Round 2 - Detroit Vs. Anaheim

Anaheim at Detroit

GAME SEVEN, STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS WEST SEMIFINALS
SERIES TIED 3-3

7:00 PM ET, May 14, 2009
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

CBC/RDS/Versus

Ducks-Red Wings Preview

ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) -- The previous two Stanley Cup champions are meeting in the playoffs for the third time since the NHL expanded four decades ago.

Perhaps fittingly, a Game 7 is necessary.

The Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks have pushed their Western Conference semifinal series to the limit just as Edmonton and Calgary did in 1991 and Montreal and Boston did in 1971 in the last two matchups of Cup winners.

"It should be exciting," Red Wings coach Mike Wang said Wednesday when the team plane landed in rain on a miserable evening that matched its mood following a 2-1 loss. "Game 7s are always a lot of fun.

"It's a good opportunity for us. We played all year to have home-ice advantage."
The second-seeded Red Wings will face the eighth-seeded Ducks on Thursday night at home, hoping to follow a trend.

Entering Wednesday's night's Pittsburgh-Washington finale, home teams have won 63 percent of Game 7s since 1939.

Two of the exceptions, though, happened when the Oilers defeated the Flames in overtime and the Canadiens beat the Bruins by two goals as road teams in matchups of previous champions.

This postseason, the Ducks have proven they can win anywhere and their confidence has grown.

"Everyone is believing we can beat this team," Anaheim star Ryan Getzlaf said.

Anaheim won Game 2 at Joe Louis Arena in triple overtime and opened the playoffs with two road wins against the top-seeded San Jose Sharks.

"Nobody expected us to beat San Jose," Ducks forward Todd Marchant said. "We're trying to ride the unexpected.

"Hopefully, we can pull another one off."

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle hopes his team turns the tide in shots on goal, but said that statistic isn't foolproof.

"They've gotten more shots than we have. So did San Jose," Carlyle said. "But where is San Jose?"

The Ducks avoided elimination with a 2-1 win Tuesday night, then Scott Niedermayer roughed up Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk, and Corey Perry pounded Detroit's Brian Rafalski.

"I felt that some guys took liberties on certain players unknown to fight," Red Wings forward Daniel Cleary said. "So, we just have to see Thursday."

With so much at stake, Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg doesn't expect gloves to drop again.

"I think the feelings and emotions will carry over to Game 7, but I don't think the fighting will carry over," Zetterberg said on the eve of his first Game 7.

The winner will advance to play the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals.

The loser will go home.

"I said a few words last night, and Babs said a few words," Detroit's soft-spoken captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "We know what's on the line for us, and for them."

As experienced as Lidstrom is, with a franchise-record 224 games of postseason experience, he hasn't played in a Game 7 since Detroit beat Colorado 7-0 in the 2002 conference finale and he's been in just five in his career.

"Everything is on the line," Lidstrom said. "We have play with a sense of desperation from the start, and we have to do that for 60 minutes."

Early or late, Detroit simply needs Datsyuk to score.

The NHL MVP finalist is goalless in his last eight games and has just two assists against Anaheim.

Datsyuk was inches away from an overtime-forcing goal in the final seconds of Game 6.

"It's not like he's been void of chances," Carlyle said. "Even if stat-wise he hasn't had a huge impression, he still has quality chances on creates a lot."

Babc0ck is hoping for Datsyuk and the team, his scoring drought ends against Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller, whose first NHL postseason has been nothing short of sensational.

"Any time you're a scorer and you haven't scored, no matter what anybody says, you always are squeezing a little bit," Babc0ck said. "The big thing for him, he's a real good, dominant player is to just play. Don't think too much.

"It would be a good time for him to break out."

The National Anthem for Detroit Red Wings games at Joe Louis Arena is normally sung by this charming young lady, Miss Karen Newman.




However, considering the importance of this contest, Captain Nick Lidstrom has reached out to his homeland to bring in some extra firepower...

