The Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings are scheduled to play Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series on Tuesday night.
Ducks vs. Red Wings: Anaheim attempts to protect home ice in Game 1
The road team won every game during the season series between the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings. The Ducks will look to end that trend in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal on Tuesday night.
Anaheim finished the regular season with the second most points in the Western Conference, while Detroit battled their way into the conference’s seventh seed. During the season series, the Red Wings won two of three meetings and outscored the Ducks, 9-7. In addition, the Red Wings converted on 27.2 percent of their power plays, while killing off 88.8 percent of their penalties.
Jimmy Howard started all three games for Detroit and collected a 2.01 goals against average with a .942 save percentage. The Ducks' tandem of goalies didn't fare as well.
1. How will Bruce Boudreau manage his goaltenders?
As of this writing, the Ducks have yet to announce whether Jonas Hiller or Viktor Fasth will be starting in goal. Both goalies appeared in two games against Detroit this season with Fasth collecting a 3.62 goals against average and .872 save percentage, while Hiller compiled a 2.49 goals against average and .879 save percentage.
In the team’s final eight games of the season, both goalies made four starts.
2. Will Detroit win Game 1?
Over the course of the three-game season series between these two teams, the road team won every game. Since the Red Wings are the road team, it will be up to them to continue the trend.
3. Will the Red Wings’ playoff rookies have any impact in the outcome of Game 1?
Detroit is at an interesting point. Having dominated the league for well over a decade, the team appears to be entering a new chapter. While eight players still remain from the team’s 2008 Stanley Cup championship, there could be as many as six players making their playoff debuts on Tuesday night. Will any of these players have an impact on the game’s outcome?
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