Wings Beat Sharks in OT, 3-2

Jiri Fischer’s goal with 51 seconds left in overtime gave the Red Wings a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. It was the first extra session game for both teams in this young season. The win for the Wings was a bit bittersweet as Kris Draper left the game early in the second period after taking a puck to the face.

Manny Legace made his seventh straight start for the Red Wings and had to work a bit hard early on as the Sharks controlled the play early. With a combination of penalties and abbreviated situations, the Wings fought off 4 Shark power plays in the first 6 and a half minutes of the game.

The Sharks eventually struck first at 12:29. Nils Ekman picked up a loose puck at center ice and blew past Nicklas Lidstrom and Mathieu Schneider to create a break away. He then slid the puck under Legace’s glove to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

The Wings got the goal back just three minutes later on a Brendan Shanahan power play goal. With time running out in the man advantage Jason Woolley’s shot from the right point was saved by Sharks’ goalie Evgeni Nabokov, but created a big rebound that Shanahan put in from the slot.

In the final minute of the first period and back on the power play, the Wings took the lead 2-1 as Mikael Samuelsson took a ricochet off the back boards from a shot by Jason Williams off a face off. Nabokov was out to cut off the angle at the top of the crease on the right side giving Samuelsson the left side of the net open to score.

The Wings took control of the play early in the third but the Sharks took advantage of their opportunities. A little over 11 minutes into the second period Marco Sturm deflected a high shot from Kyle McLaren past Legace on the power play to tie the game at 2.

Along with Draper, Tomas Holmstrom was also hit in the face with a puck. Both required stitches, but Draper was taken to the hospital on a precautionary basis.

The Wings out shot the Sharks 34-28. They also held the Sharks to one power play goal on nine chances, while they scored twice on six chances.

The Wings will face the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim next, this Friday at Joe Louis Arena.