Setoguchi Leads Sharks Past Detroit In Game 7
Former Prince George Cougars forward Devin Setoguchi capped off a terrific Western Conference semi-final against Detroit with a goal and an assist to help lift the San Jose Sharks to the NHL’s final four. The Sharks defeated the Red Wings 3-2 Thursday in Game 7 of their second round series to earn a second consecutive trip to the Western Conference Final where they will meet the Vancouver Canucks.
Setoguchi, who led the Cougars in scoring with 36 goals and 65 points during the 2006-07 Western Hockey League campaign, already produced four goals in the previous six games of the Sharks series with Detroit. The Red Wings had fought their way back from an 0-3 hole to send the series to the summit, but Setoguchi got the Sharks on the board at 12:20 of the first period, converting a Joe Thornton pass behind Jimmie Howard on the power play to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. Logan Couture scored late in the first to make it 2-0 San Jose, but Henrik Zetterberg’s back-hand goal at 13:10 of the second period cut the host’s lead in half to 2-1. In the third period, Setoguchi was instrumental in what would turn out to be the game winning goal. The Taber, Alberta product took a pass from defenceman Dan Boyle on a 3-on-2 Sharks rush and went straight for the net. After Setoguchi’s shot was stopped by Howard, Patrick Marleau banged home the rebound for a 3-1 Sharks lead with under eight minutes to play. Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk wowed again with a perfect back-hand shot off the cross bar with six minutes left to pull Detroit to within one, but the Sharks held on for the 3-2 victory. Setoguchi has six goals and two assists for eight points in the playoffs, with five of those goals coming against the Red Wings.
With the Sharks victory, Setoguchi makes it five former Cougars playing in the Conference finals. The Sharks will face Dan Hamhuis and the Vancouver Canucks in game 1 of the West Final Sunday at Rogers Arena. Hamhuis and the Canucks defeated the Nashville Predators in six games in round 2. The Sharks were swept by Chicago in the third round last year.
On the Eastern Conference side, defenceman Eric Brewer, forward Dana Tyrell and the Tampa Bay Lightning will face defenceman Zdeno Chara and the Boston Bruins for the right to move on to the Stanley Cup Final. That series begins Saturday in Boston.
