Getzlaf line shouldering load for Ducks

3 other forward units have combined for 8 goals in 2009 post-season

Last Updated: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 | 2:43 PM ET

CBC Sports

The Ducks could use more offensive production from players like Teemu Selanne, who has 33 goals in 100 NHL playoff games. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)

Todd Marchant effectively used two players as a screen and wired a wrist shot past Chris Osgood to pull the Anaheim Ducks even in its NHL Western Conference semifinal against Detroit.

"Not many games have been decided off my stick," said the veteran centre, whose 12th goal in 83 playoff games lifted Anaheim to a 4-3 road win early in triple overtime on Sunday to tie the best-of-seven series 1-1.

The Ducks could use more offensive punch from Marchant, who had only five goals in 72 regular-season games, and others, starting with the game Tuesday against the visiting Red Wings (7:30 p.m. PT).

Of the 19 goals scored by Anaheim forwards in this year's post-season, the top line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and rookie Bobby Ryan has accounted for 11.

Ryan Carter, Drew Miller and Teemu Selanne, who has 33 goals and 69 points in 100 Stanley Cup playoff contests, each have scored twice to lead the other nine forwards.

"I still think for Anaheim to get through this series, they're going to need somebody who isn't playing on the Getzlaf line to produce some offence," CBCSports.ca columnist Scott Morrison told Hockey Night in Canada viewers on Monday.

Ryan, despite scoring 31 goals during a regular season skating mostly alongside Getzlaf and Perry, was dropped to the second unit in Game 2 because of his poor play.

"I thought he was swimming at times, losing his checks," Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle told reporters between Games 2 and 3. "He didn't really stay with his pressure and fell down a few times."

Detroit's scoring troubles are the opposite of Anaheim's performance. Head coach Mike Babcock has watched Marchant shadow Red Wings centre Pavel Datsyuk and keep him and linemates Marian Hossa and Tomas Holmstrom off the scoreboard in the first two games after they combined for 86 goals this season.

"We are facing a really hard opponent," said Hossa, who had nine shots in Game 2. "We just have to grind and adjust some things."

A 32-goal man in the regular campaign, Datsyuk said it's more about burying scoring chances and less about what Marchant and Rob Niedermayer, who is covering Hossa, have accomplished.

"That's almost scary," Getzlaf said of neither Datsyuk nor Hossa having scored in the series. "If they get going, they can cause some damage."

Detroit, which has lost four of the last five playoff games between the teams, has done some damage in the faceoff circle, winning 71 per cent of the draws in the series opener and 60 per cent in Game 2.

That has put more pressure on goalie Jonas Hiller, who kicked aside 59 of 62 shots on Sunday and takes a .951 save percentage in these playoffs into Tuesday's game.

"I feel pretty good," said the Swiss netminder, who has faced 329 shots in the past eight games. "I kind of take a little rest and do my regular stuff to recover well. I'll be ready for [Tuesday]."

Injured Red Wings defenceman Brian Rafalski didn't join his teammates for practice Monday and will miss his third consecutive game with an upper-body injury.

Babcock didn't rule out Rafalski for Game 4 on Thursday at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Following a five-hour flight back home after Game 2, Carlyle gave his players the option of skating Monday morning, and about half the team showed up. Others took advantage of the chance to rest and rehydrate.

"We talk about it all the time. Rest and nutrition are as important as going out on the ice," said Marchant.

Perhaps the next conversation will revolve around the importance of a balanced scoring attack.