It was the matchup that was going to be the hardest to call in the first round in the West. The Ducks finished second overall and looked strong, but the Red Wings in the playoffs are an entirely different beast than the regular season. Thanks to Henrik Zetterberg getting back his scoring touch and the return of Justin Abdelkader last game, the Wings down the Ducks 3-2 in the game, and 4-3 in the series

May 12, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; The Detroit Red Wings celebrate after the game against the Anaheim Ducks in game seven of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Honda Center. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

Detroit came out into this game buzzing. 1:49 into the first frame a point shot would be stop by the mass of bodies in front of Jonas Hiller, as they almost always are now. From that shot a loose puck would spring into the slot to the waiting Henrik Zetterberg who would snap it into the back of the net, 1-0 Wings. A Dan Cleary boarding penalty over half way through the first would give the Ducks at chance to even this up. In the remaining second of the power play, Emerson Etem breaks into the zone and rips one passed Jimmy Howard after the penalty had expire. No power play goal, but this game is tied 1-1. Wiht just under 5 to go in the period, Justin Abdelkader would intercept a cross ice pass and break in on the Ducks shorthanded. Not wasting his opportunity he goes 5 hole, giving the Wings back the lead into the dressing rooms.

The second period was defined by pressure. Both teams came out strong and fast trying to get this game even, or put it away. 13 minutes into the frame it would be the  Wings that strike though. A backhand from Valtteri Filppula would beat Hiller, giving the Red Wings a 3-1 lead heading in to the third period.

While the second period was pressure, the third was defensive work. A combined total of 13 shots on net this period. A puck flipped over the glass by Zetterberg means with under 5 remaining the Ducks would take to the power play. 30 seconds into it, Francois Beauchemin would fire a backhand from just above the goal line that would deflect in front of the Wings net and in behind Howard. All the sudden this game was within 1, but time was ticking down. Unfortunately for the Ducks, time was not on their side as the Wings hang on through the final few minutes to advance to the Second Round.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1 – Henrik Zetterberg

2 – Emerson Etem

3 – Jimmy Howard

Game 6. In Detroit. Detroit on the verge of elimination. I wouldn’t want to be the Anaheim Ducks either. When said elimination game goes into overtime, there’s no team I would want to be in that arena playing the Wings. The Wings would climb aboard the back of Henrik Zetterberg who nets the OT winner taking this series back to Anaheim for the first game 7 of the playoffs.

May 10, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg (40) is is mobbed by teammates after scoring a goal in overtime against the Anaheim Ducks in game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

With 18 shots going either way in the first period the action was there. The crowd was in it and the game was going great. From the opening puck drop this looked like it was going to be Jonas Hiller vs Jimmy Howard to see who would determine the end of the game. Then Pavel Datsyuk decided he didn’t like that game. Dangling his way out from the sideboard, Datsyuk wove his way through defenders with a…well…Datsyukian rhythm. Pulling a scrum with him to the high slot Datsyuk fired a backhand through the crowd and Hiller, giving the Wings a 1-0 lead with a minute remaining in the first.

Starting off the second it looked like this game was about to be all tied up. On a 2 on 1 break, Teemu Selanne gets absolutely stonewalled by the pads of Jimmy Howard, keeping this game at 1-0. However just over the halfway mark in the period Kyle Palmieri plays a little game of trickshot from the edge of the circles. His shot beats Howard cleanly, but finds the post, shooting out directly off the body of Brendan Smith, and bouncing back into the net. The Ducks tie the game at 1.

Just over 5 minutes into the third period, Zetterberg decides that game 6 is a reasonable time for him to start scoring. From the point on the power play, Hank fires a shot through a crowd, beating Hiller. 4 minutes later Justin Abdelkader, back from his 2 game suspension would turn and fire a puck on net, deflecting off Dan Cleary and in behind Hiller, making it 3-1. The Ducks however would respond. Minutes later Emerson Etem would pull the Ducks within 1. And only a minute after the Etem goal, Bobby Ryan would tie this game up. The final minutes of the third solved nothing, and with everyone in Detroit biting their nails, this game was heading to OT.

The Red Wings would waste no time in the extra frame. From exactly the same spot he scored his first goal, Henrik Zetterberg unloaded a shot making it 4-3 Red Wings, and forcing a game 7 in Anaheim.

SENSHOT 3 STARS

1 – Henrik Zetterberg

2 – Pavel Datsyuk

3 – Emerson Etem