25th Anniversary Rematch: Anaheim Ducks vs Detroit Red Wings
On October 8th, in one of the most anticipated games of the season, the Anaheim Ducks are set to face off against the Detroit Red Wings. It has been 25 years since these teams met for the first time at the Pond. It was the Anaheim Ducks played their inaugural game. There seems to be no better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than with a highly anticipated rematch.
On October 8th, 1993, the Anaheim Ducks skated onto the ice at Arrowhead Pond for the first game in franchise history. Back then, they were a team that was still unsure of themselves; they did not yet have a strong foundation to plant their freshly sharpened skates on. Although they skated through without getting shut out, the Detroit Red Wings gave the Mighty Ducks a run for their money.
The Ducks saw a lot of firsts during their inaugural game. They, of course, saw their first game, their first goal, their first fight, a crippling defeat, and out of this game their first rivalry was born.
Now, here we are 25 years, one Stanley Cup, two Conference championships, six Pacific Division titles, and one rebranding later. Although their rivalries have somewhat shifted over the years, it seems only fitting that the Ducks want to celebrate 25 years with a rematch against the Red Wings.
There is a lot the Ducks have this go around that they didn’t have back in 1993. However, although their first game ended with an embarrassing defeat, the Ducks broke the record, along with the Florida Panthers, for most wins by an expansion team in their inaugural year. As a tribute to 25 years of Anaheim Ducks hockey, let’s take a look at the game that started it all.
The Inaugural Faceoff
After a pre-game show, that I personally find quite laughable (what do you expect when your team is owned by Disney?), the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim took the ice at the sold-out Arrowhead Pond for the first time. The anticipation was riveting as the Ducks, for the first time in franchise history, were about to take center ice for their first puck drop.
Anatoli Semenov skated out to center ice to take on Detroit Red Wing center, Sergei Fedorov. As the puck dropped, and they fought for possession, Fedorov won the face off. As hard as the Mighty Ducks tried to gain possession of the puck, the Detroit Red Wings would make headway. Aaron Ward, with an assist from Fedorov and Ray Sheppard, slid the puck across the glassy ice past Anaheim Ducks goalie, Guy Hebert, just 2:34 into the first period.
The Detroit Red Wings would continue their scoring streak deep into the first period. Fedorov and Sheppard would both put their name on two more goals before the clock ran out. At 8:39, Sheppard found the back of the net, making that the Red Wings second goal of the night.
The Detroit Red Wings had a power play opportunity after Steven King and Stu Grimson both went to the sin bin. Fedorov took full advantage of the opportunity, and with the help of Ray Sheppard and Steve Yzerman, he scored the Red Wings third goal of the night, 15:11 into the first period.
The First Franchise Goal
The Mighty Ducks refused to let the Red Wings 3-0 lead over them leave them defeated. They came back at the commencement of the second period motivated to score their first goal. The Ducks saw their opportunity when Detroit Red Wings defenseman, Steve Chiasson, took a two-minute slashing penalty. The Mighty Ducks were given their first power play opportunity, and they weren’t going to let it go to waste.
Less than 12 seconds into the Chiasson minor, Terry Yake would pass the puck to Bill Houlder. Houlder tried to send a slap shot into the net, but it was saved by Red Wings goalie, Peter Ing. Ducks defenseman, Sean Hill, on a beautiful rebound, sent the puck past Ing and into the net. Hill dropped to his knees and slid across the ice, arms raised in victory. The Pond rose to their feet with roaring applause and ear-shattering chants of approval.
Although the Red Wings would charge ahead of the Mighty Ducks, scoring two more goals before the second period was over, nothing could ruin the victorious celebration surrounding the Ducks first goal.
Defeat Is Silenced By Victory
The third period began with a score of Detroit, 5 – Might Ducks, 1. There was an obvious doubt that the home team could bounce back and win the game. However, the game wasn’t over, and the Ducks still had plenty of time to score another goal or two.
More from Pucks of a Feather
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
At the Pond, things got slightly dimmer when the Red Wings, early in the third, scored two goals just minutes apart. With the score now at 7-1, Mighty Ducks fans at Arrowhead Pond held onto hope for one last goal.
Another penalty on Red Wings defenseman, Steve Chiasson, was the opportunity the Ducks had been looking for since the beginning of the third period. Detroit’s Dallas Drake won the draw and shot the puck all the way down the ice.
Alexei Kasatonov skated down the ice, taking possession of the puck. He passed the puck to Mighty Ducks teammate Anatoli Semenov. In a beautiful display of passing, Semenov sent the puck down low to Troy Loney. The captain, rocketed the puck into the net past goalie Peter Ing, through the five-hole.
The Pond went crazy, cheers of the fans rising to the rafters in celebration. The clock would eventually run out, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim suffered their first defeat at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings.
Although the game ended in defeat, the night was overshadowed by the small victories. Orange County had a hockey team, and October 8th, 1993 was the first sign that the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim would stand up to their name.
Next. Potential Lines For The Rookie Face Off Tournament. dark
The countdown has officially begun. There are only 70 days between now and the home opener on October 8th. We’re in the final stretch! The Anaheim Ducks are a much better team in 2018, the result should be different this time.