DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings are following a familiar route in this year's playoffs. They just hope it doesn't lead them down the same path.

The Red Wings will face the San Jose Sharks in the second round for the second year in a row. Games 1 and 2 are at the HP Pavilion.

That matchup was set Tuesday night after the Vancouver Canucks' 2-1 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7.

CBC is reporting that the Vancouver-Nashville series will start on Thursday. That means the Detroit-San Jose series would start on Friday. But nothing is official, as the NHL has not yet released the schedule.

The Sharks eliminated the Red Wings in five games in last year's Western Conference semifinals.

Second-seeded San Jose finished one point ahead of Detroit during the regular season. The Sharks won the season series 3-1, winning the final three meetings by a combined score of 12-6.

The Sharks ousted the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Kings in six games in the opening round. San Jose won three games in overtime, including a comeback from a 4-0 deficit in Game 3.

Last year the Red Wings needed seven games and three trips out West before dispatching Phoenix and then had just one day off before starting the San Jose series on the road. This time Detroit is well-rested and better prepared after sweeping the Coyotes.

But the Red Wings also realize the competition will be tougher than it was in the first round.

Unlike the Coyotes, the Sharks are loaded with talented forwards who have size, speed and scoring ability. It's a group that features stars Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley and a supporting cast that includes Joe Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi, Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture.

“They got good talent up front, some guys with good speed and guys that can put the puck in the net,'' Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart said. “They're a fast team, play a fast game, similar to what we try to do.''

One of the Sharks' strengths is hanging onto the puck deep in the offensive zone and cycling.

“You know the big star players they have,'' Detroit's Kris Draper said. “A team that always plays us hard. Big bodies, real strong on the puck. Very good cycle team, puck possession team.

“You look at what they did against L.A., being down 4-0 (in Game 3), no quit, they just kept coming and ended up winning that game (6-5 in overtime). It was a big reason they moved on. It's a team that believes in themselves and it certainly showed in that series.''

Said Red Wings forward Patrick Eaves: “They can put five guys out there that are very talented. We need to make them deviate from their set plan as much as possible.''

Goaltender Antti Niemi, who signed with San Jose in the summer after helping the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup last season, struggled at times against the Kings and was pulled in Games 3 and 5. His statistics were brutal (3.99 goals-against average, .863 save percentage).

The Red Wings won the season series from the Sharks 3-0-1 last season but San Jose won four games decided by one goal in the postseason.

“We were coming off a seven-game (series),'' Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi said. “Hopefully this time around we'll have all our guys back and we'll be well-rested. And we'll be a lot more prepared.''

Ultimately, it doesn't matter who they play, Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler said, because, “These days, if you want to go far, you've got to go through everybody.''

The rest was vital for Detroit, which will welcome back Henrik Zetterberg, their leading scorer in the regular season who missed the opening round due to a sprained left knee. The break also gave high-scoring forward Johan Franzen more time to heal his sore left ankle.

“We'll be fresh and ready,'' Hudler said.