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Down 2-0, Red Wings host Sharks in Game 3

May 4, 2011 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - After suffering a pair of close losses in San Jose, the Detroit Red Wings will try to get on the board in the Western Conference semifinals tonight when they host the second-seeded Sharks in Game 3 at Joe Louis Arena.

San Jose has notched a pair of 2-1 victories against Detroit so far, taking the opener in overtime before grabbing a two-games-to-none lead in the series on Sunday.

This marks the second straight spring that the Red Wings and Sharks are facing each other in the West semis. San Jose took a 3-0 lead in the set last year by winning Games 1 and 2 on home ice and then posting an overtime win in the third meeting in Detroit. The Sharks went on to win the best-of-seven series in five games.

Benn Ferriero tallied the OT game-winner in the opener for San Jose and Niclas Wallin recorded the biggest goal in Game 2. Wallin, a 36-year-old defenseman, scored early in the third period to stake his club to a 2-0 lead, and San Jose withstood a late Detroit rally to emerge with the win.

It was the fourth playoff goal of Wallin's NHL career and all of them have been game-winners. His previous three postseason goals were all overtime winners.

"At the end of the day, the two teams are pretty darn even," said San Jose head coach Todd McLellan. "I think you're going to continue to see this. It's going to be a bounce or a break that goes one way. But if anybody should let their guard down, whether it's us or them, the other team is going to make them pay."

Antti Niemi turned aside 33 shots for the Sharks, while Ian White record the other goal.

Jimmy Howard made 35 saves in defeat and Henrik Zetterberg posted the lone goal for the third-seeded Red Wings.

"I thought we skated better and had more opportunities. We just weren't good enough. They won more battles than we did," said Detroit head coach Mike Babcock.

Brian Rafalski sat out Tuesday's practice with an undisclosed issue, but Babcock said the veteran defenseman will play tonight. Rafalski has two goals in six playoff games this spring.

Detroit has come back from down 2-0 to win a series five times in its history. The last time was in the 2002 conference quarterfinals against Vancouver.

The Red Wings were well-rested heading into this round, as they completed a sweep of Phoenix. San Jose then ousted Los Angeles in six games to set up this rematch.

Detroit and the Sharks have met four times in the playoffs and each club has won two series. Detroit last ousted San Jose in six games during the 2007 conference semifinals.

The Red Wings, who will also host Game 4 on Friday, had a mediocre 21-14-6 record as the host during the regular season, but they were 2-0 at the Joe in the opening round against Phoenix.

San Jose was 3-0 in LA in Round 1 and had a solid 23-14-4 road mark during the 2010-11 campaign.