The Detroit Red Wings have now dropped three straight games, after starting the season at a stellar 5-0. Detroit dropped games against the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets, and on Friday they lost 4-2 to the San Jose Sharks, a fierce "unofficial" rival.
Detroit really put the pressure on early, out-shooting and out-hitting the Sharks in the first period of play, and probably should have went into the second with more than the 1-0 lead they had, but Antti Niemi kept San Jose in it. When the Sharks scored a power play goal early in the second period, it was all them. Ryane Clowe put a wrister past goalie Jimmy Howard 2:10 into the period, and they controlled the play from there.
Patrick Marleau scored next, beating Ian White to a loose puck in Detroit's zone and beating Howard over his shoulder for his second goal on the season. Tomas Holmstrom would score to tie it at 2-2 around 14 minutes into the second period, deflecting a shot from Pavel Datsyuk past Niemi on the power play. Joe Thornton would give San Jose the lead they wouldn't relinquish on a hustle play, and eventually got the insurance goal with an empty netter at the end of the period.
Games between these two teams are always very good, it's give and take with great shifts for both teams. It was fast-paced and saw a lot of adjustments from both teams, and also a lot of weird bounces. There was a goal called off for goalie interference, and there were some weird bounces, once specifically that went over the net, bounced off the glass and landed in the crease behind Niemi. But in the end, the Sharks came out on top.
Detroit will next take on the Minnesota Wild, for the second time this season. The Red Wings won the first meeting 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 15.