Red Wings 2 - 3 Sharks
Final - OT
  for this game

Sharks aim to start a run in meeting with slumping Red Wings

Mar 17, 2012 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - The San Jose Sharks are coming off a confidence-building victory that they hope can begin a run to save their season. They may also be catching the Detroit Red Wings at just the right time.

The Sharks look to extend a much-needed three-game point streak tonight, while the Red Wings try to avoid a winless road trip.

San Jose sits in a tie for ninth overall in the Western Conference with 80 points, one back of Colorado and Phoenix for the final two playoff spots in the conference. The Sharks have 12 games remaining and are also just three points behind the first-place Stars in the Pacific Division.

Following an overtime loss to the Flames on Tuesday, the Sharks bounced back two nights later with a 2-1 shootout over the Predators. Joe Thornton had San Jose's regulation goal, while Ryane Clowe scored the lone shootout tally.

Antti Niemi made 32 saves for the Sharks, who are 2-0-1 in their past three following a five-game slid. They also won for the first time in their last six games that have gone beyond regulation, making the victory over the Predators a satisfying one according to Clowe.

"When you get to that situation in a shootout or overtime when you've been getting burned by that lately, to be able to get the two points that way is even better," said Clowe. "It was a little bit of a relief."

San Jose picked up a victory in the first of three straight at home and had won five straight over Detroit, including the first two of four meetings this season, before the Red Wings logged a 3-2 win at home on Feb. 19.

The Sharks have won the past two at home in this series and will look to keep the Red Wings winless on a four-game road trip that ends tonight. Detroit's three straight losses are part of a 3-7-1 span that has dropped the club seven points behind St. Louis for the top spot in the Central division.

The Red Wings are also only one point up on the Predators for the fourth seed in the West.

Detroit is hoping that forward Pavel Datsyuk can play for the first time in 12 games tonight after undergoing knee surgery. Datsyuk hasn't played since Feb. 19 versus the Sharks and has 16 goals and 43 assists for 59 points in 59 games on the season.

The Red Wings do remain without captain Nicklas Lidstrom, with the blueliner out due to a bone bruise in his right ankle, while forward Johan Franzen left practice on Friday due to back pain that has his status in doubt.

Minus two of its top players, Detroit was shut out 4-0 in Anaheim on Wednesday. Joey MacDonald allowed all four goals on 24 shots in defeat.

"We turned the puck over too much in this game," said Detroit head coach Mike Babcock. "This is a test to see how tough we are because we're struggling right now."

The loss dropped the Red Wings to 16-20-1 on the road this season compared to an excellent 28-4-2 mark as the host.






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