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NHL Playoffs: Did Jonas Hiller Lose Starting Job After Five Goal Night?

By Josh Hill

May 2, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) defends the goal against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period in game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) defends the goal against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period in game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 2, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) defends the goal against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period in game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) defends the goal against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period in game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

The Anaheim Ducks came into the NHL Playoffs the Western Conference’s 2-seed, but they didn’t look the part in a nasty 5-4 slugfest with the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night. The biggest cause for concern after the series tying loss was the play of netminder Jonas Hiller, who has now allowed six goals in the Ducks first two games against Detroit, which has many folks in Anaheim sweating bullets.

Viktor Fasth is the Ducks other goalie, and it’s very likely that the 30-year old rookie will get the nod in net when the Ducks and Red Wings drop the puck in Game 3 on Saturday in Detroit.

To add to things, Fasth was much better in the regular season for Anaheim and a breath of fresh air never hurt anyone, especially when it’s a razor thin line between making a run in the NHL Playoffs and being eliminated.

Hiller did earn the trust of Ducks management down the stretch of the season, and it’s not as though he was awful during the season. Hiller was given the nod in net for Games one and two for a reason, and there is no guarantee that he’ll be replaced in goal for Game 3.

But Anaheim can’t afford another five goal meltdown by Hiller and he’s averaging three goals per game at the moment. Having Fasth in their back pocket as another option is something that will ease thoughts in Anaheim, but the verdict may still not be in on Hiller’s future in net. Perhaps all he needs is a night off to get his head straight and take a breather, but if another meltdown occurs and it happens in Detroit, the Ducks will quickly have their backs against an uncomfortable wall and Hiller will be skating on thin ice.

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