NHL: San Jose 2, Detroit 1

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 9 (UPI) -- Patrick Marleau's game-winning goal Saturday boosted the San Jose Sharks to a 2-1 win over Detroit that clinched their Western Conference semifinal series.

Marleau scored 7 minutes into the final frame, and Joe Thornton added a goal and an assist as San Jose ousted the two-time defending Western Conference champions 4-games-to-1 and secured a berth in their first conference finals since 2004.

Evgeni Nabokov was stout in goal, making 33 saves for San Jose. The Sharks will next face the winner of the Chicago-Vancouver series, which the Blackhawks lead 3-1.

Detroit got its only goal from Brian Rafalski as the Red Wings failed in their attempt to reach the Western Conference finals for a fourth consecutive year.

Jimmy Howard stopped 30-of-32 shots in the loss.