DETROIT – Teemu Selanne scored 11:57 into overtime to lift the Anaheim Ducks to a 2-1 comeback win over the Detroit Red Wings yesterday and a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.
The Red Wings were within a minute of winning in regulation, but Scott Niedermayer's deflected shot fluttered over Dominik Hasek's glove on a power play to tie it with 47.3 seconds left.
“It wasn't our best effort, but we did enough to win and that's what matters,” Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger said.
Anaheim can advance to its second Stanley Cup finals appearance with a win at home tomorrow night. If Game 7 is necessary, it will be played Thursday night in Detroit. Eastern Conference champion Ottawa, which eliminated Buffalo on Saturday, awaits the winner.
Detroit had a man advantage midway through overtime, but couldn't get the puck past Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who improved to 12-1 after regulation in the playoffs.
Andreas Lilja, who scored Detroit's lone goal, turned the puck over in front of his own net to Selanne, who made a quick move and sent a backhanded shot over a sprawling Hasek.
“I've been practicing that move my whole life,” Selanne said. “I knew I had to get it up. He goes down and covers up everything down low.”
Lilja said he messed up on the play.
“It's not supposed to happen, but it happens,” he said. “It hurts, but we have to put this behind us and move on.”
Lilja scored his first playoff goal at 6:13 of the second period and Detroit clung to the one-goal lead, but the Ducks didn't quit. It paid off.
Pavel Datsyuk was called for interference with 1:47 to go and Anaheim took advantage of the opportunity, pulling Giguere for a 6-on-4 skating edge.
“It's a good move – when it works,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said.
Niedermayer's shot from the left circle was lifted off the ice by the stick of fellow Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom as the Detroit defenseman tried to block it. Hasek didn't seem to see the puck until it was already in the net.
“That's hockey,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said.
