Red Wings 4, Ducks 3 (OT): Captain Henrik Zetterberg scored his second goal of the contest 1:04 into overtime as host Detroit rebounded after squandering a two-goal lead late in the third period to force a decisive Game 7 in its Western Conference first-round series against second-seeded Anaheim.
After the Ducks called a timeout, the Red Wings won the faceoff in the offensive zone and defenseman Niklas Kronwall set up Zetterberg. The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner scored his first career postseason overtime goal by blasting a shot from above the left faceoff circle past Jonas Hiller (25 saves), who was being screened by Justin Abdelkader.
Pavel Datsyuk collected a goal and two assists, Dan Cleary also tallied and Zetterberg added an assist. Jimmy Howard turned aside 34 shots - all in regulation - for seventh-seeded Detroit, which will visit the Honda Center on Sunday.
Emerson Etem and Bobby Ryan scored 51 seconds apart to forge a 3-3 tie with 2:37 remaining in the third period. Kyle Palmieri netted his third goal of the series for the Pacific Division champion Ducks, who are bidding to advance to the second round for the first time since 2009.
Cleary gave Detroit a 3-1 lead when Abdelkader's sharp-angle shot from along the left-wing boards deflected off him and past Hiller at 11:30 of the third. The Ducks answered as Etem took advantage of Valtteri Filppula's turnover behind the net before tucking the puck inside the right post. Corey Perry kept the pressure on by wiring a centering pass to Ryan, who beat Howard to tie the contest and stun the crowd at Joe Louis Arena.
GAME NOTEBOOK: With Palmieri serving a high-sticking penalty, Zetterberg gave Detroit a 2-1 lead at 6:19 of the third period as he skated along the left-wing boards before beating Hiller with a blast from just outside the circle. ... Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf, who celebrated his 28th birthday, had three shots on goal in just under 20 minutes of ice time ... Abdelkader returned to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension for his illegal hit on Anaheim D Toni Lydman in Game 3. ... Cleary's availability was in question as he was battling soreness all over the left side of his body. The veteran right wing was helped off the ice after being boarded by Anaheim's Daniel Winnik late in the second period of Game 5 but returned to action in the third session.
Anaheim | Detroit | |
Emerson Etem 2 | Points | Henrik Zetterberg 3 |
Emerson Etem 1 | Goals | Henrik Zetterberg 2 |
Emerson Etem 1 | Assists | Pavel Datsyuk 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Henrik Zetterberg 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Jonas Hiller .862 | Save Percentage | Jimmy Howard .919 |
Jonas Hiller 25 | Saves | Jimmy Howard 34 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Anaheim | 37 | 3 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 6 | 30 |
Detroit | 29 | 4 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 34 |