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Zetterberg, Red Wings ready for showdown with Sharks

Oct 18, 2007 - 2:36 PM Detroit (4-2-1) at San Jose (3-2-1) 10:30 pm EDT

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- It appears that Henrik Zetterberg is taking his game to another level.

Zetterberg will hope to add to his league-leading point total when the Detroit Red Wings visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday in a battle of Western Conference favorites.

The 25-year-old Swede is tied with Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny for the NHL lead with 13 points on the season. Zetterberg has been especially effective on the power play, collecting two goals and a league-leading six points on the man advantage.

Zetterberg has tallied a goal in each of his last four games and has recorded a point in all seven contests he has played this season. The left wing managed just a goal in the squad's last game, a 6-3 setback to the Anaheim Ducks.

With Zetterberg's help the Red Wings have grabbed the top spot in the Central Division standings and look to be well on their way to a sixth consecutive division title.

The Sharks are in third in the Pacific Division with a lack of production from their offensive superstars. After racking up 188 assists over the previous two campaigns, center Joe Thornton has just four assists and seven points in six games this season.

Milan Michalek, Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo have combined for just five goals and nine points for San Jose, which is coming off a 4-2 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.

The success can be attributed to the stellar play of Evgeni Nabokov, who has surrendered more than two goals just once this season. Nabokov, who has started in goal for each of the Sharks' six contests, has posted a 2.40 goals-against average and .896 save percentage.

Like many of the current NHL goaltenders, Nabokov has had little success against Detroit. The 32-year-old netminder is 4-10-1 with a 3.39 GAA and one shutout against the Western Conference foe.