The NHL announced the three finalists for the coach of the year award (the Jack Adams trophy).  Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau is one of the three, the first time a Ducks coach has been nominated.   Joel Quenneville (Chicago) and Paul MacLean (Ottawa) are the other two finalists.

The criteria for the award is the coach who has  “contributed the most to his team’s success.”  The NHL Broadcasters’ Association votes on this award.

Boudreau has been nominated before and won the award in the 2007-2008 season as head of the Washington Capitals.

"He's a players' coach," said Teemu Selanne.  "He makes everybody feel very important.  Everybody just [loves] to play for him."

Boudreau took over as coach in December 2011, succeeding Randy Carlyle in the position.  His turnaround was almost immediate.  This season he helped lead the Ducks to the Pacific Division title and the second seed in the Western Conference.  It was their best finish since winning the Stanley Cup six years ago.   The Ducks missed the playoffs last year.

"I was very surprised," said Boudreau.  "It’s a great honor. It’s hard coming on the heels of probably your most depressing moment in a year, when you’re still decompressing from losing in the playoffs. It’s certainly a great honor. I just know how many great coaches there are in this league, and how many great jobs were done by coaches this year. To be picked out as one of three is, I don’t know the right word, but it brings you down to earth. It’s a great compliment."

What are his odds of winning the award this time around, considering his competition?  Not very good, if you believe Boudreau.

"I’m just happy to be involved," Boudreau said.  "It would be a really nice thing, but just to have your name mentioned among those guys, and the guys who weren’t mentioned who had great years and could very easily be here, it’s really an honor. I humbly accept the honor. But sometimes, it overwhelms me."

The winner will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final.
 

Tuesday at the Honda Center was spent on exit interviews for players rather than prepping for a game in round two of the playoffs.  The Ducks would much rather have been anticipating the Los Angeles Kings than cleaning out lockers.

GM Bob Murray, who was nominated for GM of the year, actually spoke to the media.  Murray, unlike Brian Burke, speaks rarely and often looks annoyed that he has to talk to the press as part of his job.

Murray was unhappy with the results of the first round loss against the Detroit Red Wings and felt more toughness was in order for his team.

:I am upset," said Murray.  "I'm still old school.  (Justin) Abdelkader does what he does to Toni (Lydman) and there's no reaction.  I don't accept that.  There should've been reaction.  We have plenty of players in that dressing room that are capable of reacting.  It's a team attitude.  We need more pushback.  There wasn't enough."

Lydman suffered a head injury and recurring headaches as a result of Abdelkader's hit to the head in game three of the series.  Abdelkader was given a two game suspension. 

“Yesterday was really good,” said Lydman. “It’s off and on, but it’s definitely getting better. It’s good. In normal life I don’t have any problems. The headaches are so minor that I don’t have to worry about it so much.”

Abdelkader may have a bigger headache in facing Chicago in the second round of the playoffs, but at least he is playing.

Lydman was not the only one with injuries.  Ryan Getzlaf was playing on a hobbled ankle since the beginning of April. 

At the beginning of the third period against Dallas on April 3, Getzlaf stepped on his stick that fallen to the ice and tweaked his right leg.  He immediately went to the locker room, but did return to play the remainder fo the game and the remainder of the season.

“We tried to give him rest, but there’s no time to get him rest,” said Murray. “That [injury] didn’t get better.”

There is plenty of time to heal now, but Getzlaf probably won't need as much time as Francois Beauchemin.  

Beauchemin had a terrific season and there was even a smattering of voices saying he was having a Norris Trophy season.  Then things slowed down a bit.  An egregious turnover in game seven that led to an Abdelkader short handed goal was the turning point in the game.

It was revealed that Beauchemin was playing with a torn ACL in his knee for the past month. Beauchemin will have surgery and plans to be ready for training camp.

“He promises me he’ll be ready by the start of the year, and I don’t argue with Beauch,” Murray said wisely. “If he says he’ll be ready, he’ll be ready.”

Beauchemin, 32, tore his left ACL in November 2008 and missed the remainder of the regular season, but was ready to go for the first round of the playoffs in 2009.  No mention has been made which knee has the current problem.

