third period while Antti Niemi stopped 24 shots for the Sharks, who defeated the Red Wings in five games in the semifinals last season.

"That was a huge game 'cause we needed to win this game and start the series on the right note," said San Jose defenseman Dan Boyle. "We could have got frustrated, which would have turned into mistakes, but we stuck with it and we're all feeling really good."

San Jose advanced to the semifinals this year with a six-game defeat of the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. Three of those wins came in overtime as San Jose is now 4-0 in overtime this postseason.

Nicklas Lidstrom scored the only goal for the Red Wings, who swept the Coyotes in the first round. Jimmy Howard stopped 44 shots in the loss.

"I just want to do my job every night and give the guys a chance to win," said Howard. "They did a good job of tying sticks up and keeping them away from the net. It was just bad luck that we lost tonight."

Game 2 is in San Jose on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Wings took a 1-0 lead 9:30 into the game, when a swift pass from the left boards by Pavel Datsyuk went to the slot, where Lidstrom fired a one- timer that beat Niemi low to the glove side.

Howard stopped 27 shots through the first two periods and helped Detroit kill off several San Jose power plays, but a boarding call on Todd Bertuzzi at the 9:41 mark of the third led to the tying goal.

Joe Thornton had the puck in the high slot and threw a simple shot on net that Howard stopped, but he was unable to control the rebound and Pavelski banged it in out of the air to tie the game with 9:38 left in regulation.

Game Notes

Detroit was 0-for-2 on the power play while San Jose was 1-for-6...These two teams have met four times in the playoffs with each side winning twice...San Jose took three of four from the Red Wings this season, including both games in Detroit.