The Red Wings will not be intimidated by the Ducks
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by user Leslie Monteiro
Detroit sports fans are living a charmed life right now.
The Pistons have yet to lose a playoff game, the Tigers are playing well as they defeated Johan Santana and the freefalling Twins 6-3 last night, and now the Red Wings are just seven wins away from winning the Stanley Cup.
The Red Wings somehow were able to score two goals last night against the Ducks last night. Anytime a team can score against them is a good accomplishment. It was good enough to win Game 1 as they take a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals.
The Anaheim Ducks have gotten by in the playoffs because the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks simply could not match well with them.
The Ducks were too big and strong for those two teams to keep up.
The Red Wings may be the one team that could handle the Ducks physical style of play.
It showed last night as they were able to get through the Ducks territory often in Game 1.
They got guys who can push right back against the defensemen. They can crash into goaltenders as they did to Giguere last night.
When a team have guys like Chris Chelios, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Kirk Maltby that can do those things, they are in a better position to beat a team like the Ducks.
It was because of that the Wings special teams were able to have success.
The Ducks were able to receive a taste of their own medicine after dishing out so many cheap shot hits towards their opponents in the first two rounds. It is about time that they got theirs.
The two goals that the Wings scored was ugly, but then again what goal is pretty in the playoffs. Most of the time, the NHL playoffs feature goals that are either flukes or by a team turning the puck over.
Henrik Zetterberg's goal was assisted by the help of Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin.
It seemed Beauchemin was going to use his skate to block the shot, but instead his skate became a bridge for the puck to go through the net.
It gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead to start the game. This lead was huge because it was a confidence builder and a momentum builder for them especially against a team who gets better as the game goes on.
The Ducks tied it up at 1 on Chris Kunitz's shot.
With 4:54 to go in the third period, the play of the game took place. Lidstrom hit the puck high as Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere caught the puck.
Giguere could not hold on the to the puck though as Tomas Holmstrom was able to push him and then put the puck in the net.
Game, Set, and Match.
The Wings can thank their goaltender, Dominik Hasek for putting them in this position at the third period. He was great out there.
Ducks were able to fire shots after shots yet he found a way to make all the saves. He had 34 saves in this game.
Hasek has been a good story in the playoffs. Everyone thought he was washed up.
He certainly has played like it in the last few years. He was thought to be the missing piece for the Ottawa Senators.
The Senators were a goaltender away from winning the trophy. Unfortunately for him and the Senators, it never happened so the Senators are now trying Ray Emery as their goaltender to help them get that elusive Cup.
The Red Wings were desperate for a goaltender so they took a chance on Hasek.
He has not disappoint at all.
He has done his job. He has been a big reason why the Wings are in a position to get the Stanley Cup.
He has certainly found the Fountain of Youth.
This is going to be a great series. Detroit showed that they are not going to back down from the Ducks and their goon tactics.
It is about time that someone stood up to the Ducks.