Nick Bonino, who did very well in the playoffs, missed nearly six weeks of the regular season after tearing his hamstring before the game against St. Louis on March 10. 

"I slipped, ripped my right hamstring pretty good, ripped the tendons nearly off the bone," said Bonino, who hurt himself while playing a casual soccer game warm up in the bowels of the Honda Center.

“I’ve healed quickly from stuff before,” said the 25 year old. “We just thought, let’s do some PRP [platelet-rich plasma], some blood therapy and see if we can kind of kick start it and it worked. I was skating in about four, four and a half weeks, and was able to play six weeks to the day. The treatment I got was awesome."

Thank you rehab, because without Bonino the Ducks would have been done much earlier in the first round.

Other injuries were shoulder problems for both Cam Fowler and Kyle Palmieri, and a lower abdominal strain for goaltender Viktor Fasth.    Fasth suffered the injury in practice on March 12 and was only at 80%, perhaps explaining why Jonas Hiller got the nod in net to start round one of the playoffs.

Teemu Selanne was not injured, but at age 42 (43 in July) he is finally slowing down a bit.  Of course a slow Selanne is still scary compared to your average Joe.   Once again, he has his annual decision to make - retire or not to retire?  That is the question.

"I'll be patient," said Selanne.  "This is not the time to think about it.  I need more time. It's about the commitment to training, the dedication.  If I don't have it (the push to play) then I don't play."

Murray will have his work cut out for him in the off season because he has 13 unrestricted free agents to deal with.   He has already re-signed Getzlaf and Corey Perry, but there are still a lot more decisions to be made.

Unfortunately with the Ducks out after round one, there is plenty of time.

The season started so well for the Anaheim Ducks, but the party is over.

On Sunday night the Ducks were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in game seven by a score of 3-2.  Adios first round.  Adios potential match up with the Los Angeles Kings.   Now the Ducks will begin their off season.

“It’s very disappointing," said Teemu Selanne. "We had two chances to close the series, but we couldn’t. The goal was to try and play the best game of the series in this Game 7 and we couldn’t do it. That’s very disappointing. They played well. Credit to those guys, but it’s still very disappointing we couldn’t play our best game tonight.”

Equally disappointing is knowing that Selanne, who will turn 43 in July, may very well retire.  Finally.  This was not the way to go out.

It would have been less painful if the Ducks had played a great game and were merely met by a slightly better opponent.  Game seven wasn't even close.

Henrik Zetterberg scored at 1:44 of the first period, yet another reminder of Anaheim's poor starts to hockey games.

"We wanted to have a good start. Then we just kept kind of playing," said Zetterberg. "There were a few moments where they took over and we were on our heels, but overall I think I made it way more interesting than it should be."

The Ducks fourth line continued to produce like a top line is supposed to.  Emerson Etem got his third of the playoffs at 13:48 to tie up the game.   Too bad his line could not have been cloned, because they could have used a couple more lines with that kind of energy and determination.

The lead did not last too long.  At 16:37 Justin Abdelkader intercepted Francois Beauchemin's errant pass, took off alone down the ice and scored a short handed goal that felt like a knife in the heart.  

In the second period Valteri Filppula added to the Red Wings lead at 13:45 and you knew were the game was headed at that point.   

Beauchemin redeemed himself slightly with a power play goal at 16:44 of the third period, but 3-2 was as close as Anaheim came. 

They just could not muster another one of their miracle come from behind efforts.  The well was just dry. 

 "We've said all year that we can't keep putting ourselves behind the eight-ball," said Ryan Getzlaf.  "Game 7 is a prime example of that. It's tough. Everybody's diving in front of pucks [and stopping them] with the teeth if they have to. It's just a tough way to go."

It was tough all the way around.  

"There's no explanation [for the slow starts]," said Selanne. "That's pretty much our problem all year. If we could fix that one problem, this would be a total different case … we have to learn something from this. I think we deserve better than this, but that's hockey. The playoffs are so much fun, and very disappointing to be out right now in the first round. We were looking forward to go further and enjoy this more, but that's why it's so tough right now. But it's too late now."

Ducks fans deserve better, too.  

In a series between the Ducks and Red Wings that is an evenly matched as it could be, is it any surprise this one is going to a game seven to decide it all?