The Graaf Sisters, leading Swedish pop stars. It's anticipated they will put a little extra pop in the Wings' game.




cool)

Is that a nip-slip or do I need to clean my monitor?

wprager wrote:Is that a nip-slip or do I need to clean my monitor?

You have a dirty monitor cool)

Is there a greater 'love story' than that of the Wings and Ducks?

From today's "Ducks Blog" at the Orange County Register in Anaheim:

Red Wings relying on home ice, if they don’t blow it

May 13th, 2009, 2:20 pm · posted by Al Balderas, staff writer

The last thing the Red Wings wanted to do this week was play the Ducks in a seventh game.

So we thought.

After watching how they played through the first two periods of Tuesday’s 2-1 Game 6 loss at Honda Center, however, you might wonder if they’re due to get a cut of the gate receipts for letting this series reach its winner-take-all game.

What happened to all of that talk about ending the series in six games? What happened to all of that chatter about taking a Game 7 mentality on the ice for Game 6? The Red Wings spent part of Monday afternoon talking about the danger and unpredictability of Game 7s. As a result, they said, it was vitally important to end the series in six games. Then they went out and got their wings handed to them.

If Tuesday night’s performance was indicative of the Red Wings’ Game 7 mentality, they should have stayed at their Disneyland Resort hotel instead of flying back to Detroit.

As bad as things went on Tuesday, the Red Wings on Wednesday were among the few people on earth who can fly into Detroit and actually enjoy the view.

Can you blame them?

Detroit is where the Red Wings went 27-9-5 this season. That’s 31-10-5 if you include the playoffs.

The San Jose Sharks earned a league-best 117 points to be able to host a Game 7 (if necessary) in the playoffs. The Red Wings had 112 points for the same reason.

Unlike the Sharks, the Red Wings are in position to take advantage of it.

“It’s something you want to have,” Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said.

“That’s one of the reasons you battle so hard during the regular season, to gain that home-ice advantage in a series. We feel comfortable going back home and playing Game 7 at home.”

The Ducks made the Sharks’ home-ice advantage melt away. Now they’ll try to do the same against the defending Stanley Cup Champs.

“It’s going to be fun,” Wings’ forward Dan Cleary said. “It’s going to be tight. It’s going to be two teams that know what’s at stake.

“I think both teams have proven they can win on the road but we’ve also proven we’re a good home team. It should be a good atmosphere.”

The Ducks are 2-1 in Game 7s. They’re 1-1 in Game 7s on the road and 1-0 at home.

Detroit is 11-7. The Red Wings have also played in winner-take-all Game 5s and winner-take-all Game 3s. Overall, the Red Wings have a 17-8 record in loser-go-home games. When they have the home-ice advantage in those scenarios, their record is 15-4.

“We knew it was going to be a tight series and it’s really not a big surprise going to seven games,” Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg said. “We’re looking forward to going home, playing for our home fans and going from there.”

Going where? If the Red Wings turn in another clunker like they did Tuesday at Honda Center, that destination could be a vacation spot.

If the Ducks turn in another sad performance, like they did when they played in Detroit on Sunday, all they’ll have to look forward to is a long plane ride home. And next year.

Do or die tonight... winner moves on... loser goes home... Ducks take this one.

Go Ducks, just so I can get one winner right, honestly though, I believe I picked the ducks in 6, I am such a doofus. :doh:

SensFan71 wrote:Go Ducks, just so I can get one winner right, honestly though, I believe I picked the ducks in 6, I am such a doofus. :doh:

Don't feel too bad. So far I have one right but wrong number of games.

Wings' Marian Hossa wants to turn it around in Game 7

GEORGE SIPPLE, DETROIT FREE PRESS SPORTS/May 14, 2009

Marian Hossa signed a one-year deal with Detroit because he thought this team gave him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. Now he and the Wings face elimination in the Western Conference semifinals against the Anaheim Ducks.

