Wings Fail to Eliminate Ducks

Heading into Game 6, the Red Wings had been on an offensive role. Scoring 10 goals in the last two games, Detroit squeaked out one goal on 39 shots in the losing effort. The Anaheim win tied the series at three games a piece and forced a decisive Game 7 Thursday in Detroit.

Both teams looked tentative in the first period and the Ducks outshot the Wings 12-8 heading into the first intermission. Both teams had good chances but were unable to capitalize. The fact that the Wings let the Ducks hang around in the first period instead of firing on all cylinders like in Games 4 and 5 probably cost them the game, and possibly the series.

Ryan Getzlaf put the Ducks on the board first with a goal at 2:25 of the 2nd period. Corey Perry's shot from the point was stopped in front of the net and Getzlaf slammed it home for a 1-0 Anaheim lead and a powerplay goal. The two Ducks would again combine for next goal as Getzlaf's weak shot from the point was deflected past Chris Osgood for a 2-0 Ducks edge. Detroit Captain Nick Lidstrom made a rare mistake and lost track of Perry, allowing him to get in front of Osgood for the eventual game winner.

Andrew Ebbett took a tripping penalty late in the third period for the Ducks and put the Wings on the powerplay. Jiri Hudler's shot was deflected in front by Johan Franzen, bringing the Red Wings within one. Franzen's 8th goal of the playoffs couldn't come at a better time for Detroit but with under three minutes remaining, time was running out. It proved to be too little too late as the Ducks rolled to a Game 6 win and a tied series as Jonas Hiller stopped Marian Hossa on a last second shot.

Following the last second shot and the conclusion of the game, several Ducks and Wings players came together at the boards and exchanged facewashes and shoves. Eventually it broke out into even further conflict and Pavel Datsyuk of all people was involved in a fight that started when Scott Niedermayer swung an elbow to the back of Datsyuk's head.

Detroit squandered some great opportunities as Valterri Filppula missed twice on 2-on-1 breakouts. Darren Helm took another puck within feet of Hiller but was unable to pull the trigger as a Ducks defenseman swept the puck away at the last second. Lost opportunities were a huge part of the loss for Detroit, considering they outshot Anaheim 39-28.

Casey's Wing of the Game:

Henrik Zetterberg. Hank continues to be a solid contributor and a quiet contributor. He registered 6 shots on net and logged 3+ minutes on the PK and a total on ice time of over 23 minutes, while adding a helper on the lone Wings goal.

Henrik Zetterberg

#40 / Left Wing / Detroit Red Wings

Height: 5-11

Weight: 195

Born: Oct 09, 1980

Game 7 is Thursday night in Detroit at 7 pm.