Some of most memorable games in Anaheim's franchise history took place on this sheet of ice, and tonight the club will say goodbye in what will be the final regular season game between the Ducks and Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. After this season is done, the Wings will move into their brand new home - Little Caesars Arena - in midtown Detroit for the start of the 2017-18 season.
Memories Abound for Ducks at Joe Louis Arena
Few can forget the heroes (and moments) that emerged in Game 5 of the 2007 Western Conference Final, beginning with then-captain Scott Niedermayer's game-tying goal with 48 seconds remaining in regulation and Teemu Selanne's forehand-to-backhand game-winner at the 11:57 mark of overtime. The victory gave the Ducks a 3-2 series lead before they finished it off in Game Six at Honda Center to send them to the Stanley Cup Final.
Corey Perry was in his second NHL season that year, and says that game will always be his fondest memory at Joe Louis Arena.
"Playing here in the playoffs and winning that Game 5 in overtime with Teemu and his classic backhand to get it done," he said, after taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "Lots of memories, lots of battles. This place has a lot of history."
In total, eight postseason overtime contests, including three triple OT games (eight of Anaheim's 20 all-time road OT games have come at Joe Louis Arena) have occurred here, including three of the club's four road OT games that lasted three OTs or longer.
Long considered a house of horrors, at least in the regular season, the Ducks have actually reeled off four consecutive wins at Joe Louis Arena dating to the 2012-13 season. Believe it or not, the Ducks enter tonight's contest with a rather astonishing 7-25-8 all-time mark in Motown.
The Wings, of course, have experienced tremendous success inside Joe Louis Arena after moving into the building in 1979. They've won four Stanley Cup championships and have qualified for the playoffs 25 seasons in a row, a streak that stands as the longest in the four major sports.
Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler grew up in nearby Farmington Hills and as a kid idolized Red Wings Hall-of-Fame defenseman Nick Lidstrom. Fowler, who made his NHL debut at Joe Louis Arena on Oct. 8, 2010, says this game has extra meaning to him and expects plenty of family and friends in attendance tonight.
"It's special," he said. "I always enjoy coming here. I have a lot of fond memories. Watching the Wings as a kid and now getting to play on this ice is always special to me. It's kind of sad that it's coming to an end, but I'll cherish it one last time."
From the Pregame Skate
Jonathan Bernier is expected to make his second consecutive start in goal for the Ducks, which would be the first time all season he's done so. Bernier turned aside 31-of-34 shots to lift the Ducks to a 4-3 victory two nights ago against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden, and, aside from a bump in the road earlier this month in Calgary, has been a steady and reliable presence in net for Anaheim. The veteran netminder improved to 6-2-1 on the season and also kept Anaheim unbeaten when leading after two periods (12-0-0).
It doesn't appear any changes to the lineup will be made. In other words, right wing Jared Boll and defenseman Korbinian Holzer will be your expected scratches unless things change from now until game time.
Potential Line Combinations
Anaheim
Rakell-Getzlaf-Perry
Cogliano-Kesler-Silfverberg
Ritchie-Vermette-Kase
Cramarossa-Noesen-Shaw
Fowler-Vatanen
Lindholm-Manson
Theodore-Bieksa
Bernier
Gibson
Detroit
Tatar-Zetterberg-Mantha
Nyquist-Larkin-Vanek
Athanasiou-Nielsen-Glendening
Miller-Sheahan-Ott
DeKeyser-Green
Ericsson-Ouellet
Kronwall-Sproul
Mrazek
Howard
