Detroit Red Wings vs. Anaheim Ducks Game 6 Recap

      The first round series between the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks continued on Friday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.  The Ducks had the lead 3-2 and were looking to close out the series Friday.  Three periods were not enough to settle the contest for the third game in a row and the fourth game out of the six so far.  Detroit blew a two goal lead late but pulled it out in overtime 4-3 to force a Game 7, 10:00(EDT) Sunday in Anaheim.  Given the tenor of this series it would be no surprise if Game 7 goes into overtime as well.
      The first period saw the Ducks carrying the play in Detroit's end but Detroit scored first, on a goal by Pavel Datsyuk, his second of the playoffs, assisted by Henrik Zetterberg and Jonathan Ericsson.  There was only one penalty in the period, a tripping call to Ryan Getzlaf, but Detroit was unable to capitalize on the man advantage.  Detroit outshot the Ducks 11-7 in the period.
      The second period saw the Ducks tie the game at 11:31 on a goal by Kyle Palmieri, his third of the post season, assisted by Emerson Etem.  The Ducks outshot the Wings for the period 14-6 for a two period total of 21 for the Ducks and 17 for Detroit.  There were no penalties in the period. 
      The third period saw a lot of action with each team scoring twice.  Detroit scored the first two goals.  The first, a powerplay goal, after Kyle Palmieri was called for hi-sticking, scored by Henrik Zetterberg assisted by Mikael Samuelsson and Pavel Datsyuk at 6:19.  Daniel Cleary scored his second of the playoffs at 11:30, assisted by Justin Abdelkader and Valtteri Filppula.  Filppula figured prominently in the first Ducks goal of the period, when he was going behind the Detroit net and thinking he had a trailer dropped the puck.  He did have a trailer, unfortunately it was Emerson Etem who slid the puck past Jimmy Howard for his second of the post season at 16:32.  51 seconds later it was Bobby Ryan scoring his second, assisted by Corey Perry and Francois Beauchemin to tie the game.  The period ended with the Ducks outshooting the Wings 16-9 for a three period total of 37-26.  This would be the third overtime game in a row but it didn't last long.  Henrik Zetterberg was the hero scoring his second of the game assisted by Niklas Kronwall and Pavel Datsyuk 1:04 into the extra frame.
      This win for the Wings sets up the most dramatic thing in sports: a Game 7. This will take place Sunday 5/11 at 10:00(EDT) at the Honda Center in Anaheim.  If that game goes into overtime it will set a NHL record for overtime games in a single series.  If the Red Wings can upset the Ducks in Game 7 then they will earn the right to advance to the second round and face the first seed Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks will play the San Jose Sharks.  If the Ducks emerge victorious then they will face the Canucks and Chicago will play the Sharks.