Pavelski scores twice to lift Sharks past Red Wings

The top-seeded San Jose Sharks got two goals from Joe Pavelski to beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in the opening game of their NHL playoff quarter-final series Thursday.

Pavelski scored in the first period, along with Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi, to spark a three-goal burst in 79 seconds.

Pavelski added his seventh goal of the playoffs on the powerplay early in the third to help the Sharks snap a string of four consecutive home losses in playoff series openers.

Dan Cleary, Johan Franzen and Brian Rafalski scored for the Red Wings, who opened this series less than 48 hours after winning game seven in the first round at Phoenix.

Detroit now gets two days off before game two Sunday in San Jose.