Both Anaheim and Detroit have been taking turns winning games in the series that has already seen four overtime games out of six.   If game seven goes to OT, it won't be a shocker.  Anaheim has won games one, three and five, with Detroit picking up two, four and six.   Based on the pattern, it's Anaheim's turn, but nothing is a given in this first round match up.

In game six, you knew the Red Wings were going to come hard at the Ducks, especially as they were facing elimination.    By the end of the first period, things had settled down a bit, but Pavel Datsyuk made it 1-0 at 18:48 to give the Red Wings the lead.

Datsyuk drew two Ducks defenders and then shot at the net blindly.  Because Pavel Datsyuk is Pavel Datsyuk, the shot made it in past Jonas Hiller and Datsyuk made it looked easy.

The Ducks had a little luck in the second period, which came because of the fourth line's hard work.  Emerson Etem intercepted a pass from Detroit and got it to Kyle Palmieri.   His shot hit the post then bounced out and hit defenseman Brendan Smith in the stomach and went into the net from there behind Jimmy Howard at 11:31.  It was Palmieri's second goal of the series.

In the third period, everything started off even and then looked as if it had all tilted in Detroit's direction.  A power play goal from Henrik Zetterberg at 6:19 gave Detroit the lead once more. 

After another penalty was called on the Ducks, who received absolutely zero power plays in the entire game, captain Ryan Getzlaf went ballistic at the refs, who seemed to be ignoring anything Detroit might be doing wrong on the ice.

Dan Cleary scored at 11:30, with Justin Abdelkader's shot deflecting off of him and into the net.  Abdelkader was back in the line up after serving a two game suspension for a hard hit to the head to Toni Lydman in game three.  Abdelkader is back, but Lydman isn't even skating or traveling with the team as he is still suffering from the hit.  

The goal gave the Red Wings a two goal lead and it appeared things were going back to Anaheim for a game seven.  It also started to look a little chippy with Cleary poking his stick into the Anaheim bench and the referees doing nothing other than shaking the no-no finger at Cleary. 

Perhaps Cleary's actions finally spurred the Ducks to action, but miracles started to happen.  Etem said "thank you very much" to a turnover by Valterri Filppula and put Anaheim within one goal at 16:32.

Less than a minute later Bobby Ryan tied up the game in spectacular fashion at 17:23, not unlike his heroic efforts in game four.

As they did in game four, those efforts silenced the Joe Louis Arena and once again these two teams headed into overtime. 

"I don't know why we need to be two goals down to finally start playing," said Hiller. "Finally to get pressure on the net, finally going in harder and have that desperation that we lacked a little bit before that."

It didn't last long.  It was all Detroit from the outset of the extra period and Zetterberg scored just 1:04 in to make sure there really was a game seven that Detroit thought there would be earlier in the game. 

"Those two were kind of ugly ones, but that's what you need in the playoffs," said Zetterberg, finally scored in the series.  "We started to feel the frustration when the puck doesn't go in.  We just keep at it, keep shooting the pucks, maybe overshot it a little bit more and the pucks will go in eventually. Today, I don't think they were two of my hardest shots, but they found a way to go in."

It went in and it appears that Mother's Day will be spent biting nails and cheering on the Ducks.

Sunday is a best of one series.  Winner goes on to round two.  Loser cleans out the lockers and starts golfing.  

If the Ducks win, they will meet up with the Los Angeles Kings for the first time in the post season in a series that has to be a record for fewest miles traveled between teams.  It would also be a nasty series, on and off the ice. 

If Detroit wins, they will play the Chicago Blackhawks and the Kings will get another California team in the San Jose Sharks. 

The last time these two teams met in 2009 it also went to game seven.  That time Detroit won 4-3 with the game winner from Cleary less than three minutes left in regulation.  This time it will be at the Honda Center, not Joe Louis.  For the Ducks, they hope the results will be different.

The game wasn't pretty between the Ducks  and Red Wings, but it sure ended beautifully! 

Game 5 required overtime to decide, but unlike the first two overtime matches, this time Anaheim came out the victor.   A mere 1:54 into the extra period, Nick Bonino put the puck behind Jimmy Howard to give the Ducks the 3-2 win and the 3-2 lead in the series.

