The Ducks got off to the start they were hoping for with a 3-1 Gm. 1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
The game was tied 1-1 through two periods until the ageless wonder, Teemu Selanne, snapped a perfect dart past Wings goalie Jimmy Howard for the game-winning goal. The goal was Selanne's 10th post-season game winner and eighth as a Duck.
The game was extremely intense and very easily could have gone the other way. Jonas Hiller was nearly perfect, stopping 21 of 22 Detroit shots to earn his 8th career playoff victory. His .943 career playoff save percentage is tops among active goalies.
I thought there was strong possibility that Hiller would start the series on the bench watching his counterpart Viktor Fasth get his playoff feet wet. Not the case and it worked out well.
Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau has done and excellent job of managing his goalies this season; why would the playoffs be any different? I expect Hiller back in net for game 2 tonight. Wouldn't surprise me if it went the other way though. Frankly, Hiller or Fasth could get the job done.
There were several positives for the Ducks from Gm. 1. I hilighted a few below.
- The Ducks scored the first goal of the game on a power-play marker from Nick Bonino. Not only was it the first goal of the game, it was the first goal of the series. That goal ignited an already excited crowd and psychologically set the tone for Anaheim from that point on.
- Anaheim scored two power-play goals, including Selanne's game winner. Special teams are always important in a playoff series and it always serves team well to get that part of their game going early.
- Eight different Ducks had points and none of them were named Bobby Ryan, Corey Perry or Saku Koivu. That is a good thing. The Ducks have thrived off a balanced attack all season. They have to keep that up if they want to make a deep run.
- Jonas Hiller was good. They obviously will need more of the same as this series rolls along.
"Everybody did what they had to do. It doesn't matter if you play two minutes or 25 minutes. It was a good, solid effort, but it's just one game. We'll enjoy it a little bit, but we have to move on." -Teemu Sellane
I think the quote above pretty much summed up game one...now onto game two tonight at the Honda Center.
***
Looking Ahead....
The team winning Gm. 1 has gone on to win four of the five previous series between these two clubs. The 2007 Ducks team lost Gm. 1 before taking that series in six games. Winning that series helped to propel the Ducks onto their first ever Stanley Cup title.
I thinks it's imperative that Anaheim goes for it tonight. A team with the pedigree of the Detroit Red Wings is never down or out. The Ducks will need a big-time effort from Hiller and I believe some of the big guns need to get involved offensively.
Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and Saku Koivu were the Ducks top four scorers during the regular season. In Gm. 1 they combined for one assist. Boudreau and company will need a better showing from that group if they want to take a stranglehold on this series.
Despite being down 1-0 Detroit seems to be feeling good about themselves. I'm sure most f you saw the pictures of the Wings players playing soccer outside of Anaheim Ice. (Can you imagine driving by and seeing that?)
The picture should of held the caption, "Do we look worried?"
I think it's important for the Ducks to score the first goal again tonight. Not only can Anaheim feed off of the crowd's energy, but it is always better to play with the lead in the playoffs. Plus, it could get some doubt to start creeping into the back of Detroit's mind.
The Ducks will have to be better on the PK. Anaheim was 13th in the league during the regular season and Detroit scored their only goal with a man advantage. This could be a difference maker for the Wings if Anaheim's PP cools off and the 5 on 5 play remains tightly contested.
LET'S GO DUCKS!
One down, 15 to go!
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