Gorilla Crouch

By the time Detroit matched the Ducks’ level of play they were already down 2 goals
Photo: Robert Laberge - Getty Images

The difference in this game was the first period. Anaheim came out like a desperate team that knew they had to win the game to have a shot at winning the series. They were able to build up a 3-1 lead in the first stanza before going on to win the game 5-3. With their backs against the wall and without their best player they got contributions from numerous players: Corey Perry, Ric Jackman and Teemu Selanne all scored in the first period for the Ducks.

Detroit responded by scoring two goals in the second period to tie the score at 3-3. Then they had an excellent opportunity to pull ahead when they had a 5 on 3 power play during the third period. But the Ducks killed both penalties and got the game winner on the power play from Ryan Getzlaf at the 5:24 mark of the third period.

Dan Cleary and Todd Bertuzzi were responsible for all three Detroit goals. If Detroit can take anything from the game - other than the fact they have to play better than they did in the first period - it is that Cleary and Bertuzzi seem to have developed some chemistry and that could help the team as the series progresses. Bertuzzi turned the puck over and it resulted in Corey Perry’s goal at the 1:37 mark of the first period. Detroit would respond less than two minutes later when Dan Cleary would tap in Chris Chelios’ centering pass to tie the score at 1-1.

But the Ducks didn’t get discouraged and kept pressuring Detroit. Ric Jackman, who played due to Chris Pronger’s suspension, scored a power play goal when the Wings were penalized for having too many men on the ice. That goal came at the 11:46 mark of the first. Anaheim’s third goal would come when several Detroit players had trouble controlling a puck that was bouncing around in front of the Detroit net. Todd Marchant swatted at the puck and it ended up on Teemu Selanne’s stick. His one-timer beat Hasek at the 18:31 mark to put the Ducks up 3-1.

Todd Bertuzzi and Dan Cleary’s goals in the second period both came on the power play. With Chris Pronger off the ice the Wings dominated in shots on goal, although part of the reason could have been because they were also two goals down from early on. Detroit outshot the Ducks 39 to 22. Corey Perry took an interference penalty at the 19:37 mark of the second period and when Rob Neidermayer was penalized for a cross check at the start of the third period it looked like the Wings would have a great chance to finally take their first lead of the game. But Detroit could not score despite 1:35 of a two-man advantage.

Rob Niedermayer scored the empty-netter to close out the scoring. But the bottom line is that Detroit “shot themselves in the foot” as Mike Babcock described it in the post-game press conference. In particular he mentioned the turnover that resulted in Perry’s goal and the too many men penalty that resulted in Ric Jackman’s power play goal.

So the Red Wings simply have to play with better focus and effort than they did in the first period. So long as they do they should be competitive. They’ve split the games in Anaheim to regain home ice advantage. While losing a game where Chris Pronger was suspended is obviously a missed opportunity they have to realize that so long as their effort is where it needs to be they are still in good shape in the series.

Anaheim Ducks NHL Playoffs Red Wings

May 17th, 2007
Categories: Red Wings . Author: Dave

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