Dominik Hasek stopped all 28 shots thrown at him on Monday night as the Detroit Red Wings defeated San Jose Sharks, 2-0, and advanced to the NHL Western Conference finals for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2002.

On Monday night, Mikael Samuelsson scored 2 goals in the first period and Detroit’s goal keeper Dominik Hasek posted his 13th career playoff shutout helping his team to get a third straight win and a decisive one as well.

In the Western Conference finals the Red Wings will face the Anaheim Ducks, who defeated Vancouver in five games in their semifinal series. The next round’s first game will take place Friday in Detroit.

"You don't get picked to be very good, and then you're pretty good through the regular season, and then someone says you're not a playoff team," Detroit’s coach Mike Babcock said. "We played two big, strong teams and have done well. And now we're going to get another one.''

Evgeni Nabokov had 20 shots for his Sharks, who had the best regular season in NHL history but also have lost their last six eliminatory games in the post-season.

With a 1-0 lead in the first period, Detroit’s goal keeper misplayed the puck leaving it on Grier's stick who skated around the goal to shoot it in. He was stopped in his attempt by Nicklas Lidstrom who jammed his stick across the goal line just in time.

Mikael Samuelsson scored both goals for Detroit, getting his second 8 seconds before the first period buzzer thanks to a defensive mistake. The Swedish wing scored three goals in two games.