The Ducks and Red Wings will compete in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday (May 10) at 2 p.m. PDT/5 p.m. EDT.

With two assists tonight, Ryan Getzlaf extended his League-leading point streak to eight games (2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points). He leads the NHL in both postseason scoring and assists (3+13=16).

Corey Perry established a new career high for points in a postseason game with 2-1=3 tonight. It was also his first career postseason multi-goal game. He has earned 2-3=5 points in the last three games and 6-4=10 in the last seven.

In addition, Perry’s goal at 0:42 of the first period tonight tied a franchise postseason record for fastest goal scored to start a game. Petr Sykora scored 42 seconds into Game 5 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Final at New Jersey Devils (June 5, 2003).

Chris Pronger extended his point streak to five games (1-6=7) with an assist in tonight’s contest. His five-game point streak is tied for the longest by a defenseman in the postseason (also CHI’s Seabrook) Pronger continues to co-lead all NHL defensemen in scoring (2-7=9, also DET’s Lidstrom).

Scott Niedermayer has a three-game point streak (2-1=3), which includes goals in each of the past two games. He has also earned points in five of the last six games (2-4=6).

Tonight’s attendance was 17,601 (including standing-room-only tickets), a new club record (regular season or playoff). The previous record was 17,597 set on Jan. 2, 2009 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Game summary here; event summary here; more to follow.

Rookie defenseman Brett Festerling was chosen to take James Wisniewski’s place on defense for the Ducks, as the game lineup was just announced here at Honda Center. It will be the first career playoff game for Festerling.

James Wisniewski was in the Ducks’ dressing room this morning, but didn’t take part in the morning skate. As expected, he won’t suit up for Game 4 against the Red Wings tonight, two nights after a lung contusion knocked him out of Game 3.

Even though he wasn’t cleared to play, “it’s nice to see a guy, especially when he’s been off,” teammate Rob Niedermayer said.

Brett Festerling and Brendan Mikkelson are the top candidates to replace Wisniewski in the lineup, but Festerling said after the morning skate (which ended about an hour ago) that Randy Carlyle had not yet notified them who will play tonight.

“I prepare for the game like it’s any other game. It’ll be exciting if I get in, but if not I know Mikkelson’s ready too,” he said. “We’ve been practicing and working out. It’s not like we’ve been sitting around doing nothing. I think we’ll be ready. That’s part of the reason we’re here, to stay ready just in case.”

Wisniewski hopes to play in Game 5 Sunday. Of Tomas Holmstrom, who elbowed the defenseman in the face after he was struck by the puck, Wisniewski said that “if it was (Chris Pronger), I’m sure all you media guys would be talking about how dirty the Anaheim Ducks are. Since it’s the Detroit Red Wings, I guess it’s OK.”

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune Web site:

Another candidate for the Wild’s general manager vacancy was revealed Tuesday when sources confirmed that Anaheim Ducks assistant GM David McNab interviewed for the post Saturday.
McNab took a quick trip to Minnesota from Detroit, where the Ducks were playing their second-round series with the Red Wings. Reached Tuesday, McNab declined to comment.

E.J. McGuire, series manager and spokesman for officials, gave his explanation late last night on Marian Hossa’s third-period goal being negated by referee Brad Watson:

“First off, as any of us watch on a replay, it’s easy to make the correct call.

Continue reading “McGuire: ‘He didn’t make a mistake’” »

Randy Carlyle:
I thought we had a real good start to the hockey game and played a pretty textbook type of playoff game until the third period, when it seemed like we just stopped skating. We turned the puck over and we took two penalties, one high-sticking and one holding. That continued to feed their momentum. They came through in some waves. We made a couple mistakes as far as puck placement, icing calls, and everything got a little hairy at the end.

On Wisniewski: He was down at the end in the Zamboni area, the emergency room people were in place, looked after him, stabilized him. He took a pretty good elbow after the fact too. The puck shot to the upper chest area was enough, but when you’re huddled over and somebody gives you a good, stiff elbow to the chin, it’s a little bit surprising.

On Mike Brown: The fourth line is in a situation where they are to provide energy and safe minutes to us. Brown kills penalties; Nokelainen kills penalteise, takes faceoffs for us. As far as Mike Brown, he’s an energy guy. He comes to play night in and night out and doesn’t change the way he plays. His pressure (on the ice) has been a real boost to our penalty killing. He’s a good teammate. He’s a low maintenance player. As a coach, you just love those guys.
Continue reading “Postgame quotes.” »

The Ducks improved their lifetime postseason record at Honda Center to 30-15 (.667 win percentage).

Ryan Getzlaf has earned points in an NHL postseason-high seven consecutive games (two goals, 10 assists). Overall, he leads the NHL in both postseason scoring (14 points) and assists (11).

Jonas Hiller had his shutout streak snapped at 14:20 of the second period on Henrik Zetterberg’s goal. The streak lasted 90:16, dating back to Johan Franzen’s goal at 5:19 of the third period of Sunday’s triple OT contest (Game 2 of the CSF, May 3). For the series, Hiller has stopped 138-of-145 shots for a .952 save percentage and 1.90 goals-against average. Through his first nine career postseason contests, he has stopped 368-of-375 shots for a .981 save percentage and 1.74 GAA. He continues to lead the NHL in save percentage, and now ranks third in GAA.

Scott Niedermayer has earned points in four of the last five games (one goal, four assists) and in two straight (goal, assist). His goal accounted for his eighth career playoff game-winner, which ranks tied for second all-time among defensemen in the postseason (Nicklas Lidstrom 11, also Paul Coffey and Scott Stevens 8).

Chris Pronger extended his point streak to four games (goal, five assists). His assist on Scott Niedermayer’s goal accounted for his 100th career playoff point (22 goals, 78 assists). In addition, Pronger is now tied for the NHL lead in postseason scoring among defensemen (two goals, eight points).

Teemu Selanne has scored goals in three of the last four games.

Ryan Carter has earned points in four of the last five games, including an assist tonight (two goals, four points).

After tests tonight at UCI Medical Center in Orange County, Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski has been diagnosed with a lung contusion, a team spokesman said. He will remain overnight at the hospital as a precautionary measure and is doing well.
Continue reading “James Wisniewski update.” »

There were many ways to describe Marian Hossa’s disallowed goal that could have — should have — tied Game 3 at 2-2 in the third period. “Serendipitous” is a good word for Ducks fans. “Utter BS” is how one Red Wings fan described it.
Continue reading “On the goal that wasn’t.” »