Round 2 - Detroit Vs. Anaheim

Who wins? Why? How many games?

I may be going against the grain with this one, but I picked Anaheim in 7, going to be one hell of a series though. As for why the Ducks, my answer is Hiller, I know he can outplay Osgood.

if the Ducks have any gas left after beating the Sharks, then Ducks in 6. The layover the Wings have had will be their undoing.

Anaheim eliminated Detroit on their way to winning the Stanley Cup two seasons ago.

Both teams are better now than they were then.

Keys to the series IMHO:

Hiller Vs Osgood

Scott Niedermayer trumps Nick Lidstrom.

The Ducks scare the Red Wings.

Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan and Selanne Vs Zetterberg, Franzen, Datsyuk and Hossa.

Both teams have grinders.

The Ducks will give Detroit NO room to skate and they will be physical.

Anaheim's mean streak gives them an edge the Wings will have a hard time matching.

Staying out of the penalty box will be critical for Anaheim as the Wings' PP is lethal.

Anaheim has all the elements to beat Detroit in 7 games.

Still, a VERY tough series to call.

Except they're missing their allstar shutdown line which was able to zone in on Zetterberg and Datsyuk. This time around Detroit also have Hossa who is not only talented but he's big and hard to knock off the puck. I totally disagree with Neidermeyer trumping Lidstrom but the pairing of Neidermeyer and Pronger does trump the Rafalski Lidstrom pairing. The weak link here is Osgood and he won't be insulated this series for sure. Still a tough one to call though.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Except they're missing their allstar shutdown line which was able to zone in on Zetterberg and Datsyuk. This time around Detroit also have Hossa who is not only talented but he's big and hard to knock off the puck. I totally disagree with Neidermeyer trumping Lidstrom but the pairing of Neidermeyer and Pronger does trump the Rafalski Lidstrom pairing. The weak link here is Osgood and he won't be insulated this series for sure. Still a tough one to call though.

Todd Marchant and Rob Niedermayer have picked up the slack.

The Ducks have Beauchemin back.

James Wisniewski and Ryan Whitney are excellent young defensemen.

Mr Hossa will be getting to know the Ducks rather intimately. He'll earn every penny he makes.

What a great series this promises to be.

I can't help but feel that Osgoode will understand the significance of this matchup, and be quite up to the task.

I predict that Anaheim may win the 1st game, due to Detroit's long break, but Detroit will take over after that and win this in 6

Detroit in 6

I dislike these two teams almost equally. The Sharks really piss me off right now.

Anaheim in 7. Did y'all see what the Ducks did to the slick, star players on the Sharks? It's coming again. The sequel if you will.

Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall vs Neidermayer, Pronger, Beauchemin

The key to the series is the Getzlaf line. You cannot stop them (him).

Anaheim has better goaltending, no matter who they toss in nets.

Another great, GREAT series.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Except they're missing their allstar shutdown line which was able to zone in on Zetterberg and Datsyuk.

That's the thing though Clutch...the Getzlaf line IS the best checking line in the league. They're all over the opposition - and then they score on you to make matters worse.

Marchant's line has been lights out as well. Big time checking up and down the lineup.

Wings draw battle-tested Ducks in second round

Dave Waddell, The Windsor Star, Tuesday, April 28, 2009

DETROIT - There'll be no second-round pushovers for the Detroit Red Wings this spring.

Detroit crushed an overmatched Colorado Avalanche club a year ago, but, in getting the Anaheim Ducks in the second round, the Wings have drawn a battle-tested club that has eliminated them in the past two post-season meetings (2003, '07).

The series starts Friday with Game 2 going Sunday, both at Joe Louis Arena.

"They were struggling a little bit in the regular season, that's why they ended up eighth, but they definitely are a higher-ranked team than that," Detroit forward Henrik Zetterberg said.

"They made some changes at the trading deadline, they got rid of (Chris) Kunitz and got (Ryan) Whitney, I think that was a good trade for them, a solid defencemen who can really move the puck and play good D.

"They're a solid team, good defence, good goalies, specialty teams have been a big part of their game. It's going to be a fun and tough round."

Zetterberg has a peculiar definition of fun if he enjoys knocking heads with the likes of Chris Pronger, Ryan Getzlaf and company.

The Ducks battered the San Jose Sharks into submission in six games and the game plan isn't likely to change with Detroit.

"They're probably one of the hottest teams," Wings goalie Chris Osgood said.

"They got a great first line, they got Selanne. Their D is good, they got (Francois) Beauchemin back. Two solid goalies."

Detroit took the season series 3-0-1, but the clubs haven't played since Feb. 20, when the Wings dismantled the Ducks 5-2 at the JLA.

Anaheim, however, is a much different looking club since the March 4 trade deadline.

They've got Beauchemin back after he tore up his knee last fall. They also added Whitney from Pittsburgh for Kunitz and defenceman James Wisniewski from Chicago for Sammy Pahlsson.

With Pronger and fellow Norris Trophy winner Scott Niedermayer still in the fold and red-hot goaltender Jonas Hiller posting two shutouts in the first round, the Ducks have turned into a very stingy group.

"We definitely got a history with Anaheim," Detroit forward Dan Cleary said. "They got a great defence and Hiller's been great. That's why they (were) able to keep San Jose at bay."

Wings coach Mike Babc0ck, who helped author the 2003 upset of Detroit as Anaheim's coach, said the Ducks deserve credit for being willing to change a 2007 championship club that had gone a bit stale.

"Sometimes, you're scared to change because you don't know what you're getting, but obviously Kunitz going to Pittsburgh has helped them, Whitney coming here has helped them," Babc0ck said.

"Wisniewski left here (Chicago) and really helped them. For whatever reason, they caught some fire here and played well."

The Ducks' top line of Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry have been hot.

The trio accounted for half of Anaheim's 18 goals in the six games versus San Jose.

"They've been unbelievable," said Cleary, who along with Zetterberg and Johan Franzen will likely get the assignment opposite the Ducks' top unit.

"Their ability to cycle the puck, big, strong, shoot it, pass it, they read each other well. It's going to be a great challenge for us."

Zetterberg, who has developed a reputation as one of the game's best shutdown centres, seems unfazed by the challenges of the Ducks' top trio.

As the NHL's lightest and smallest team, the Wings have proven size isn't a major component of their success.

"I don't know if they're that big," Zetterberg said. "You always will find a good first line, it doesn't matter who you are going to play."

Ultimately, what might decide things is how well the Ducks avoid the penalty box and if the Anaheim defence can clear out bodies.

Against the Sharks, the Ducks' undisciplined penalties went largely unpunished.

Against Detroit, Hiller will have to deal with more traffic in front and a Wings' team that offers a wider variety of offensive weapons.

"We watched him lots," Babc0ck said of Hiller. "He's played well for them.
"He's a big butterfly guy, he's on his knees all the time, but he's tall enough and he stays upright enough that he seems to be able to cover the net."

Windsor Star

dwaddell@thestar.canwest.com

Ducks in 7! This one will go the distance!

shabbs wrote:Ducks in 7! This one will go the distance!

The 2008 Stanley Cup Champions Vs the 2007 Stanley Cup Champions.

Does a bragginrites, knock you on yo a$$ grudge match get any better?

:##: :##: :##: :##: :##:

BOO!!! I have no freaking clue how I am going to pick the winner here...

SensGirl11 wrote:BOO!!! I have no freaking clue how I am going to pick the winner here...

Flip for it!

HA HA!