The San Jose Sharks seized the momentum with the first goal of the series and then stunned the Detroit Red Wings by scoring again 24 seconds later.
Matt Carle and Mike Grier scored midway through the first period and Evgeni Nabokov made 34 saves to lead San Jose to a 2-0 victory over Detroit on Thursday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals.
Carle scored on a powerplay opportunity 9:45 into the game, and Grier collected the Sharks' second goal at 10:09 of the first.
PHOTO: AFP
Nabokov's shutout was his first this postseason and the fifth of his career in the playoffs.
He was tied for second in the NHL with seven during the regular season.
Dominik Hasek had to make just 17 saves because the Sharks played very conservatively after taking the two-goal lead.
PHOTO: AP
Game 2 of the series is in Detroit today.
At East Rutherford, the Ottawa Senators got to Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils early and often and then held on.
Jason Spezza scored 90 seconds into the game, and the Senators jumped to a 4-0 first-period lead from which the Devils could not recover in a 5-4 victory in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-final.
Joe Corvo, Dean McAmmond, Dany Heatley and Wade Redden also scored for Ottawa, which came within a goal post of blowing the four-goal lead late in the second period.
Travis Zajac, Brian Gionta and Andy Greene scored for the Devils to cut the Ottawa lead to 4-3 early in the second period. Scott Gomez beat Senators goaltender Ray Emery in close later in the period but the clang of metal kept Ottawa ahead.
Zach Parise did score with 30 seconds left to bring the Devils within one goal.
New Jersey played without captain Patrik Elias, who was sidelined with the effects of a lingering cold.
Brodeur had 21 saves and Emery finished with 26.
Game 2 is scheduled for today in New Jersey.
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