2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Blog - Conference Semifinals

You could say he scored in the Nick of time. Detroit Red Wings fans certainly would.

Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom’s second goal of the night with 49.1 seconds left in regulation time not only gave Detroit a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Friday’s opener of their Western Conference semifinal series, it added to one of Lidstrom’s many playoff marks.

The goal was his 11th career game winner in Stanley Cup play, the all-time record for defencemen.

“He’s a special player,” said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, himself a Norris Trophy winner as a player, of Lidstrom, the six-time Norris Trophy winner who is a finalist for the award again this season.

Lidstrom, who scored twice in the game to give him 45 goals, third on the all-time Cup list for defenders behind Paul Coffey (59) and Denis Potvin (56), wasn’t worried about who scored, as long as it was someone in a red sweater.

“I was just hoping for a win,” Lidstrom said. “That was pretty much it.”

The superlatives were delivered by others.

“I just get so amazed how he performs out there in a big game like this, in the last minute like that,” Wings defenceman Jonathan Ericsson said. “He's so calm out there. I guess the experience speaks for itself. I get goose bumps.”

Crashing In

Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller spent Friday’s morning skate taking shots while teammates crowded his goal crease. He knew what was coming and he was absolutely correct.

The Wings spent the night crashing his crease. Centre Johan Franzen bowled Hiller over as he scored Detroit’s first goal.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” questioned Carlyle, who felt the goal should have been disallowed. “They’re supposed to be protecting goalies.”

All Hiller saw on Lidstrom’s first tally was the large, red backside of Tomas Holmstrom and Franzen, who was also bumping the Anaheim goalie on the game winner.

“I think they made a lot of pressure on the net,” Hiller said. “They have big players too, and it’s always a battle to find the puck right in front of you. I’ll have to do a better job next time.”

Anyone listening?

Discipline was supposed to be the path both teams were intending to travel from the outset, but they got away from that game plan quickly Friday.

Detroit tied the game at 1-1 on a power-play goal by Franzen after Anaheim right-winger Mike Brown was assessed an interference major and game misconduct after he connected with his forearm to the head of Detroit forward Jiri Hudler, who required 10 stitches to close a wound to his head.

“I don't know,” Hudler said. “I didn't count them. I’d have to look in a mirror."

Brown felt the penalty wasn’t justified.

“I just hit him with my shoulder,” Brown said. “My elbow wasn't up, my stick wasn't up. I didn't think it was a penalty. They only called it because he was bleeding. I think he got cut by his visor."

The league will review the hit, and Hudler seemed to suggest that a suspension was in order.

“I didn't have the puck for, I think, at least two seconds,” Hudler said. “So it was kind of late. I hope they're going to look at it and do the right thing.”

The Wings’ power play, a playoff-best 32.1 per cent, scored twice.

“We have to stay out of the box and we have to limit their power play,” Anaheim forward Corey Perry said. “They have the best power play in the league and we have to be more disciplined.”

Later, the Ducks tied it 2-2 on a power-play goal by Teemu Selanne after Detroit’s Holmstrom and Franzen both took unnecessary penalties.

“Discipline will always be a factor,” Carlyle said. “If we can stay out of the penalty box and play a skating game, that will be huge.”

Teemu tallies
For the second straight playoff game, Ducks forward Selanne, the club’s all-time playoff goal-scoring leader with 24, found the net. He went goalless through his first five games of the post-season, a definite concern for the Ducks, who have gotten 10 playoff goals from their big line of Ryan Getzlaf (two), Perry (four) and Bobby Ryan (four).

“It helps the confidence,” Selanne said. “I expect it’s going to be a good series and I want to be a big part of it.”