ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Detroit Red Wings beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 Sunday night in Game 7, securing a trip to the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup playoffs where they will meet the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Wings will fly to Chicago where that series will start either Tuesday or Wednesday. The Blackhawks knocked off the Minnesota Wild in five games.
Henrik Zetterberg, who was the overtime hero in Game 6, opened the scoring early in the 1st period when he hammered home a rebound off a shot from Valtteri Filppula.
The Red Wings came out strong early in the game, sustaining some good pressure on goalie Jonas Hiller and the Ducks defense.
View: Game 7 boxscore
The Ducks were able to settle the game down as they got a chance on the power play after Danny Cleary got called for boarding. The Wings killed off the penalty but the Ducks kept at them. They were able to get some scoring chances of their own and Emerson Etem tied the game at 1-1 on a blistering wrist shot that beat Jimmy Howard up high.
Anaheim went back on the power play with about 5 minutes left in the opening period when defenseman Kyle Quincey got the box for cross checking. Howard came up with a big save early on in the penalty kill.
Then, with seconds remaining on Detroit's penalty kill, Justin Abdelkader busted loose on a breakaway and gave the Red Wings a shorthanded goal and the lead again. Abdelkader, who was in full stride up center, kept it low on the ice and put it through Hiller's 5-hole. The Wings took that lead into the first intermission.
The teams out physical in the 2nd period and exchanged scoring chances. Cleary had a good chance about midway through the period on a nice passing play but Hiller turned away his top-of-circle one-timer.
It was a scoreless period until about 6 minutes remaining. Filppula sent a strong backhander toward Hiller who failed to block it. It was 3-1 Detroit. Both teams were getting quality scoring chances but the goaltenders were making good saves. Howard and Hiller both had 24 saves after 40 minutes.
The Red Wings were clinging to a 3-1 lead with 3:46 remaining in regulation when Zetterberg was called for delay of game. He backhanded the puck over the glass from inside his own zone. The Ducks scored on the ensuing power play, cutting the lead to 1 goal.
Anaheim pulled Hiller with under a minute to go in the final period but the Red Wings held on to win, completing the upset in seven games.