Ducks turning back the clock

Say what you want about the Alex Ovechkin-Sidney Crosby duel going on, the most remarkable story of these playoffs is being written by the Anaheim Ducks.

This is an eighth seed team after all -- obviously not a typical one considering all the holdovers from its Stanley Cup winning roster two years ago -- but the Ducks were generally written off as late as the trade deadline and needed to scratch and claw just to get to the playoffs. Now they're setting the stage for a second straight major upset.

Anaheim still has its hands full against the Detroit Red Wings. But after eliminating the Presidents' Trophy winning San Jose Sharks in the first round, and beating Detroit 2-1 tonight, can anyone argue that Anaheim isn't good enough to beat the defending Stanley Cup champs in this series and go all the way? The Ducks are big, they're physical, they have two Norris Trophy winners and future Hall of Famers patrolling the blue line and they get the scoring they need when it counts.

Oh yes, they have the hottest goaltender around these days in Jonas Hiller. Hiller had what may have been his best game so far, stopping 45 shots, 34 of them in the last two periods as the Ducks took a 2-1 lead in the series.

Anaheim caught a big break as well in the dying minutes of the game thanks to a ridiculously quick whistle that robbed Detroit of what should have been the tying goal. Referee Brad Watson blew the play dead after losing sight of the puck, but Hiller never had control of it before Marian Hossa tapped it in. Still, as Hiller noted later, teams that play a full 60 minutes earn their breaks and the Ducks certainly did tonight.

The Red Wings, meanwhile showed up as well, but the frustration level is starting to show, especially because Hossa and Pavel Datsyuk have yet to score in this series and they are not making Anaheim pay for penalties. Detroit is clearly feeling the absence of power play quarterback Brian Rafalski along the blue line, particularly since it means extra ice time for Chris Chelios, who is looking more like a 47 year old with each passing game.

But Chelios isn't the story right now. Hiller is and that's why the Ducks are becoming one too.

