Detroit went into San Jose looking to win their 2nd game in a row and take the series back to the Joe.
They didn't make things easy for themselves as they allowed San Jose to dominate the first 2 periods and gave up a 2 goal lead.
It wasn't until 17.18 of the 1st period until San Jose made their dominance count as Boyle threw a wrist shot in from the point and Setoguchi tipped it in through the legs of Howard.
at 15.32 of the 2nd period Clowe and Pavelski went in 2 on 1 from the blue line and Clowe's pass found the stick of Pavelski who tipped it in over Howard to make it 2-0.
Detroit got straight back into the game though at 16.25 as Datsyuk controlled the puck and skated around to create space for Kronwall who pushed up and was found with a perfect pass. He wristed it in past the stick side of Niemi and the lead was down to 1 goal going into the 3rd.
San Jose couldn't have started the 3rd period any better as Couture was allowed to skate in on Howard unchallenged and he deked to his backhand side and slid the puck into the net.
Detroit seemed down and out but all of a sudden remembered how to play and turned in a performance to match that of the 1st period of game 4.
At 3.43 Datysuk tried to centre a pass from the boards to Zetterberg and he didn't get a one time shot off but the puck bounced out to Ericsson who wristed the puck into the net from close range.
It was 3-3 at 5.29 as Kronwall jumped up into the attack again, firing a shot wide that Cleary picked up behind the net and brought out to the front where he managed to jam it home as Niemi tried to keep his pad tight to the post.
Detroit then got a winner at 13.52 as Datysuk again made an amazing play, fighting off 2 San Jose attempts to knock the puck off his stick and dishing the puck back to Lidstrom who fired in a shot on goal. Holmstrom got the tip infront and shocked the Sharks as Detroit had pulled back from 2 down to lead 4-3.
It was a remarkable come back with Detroit not knowing the meaning of down and out. They had one foot on the golf course but now come back tonight to face a game 6 on home ice.
They will need a much better start to tonight's game than they had in game 5 as i can't see the Sharks giving up another 2 goal lead if they get infront. For all of San Jose's great work in the first 40 minutes of game 5 they just seemed to crumble after a great start to the 3rd period and Detroit took full advantage and turned the heat up on them.
Back at the Joe, Detroit will have the fanatical support of their fans and really have a great shout of taking this series to a game 7. Doubts about Datsyuk before game 5, saying he had a bad wrist were proven wrong with some good strong play on setting up a couple of the goals, even though he didn't take a face off all night.
Franzen was clearly in pain during this game though after taking a knock to his bad ankle and must be a doubt to start tonight. Surely it would be better to get Mike Modano in and have a fully fit player than one that has looked out of sorts all of this series.
San Jose will be hoping for better netminding from Niemi in this game as he didn't look great in game 5. They will also be hoping that the team can keep their head up and go out and produce a killing performance and not have to go back to home ice for a game 7.
All 5 games in this series have now been won by just the 1 goal and i'd be suprised if it was any different in game 6. Both teams have shown nerve and bottle to come through by the 1 goal and whichever one can show it tonight will be the one with the W at the end. Either way, it will either be a deciding game 7 on Thursday or a Canucks v Sharks Western Conference Final to look forward too.
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