Recap: Ducks Inch Closer to Playoff Position in 4-2 Victory Over Detroit

ANAHEIM - The rivalry between the Ducks and Red Wings isn't what it used to be, but there was plenty of vitriol between the two teams tonight in a soldout Honda Center.

The three Ducks who engaged in fisticuffs with Detroit combatants also scored goals in a 4-2 Anaheim triumph in front of 17,243 entertained fans. The victory gave the Ducks (36-24-12, 84 points) the same amount as the Pacific Division third-place Kings and the holders of the two wild card spots - Dallas and Colorado. Although the Kings and Avalanche have a game in hand on Anaheim, which has 10 remaining in the regular season.
"When we're engaged to that level," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said, "we're a very dangerous team."
The Ducks and Red Wings developed a tense rivalry ever since they played each other in the first game in Mighty Ducks history on October 8, 1993 at what was then known as The Pond. Since then they faced each other five times in the playoffs, with the Red Wings prevailing in three of those.
"There is some history there," said Ducks winger Corey Perry, who had the game-winner tonight. "They still have a lot of guys over there. We battled for a long time in the West. It just continued tonight."
Detroit moved to the Eastern Conference in 2013 and the franchise that once went to the playoffs 23 straight years broke that streak by not qualifying last year. They are poised to miss again this season, with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 26-34-11 and a losing streak that became nine straight tonight
Still, they showed some grit tonight until the Ducks took a crucial two-goal lead five minutes into the third period courtesy of Ryan Kesler, who just seconds before had escaped the penalty box for a second period fighting major. Kesler backhanded in his own rebound just outside the crease, throwing a Tiger Woods uppercut in celebration.

Earlier in the game, the punches he threw came in a fight with Detroit winger Anthony Mantha, one of three fights in the game that included Nick Ritchie squaring off with Luke Witkowski and Perry trading blows with Justin Abdelkader.
"There is a lot on the line for us, and obviously we're not gonna get pushed around out here," said Kesler in a postgame TV interview. "We stick up for each other, and that's what we did tonight."
The Ducks broke the ice six minutes after the opening draw when Ondrej Kase fed an open Ritchie in the slot for the one-timer.

"It just started like that. Couple big hits early. The crowd was good," Ritchie said. "At this time of the year, with the position we're in, we're playing for keeps. Not that we weren't all season, but it's really a desperate time. Sometimes the emotions come out, and tonight they did."
Detroit tied it late in the period when Ducks goalie John Gibson was caught out of position and Wings d-man Mike Green filled a wide open net.
The Ducks went in front a little less than three minutes into the middle frame during a scramble in front of the Detroit net that ended with Derek Grant squeezing a backhand through a crowd of players.

Detroit got even again soon afterwards on a one-timer by Gustav Nyquist off an Abdelkader feed.
But Anaheim took the lead once again with 3:18 left in the period on a nifty play by captain Ryan Getzlaf, slipping the puck into the crease, where Perry jammed it home.

The Ducks, who have points in 10 of their last 14, will look to make it three straight wins Sunday vs. New Jersey before hitting the road for four critical games in Western Canada.
"We have to start feeling good about ourselves and find ways to build on the wins we've had here as of late," Carlyle said. "As always, it's a challenge with the schedule and the dog days of the season. We know the pressure that's upon us. We don't want to focus necessarily on what everybody else is doing. Just focus on what we can control and make sure we're ready game in, game out to find ways to get the points."