Defenseman Ben Lovejoy did most of the work, skating with the puck behind the net before passing it  to Bonino, who took advantage of the wide open net.

And the crowd, another standing room only affair at the Honda Center, went wild.  As did Bonino and the rest of his teammates.

"Game 5 is a big swing game when it’s a 2-2 series and we’d like to finish it in six," said Bonino, a former Boston University standout. "We couldn’t do that without tonight. We’re going to enjoy this and start focusing on two days from now.”

The game went back and forth from the beginning.  Anaheim took two goalie interference penalties early on and Johan Franzen put the Red Wings on the board at 5:28 with a power play goal.  Not the start Anaheim wanted.

Then the Ducks came back strong, controlling most of the rest of the period.  Kyle Palmieri tied up the game at 17:41 with a seeing eye shot through the crowd.  Once more, the fourth line produced.

In the second period the Ducks decided to live dangerously with plenty of turnovers to give Detroit their chances.  Mikael Samuelsson capitalized on the Ducks poor play at 10:08 to give the Red Wings back the lead. 

When Daniel Winnik was given a five minute major for boarding Dan Cleary, Ducks fans had to be concerned that all could be lost.  Winnik, unlike Justin Abdelkader two games prior, did not leave his feet and did not make contact with Cleary's head.  (Cleary did return in the third period.)

Instead of breaking the game wide open, Jonas Hiller did his job in net and kept the Ducks in it.  With just under :32 seconds left in the middle frame, captain, oh captain, Ryan Getzlaf tied up the game with a power play goal.  

Once again all things were even going into the final 20 minutes.  Neither team was unable to budge the scoreboard, so overtime had to be used for the third time in the series, the most of any other playoff series.

Ducks fans did not have to be held in suspense for long before Bonino ended the game in jubilation. 

“He’s a great opportunist," said Bonino's coach, Bruce Boudreau.  "He comes up with big goals. He’s just that kind of guy. He’s a heck of a player for us right now and a heck of a competitor. He’s come to the floor at important times during these first five games.”

Everything now shifts back to Detroit for game six, when Abdelkader will return from his two game suspension.  For the Red Wings, it is must win.  For the Ducks, it is must win as well, because you don't want to give Detroit any hope whatsoever that they can come back to Anaheim to win a game seven.

“Tonight was a pretty even hockey game," said Getzlaf.  "It went both ways at different times. Goaltenders made big saves at both ends. We got the first period that we wanted and that was important.”

I can hardly wait until Friday to see what happens next!

This could be a long series.  With Detroit taking game four in overtime, the series between the Ducks and Red Wings is tied at two.  Game five is going to be huge, because whoever wins only needs one more.  Whoever loses has to win the next two. 

If Anaheim is going to win game five, they are going to have to get more effort from some of their players.  After the loss in game four, coach Bruce Boudreau termed some of the players "passengers."

Every single player will have to be in the driver's seat on Wednesday night. 

One person who was not a passenger was Jonas Hiller.  Hiller made 46 saves in the 3-2 loss and could not be faulted for his efforts, even though he could not stop the eventual game winner.

Hiller had stopped Gustav Nyquist shot, but the rebound went off defenseman Bryan Allen and lay right in front of the goal crease.  Damien Brunner easily finished off the shot and the game at 15:10 of the overtime period.

"It is a tough call for the goalie," said Boudreau. "He's got to anticipate who is going to win the race and evidently he didn't know. It was a 50-50 shot, so it is better to stay in the net. I mean, he made the save -- it's the other five guys on the ice that didn't pick up Brunner coming in."

Matt Beleskey actually got the scoring started at 5:07 of the first period.   Jimmy Howard left three rebounds and the Ducks converted.  Andrew Cogliano got the assist and it was his first playoff point in his career.

"I'm just trying to get in front of the net and cause some havoc," said Beleskey, who has been versatile and used on the top line and the fourth line and even on the power play.

The Red Wings, intent on not going back to Anaheim with a 3-1 series deficit, poured it on.

"We knew exactly the kind of game they were going to play," said Cam Fowler.  "They said what they were going to do and that's exactly what they did.  I think to be honest we were caught off-guard and a little on our heels. [Hiller] kept us in it the whole night."

