Red Wings 3, Ducks 2 (OT): Damien Brunner scored 15:10 into overtime as host Detroit evened its Western Conference first-round series with second-seeded Anaheim at two games apiece.
With rookie Gustav Nyquist bearing down, Jonas Hiller's bid to clear a loose puck caromed off backchecking defenseman Bryan Allen before banking off the goaltender's left pad. Brunner, who was trailing the play, alertly spotted the puck on the doorstep and casually tapped it past Hiller (46 saves) to end the wild affair.
Defenseman Brendan Smith collected a goal and an assist, Pavel Datsyuk also scored and Jimmy Howard finished with 31 saves for the seventh-seeded Red Wings. Detroit was playing without Justin Abdelkader, who was serving the first contest of a two-game suspension for his brutal hit to the head of Anaheim defenseman Toni Lydman.
Matt Beleskey scored for the second consecutive contest and David Steckel also tallied for the Pacific Division champion Ducks, who will host Game 5 on Wednesday.
Anaheim secured a 2-1 lead with 9:20 remaining in the third period after Detroit defenseman Brian Lashoff collided with Howard, leaving Steckel to tap the puck into an empty net. Datsyuk answered nearly three minutes later as his blistering shot from the left faceoff circle beat Hiller under the crossbar and hit the water bottle.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Ducks will face Pacific Division-rival Los Angeles in an outdoor game at Dodger Stadium on Jan. 25, 2014. "Dodger Stadium has been home to many unique and special moments over the past 51 years," Los Angeles Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. "We'll add another first in 2014 when the Dodger Stadium infield turns to ice as we host our first NHL game between the Kings and the Ducks." ... Detroit veteran RW Todd Bertuzzi played in place of Abdelkader and had four shots on goal in 14:55 of ice time. ... Ducks D Sheldon Souray returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch in Game 3. He was reduced to a spectator in that contest after committing the penalty that led to the Red Wings' winning goal in overtime in Game 2.
Anaheim | Detroit | |
Matt Beleskey 1 | Points | Brendan Smith 2 |
Matt Beleskey 1 | Goals | Brendan Smith 1 |
Andrew Cogliano 1 | Assists | Joakim Andersson 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | N/A |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Jonas Hiller .939 | Save Percentage | Jimmy Howard .939 |
Jonas Hiller 46 | Saves | Jimmy Howard 31 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Anaheim | 33 | 2 | 0-3 | 1-1 | 2 | 39 |
Detroit | 49 | 3 | 0-1 | 3-3 | 6 | 31 |