DETROIT (AP) – Pavel Datsyuk scored off a rebound with 1:24 left to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 comeback victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, evening the Western Conference semifinal at a game apiece.

Joe Thornton had a goal and an assist in the first 4:17, and San Jose held onto the two-goal lead until Henrik Zetterberg scored late in the first period.

The Sharks then made a rare mistake early in the third period with a Detroit-like giveaway. Daniel Cleary made them pay for it with a short-handed goal that made 2-all.

San Jose had two power plays midway through the final period, but took only one shot on the first opportunity and three on the second.

Detroit’s Dominik Hasek made 17 saves, and Evgeni Nabokov stopped 19 shots.

Game 3 is Monday night in San Jose and the Red Wings’ victory means the series will come back to Detroit for at least Game 5.

Joe Louis Arena was quiet when the Sharks jumped ahead early again, but the fans got revved up as Detroit rallied unlike the series opener when it lost 2-0.

The crowd collectively screamed and jumped to its feet when Datsyuk.

Zetterberg carried the puck behind the net and got it to Mikael Samuelsson, whose shot from the left circle deflected toward a swooping Datsyuk in front of crease and he beat the sprawled Nabokov.

Detroit finished strong after a second straight awful start.

After turning the puck over 27 times in Game 1, the Red Wings had two giveaways right away and the second led to Jonathan Cheechoo’s goal.

Hasek made a lackluster pass from behind the net toward the right circle, leading to Milan Michalek’s assist for Thornton.

Zetterberg’s goal was deflected by San Jose defenseman Kyle McLaren, giving the Red Wings the playoff-type goal they scored rarely during recent playoff flops.

San Jose’s Christian Ehrhoff and Bill Guerin combined for a giveaway that led to the tying goal. Ehroff’s weak pass in the Sharks’ zone was wasn’t handled by Guerin, and Cleary pounced on the puck and wound up for slap shot that found the back of the net 1:23 into the final period.

Notes: Detroit was without F Tomas Holmstrom (eye) and D Brett Lebda (ankle). … Red Wings D Chris Chelios played in his 236th playoff game, tying Mark Messier on the career list and trailing only Patrick Roy (247). … Thornton has at least one assist in five straight games. … The Red Wings, Pistons and Tigers played simultaneously Saturday.

AP-ES-04-28-07 1838EDT