Detroit leads series 1-0
Anaheim came into Detroit on Friday night still feeling the rush of knocking off the #1 seeded Sharks. They came out faster, more physical, and more driven than the Red Wings and were able to put a goal on the board early.
Then they got a little too intense. Mike Brown's hit on Jiri Hudler at open ice landed him in the dressing room and the Wings on a 5 minute power play. The Wings capitalized on the power play and used that momentum to carry them through the rest of the game. Captain Nick Lidstrom put a puck through the five-hole of Jonas Hiller with 50 seconds left to play to give the Wings a 3-2 lead and eventual win.
What to look for: If Nick Lidstrom can continue being a force on offense while being the rock of the Detroit defense, things could get ugly for Anaheim. Also, if Johan Franzen continues rolling, things could get really ugly for the Ducks. Another thing to look for is if there is any sort of retaliation towards Mike Brown for the hit. Since he has not been suspended, he'll be in the line-up today in front of 20,000 upset Wings fans.
Game 2 starts at 2 p.m. ET and will air on NBC and as always, GO WINGS!