Detroit 4, Ducks 0.
The Ducks went to Detroit and lost. Nothing new under the sun on opening night of a new season; the Wings are now 27-3-3-0 all-time at home against the Ducks.
Second-year goalie Jimmy Howard continued the tradition with a 21-save shutout, helped immensely by his team's six power-play opportunities to the Ducks' one. The disparity in penalties (the Ducks took 12 to the Wings' 6) was a big factor in Detroit's 43-21 lead in shots on goal.
Yet neither Johan Franzen, Mike Modano, Pavel Datsyuk or Dan Cleary scored on the power play against Jonas Hiller (39 saves). Detroit did all its damage at even strength, and all within the game's first 37 minutes.
In an otherwise forgettable debut, the Ducks can take pride in their perfect penalty kill as well as a solid regular-season debut by Cam Fowler, who blocked five shots in 20:48 and looked poised with the puck.
Luca Sbisa was a healthy scratch, but he might be needed tomorrow in Nashville; defenseman Andy Sutton did not play in the third period.
Second-year goalie Jimmy Howard continued the tradition with a 21-save shutout, helped immensely by his team's six power-play opportunities to the Ducks' one. The disparity in penalties (the Ducks took 12 to the Wings' 6) was a big factor in Detroit's 43-21 lead in shots on goal.
Yet neither Johan Franzen, Mike Modano, Pavel Datsyuk or Dan Cleary scored on the power play against Jonas Hiller (39 saves). Detroit did all its damage at even strength, and all within the game's first 37 minutes.
In an otherwise forgettable debut, the Ducks can take pride in their perfect penalty kill as well as a solid regular-season debut by Cam Fowler, who blocked five shots in 20:48 and looked poised with the puck.
Luca Sbisa was a healthy scratch, but he might be needed tomorrow in Nashville; defenseman Andy Sutton did not play in the third period.
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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