April 16, 2003: An Anaheim Ducks Franchise First; Sweeping the Red Wings
One game stood between the Mighty Ducks and their first series win against the Detroit Red Wings. It was still possible for Detroit to pull off a miracle and come from behind to win it all. However, the starry-eyed Ducks had the sheer tenacity of the limpet.
They clung tightly to the fact that within hours, they could finally exorcize the demons that had plagued them in their two previous playoff appearances. One more win and they could finally claim victory over their fiercest adversary’s. One game, however, seemed like a very long road.
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Fear became their motivator. They knew the Red Wings like the back of their own hand. They were capable of many things, including winning Game Four of a 3-0 series. Sending the series into Game Five and heading back to Joe Louis Arena was not a comforting thought.
Brett Hull set up Henrik Zetterberg for the first goal of the game, lighting up the scoreboard for Detroit first. The Ducks, however, answered back quickly. The Mightiest of Ducks, Paul Kariya scored his second goal of the series, tieing the game up 1-1.
A second-period lull sent the teams into the third period tied. The Anaheim Ducks didn’t let the tie linger on the scoreboard for long. Jason Krog saw his opportunity and didn’t hesitate, putting the Red Wings down by one.
A regulation win tantalized the Mighty Ducks. In just mere moments, they would sweep the Red Wings, something that had yet to be done by the franchise in their short 10-year history. Less than four minutes on the clock was a sign that the end was drawing near.
The Red Wings, however, had yet to give up. Four minutes allowed them plenty of time to get back into the game. Sergei Fedorov knocked the puck off of Keith Carney‘s stick in the Anaheim Ducks zone and in one flawless motion, he snapped the puck into the back of the net past J.S. Giguere, tieing the game 2-2.
The series was ending how it all began, the game heading into the dreaded overtime period. The next goal would win the game. After that, it was finished. Either the Ducks would win or they’d pack their bags again and head back to Michigan.
Carney flew down the center of the ice, his pass connecting with Steve Rucchin. Joseph made the save, Carney grabbed it off a rebound and took it behind the Red Wings net. Rucchin skated infront of the net, his position seemed like the best option for a goal, and the puck connected with his stick yet again. With a flick of his wrist, he sailed it towards the net.
Joseph was unable to make the save and just like that, the Anaheim Ducks had swept the Detroit Red Wings. The man who had been the meat to the Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya sandwich for so many years was once again dubbed a Mighty Ducks hero.
In a fit of hysteria and excitement, his teammates tackled him to the ground. A 4-0 sweep had seemed so unlikely. Yet, as proven by the Anaheim Ducks season after season, sometimes your biggest fears become your best motivators.
The Ducks would go on to defeat the Dallas Stars in the Semi-Finals and sweep the Minnesota Wild in the Conference Finals. However, that is where their story sadly ended. The Mighty Ducks would lose in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals to the New Jersey Devils. A harrowing defeat at the end of a long journey that started in Detroit.