Howard's 39 Save Performance Propels Wings

The first and second periods of this game were dominated by the goaltenders. Both Niemi and Howard made acrobatic and sprawling saves throughout the game; none better than Niemi's glove save in the first period. Niemi has a history of making sprawling glove saves, as last years save was turned into a "History Will Be Made" commercial. Despite Howard's remarkable first period performance, the Sharks managed to get one by him. Dan Boyle launched a wrist shot through the slot that found the stick of Devin Setoguchi, directing it past Howard. Early in the second, it would take Howard's best performance to keep the Wings in the game. 3:25 into the second period Howard showcased a flurry of saves while on a penalty kill. Detroit Red Wing's head coach, Mike Babcock, told the Detroit News, "Howie got us to the third period, our defense was good and our was goaltending was good, but we weren't competitive enough up front. Howie played real good and kept us in the game." When Detroit went down 3-1 a minute into the third on a finesse deke by Logan Couture, many thought the game and the series was over. Jimmy Howard, however, thought otherwise. Fully aware of his stellar play, the modest Howard said to the Detroit News, "I just wanted to not give up another one. If you give up another one, your season's over." Two minutes after the Couture goal, unlikely hero Jonathan Ericsson converted on a scramble in front of the San Jose goal. Although down by a goal and fighting for their playoff lives, the Red Wings only managed to put 6 shots on Niemi in the third. San Jose coach Todd McLellan told NHL.com, "I think you put yourself in a very dangerous position if you start getting back on your heels against that team, but I don't think that was the case tonight." 5:29 into the third period Kronwall snapped a shot that deflected off of Niemi and behind the net. Cleary managed to gather the puck behind the net and chip it past Niemi from an impossible angle. With some help from Jimmy Howard, the Red Wings managed to keep the score knotted through the third until 6:48 remained. Datsyuk danced through two San Jose defenders and while off balance managed to slip the puck to Nicklas Lidstrom. Lidstrom let a bomb go from the point that was redirected by Thomas Holmstrom. The Red Wings did not look back and took game 5 by a score of 4-3. With the series at a tight score of 3-2, anything can happen. Look for Detroit to steal game 6 from the Sharks as there is no comparable home ice advantage in the National Hockey League to Joe Louis Arena.