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joker47 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 27, 2008	Posted on: May 8, 2009 1:17 pm Score: 82 Ducks turning back the clock 6-3 final, told ya yopur article was garbage. Respect the Wings. Stop writing garbage. Im sure you will write another crap article about how the same ole wings dominate blah blah blah. [ Reply to Comment ]
htrain54 Reputation: 88 Level: All-Star Since: May 6, 2009	Posted on: May 7, 2009 2:25 pm Score: -121 Ducks turning back the clock DUCKS ARE GOING UP 3-1 TONITE!!!! I HOPE PARROS PLAYS AND GIVES HOMER A HAPPY ELBOW JUST LIKE HOMER DID TO WISNEWSKI!!! GO DUCKS. RED WINGS = LIL GIRLS [ Reply to Comment ]
FSU-12 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 18, 2006	Posted on: May 7, 2009 12:26 pm Score: 128 Ducks turning back the clock Eventhough, I'm a huge Detroit fan. Teemu is my favorite player and has been since he came into the league. In his rookie year scoring 76 goals. The first game i saw him play, the puck just exploded off his stick and his speed was amazing. He is absolutely amazing. I am so happy that his knees aren't bothering him anymore, so he can play at his best. I could go on forever about stats, plays, etc., it's nice to see I'm not the only who see's a quality player. [ Reply to Comment ]
Kozlovred13 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Apr 29, 2008	Posted on: May 6, 2009 9:38 pm Score: 152 Ducks turning back the clock Cry me a river. One bad call, and you want the whole way the league operates to change? Give me a break. Where were your tears when the Blues game-tying goal was not counted because the referee "intended" to blow the whistle? It happens, get over it. You give the proof that it was not "one bad call" since you bring up the first occurance of this costing a team in this year's playoffs. Certainly something needs to be done when two game are altered so drastically by the officials making a bad call. The NFL addressed the issue after the season based off a single call in the regular season game between San Diego and Denver. Should the NHL overlook an issue with the manner in which their official's poor judgement or positioning cost two teams that deserved better? [ Reply to Comment ]
Gerbelhater Reputation: 91 Level: All-Star Since: Feb 4, 2008	Posted on: May 6, 2009 9:14 pm Score: 99 Ducks turning back the clock ; You should be fired as a hockey fan. As a fan of hockey, I will say that the Red Wings got burned by a bad call and up to that point had earned A CHANCE to play for the win in overtime by really stepping up the offensive pressure during the second half of the game. But it is equally arrogant ( as you think this articles was irresponsible ) to assume that the call cost you the game. What cost the Red Wings that game is their ineptness at scoring during the power play. What defined the game as much as a bad call was Hiller outplaying Osgood AGAIN. Two, late 3rd period power plays on blatent penalties by the Ducks that Detroit couldn't net a goal off of? Are you kidding me? The Ducks are turning back the clock with solid goaltending and a prevent defense that the #1 seed San Jose couldnt completely bust through. It's the same defensive scheme that has challenged and thwarted so many other vaunted offenses in the playoffs in recent years past. But what I find almost humerous is that the goal that Red Wing fans are bitching about was a tieing goal, not a winning goal. And may I remind you that statistically, regardless of how good the Red Wings play the Ducks at any given point, the Ducks have made a bitch out of Detroit in overtime. When was the last time the Red Wings ever won a game in overtime in the playoffs against the Ducks. RED WING FANS...YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO WINS. A BAD CALL MAY HAVE COST YOU THE CHANCE TO COMPETE LOINGER, BUT NOT DEFINITELY NOT CERTAIN VICTORY ( especially considering the Wings troubles againt Anaheim in overtime ). Luckily, idiots like you don't play this game...the utmost class of professional players on the Red Wings do, and they aren't gonna let it get in their heads enough for this series to turn on that call. Get the powerplay working stronger, Osgood check yourself, get the legs started a little earlier in games offensively, and the Red Wings still have just as much chance to win this series than they did yesterday. [ Reply to Comment ]
bsktbllscks Reputation: 64 Level: Pro Since: Apr 4, 2009	Posted on: May 6, 2009 7:53 pm Score: 26 Ducks turning back the clock "You will be eating your words shortly." The article doesn't say the Ducks will win the series, it just mentions how they are playing well enough and that they MIGHT/COULD win the series if they keep this up. No one thought they'd be up two games to one. So Chill. [ Reply to Comment ]
eastbayroths Reputation: 91 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 18, 2008	Posted on: May 6, 2009 7:38 pm Score: 112 Ducks turning back the clock Yo homey! Try spell and grammar check! It's hard to tell you are a Wings' fan. Look it up - a puck must be over the line to count as a goal so while you check your spelling and grammer, check your eyesight too. Want any whine for that beer? You cannot re-blow a blown whistle. An awful lot of the Wings' shots are straight on and easy to stop. Volume does not mean quality. [ Reply to Comment ]
Ulfric Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 27, 2007	Posted on: May 6, 2009 6:39 pm Score: 111 Ducks turning back the clock this is stupid. it the ref doesn't blow the whistle detroit probably wins that game. they would b up 2-1 and no one would be saying anything about the #8 seed ducks. the wings were robbed and hockey is a joke. What a crock, if the goal stood, it would have went to OT, no guarantee of a Detroit win bucko. OT is a crap shoot, and the Ducks won an OT game in hockeytown. The only thing that could be said is the Wings got robbed at a chance for OT, but not winning the game, that would have been up for grabs. I still remember the game 7 Devils/Canes, it looked like Devils had it, then looked like OT, and bam, game ended with a Canes win in the last 30 seconds of regulation due to the goal, that no one saw coming. Detroit is a great team, but that doesn't guarantee nothing in the playoffs, you have to earn the right to play for the cup, and so far all Detroit has earned is a 2 to 1 deficit, with another game on the road coming up. [ Reply to Comment ]
northtowntv Reputation: 85 Level: All-Star Since: May 30, 2007	Posted on: May 6, 2009 4:53 pm Score: 2 Ducks turning back the clock Classy ending to your comment...I hope you feel better now about yourself. [ Reply to Comment ]
Dfelipe21 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 1, 2008	Posted on: May 6, 2009 4:03 pm Score: 127 Ducks turning back the clock I'm a bandwagoner? Should I move to Michigan simply to justify my status as a Red Wings fan TO YOU? Does not living in the Detroit area make my analysis and opinions less relevant? I was rooting for the Wings in the early 1990s when they were annually flaming out in the first round...was there rooting for them again in the 95 finals when the Devils swept them...was still there rooting for them through the first two Cup wins as well as the subsequent asskickings they got in the first round the following years. I try not to resort to personal judements or statements on these boards but quite frankly, some of these replies (including yours) are truly idiotic. Stick with the Lakers...you don't know d-ck about hockey. [ Reply to Comment ]

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