Round2 Game 4 Preview- Anaheim Vs. Detroit

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - It is rare for the Detroit Red Wings to lose three straight in the postseason, but when it happens it is usually at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks took their first lead over the Red Wings in the Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory in Game 3. Anaheim could take control against the defending Stanley Cup champions on Thursday night if they win again on home ice. That would give the Ducks a 3-1 edge before the series shifts back to Detroit for Game 5.

Detroit hasn't lost three straight playoff games since 2007 when the Ducks did it to them in the conference finals en route to their Cup championship. Anaheim also swept Detroit in a first-round series in 2003.

A slow start on Thursday could put the second-seeded Red Wings into a deep hole against surging Anaheim. The Ducks are gaining confidence daily as they build off their first-round elimination of the Presidents' Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks.

Capitals/Penguins Playoff Gear "We have stay out of the penalty box early on against them and we have to get our legs going early in the game," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "They've had some power plays early on that have given them some momentum, whether they score or not."

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock would also like to see more early spark from his team. Detroit is trying to become the first NHL team to repeat as Cup champion since the Red Wings did it in 1998.

"We have to get started on time," he said. "The last two games, if I'm not mistaken, we had a power play right at the start of the game, both power plays I thought we were uneasy."

Detroit has outshot the Ducks 80-34 in the third period and overtime, but the Red Wings have scored only twice against stingy goalie Jonas Hiller during that time.

"We did lots of good stuff, we just have to keep going and keep grinding," said Detroit forward Marian Hossa, whose potential tying goal with 1:09 left Tuesday was waved off because the referee lost sight of the puck. "There are lots of loose pucks and rebounds. We just have to keep after them. Sooner or later a rebound will come to us and we'll put it in."

While Babcock indicated the Red Wings will not make any lineup changes for Game 4, the Ducks could be without James Wisniewski. The defenseman was hospitalized Tuesday night because of a bruised lung. Wisniewski was struck in the chest by Pavel Datsyuk's slap shot during the second period and was taken off the ice on a stretcher.

Wisniewski has meshed with the Ducks' veteran defensemen since being acquired from Chicago in a March 4 trade.

"He stepped in and played an important role for the team since he got here," said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer, who will likely increase his already heavy workload if Wisniewski sits out. "He was a guy who was out killing penalties and on the power play. He plays in all situations."

Anaheim could look to add to the lineup a young defenseman such as Brendan Mikkelson, Brett Festerling or Brian Salcido. Veteran Bret Hedican remains sidelined with a back injury.

"We'll have to make adjustments and find a way to get it done," Niedermayer said.

The Ducks were also angered by Tomas Holmstrom's elbow to Wisniewski's head just seconds after Wisniewski was hurt by Datsyuk's shot.

"What would you think if you were doubled over and gasping for air and someone gives you an elbow in the side of the head. How would you feel," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said.

Niedermayer was careful not to unload his feelings about the hit.

"I have a couple answers, but I'll stick with a boring one," he said. "Everyone is definitely responsible for what they are doing out there. You make decisions about how you are going to act and carry yourself. I haven't seen what happened, but if that is what happened, you be the judge."

Holmstrom denied intentionally nailing Wisniewski with his elbow.

"I had no idea I hit him," Holmstrom said. "I didn't see him, I had no idea he was behind me."

Babcock also downplayed the hit.

"From my perspective when I'm watching this series, come on, it's like a rodeo after every whistle," he said. "Every whistle could be a penalty. I don't know how one play would be anything."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2008030234

This game is game on or game over for the Wings. They need to play a full 60 minute of hockey and crash the net hard. Whoever wins this game tonight, will win the series. Some good news tho for Wings fans, Brad Watson is not in the line up for the Ducks tonight ;)

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!

It's Duck hunting season!!!

It's official! The Detroit Red Wings will be facing the Anaheim Ducks in round 2 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last night the Ducks beat the first place, San Jose Sharks, 4-1 in game 6 of round 1.

Let me tell you, I am ready for some Red Wings playoff hockey and some duck hunting. Haha! Once all series for the first round are over, I will post my results from the first round and make my picks for the second round. I will also post the schedule for round 2 when that becomes available.

DETROIT -- The Anaheim Ducks aren't the same team the Detroit Red Wings faced during the regular season.

They have a revamped defense, one of the best in the NHL. They have a different starting goaltender in Jonas Hiller, one of the hottest in the league.

Anaheim is the eighth seed in the Western Conference, but not a typical eighth seed, as the Presidents' Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks discovered.

The Ducks eliminated San Jose from the first round of the playoffs Monday with a 4-1 victory in Game 6.

It sets up a second-round matchup against the Red Wings in a battle between the past two Stanley Cup winners. The Red Wings anticipate Games 1 and 2 to take place Friday and Sunday at Joe Louis Arena.

"They were struggling a little bit in the regular season, that's why they ended up eighth, but they definitely are a higher-ranked team than that," Detroit center Henrik Zetterberg said. "It's always good games when we play each other."

The Red Wings won the season series 3-0-1, outscoring the Ducks 15-11.

But since the teams last met Feb. 20, a 5-2 victory for Detroit at home, the Ducks have made significant changes.

They added defensemen Ryan Whitney (from Pittsburgh for forward Chris Kunitz) and James Wisniewski (from Chicago for forward Samuel Pahlsson) via trades and welcomed back defenseman Francois Beauchemin, who missed most of the season with a torn knee ligament.

They join a pair of Norris Trophy winners -- the punishing, 6-foot-6 Chris Pronger and the speedy Scott Niedermayer -- to form a formidable top five.

"When you add Wisniewski, Beauchemin and Whitney to your blue line for the last 15 games, they're feeling better," Red Wings forward Dan Cleary said. "They got a great defense and Hiller's been great."

Hiller, in just his second season, snatched the starting job from 2003 playoff MVP Jean-Sebastien Giguere late in the season. Hiller posted a pair of shutouts in the first round.

"He's a big, butterfly guy," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "He's on his knees all the time, but he's tall enough and he stays upright enough that he seems to be able to cover the net."

The Ducks have one of the most dominant lines in the league, with Ryan Getzlaf centering Corey Perry and rookie scoring leader Bobby Ryan.

"Their ability to cycle the puck -- they're big, strong, shoot it, pass it, they read each other well -- it's going to be a great challenge for us," Cleary said. "They play pretty edgy. The team that's more disciplined will win."

Perry was undisciplined on Monday, elbowing San Jose's Jonathan Cheechoo in the head in the first period, a hit that might earn him a suspension.

Zetterberg's line, with Johan Franzen and Cleary, most likely will be matched up against the Ducks' big line.

"I don't know if they're that big," Zetterberg said.

The Ducks are big, physical and fast (Teemu Selanne is on their second line), and Pronger is sure to renew acquaintances with his net-front nemesis Tomas Holmstrom. But they are not nearly as deep at forward as Detroit.

Anaheim has won the past two playoff meetings against the Red Wings, eliminating them in six games in the 2007 Western Conference finals and sweeping them in the first round in 2003.

"They have a great No. 1 line, one of the best lines in hockey," Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood said. "They're a quicker team now. Since Beauchemin's been back, he's solidified their defense. Their goalie's playing great, but they're doing a good job of clearing guys up front. The battle's going to be won in the trenches, in front of our net and their net."

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2009/04/red_wings_to_face_anaheim_duck.html

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!