After losing to the Wings in a seven-game series in the second round of the playoffs last season, the Ducks traded away the hated cry-baby Chris Pronger, ending an era of annoyance in Anaheim. Pronger was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers on the NHL Draft day; an appropriate place for a goon-loser like him. He looks even dumber in orange. Along with Pronger the Flyers also received some (Ryan) Dingle-berry prospect in exchange for forward Joffrey Lupal, defenseman Luca Sbisa, and a slew of potential talent including two first round picks. Pronger gives Philly a much-needed dominating presence on defense and adds that dirty, cheap-shot element that has been absent a Flyer since the dissolving of the Legion of Doom. Philly should be in strong contention in the Eastern Conference, while the Ducks muck it up in the pond.
The Ducks are not as foreboding now as they were in previous seasons with Pronger, posing less of a threat to their opponents than they did a season ago. With just 15 points (6-8-3), Anaheim ranks amongst the league's worst teams and is at the cellar of a strong, much-improved Pacific Division in the Western Conference. They have been nothing but roadkill playing away from home this year and are on a current 0-2-2 road stretch coming into Detroit. What appeared to be a dynamic goaltending duo of Jonas Hiller and Jean-Sebastien Giguere has transformed into distraction and unpleasantness. Giguere, unhappy with just four starts on the season and unsatisfied to be relegated to backup status, has made it publicly known he wants out of Anaheim. The Ducks have already lost Rob Neiderdork, gone to New Jersey via free agency, and now trade rumors are swirling around Scott Neiderwhatever. However Anaheim still has several dangerous weapons besides some beaks and webbed feat. 
With the trio of Corey Perry/Ryan Getzlaf/Bobby Ryan, the Ducks have a top line as deadly as there is in the NHL, and they have proved it as of late. Centerman Getzlaf and right-winger Perry enter Hockeytown on a ten-game point streak. Perry leads all of the stupid Ducks in goals (12) and points (21) and has scored eight goals in the previous eight games. In that same stretch, left-winger Ryan has potted six of his seven goals of the season. Despite the scoring output from the first line, the Ducks are skating in the middle of the pack, averaging just 2.76 goals per game (the Wings are fifth in the NHL with 3.24). Veteran snipers Teemu Salanne (nine goals, ten points) and Saku Koivu (eight points, free agency acquisition from Montreal) are contributing, but there is a serious drop-off in scoring production on the Anaheim roster. Even with their recent struggles, the Ducks remain a rivalrous threat to Detroit. They are a prideful team that is desperate for a win on the road before returning to California. That is a lot of motivation aimed squarely at the Wings.
3-Straight For Howard
Jimmy Howard has to be more confident now than he ever has in his professional career, and it is rubbing off on his team. Coming off of back-to-back victorious starts in which he allowed just one goal per and stopped 56 shots, he will get a third-straight start at home against the Ducks. Chris Osgood is still out with the flu, and Daniel Larsson will stay in Detroit and serve as Howard's backup. With a confident backup goalie behind them, the Wings have been skating more confidently. After sustaining a bombardment of shots from the Canucks in the first half of Thursday's game, the Wings maintained their composure, buckled down defensively, and flowed with the rhythm of the game, eventually tipping the ice in their favor. And it all is a credit to Howard.
The lines will remain the same from the game against Vancouver. Kirk Maltby is also still out with the flu.
Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Holmstrom
Leino-Zetterberg-Cleary
Draper-Helm-Eaves
May-Abdelkader-Miller
Maltby (out)
Lidstrom-Rafalski
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Lebda
Like Fighter, Like Son
Brad May is rubbing off on Abdelkader, evident by the Fox Sports Detroit pregame footage of him teaching the youngster some fighting techniques. He seems to have taken him under his wing and has developed quite a liking for the little fella. Here is a quote from May from the Detroit News:
"I like Abby. We've talked quite a bit, actually. I don't know, you look at him, he's a lot younger than I am. But I remember when I was his age and the opportunity that I was provided. It took guys that I played with -- Pat LaFontaine and Colin Patterson, Dale Hawerchuk, Dave Andreychuk -- that helped me along and gave me advice. There's just plenty of experience and wisdom to be passed around. He's a smart kid. He's all ears and he's a heck of a player."
Pretty cool, though 'Abby' has already shown he can hold his own when it comes to fisticuffs. I was at this game!
Peace.
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