Despite exceptional work from Detroit, the Ducks were still ahead going into the third period.   But at 1:18 Brendan Smith finally got a puck past Hiller.  The Wings were relentless and with a goal, they were even more determined.

David Steckel gave Anaheim back the lead at 10:42 with another rebound that Howard left lying around. 

"It was a real good game for [Steckel]," said Boudreau. "Some of the lesser-lights played really good and some of the guys you expect to be really good weren't as good as you like and that's unfortunate."

One of the guys you expect to really good for Detroit is Pavel Datsyuk and he was the hero who tied up the game at 13:27 with a shot that ripped so hard in and out of the net that it was initially unclear if it went in.  

Detroit had a great opportunity less than a minute before that with a puck that came very, very close to going over the goal line, but Hiller managed to miraculously keep it in.   The goal camera confirmed it was no goal, as it had been called on the ice. 

The Ducks had plenty of chances, including a couple of good ones by Corey Perry, who has been snake bit so far in this series.   The game still went to OT, but you knew it was only a matter of time with the way the Red Wings poured it on. 

So who will be the hero or heroes in game five and who gets to go back to Detroit with the 3-2 lead in the series?  Tune in Wednesday night to find out.  If the game is like the rest of them in this series, it will be another nail biter.

Well, it's official.  Today rumors of an outdoor game between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings in 2014 was confirmed. 

The game will take place at Dodger Stadium on January 25, 2014, as part of the NHL's Stadium Series.   The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins will be playing on March 1, 2014 in Soldier Field.   More games are expected to be confirmed, which are in addition to the annual January 1st Winter Classic.

Normally the outdoor games take place in more traditional wintry venues, so weather will play an interesting factor in this one.  One of the ways to counter the possibility of warmer than usual weather is to have the game played at nighttime.

"With their meeting in the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series, the Ducks and the Kings will write the next chapter in the exciting story of NHL hockey in Southern California," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "At a venue that represents so much glorious sports history, this match-up of Stanley Cup champions will raise our outdoor initiatives to bold new heights. We know the game will be a treat for our fans, and we thank the Ducks, the Kings, Coors Light, Dodger Stadium and the Los Angeles Dodgers for bringing it to life."

Another chapter between the two teams could be written as soon as the second round of the playoffs.  It appears that the Sharks, who are up 3-0 in their series, will like beat Vancouver, leaving the 6th seed to head to round.    If Chicago (#1 seed) moves on, as well as the Ducks (#2 seed),  that would mean that Chicago would play San Jose in the second round.  The Ducks would then get the victor in the series between the Kings (#5 seed) and St. Louis Blues (#4 seed).

These two teams already hate each other and games between them are already lively and spirited both on the ice and between the fans.

Luc Robitaille, the Kings president of business operations, is excited that his organization was given the chance to participate in such a marquee event.

"This is a credit to our fans and the amazing support they have shown to us and the NHL these past few years," said Luc Robitaille, president of the Kings business operations.  "This will be a sporting event like no other that has ever been seen in Southern California and we are proud to be a part of it."

Dodger Stadium has hosted many events, but this is the first time that the stadium will host a hockey game.  With a remarkable view of Chavez Ravine overlooking downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel mountains, Dodger Stadium has been called one of the treasured cathedrals of baseball with one of the most unique and picturesque settings in sports.

Mark this one on your calender, folks!  Now if they can make this a yearly event and rotate it between Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium.

After the Ducks and Red Wings split the first two games in Anaheim, the series headed to Detroit.   Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf was asked by the media if the goal  was to win one of the two games in Detroit to regain home ice advantage.

"We're going there to win two," was the captain's response. 

It was not a cocky or arrogant reply, but one of confidence and determination and a clear desire to win.  It has been the captain's attitude all season, as well as his teammates, which is why the Ducks are in the playoffs right now.

So far, Getzlaf and company are halfway there to winning two games in Detroit.  A 4-0 shut out of the Red Wings, in their building, something they have not done since March 1997, gives the Ducks a 2-1 edge in the best of four series.

Everything was pretty even between both teams on Saturday evening until the second period.  Justin Abdelkader earned a five minute major and a game misconduct for charging Toni Lydman.  Lydman was left a little loopy and had some assistance to get off the ice.  He did not return to the game.   

