1st star: Darren Helm.

helluva game, but I can’t help but feeling like I wasted all those beers.

Posted by 58Miles2Joe on 05/03/09 at 06:52 PM ET

The Ducks improved to 5-0 against Detroit in postseason overtime games.

Is this true?  I thought we swept them in the 90s, but most of the games went into overtime.

Posted by Osrt on 05/03/09 at 07:13 PM ET

Yeah, we beat Anaheim in OT 3 times in 1997.  Ancient history, apparently.

Posted by mudshark on 05/03/09 at 07:35 PM ET

I thought we swept them in the 90s, but most of the games went into overtime.

You would be correct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996-97_NHL_season

DET swept ANA in 1997, 3 of which went to OT (including 1 triple-OT and another double-OT game).

Revisionist history from California.  Who here is surprised?

Posted by Primis on 05/03/09 at 07:39 PM ET

I clearly remember one of those OT games.  Shanny pushing the Ducks dman out of the way, then finding the puck near the crease and putting it into the goal.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/03/09 at 07:44 PM ET

The morning after…

The Bad:

-Ozzie is a three-goal-per game-goalie. That is not a criticism or an ‘atta’ boy, it is what it is. The Red Wings would do well to go into every game simply assuming they must score four goals to win. Then go from there.

-Marian Hossa’s stock has plummeted since the post-season started.

-Detroit stumbled and fumbled in their own zone for most of the first two periods, and the last half of the second OT. Such mind-numb breakout passes that are constantly picked off are simply the results of a team not mentally prepared to play an important hockey game. Shades of more than a few regular season games.

The Good:

-Detroit didn’t show up until the third period, yet it still took Anaheim five-plus periods to beat them. Anaheim’s lack of depth will not serve them well over the long haul.

-Chris Pronger is nowhere near the Chris Pronger of the St. Louis days. This guy has fallen a full notch on the effectiveness scale.

Ozzie won’t win many games for you, but he has shown he can keep you in a game for a while.

-Detroit plays better on the road than at home.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 05/04/09 at 06:29 AM ET

Ozzie won’t win many games for you, but he has shown he can keep you in a game for a while.

What does this even mean?  Did he not win multiple Stanley Cup’s as a starting goalie?

Posted by Mac from Canada on 05/04/09 at 07:02 AM ET

Wouldn’t that be something if the Ducks pulled off a series win..

Posted by Performance Parts on 05/04/09 at 07:17 AM ET

Marian Hossa’s stock has plummeted since the post-season started.

Why would you say that, Red Winger?  Do you actually watch Hossa and the game, or just look at the boxscores afterwards?  Hossa is a tenacious backchecker and broke up multiple Anaheim rushes.  He’s also stil a bull out there and hard to handle, and has come very, very close to scoring.  He’s also finishing his checks and has pasted a couple of guys against the boards.

I don’t see how or why his stock would have “fallen”.  On the contrary I’m seeing his value as rising, because I don’t ever see him taking a shift off here in the postseason.  It seems ridiculous top say his stock is “falling”...

Posted by Primis on 05/04/09 at 07:34 AM ET

Mac, I’m talking about this year. That’s all that counts right now. We can discuss his overall career effectiveness later.

Primis, I do indeed watch the game, thanks for asking. And I am fully aware of Hossa’s two-way game. But he’s a primetime player who is expected to make primetime plays. He hasn’t done that much so far.

Coming “very, very close to scoring” has not won one team a Stanley Cup, ever. Those that get it done do win Cups.  In five periods of hockey, Marian Hossa needs to score a goal. Add to that his average play against Columbus, and I certainly feel his stock has fallen. It doesn’t mean it will stay down. And I say this as someone who thoroughly enjoyed watching Hossa play this year. in fact, he was my favorite Wing.

Posted by Red Winger on 05/04/09 at 07:53 AM ET

I’m much more concerned with Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Hudler.  Hossa’s been fine.  Datsyuk hasn’t done a thing.  Zetterberg doesn’t seem quite as aggressive as last year.  And Hudler has had so many chances, but is once again snakebitten and can’t convert them.

Posted by Primis on 05/04/09 at 09:53 AM ET