Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Sports


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published May 12, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 12, 2007 at 2:01 AM

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

NHL Playoffs | Wings get pretty ugly win

Beauty is in the eye of the winner. The Detroit Red Wings beat the Anaheim Ducks in the opener of the Western Conference finals with two...

The Associated Press

Related

DETROIT — Beauty is in the eye of the winner.

The Detroit Red Wings beat the Anaheim Ducks in the opener of the Western Conference finals with two ugly power-play goals that looked awfully good to them.

Tomas Holmstrom scored with 4:54 left in regulation after a shot hit him standing in front of goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere before it dropped to the ice and trickled into the net, giving Detroit a 2-1 victory Friday night.

"We had traffic," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "It was a good goal."

Nicklas Lidstrom, whose shot was deflected by Holmstrom, was a little more honest.

"It was kind of a lucky break for us," said Lidstrom, who had two assists.

Detroit was fortunate to score the game's first goal, too.

Henrik Zetterberg's shot — that appeared to be a pass — deflected off Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin and got past Giguere at 3:44 of the first period.

"I believe in this game you create the bounces that go for you," Giguere said.

Both of Detroit's goals were last touched by Beauchemin, who swiped at the winner in the crease after it hit Holmstrom.

"That's a freak thing that happens and it happened to us," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We'll move on."

Game 2 is Sunday night in Detroit before the series shifts to Anaheim.

advertising

Chris Kunitz made it 1-all early in the third period with a shot from the slot that beat Dominik Hasek on the glove side. It was the first goal Hasek gave up in nearly 157 minutes.

With two stellar goaltenders and four Norris Trophy winners — combining to be honored as the NHL's top defenseman nine times — it was a low-scoring game as expected.

Shortly after Holmstrom's goal, Anaheim had a chance to tie the score again on a power play and it pulled Giguere to make it a two-man advantage, but the Ducks couldn't score.

Hasek made 31 saves and Giguere stopped 17 shots.

Anaheim is in the conference finals for the third time in four postseasons, more than any team since 2003. Detroit, meanwhile, is among the final four in the league for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2002.

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

Shop team gear:   Seahawks  |  Mariners  |  Storm  |  Huskies  |  Cougars  |  More

More Sports

UPDATE - 08:47 PM
Bud Withers: Pac-10 "very seriously" looking at expansion

Seattle physician Brian Krabak will do more than treat injuries at Winter Olympics

NEW - 08:11 PM
BBC vet Arlo White, 36, to succeed Kevin Calabro as Sounders FC play-by-play broadcaster

NEW - 08:13 PM
New Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates likes what he sees, keeps mum on Walter Jones

NEW - 06:57 PM
Boys swimming state leaders

More Sports headlines...


Get home delivery today!

Video

Advertising

AP Video

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Fatal crashes are down in Washington, and a national used-car database goes onlinenew
Associated Press Study: Fatal crashes down in Washington Last year Washington's roads were the scene of the fewest fatal crashes since 1955. According...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising