2011 NHL Playoffs: San Jose Sharks Fight Off Detroit Red Wings To Take Series

The hype surrounding Antti Niemi sure wasn't good after Game 5. The Red Wings took 22 shots and got four of them to go in the net. Niemi allowed three of six third period shots in the net. 

Was the buzz surrounding Niemi good in Game 7?

Yes.

Niemi saved 38 of 40 Detroit shots, Patrick Marleau finally scored and San Jose avoided being the fourth team to lose a series after leading 3-0. Logan Couture and Devin Setoguchi scored nice goals as well.

The Sharks will play Vancouver in the conference finals, the second straight time San Jose has got there. Last year, Niemi was the reason they lost (he was spectacular for Chicago). 

With the star goalie on their side, the Sharks are confident they can take down the Canucks and advance to the Stanley Cup. Roberto Luongo against Antti Niemi usually means a low-scoring game, and even though Luongo is said to be the better goalie, Niemi's Blackhawks beat Luongo's Canucks last year.

Now, back to Game 7. The Sharks showed up ready to play, as they got some good chances early. However, it wasn't until Joe Thornton had the puck behind the net, and made a heads-up play, until the Sharks would get on the board.

Thornton saw Setoguchi open on the left faceoff circle, and he quickly fired a pass. Setoguchi received the pass and fired a one-timer, which swooped through the left corner of the net. San Jose led 1-0!

How did San Jose get this opportunity? A power play, where Jonathan Ericsson was called for holding. He was desperately trying to keep Torrey Mitchell from getting the puck with his stick, and he was called for the penalty.

Jimmy Howard made a lot of nice saves, keeping 90 percent of San Jose's shots out of the net, but Logan Couture's heads-up play and goal was too much. Howard was out of position, thinking Detroit would easily clear the puck. He was wrong.

Henrik Zetterberg had the puck, and he was trying to pass it up and get the Wings a chance at tying the game, but Logan Couture read the play, reached out, stopped the pass, controlled the puck and fired a wrist shot. 

Howard reached for it, but the puck went over his head and glove. A chance at a good opportunity for the Red Wings turned into a 2-0 lead for the Sharks.

The first period really wasn't about Antti Niemi. He made 11 saves in that period, but again, Detroit did have 40 shots in this game (San Jose had 30). About 6:17 into the second, Niemi started to get going.

Zetterberg had a pass left to him in the middle, with no defender that could make a play in time. He fired a shot, but Niemi saved it. Niemi made a couple huge saves on Patrick Eaves and Dan Cleary later in the period.

Cleary was skating up, and he fired a quick wrist shot, but it deflected off of Niemi, and the Sharks gained control of the puck.

Later in the period, Patrick Eaves had a 2-on-1, and though he beat the defender, he still had to beat the goalie. Niemi saved his top-shelf shot, and even though less than a minute later, Zetterberg would get the Wings on the board, Niemi was still playing great. San Jose led 2-1.

After another glove save by Niemi (saved it near the chest), the Sharks were looking good. The Red Wings out-shot them 17-6 in the second period, but San Jose still led 2-1. In the third, Niemi didn't make as many highlight-reel plays, but he did well.

In the third, Patrick Marleau stepped up as well. Devin Setoguchi and Patrick Marleau were 3-on-2 against Howard. Setoguchi took a shot...and it missed. But he poked the puck through Howard's leg, and just before Brian Rafalski could hit it away, Marleau poked it in.

The Sharks were on top 3-1 with only 7:47 remaining until they moved on. Unfortunately, they only lived in the moment for about 1:45, as Pavel Datsyuk shifted the momentum.

Datsyuk skated up toward the right side of the goal with a couple defenders on him, and he fired a backhand shot. It went past Niemi, off the post, off the other post, and in the net. Detroit was back!

About 35 seconds later, the Wings had another great chance. Darren Helm, who scored the winner in Game 4, took a wrap-around shot, but Niemi saved it. It was deflected, and the Wings had open net, but they couldn't capitalize.

Valterri Filppula had a chance late in the third, as he fired a wrist shot that was on target, but Niemi saved it. Then, with 28 seconds left, Niemi made an even bigger save.

Datsyuk came up the left side and used his lightning-fast speed to get by Sharks defenders. He fired a super-fast shot at Niemi, who turned away with his head, but somehow made the glove save.

With eight seconds left, Helm took a shot from the faceoff circle...but Niemi saved it! Patrick Marleau got the rebound, and he shot the puck away towards the empty Detroit net. San Jose had won!

Game 1 against Vancouver is Sunday at 5 PM PT, 6 PM CT