Lidstrom Scores Twice as Red Wings Take Game One Against Ducks

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15 years ago

Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom scored two goals Friday night, leading the Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks in the first game of their Western Conference Semifinal matchup.

Lidstrom’s second goal was the game-winner, scored with just 49.1 seconds remaining in regulation.

Corey Perry opened the game’s scoring, putting the Red Wings behind for the first time this playoff year. At 7:28 of the first period he blasted a shot from the top of the left circle past Detroit goalie Chris Osgood after being left uncovered on a defensive miscue.

A five-minute power play gave the Red Wings a chance to even things up. Mike Brown was given an interference major and a game misconduct for a late hit to the head of Jiri Hudler with 8:31 left in the period.

Johan Franzen drove to the net and shoved the puck past Jonas Hiller just 1:04 later, the only goal of the five-minute advantage.

Lidstrom put Detroit back in front with 5:36 left in the second period, scoring his first goal of the night on a power play slap shot from the top of the left circle.

Teemu Selanne tied things up with just 17 seconds left in the middle frame, converting on a rare four-on-three manpower advantage with a snap shot from near the left faceoff dot.

The teams traded scoring chances in the third, including a breakaway by Franzen 2:20 in and a close-in chance by Selanne just after the five-minute mark.

Lidstrom broke the tie by redirecting a Dan Cleary pass on net from the high slot. He then jumped down low to pick up the rebound and put it back between Hiller’s pads.

Hiller finished the night with 34 saves on 37 shots against. Osgood stopped 22 of 24 Anaheim chances.

The Red Wings finished the night two-for-six on the power play. The Ducks went one-for-three.

Game Two of the series is Saturday afternoon from Joe Louis Arena.

The Red Wings were without Kris Draper for the fifth-straight playoff game. They were also missing Brian Rafalski, who missed his first game of the playoffs with an upper-body injury… It was the second consecutive game that Detroit won with a goal in the closing minute of regulation… Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson and Anaheim forward Corey Perry fought at 4:12 of the second period.