Detroit Red Wings: Top 5 Playoff Goals Of The Last 5 Years
By John Curran
Jan 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Henrik Zetterberg (40) receives congratulations from teammates after he scores his third goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the third period at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
#3: Zetterberg’s OT Winner In Anaheim
The Red Wings’ 2012-2013 postseason was both one of the more exciting yet deflating playoff runs the team has had in the last five years. Once again the Wings found themselves matched up against a higher-seeded team in the first round, the Anaheim Ducks.
I distinctly remember having the feeling of just being satisfied that Detroit had once again managed to squeak into the playoffs, and was fully expecting to be ousted by the Ducks in the first-round. However, the Red Wings once again proved that anything can happen in the NHL playoffs.
Heading into game 6 of the series the Ducks held a 3-2 lead over the Red Wings and looked to eliminate Detroit in front of their home crowd at the Joe Louis Arena. Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan tied the game late in the third-period for the Ducks which would set up the overtime showdown.
The veteran leadership of Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk, Niklas Kronwall and Henrik Zetterberg wasted no time in ending the game for the Red Wings. After Datsyuk won the draw in the Anaheim zone and dished it to Hank, who quickly dropped it to Kronner at the blue-line. Zetterberg quickly got the puck back from #55 and rifled a shot from the half-boards past Jonas Hiller just a little over one-minute into the overtime period.
The Wings would go on to beat the Ducks in Anaheim in game seven. Detroit also played an exciting series in the next round against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite taking a 3-0 series lead over the Hawks, the Red Wings were unable to finish them off in game seven.
Next: Datsyuk Strikes Again