WCQF Game 4: Ducks Strike Back, Take 3-2 Series Lead in OT Win
By Jamie Clarke
OVERALL RECAP
This series has been one of the best back and forth series we’ve been witnessing over the course of the playoffs. Despite being the higher seeded team, the Ducks have been the underdogs because…well…they’re playing the Detroit Red Wings. After a gutsy Detroit win in Game 4, the Ducks needed to bounce back in game 5, and thanks to a few extra minutes on the game clock were able to do that.
May 8, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) following the game winning goal scored by center Nick Bonino (13) against the Detroit Red Wings during the over time period in game five of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
GAME RECAP
Chalk it up to karma that the first goal goes in the net. 2 Goalie Interference calls against the Ducks to start the game and it was only a matter of time before the Ducks had a price to pay. Johan Franzen was that price. Banging a puck in at the side of the net, the Red Wings would take an early 1-0 lead 5 minutes into the game. Then, because Jimmy Howard is a vengeful God, he point blank robs Corey Perry (you may remember him from the goalie interference call) keeping this game at. In the last few minutes of the period though, the Ducks would strike back. Off a zone face Kyle Palmieri takes the puck to a low percentage area and fires, beating Jimmy Howard, who is a vengeful, but not infallible God.
Half way through the second period, despite being outshot, the Red Wings find themselves on a 2-1 break. Jonas Hiller would turn aside the original shot, but kicks the rebound almost directly onto the stick of Mikael Samuelsson. Wasting no time, the game is 2-1 Detroit. In the last minute of the period Ryan Getzlaf would handcuff Howard and knot this game up. Despite a 5 minute powerplay in the second, Detroit could not extend their lead, and now this game is going into the third tied. Despite a called off goal, the third period would solve nothing and this game was heading into overtime, because someone somewhere still had nails that needed biting.
Overtime wouldn’t need much though. Less than 2 minutes into the additional frame Nick Bonino was left alone at the side of the net with the puck sitting on his stick. After a great setup pass from Ben Lovejoy, Bonino would bury it and much like the score of the game, the Ducks would take a 3-2 series lead.
SENSHOT 3 STARS
1 – Nick Bonino
2 – Ryan Getlaf