Red Wings Regain Home Ice with Shutout of Ducks

The Detroit Red Wings regained home ice advantage in their Western Conference Final series with the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night, picking up a 5-0 win to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

The Ducks had previously claimed a 4-3 overtime win in game two in Detroit, forcing the Wings to win at least one road game to get back the home ice advantage.

Anaheim pressured early, taking 14 shots in the first period, but the Red Wings’ defense and goaltender Dominik Hasek held them off the board. The Ducks were unable to convert on two penalties by Tomas Kopecky – in the Detroit lineup for the first time since breaking his collarbone in December.

Johan Franzen put the Red Wings on the board with 8:51 remaining in the period. Mikael Samuelsson carried the puck down the right wing while Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg went to the net. With the Anaheim defense focused on Zetterberg, Samuelsson sent a crossing pass to Franzen who deflected the puck into the open side of the net.

Zetterberg connected with Holmstrom on a similar play to give the Red Wings a two-goal lead with 43 seconds remaining in the period.

On a Detroit power play, Zetterberg gained the Anaheim zone down the left wing. Pavel Datsyuk cut through the high slot and drew the defenders, leaving Holmstrom wide open for a pass from Zetterberg in the right circle. Holmstrom stepped to the net and rifled a shot over the shoulder of goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

Giguere would leave the game just 3:17 into the second period after Detroit’s third goal. Dan Cleary threw the puck at the net from the right wing and Giguere made the stop but the puck bounced off him, off the skate of Todd Bertuzzi cutting through the crease, and into the net.

Backup netminder Ilja Bryzgalov wouldn’t have much better luck, allowing a goal only 17 seconds after entering the game. Bryzgalov made a rolling stop on Valtteri Filppula’s wraparound attempt but the puck came free and Holmstrom scored his second of the night, lifiting it in from the top of the crease.

The Ducks came unraveled and took five penalties to spend most of the rest of the period on the penalty kill.

One of the infractions was a two-on-one hit to the head of Holmstrom by Rob Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. Niedermayer was given a five minute roughing major and a game misconduct for the hit and Holmstrom missed the remainder of the period.

Holmstrom would return to the ice and to the scoresheet in the third period, assisting on the game’s final goal by sending a pass from the right wing through the top of the crease to Filppula on the far side of the net. Filppula tucked the puck in behind Bryzgalov with 9:02 remaining in the game.

Dominik Hasek stopped 29 Anaheim shots en route to his 13th career playoff shutout. Bryzgalov stopped 13 of the 15 shots he faced while Giguere made 10 saves on 13 chances against.

Holmstrom’s first-period goal was Detroit’s lone power play tally on nine tries with the man-advantage. Anaheim had four chances with the extra skater, though one was for only 8 seconds at the end of the game.

Game four of the series will be Thursday in Anaheim.

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Tomas Kopecky entered the Detroit lineup in place of Kyle Calder… The Ducks had not been shutout during the playoffs since April 27, 1999, when the Red Wings completed a first-round sweep of the then-Mighty Ducks with a 3-0 victory in Anaheim.