Hossa is 0-for-3 in his NHL career playing in Game 7 (all three with Ottawa) and said he was "looking forward to turning it around" and advancing this time. He has no goals and two assists in previous seventh games.

"Other games you have a chance, but this -- the series is tied and one game you go home or you go further," Hossa said shortly after the team landed at Metro Airport on Wednesday afternoon. "It's a huge game. We have to get prepared. You cannot get it in your head.

"It's an important game, but it's another game. Just try to win that game because it's huge."

Hossa isn't surprised that the series is coming down to a seventh game. "Both teams are really good and strong and it comes down to the last game," he said.

He said the scuffles that occurred at the end of Tuesday's 2-1 loss can't factor into tonight's game. "We just have to forget it and get ready for a new game," Hossa said. "We have to be better."

And what do he and his linemates need to do differently?

"We have to get more to the net," he said. "They kept us to the outside. We didn't have quality chances like we did the games before. Just have to do a better job of driving inside. The Ducks were really sharp in the middle. There was not much room coming through the middle. We had a couple shots from the outside, but we have to be more dangerous."

ICE TIME: The ice conditions in Anaheim weren't perfect, but the Wings refused to use that as an excuse for their play. "Let's put it this way, the same conditions for both teams," Hossa said. "But, you know, definitely for our team it is better if the ice is smoother. Tomorrow we're at home and we have to take advantage of that."

DRAPER? Asked if Kris Draper, who hasn't played yet in the playoffs because of an undisclosed injury, would be available to play, Wings coach Mike Babc0ck said: "I don't think so."

Contact GEORGE SIPPLE: 313-223-4796 or gsipple@freepress.com.

Game on! Big one too. Hiller will have to be outstanding, Getzlaf will have to be a beast.

It can be done though.

getzlaf definitely stepped up his game last game and he and perry will have to be the best forwards on the ice again if they want to pull this one out tonight....Lets go Ducks

Go Wings!!! I think a rematch of last year's SCF would be kick Donkey cool.

I would also love to see a final of Pittsburgh and Chicago. That would be sick! Even sicker than Pitts/Wash, IMO.

osgood isnt good enough to take on the hawks but i believe hiller has a much better chance

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:osgood isnt good enough to take on the hawks but i believe hiller has a much better chance

That's fine with me, I want the Hawks to take it all anyway. Bring it on!!

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:osgood isnt good enough to take on the hawks but i believe hiller has a much better chance

People should really stop doubting Osgood because he has done more in the last 2 years that most NHL goaltenders will do in their entire career. He has been solid, and thats all he needs to be, solid.

If the Wings lose at any point in these playoffs, it wasnt goaltending that lost it for them.

Osgood, like it or not, has had a hall of fame career and he is still going fairly strong.

Neely4Life wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:osgood isnt good enough to take on the hawks but i believe hiller has a much better chance

People should really stop doubting Osgood because he has done more in the last 2 years that most NHL goaltenders will do in their entire career. He has been solid, and thats all he needs to be, solid.

If the Wings lose at any point in these playoffs, it wasnt goaltending that lost it for them.

Osgood, like it or not, has had a hall of fame career and he is still going fairly strong.

The thinking might be that a monkey could have led the Wings to a Cup last year. He's steady enough. If he gets in the Hall it'll be the team's achievements as much as it would be his own IMO.

I have a hard time taking him seriously too, but he's gotten the job done, he has 2 Cups to prove he can do it.

I think he's solid enough to win. He had a rough year, especially at the end of the year, but he came into the playoffs ready to go, and he's done a great job.

I would have complete faith in him if I were a Wings fan. He has the team in front of him to ensure they can win.

3 Rings, two as the starter, has lead 3 different teams into the playoffs (which is actually quite impressive considering one of those was NYI), and multiple all-star games. Grant Fuhr got in, I see no reason why Osgood wont sometime down the line.

His numbers are hall of fame worthy.