SAN JOSE, Calif., April 30 (UPI) -- Benn Ferriero scored 7:03 into overtime Friday to send San Jose past Detroit 2-1 in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals.
Jimmy Howard made an astounding 44 saves for Detroit, but he could not stop Ferriero's wrist shot that handed the Red Wings their first playoff loss of the season. Detroit advanced past the conference quarterfinals with a four-game sweep of Phoenix and had not played in 10 days.
Ferriero was appearing in the first playoff game of his career on his 24th birthday, having been recalled from Worcester of the American Hockey League late in the regular season. He has only seven regular-season goals in parts of two seasons with the Sharks.
Niklas Lidstrom gave Detroit a 1-0 lead midway through the opening period and that is how it stayed until Joe Pavelski produced a power-play goal for the Sharks with 9:38 to go in regulation.
Antti Niemi made 24 saves for the Sharks, who will host Game 2 of the series.
