Wings’ patience sinks Hiller, Ducks

Why the Red Wings won: They played their puck-possession game. They had lapses, such as early in the second period when the Ducks took over and pinned the Wings in their own zone for several shifts. These produced no scoring, and when the Wings recovered the puck, they immediately moved it down the ice. Once in the Anaheim zone, they did not simply fling shots at Jonas Hiller, as they had done earlier in the series. Instead, they passed it and worked the Anaheim defense out of position until they could get high-percentage chances. Their scoring came from the players who need to tally for them, including Johan Franzen and Marian Hossa with two goals each.

Why the Ducks lost: Hiller, who had been great in the prior games, was merely ordinary in this one. Four of the five goals he allowed came from distance (the last was into an empty net). None were particularly bad goals, but he didn’t come up with the miracle saves he had been making all playoffs. On offense, Anaheim got no production from their second line. Even after Bobby Ryan moved down to play with Teemu Selanne and Andrew Ebbett, the line could not hold onto the puck long enough to generate chances, nor exploit their speed through the neutral zone. The Ducks took three penalties in the second period. The first two negated power plays Anaheim had.

Key moment: The Wings took control with two goals late in the second period after the Ducks had tied the game at 2. The second of those came on the power play. It was classic Detroit — the puck worked from corner to point and across to the other side, then flung at the net to beat Hiller. When he let in another one early in the third to make it 5-2, he was yanked and J.S. Giguere made his 2009 playoff debut.

What’s next: The Ducks gave up momentum with this loss. They need to regroup before Sunday and forget this game. Their offense needs to see production from the Selanne line. The Wings have to keep pressing. If they decide that they have solved Hiller, he might surprise them.

– Brian Kennedy