LAST MINUTE GOAL PROPELS RED WINGS PAST DUCKS

Nicklas Lidstrom scored his second goal of the game with less than a minute remaining in regulation to propel the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the first game of the NHL Western Conference semifinals on Friday night.  The Red Wings have now won the first game in seven consecutive playoff series, the longest such run since the Minnesota/Dallas Stars won seven straight from 1990 through 1994.

The Ducks struck first in the contest, with Corey Perry’s goal assisted by Ryan Getzlaf and Chris Pronger at 7:28 of the first period giving Anaheim a 1-0 lead.  Detroit would even things up five minutes later on Johan Franzen’s power play goal assisted by Nicklas Lidstrom and goaltender Chris Osgood.  Lidstrom’s first goal of the game would come at 14:24 of the second period assisted by Brad Stuart and Pavel Datsyuk and give Detroit the lead at 2-1.  It wouldn’t last long, however, as Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne scored on the power play assisted by Ryan Getzlaf and Chris Pronger with just 17 seconds left in the period to send the teams to intermission deadlocked at 2-2.  This set the stage for Lidstrom’s game winner at 19:10 of the third period assisted by Daniel Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg.  While Lidstrom is famously taciturn in big game situations, teammate Jonathan Ericcson had copious praise for him after the contest:

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

Wings’ coach Mike Babcock said simply:

"He's a talented player. We're lucky to have him."

Despite his involvement in all three Red Wings’ goals, Lidstrom made no effort to take credit for the victory:

"It's playoff hockey and there's a lot of intensity out there. Both teams want to win real hard and that really comes out in a game like this."

The 39 year old Lidstrom is playing as well as ever—Ducks’ goalie Jonas Hiller gave his account of the game winning goal:

"It came off my pad and he was there all alone. He was patient enough to wait until I moved."

Game two will be back at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena on Sunday, with the series shifting to the Honda Center in Anaheim for games three and four beginning on Tuesday night.