WCQF Game 4: Down To The Wire Thrill Ride, Wings Clip Ducks 3-2 in OT

OVERALL RECAP

After the thumping that Anaheim laid on the Detroit Red Wings to open the Detroit home stand, this was a game Detroit needed to bounce back from. They’ve looked to be the weaker team through the entire series, with some serious cracks beginning to show in the grand illusion of the Detroit Red Wings. This bounce back game for the Red Wings went into the OT, and of a rebound on a breakaway, Detroit tied the series at 2.

May 6, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) center Henrik Zetterberg (40) and right wing Daniel Cleary (11) celebrate a overtime goal by center Damien Brunner (not pictured) in game four of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

With the need to bounce back and keep this series from getting out of reach. While the Red Wings had the early pressure in this game, it was the Ducks that struck first. 5 Minutes into the game Matt Beleskey put home his second of the series after following his rebound for 2 or 3 separate chances, giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead. The Wings outshot and outchanced the Ducks, but Anaheim were the only ones capable of capitalizing on their opportunities.

While almost doubling up on shots in the first period, the Red Wings would go on to actually double up the Ducks in the second period. While no pucks found their way in to the back of the net, the Red Wings were buzzing in this period. Credit goes to both Jimmy Howard and Jonas Hiller in this game, some great goaltending through period 2.

The third period got off to the start that Detroit was looking for. 1:18 into the period Brendan Smith puts the puck in the net and all the sudden Detroit erupts and this game is tied. After outshooting the Ducks fairly drastically through the game, this seemed like the opportunity to jump on the shift in momentum. Unfortunately for Detroit they were playing, and the Ducks didn’t feel like playing that game. Half way through the period, it looked as though Emerson Etem put in his second of the series, but the goal was credited to David Steckel and the Ducks took the lead back. Bouncing back like they’d done early in the game, the Wings, led by Pavel Datsyuk got this game tied up and taken in to OT. The Datsyuk goal by the way, was a pure beauty shot, top shelf and it looked like it flipped a switch sending every single person in that arena to their feet.

In OT, the Wings were the clear runners of the puck. Momentum and control where theirs and they took full advantage. The pluggers were getting it down for them, as Gustav Nyquist burst through some defenders on a break. While Nyquist was stopped, the juicy rebound was left wide open on the door step for Damien Brunner who buried it. With the series tied at 2m this heads back to Anaheim and looks like it might be going the distance.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1 – Damien Brunner

2 – Pavel Datsyuk

3 – Brendan Smith