Red Wings vs. Ducks Final Score: Detroit Evens Series with OT Win over Anaheim
By Josh Hill
The Detroit Red Wings are no strangers to postseason hockey but they’re without their safety net of Hall of Fame talent this year which is one reason why the Anaheim Ducks were favored so heavily to beat them in their opening round series. But this is a Red Wings team committed to their heritage of winning, and that winning has tied this series with the Ducks 3-3 and forced a Game 7 to decide who moves on and who goes home.
For the Ducks, it would mean staying home as the series now heads back to Anaheim. Despite being the 2-seed in the Western Conference, the Ducks have found themselves locked in bitter battles with the Wings so far this postseason and the loss in Game 6 was one that might leave a bitter taste in their mouths heading into the elimination game.
Jonas Hiller had another awful night between the pipes, allowing four goals and bringing his playoff total to now 15 goals in six games. The Ducks thought about replacing Hiller with rookie backup Viktor Fasth but elected to go with Hiller in all six games so far in the series. Being that he’s been the netminder the while series, both at it’s good moments and bad, Hiller might get the nod again in Game 7 based on experience alone.
The Wings would love that, but they’re not out of the woods just because they tied the series up. Detroit penetrated Hiller’s defense 4 times on Friday night but it comes on the heels of 3-2 loss. So while the Wings got through Hiller enough times on Friday, they needed overtime to do it meaning the win wasn’t a dominating one.
Still, the NHL Playoffs are all about momentum and the Red Wings not only have that at the moment, but they have a lineup that is learning to win together in the playoffs. Detroit teams of past skated by on depth along with talent, but so far talent alone seems to be doing them just fine.