The incomparable Lidstrom, 37, who played 94 minutes the last three games, dove across the crease to stop San Jose's Mike Grier after a takeaway on Hasek that would have tied it 1-1 late in the first.
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Heck, even Hasek admits but for Lidstrom's play, it would have been 1-1.
The Sharks had a superb chance to tie it, only to be denied on a spectacular play by Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom with 2:50 left in the period.
Mike Grier intercepted a pass by Hasek and had a wide-open net on a wrap-around but Lidstrom, a four-time Norris Trophy winner, dove and blocked the shot with his stick.
"I knew that I had to try to get there as quick as I could, because I knew the two D were coming," Grier said. "Lidstrom made a great play. Looking back, maybe I should have taken another step and tried to lift it up. There's not much more I can say about it."
"I just tried to lay my stick in the lane, put my stick at that post," Lidstrom said. "Hopefully, it would deflect off my stick. You never know - I just try to get my stick in there."
Both teams knew it was the momentum-turning play of the game, especially when Samuelsson doubled the lead with just eight seconds left in the session.
"All I can say is, Nicky is not just a great defenseman, a great playmaker, but he also made a great save," Hasek said. "It was a huge difference, it would have been 1-1. After that, we scored a goal. Instead of 1-1, in the next minute we were up 2-0."
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