DETROIT – Nick Bonino scored for Anaheim on a second-period power play – 18 seconds after Detroit’s Justin Abdelkader was ejected for a violent hit on Toni Lydman – and the Ducks went on to a 4-0 victory Saturday night to take a 2-1 series lead over the Red Wings in the Western Conference playoffs.
Abdelkader appeared to catch Lydman square in the side of the head with his left shoulder, and he was given a major penalty for charging and a game misconduct with 4:49 remaining in the second.
The Ducks immediately took advantage when Bonino backhanded a shot past goalie Jimmy Howard from point-blank range.
Ryan Getzlaf, Emerson Etem and Matt Beleskey scored in the third period for the Ducks. Jonas Hiller made 23 saves for Anaheim.
Lydman was playing the puck in the corner near his own net when Abdelkader sped over and flattened him with a high hit, sending the Detroit crowd into a brief frenzy before fans realized the Red Wings would be short-handed for a while.
Lydman was slow getting up and was eventually helped to the bench. He did not return.
Bonino scored almost immediately, but Detroit killed off the rest of the major penalty and even created a couple short-handed chances before the end of the period.
The Red Wings went on the power play early in the third, but Damien Brunner turned the puck over near his own net, and Getzlaf easily stickhandled around Howard for a short-handed goal with 13:27 left.
Etem scored his first career post-season goal when he was left alone in the slot and one-timed a pass from Teemu Selanne past Howard. Beleskey scored on the power play with 6:26 remaining from almost the same spot.
The Red Wings tied the series at 1 despite blowing a three-goal lead in the third period of Game 2. Gustav Nyquist’s overtime goal won that game, but Detroit lost defenceman Danny DeKeyser to a broken right thumb during the 5-4 victory.
The teams were a combined 7 of 19 on the power play heading into Game 3, but neither could take advantage in the first period Saturday. Detroit had a two-man advantage for 40 seconds, and Anaheim had one later in the period for 37 seconds.
Hiller and Howard kept the game scoreless. After Howard made one last save in the final seconds of the period, there was a brief pileup in front of the net. Howard emerged with no helmet on, and the crowd began chanting “Jimmy” as the teams headed off the ice.
The second period was a bit less action packed – until Abdelkader’s hit turned the game in Anaheim’s favour. Now the Red Wings will have to wait to find out if the 26-year-old left wing will be suspended. Game 4 is Monday night in Detroit.
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