"I think at this stage it is hard to tell," said coach Bruce Boudreau about Lydman's prognosis on Sunday.  "Toni has headaches, and he's got a stiff neck, and bright lights are bugging him. I don't know when that's not going to be there. If we're going minute-by-minute and day-by-day, (Monday) is very questionable for him."

There is no question for Abdelkader.  He earned a two game suspension for the hit to Lydman's head after a disciplinary hearing with Brendan Shanahan on Sunday afternoon.

On the ensuing power play, the Ducks wasted no time getting the first goal of the game just :18 seconds in.  Nick Bonino got his second goal of the playoffs with a nifty deflection.

"It was big," said Bonino.  "That game was back and forth, and we wanted the first goal to get some momentum.  Getzlaf kind of told us before the power play started to settle down and don't rush because we've got five minutes here. To get that goal before the intermission and go in with the lead was good. It was what we wanted."

Anaheim certainly had the chance to stick a knife in the heart of Detroit, but failed to score any further on the major penalty.  In fact, the Ducks were fortunate that Detroit did not have a short handed goal.  Jonas Hiller stayed strong, making all 21 saves for the shut out.

The real turning point was in the third period when the Ducks were shorthanded.  Getzlaf stole the puck from Damien Brunner then put it past a sprawling Jimmy Howard at 6:33.  2-0 Ducks and suddenly Joe Louis Arena was a lot quieter.

Emerson Etem's first goal of the playoffs at 8:04 added to the Ducks lead and to the Red Wings frustrations. 

Anaheim stayed calm and unruffled, while Detroit started to unravel a bit on the ice.  The worst of it coming when Howard punched Corey Perry in the head while Perry was perched in front of the goal crease.  That gave the Ducks on 5 on 3 opportunity.  After the first penalty expired, Matt Beleskey made it 4-0 at 13:34 and the game was essentially over and done with. 

How done were the Red Wings?  With the exception of Ducks fans who had flown to Detroit and the media, there was only a handful of Red Wings fans remaining in the building.  So much so, that when the time came to announce less than one minute remaining, the announcement echoed in the virtually empty building. 

"When you've got a 1-0 game and you get that second goal in a tight-checking game, it means the world," said Boudreau. "Getzlaf's done that so many times for us this year. Especially on the heels of me giving him crap about the penalty kill last night and he goes out and scores a goal -- that's just the way he is. He's a leader in every sense of the word."

The leader said the Ducks were going to Detroit to win two.  If they continue on this path, they might just do that on Monday evening.

If game one is a feeling out period, game two is definitely one of adjustments.  After losing game one, the Detroit Red Wings made the necessary adjustments to get the win over the Anaheim Ducks in game two.   

It appeared that the Red Wings would have an easy time of it against the Ducks until the third period happened.  As Anaheim did in the regular season, they made an incredible come from behind effort, scoring three goals in the final twenty minutes to take the game to overtime.  The Red Wings on the power play to start the overtime period saw an end to the Ducks hopes to take a two games to nothing lead to Detroit.  Instead, both teams head to Detroit with the even split.

Game three on Saturday at the Joe Louis Arena will be another game of adjustments and corrections.  For the Ducks, it would be to start each period strong. 

In a clear sign that the Ducks would not dominate in game one, Detroit scored just :48 seconds into the game with a goal from Justin Abdelkader.    When Damien Brunner score his first playoff goal at 4:20, coach Bruce Boudreau said "time out!"

The Ducks settled down for the rest of the period, but a penalty at the end of the first period saw the Red Wings on the power play to start the second.  As they did in the first, they scored early, taking advantage of the extra man.  Johan Franzen got his first of two goals on the evening at 1:04. 

Even though Saku Koivu got the Ducks on the board at 10:53 of the middle frame, with a power play of their own, Detroit restored their three goal lead at the beginning of the third.  It felt like deja vu when Franzen got his second power play just :20 seconds in.  So much for that comeback, right?

Wrong. 

The Ducks refused to quit.  Ryan Getzlaf got the party started and the crowd back into the game at 7:50.  Kyle Palmieri scored at 12:31, just after a penalty to Detroit expired, bringing the Ducks within one goal.

