San Jose, Calif. – Two key mistakes by the San Jose Sharks led to Mathieu Schneider’s overtime goal Wednesday night.
Schneider scored on the power play 16:04 into the first overtime to cap Detroit’s rally from a two-goal deficit. The Red Wings’ 3-2 victory over San Jose tied the second-round playoff series at two games apiece.
After the Red Wings tied the game on Robert Lang’s goal with 33.1 seconds left in regulation, Schneider won it following a bad penalty by Craig Rivet and a bad giveaway by Scott Hannan.
The series moves back to Detroit for Game 5 on Saturday before returning to San Jose for Game 6 next Monday.
SENATORS 3, DEVILS 2 at Ottawa: Dany Heatley set up Daniel Alfredsson’s goal, then scored unassisted as Ottawa took a 3-1 lead in the series.
Heatley, Ottawa’s two-time 50-goal scorer, took a shot from the right boards that struck Martin Brodeur’s right skate and went between the goalie’s pads late in the second period to give Ottawa a 2-1 edge. Heatley also helped Alfredsson open the scoring 4:34 in with a centering pass from behind the net.
“Honestly, that one I was trying to hit (Jason) Spezza off the back post and got a good bounce,” Heatley said. “But it’s definitely been part of our game plan to get pucks to the net whenever we can.”
Brodeur clearly hadn’t expected the sharp-angled shot and said he didn’t see it.
“I saw him going up the boards with it and I looked in front and the puck was through me already,” Brodeur said.
Mike Fisher added Ottawa’s third goal in the third period and Ray Emery stopped 29 shots.
“We seem to be comfortable playing with the lead,” Fisher said. “I think we’ve learned throughout the season. We get up and then teams seem to come back, and we’ll take the momentum back. We seem to be doing the right things right now. The guys are playing pretty well defensively and Ray’s obviously making timely saves, and that’s a big part of it.”
Jay Pandolfo tipped Paul Martin’s point shot past Emery midway into the third period to draw New Jersey within one. Brian Gionta had tied it 1-1 on a power play in the second period with his eighth goal of the playoffs.
Gionta’s goal ended a 153:33 home shutout streak by Emery, who made 25 saves for his second playoff shutout in Monday’s 2-0 win.
Brodeur made 33 saves.
