#2 DETROIT RED WINGS (4-3) over the #8 ANAHEIM DUCKS (3-4) 4-3
Dan Cleary scores the game winning goal to send Detroit back to the Western Conference Finals
(Photo Credit: AP)
by Andrew Bogusch
In a series long on star power, grizzled veteran Dan Cleary scored the series-clinching goal for the Red Wings in Game 7. Cleary forced the puck through Jonas Hiller with three minutes left in the game to send Detroit to its third straight Western Conference finals and end a fitting series between the last two Stanley Cup winners. Five of the seven contests were one-goal games, including that triple-overtime affair in Game 2 and culminating with Thursday’s drama at Joe Louis Arena. “It was the best series I’ve ever been in,” Detroit head coach Mike Babcock said.
This is the farthest a defending champion has gone in its title defense since the Avalanche reached the final four as well in 2002. The Red Wings will face the Blackhawks next in their first postseason meeting in 14 years. “Most teams that have won the Stanley Cup don’t even get here,” Babcock said. “For us to be in this position is a real positive, but we have a hungry Chicago team waiting for us.”
A hungry Anaheim team almost stole Game 7 in enemy territory, rallying from a 3-1 deficit late in the second period. Corey Perry’s power-play marker with 2:50 left in the middle frame started the comeback. Bobby Ryan completed it at 7:37 of the third off a pretty feed from Perry. But the next goal came off a Red Wing stick. Henrik Zetterberg flipped the pick on net from the right wing corner, and it appeared Jonas Hiller would make the save. But Cleary was able to force the puck from under Hiller’s pad into the net for the game-winner. Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle thought there should have been a whistle, but kept himself in check with reporters after the game.
Jiri Hudler (PP), Darren Helm and Mikael Samuelsson helped the Red Wings build their 3-1 lead. Teemu Selanne scored the first Anaheim goal by tucking a loose puck around the left post at 14:50 of the second. He and the Ducks had an early chance for momentum, but they failed to score on a 70-second 5-on-3 power play in the opening minutes of the game.
The Red Wings are now 3-2 all-time in playoff meetings with Anaheim. This will be their eighth trip to the conference finals in 14 years.
Game 1 with Chicago is Sunday afternoon on NBC.
Dan Cleary scores the game winning goal to send Detroit back to the Western Conference Finals
(Photo Credit: AP)
by Andrew Bogusch
In a series long on star power, grizzled veteran Dan Cleary scored the series-clinching goal for the Red Wings in Game 7. Cleary forced the puck through Jonas Hiller with three minutes left in the game to send Detroit to its third straight Western Conference finals and end a fitting series between the last two Stanley Cup winners. Five of the seven contests were one-goal games, including that triple-overtime affair in Game 2 and culminating with Thursday’s drama at Joe Louis Arena. “It was the best series I’ve ever been in,” Detroit head coach Mike Babcock said.
This is the farthest a defending champion has gone in its title defense since the Avalanche reached the final four as well in 2002. The Red Wings will face the Blackhawks next in their first postseason meeting in 14 years. “Most teams that have won the Stanley Cup don’t even get here,” Babcock said. “For us to be in this position is a real positive, but we have a hungry Chicago team waiting for us.”
A hungry Anaheim team almost stole Game 7 in enemy territory, rallying from a 3-1 deficit late in the second period. Corey Perry’s power-play marker with 2:50 left in the middle frame started the comeback. Bobby Ryan completed it at 7:37 of the third off a pretty feed from Perry. But the next goal came off a Red Wing stick. Henrik Zetterberg flipped the pick on net from the right wing corner, and it appeared Jonas Hiller would make the save. But Cleary was able to force the puck from under Hiller’s pad into the net for the game-winner. Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle thought there should have been a whistle, but kept himself in check with reporters after the game.
Jiri Hudler (PP), Darren Helm and Mikael Samuelsson helped the Red Wings build their 3-1 lead. Teemu Selanne scored the first Anaheim goal by tucking a loose puck around the left post at 14:50 of the second. He and the Ducks had an early chance for momentum, but they failed to score on a 70-second 5-on-3 power play in the opening minutes of the game.
The Red Wings are now 3-2 all-time in playoff meetings with Anaheim. This will be their eighth trip to the conference finals in 14 years.
Game 1 with Chicago is Sunday afternoon on NBC.
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