No one was going to leave the building early at this point.   Bobby Ryan had a great chance with a little more than five minutes left, his shot ringing off the right post behind Jimmy Howard.    He could not believe it did not go in.  Three minutes later at 17:38, Ryan was redeemed when this shot did go in the net. 

Can you say deafening crowd?  Can you say this is what playoff hockey is all about?

Jonas Hiller made a spectacular save on Pavel Datsyuk in the final minute, which prevented the Red Wings from ending things in regulation. 

An ill timed penalty, called on the Ducks when it seemed like nothing was being called on either team, meant Detroit had a power play to start overtime.  As they had in the first three periods, the Red Wings converted early and at 1:21, Gustav Nyquist spoiled any chance the Ducks had of stealing game two.

"We lost an opportunity to put a stranglehold on them in the series, and we let it get away," said Ryan. "The team has been resilient all year in coming back in those opportunities and we believed. We almost pulled it off."

Almost only counts in hand grenades and horse shoes.  Not in playoff hockey where things are black and white.  

“I think you’re mostly disappointed every time you lose," said Boudreau.  "And when you do come back to tie it, and lose it, it's a little more disappointing."

So onward to Detroit with the aim to take at least one game, preferably two, before coming back to Anaheim for game five.  

Ahhh spring!  The NHL playoffs are underway and it must be time for another Anaheim and Detroit match up.   Octopus sales have gone up and security at any arena the Red Wings play at has gone down.

The Ducks took the first game against the Red Wings, 3-1, octopi be damned.  They turned in a solid performance all the way around.  And of course a goal from timeless, ageless Teemu Selanne to win the game.

If you had the initials JH, you were in net.  Jimmy Howard for the Wings and Jonas Hiller for the Ducks.  Hiller made 21 saves for the win. 

The Ducks started the scoring on the power play midway through the first period.  Jordin Tootoo was in the box in what could only be termed a make up call by the referees.  Anaheim capitalized on it quickly, with Nick Bonino winning the face off then redirecting Cam Fowler's shot on net at 10:24.  It only took four seconds, and the lead felt pretty good to the standing room only crowd.

"It was fun, especially to get the lead early in front of a packed house like that," reflected Bonino. 
"It’s something I’ll always remember.”

Two penalties by the Ducks left them down by two players and even though the first had expired, it did not prevent Detroit from tying up the game at 16:05.   Dan Cleary had Jakub Kindl's shot glance off of his head and past Hiller.  It was the only shot Hiller allowed.

The game remained tied, but Kindl made a panic move at the end of the second period, drawing a delay of game penalty.   

That allowed the Ducks to have the majority of the power play on fresh ice to start the third period.  In true Finnish Flash fashion, Selanne scored at 1:29 to put Anaheim ahead once and for all.  It was only his 42nd playoff power play goal and the 10th playoff game winning goal of his long illustrious career.

"I know him well enough, you can tell when he’s got his legs early," said coach Bruce Boudreau. "The puck was following him a little bit tonight. I didn’t know if he was going to score, but I knew when he was on the ice, there was going to be a chance. I was happy for him.”

Detroit was properly motivated to try to tie up the game but also enlisted some not so sneaky stalling techniques with net empty at their end of the ice.  Cleary casually went for a new stick at the bench.  One of those ubiquitous octopi landed on the ice. 

No matter.  When the puck finally dropped, Getzlaf beat Pavel Datsyuk to the puck, giving it to Francois Beauchemin, who said thank you very much as he sent it the length of the ice straight into the empty net at 19:37.

Game over, but the series has only just begun.

"This is a good start, but nothing more," said Selanne.

There is a reason the series are seven games.  This is one down, but there is a long way still to go.  Next up is game two on Thursday.  

In other notes:   Andrew Cogliano finally got to play in a post season game after more than five seasons as a player.   “It was unbelievable,” said Cogliano afterward.  “It was a great time and I’m glad we got the win. Just the atmosphere and the intensity of the game are just on another level. I never experienced that before."

Cogliano primarily experienced that on the third line with Daniel Winnik and Saku Koivu.  The three of them were successful in shutting down Henrik Zetterberg and Datsyuk.