25th Anniversary Rematch: Anaheim Ducks vs Detroit Red Wings

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.