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Sharks try to send Red Wings packing in Game 5 matchup

May 8, 2011 - 2:31 PM (Sports Network) - The San Jose Sharks will try to eliminate the Detroit Red Wings from the playoffs for a second straight year when they host Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals tonight at HP Pavilion.

The second-seeded Sharks hold a 3-1 lead in this series and are one victory away from a second straight trip to the Western Conference finals. San Jose made it that far last year after ousting Detroit in five games during the conference semis, but the Sharks were then quickly swept by Chicago.

Detroit lost the first three games of this best-of-seven set before getting on the board in the series with Friday's 4-3 win in Motown. The Red Wings avoided elimination with the Game 4 victory, as Darren Helm's tally with 1:27 to play in the third period propelled Detroit to the one-goal decision.

The Red Wings will now need to contend with history if they want to get to the next round as only three teams in NHL history have won a series after falling behind 3-0. The Philadelphia Flyers pulled off the feat last spring against Boston, becoming the first team to achieve the ultimate comeback since the 1975 New York Islanders. The other time it happened was in 1942, when Toronto erased a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals.

San Jose has never lost a series when leading 3-0, or 3-1, for that matter.

Detroit held a 3-0 lead late in the first period of Friday's Game 4, but saw that advantage evaporate and Dany Heatley tied the game for San Jose just 1:14 into the third. However, Detroit threw everything it had at Antti Niemi to stave off elimination and finally broke through on Helm's second goal of the playoffs.

A left circle faceoff win saw the puck cycled around with a shot coming from the left point. Patrick Eaves found himself with the puck and from the right circle he fired it over to the left where Helm snapped it in for a 4-3 lead.

"He's a real good player and always works hard for us everyday," said Detroit head coach Mike Babcock about Helm. "I thought he was going to get an opportunity and he did and made the most of it."

From there, the third-seeded Red Wings held the Sharks at bay to win their first game of the series.

Nicklas Lidstrom scored twice while Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings. Jimmy Howard stopped 25 shots for the win.

Logan Couture had a goal and an assist while Ryane Clowe had three helpers for the Sharks, who got 36 saves from Niemi.

"It was hard to find six or seven guys that really skated well and Detroit did," said San Jose head coach Todd McLellan. "They worked hard out there and deserve all the credit. We just have to go home and work extra hard on Sunday because we don't want to come back here."

The Sharks had a 21-14-6 record on home ice during the regular season and they are 3-2 at HP Pavilion in these playoffs. San Jose posted a pair of 2-1 victories in Games 1 and 2 of this series before the series shifted to the Motor City.

Detroit, which will host Games 6 on Tuesday if it can extend this series tonight, had a phenomenal 26-11-4 record as the road club this season. The Red Wings are 2-2 as the guest in the postseason.

The Red Wings were well-rested heading into this round, as they completed a sweep of Phoenix in the conference quarterfinals. 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.