Lidstrom Anchors Team, Detroit Forces Game 7

The Red Wings have been around the block a time or two. In the last fifteen years, the Detroit Red Wings have won 4 Stanley Cups, more than any other team. So when the Wings went down in the series 3-0, there was no need to panic. Well experienced captain Nicklas Lidstrom told the Calgary Sun, "We had to break it down, whether it was a game at a time or even a period at a time. You focus on just trying to work hard and hopefully things will work out for you. It makes it easier to approach rather than looking at the whole big picture of, 'We have to win four straight games.' When you break it down and focus on that, it makes it a lot easier." Many of the Red Wings realize that they have not accomplished their goal just yet and that they must keep their level of intensity up. Niklas Kronwall said in an interview, "We've been playing like its game 7 every night."

After a scoreless first and second period that saw phenomenal goaltending by both Jimmy Howard and last season's Stanley Cup winner Anti Niemi. Through the first two periods, Niemi made 32 stops and Howard 13. Logan Couture opened the score for the Sharks 3:52 into the third when he batted the puck through Howard's pads. The puck squeaked through Howard and slightly crossed the goal line. After going to the "war room" in Toronto, the goal was signaled. Half way through the period the Wings would notch the score at 1 on a Henrik Zetterberg tip-in. After entering the corner, Flippula cut back up the half board and sent a pass to wide open Niklas Kronwall. Kronwall let a wrist shot go that was tipped by Zetterberg past Niemi. 12:32 into the third, just as a "Lets go Red Wings!" chant emerged, the Red Wings took a 2-1 lead on a Flippula tap in. The severely injured Datsyuk winged a perfect backhanded saucer pass right onto the tape of Flippula while on an odd man rush, who tapped it past the sprawling Niemi. With just over a minute left Darren Helm capped off the victory with an empty net goal.

3 Stars:

1. Valtteri Flippula- assisted tying goal and scored the game winner
   
2. Pavel Datsyuk- game winning assist
   
3. Antti Niemi- .955 save percentage on the night