Preview: Red Wings vs Ducks 2009

Records

Detroit (2): 51-21-10 (112 pts) Home: 27-9-5 Away: 24-12-5
Anaheim (8): 42-33-7 (91 pts) Home: 20-18-3 Away: 22-15-4

How They Got Here

Detroit swept Columbus and Anaheim upset top-ranked San Jose in 6 games.

Head-to-Head

Oct 29, 2008 – DET 4 ANA 5 (OT)
Dec 1, 2008 – DET 2 ANA 1
Jan 14, 2009 – DET 4 ANA 3
Feb 20, 2009 – DET 5 ANA 2
Detroit won the season series 3-1.

Fights

Oct 29, 2008 – Darren McCarty vs Brad May

Lineup

Goaltending: EDGE Anaheim
Scoring: EDGE Detroit
Defense: DRAW
Coaching: DRAW
Grit: EDGE Anaheim

Schedule

Friday, May 1 at Detroit, 7:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN2
Sunday, May 3 at Detroit, 2:00 p.m. NBC, TSN
Tuesday, May 5 at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
Thursday, May 7 at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
*Sunday, May 10 at Detroit, 5:00 p.m. TSN
*Tuesday, May 12 at Anaheim, TBD VERSUS, TSN
*Thursday, May 14 at Detroit, TBD VERSUS, TSN

Prediction

The Western Conference boasted a couple of Cinderella Story candidates in the first round…someone forgot to tell Anaheim they weren’t in the running. While St. Louis and Columbus were both swept out of the playoffs, it was the Ducks, considered nothing more than an afterthought, who would come up with the first round upset knocking off the President’s Trophy winning Sharks. There’s no doubt Anaheim has the top line talent to hang with most teams and they’re getting excellent goaltending from Jonas Hiller. Detroit was bucking their own trend in the first round, becoming the first defending champ to make it out of the first round since 2002; and they were impressive, outscoring the Jackets 18-7 in 4 games. I’d love nothing more than for Anaheim to topple the second-seeded Wings, but Detroit seems poised for another long run. Wings in 7.

John’s Pick

A battle between the last two teams to win Lord Stanley’s Cup. You would think that this would be a tight one, but it won’t be. Anaheim’s upset of San Jose was more the Sharks beating themselves than anything else. The Ducks don’t have the speed, special teams, or scoring depth to be able to hang with Detroit. The only chance the Ducks really have in this series is if the Wings allow themselves to get pushed around. It’s happened in the past, but not too much as of late. I don’t see them folding here. Wings in 6.

David’s Pick

The last two Cup winners sure isn’t being looked at as a close battle, but it will be. The Ducks had a rough start to the season, and because of that they are vastly underrated. Both teams can bring firepower with Ryan Getzlaf countering Pavel Datsyuk. These Ducks can skate, and if the young legs on Bobby Ryan can wear out the older Wings, the Ducks will be able to play a physical game and overtake last season’s Cup champs. Upset, upset! Ducks in 6.