Late Goals Lift Sharks over Red Wings

The San Jose Sharks scored twice in the final 3:31 Saturday night to earn a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The game-winning goal came with just 5.9 seconds remaining.

After a turnover by Dan Cleary at the Red Wings’ blue line, Milan Michalek sent a pass to Joe Pavelski, who cut in from the left side, and beat Detroit goalie Joey MacDonald.

Mark Bell had tied the game with 3:31 remaining, knocking in the rebound of his own shot after MacDonald bobbled the puck.

San Jose had opened the game’s scoring just 3:14, with a power play goal by Patrick Marleau.

Detroit appeared to tie things up with 3:13 remaining in the first but the goal by Mathieu Schneider was waved off as the officials determined that Tomas Holmstrom was in the crease. Replays later showed Holmstrom to be outside of the blue paint.

Mikael Samuelsson eventually got the Red Wings on the board with a wrist shot from the right circle at 11:27 of the second.

Only 1:22 later, Schneider added one that counted, sending a blast from the high slot through Sharks’ goalie Vesa Toskala and trickling across the goal line for a power play goal.

Toskala made 17 saves on 19 shots while MacDonald stopped 32 of the 35 shots he faced.

Each team scored once on the power play. Detroit had three chances on the night while San Jose benefitted from five.

The Red Wings will next take to the ice on Tuesday night when they visit the St. Louis Blues. Before the game, the Blues will retire future Hall-of-Famer Brett Hull’s jersey.