Ducks aim to bounce back against Red Wings
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Anaheim Ducks will have revenge on the mind Sunday, when they host the Detroit Red Wings in the finale of a two-game series at Honda Center.
The Ducks were aiming for their 14th straight victory on home ice when they hosted Detroit on Friday, but the Red Wings ended Anaheim's club-record streak with a lopsided 5-1 win in Orange County. It was the first loss as the host for the Ducks since dropping their home opener to Vancouver back on Jan. 25.
Justin Abdelkader posted the first hat trick of his career to lead the way for the Red Wings on Friday. Abdelkader, who also had an assist, doubled his goal- scoring output in the contest and now has six goals and eight points in 31 games this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"First of all I think we had a really good team game," said Abdelkader. "We had a good game plan coming in. I was the beneficiary of some good plays and it was one of those games where you're getting the puck and you just want to keep shooting and trying to make plays."
The Red Wings also received a goal and two assists each from Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen and Jimmy Howard stopped 33 shots to help Detroit win for the third time in four games.
Detroit began a four-game road trip on Friday and is 6-6-2 as the guest in 2013. The Red Wings will face Phoenix on Monday before completing the trek Thursday at San Jose.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Red Wings enter Saturday as the seventh seed in the Western Conference and are two points ahead of Dallas.
In addition to having their 13-game home streak halted, Anaheim also lost in regulation for the first time this month. The Ducks, who were 9-0-3 during a 12-game point streak, last failed to gain a point in a 5-2 loss to Los Angeles on Feb. 25.
Teemu Selanne had the lone goal of the game for the Pacific Division-leading Ducks. Viktor Fasth was pulled early in the second period after giving up three goals on 11 shots, while Jonas Hiller made 10 saves the rest of the way.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I wish I could have played better today and given the team a chance to win," said Fasth. "I don't think I did that and we ended up with a loss. We know they're a team that likes to pass the puck a lot. Even though we knew that, we let them do it. We weren't good enough today."
The Ducks, who will complete a five-game homestand Monday against San Jose, fell to 13-2-0 at the Honda Center this season.
Sunday's contest is the third and final scheduled meeting between the Ducks and Red Wings this season. Detroit has won four of six and seven of 10 overall in the series.