If the Anaheim Ducks should advance to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, they’ll have goaltender J.S. Giguere to thank for it.
In Game Five of the Ducks-Detroit Red Wings Western Conference Finals, Giguere flat-out robbed the Wings, who were clearly the better team in regulation but ultimately came up short, falling in overtime 2-1.
Giguere wasn’t perfect, as the goal by Detroit’s Andreas Lilja handcuffed him high to the glove side, but that was the only one he’d allow after that.
The Wings had their way with the Ducks for most of Game Five. They out-shot the Ducks by a wide margin, dominated them in the second period due in large part to the Ducks taking undisciplined penalties yet again and out-hit them, once again proving that the Ducks no longer have a physical advantage in this series.
Yet try as they might, they couldn’t beat Giguere. Sure, Nicklas Lidstrom rang one off the goalpost in the third, but it’s the ones that go between the posts and across the goal line that count. After the Lilja goal, Giguere was flawless. He did what a big game goaltender does when his team is over-matched by keeping them in the game and giving them a chance to win.
The Ducks got that chance within the final two minutes of the third, when Detroit forward Pavel Datsyuk took a bad penalty and Johan Franzen failed to clear the puck on the ensuing Ducks PP, a six-on-four with Giguere pulled for the extra attacker. Scott Niedermayer pounced on the loose puck and his shot struck Lidstrom's stick and ricocheted over Dominik Hasek's shoulder for the tying goal.
There’s still a perception that Giguere isn’t a “big game” goaltender. Yet going into overtime in this one, he’s the all-time winning percentage leader for goaltenders in playoff overtime, going into this one with an 11-1 record.
Make that 12-1 now, but it was arguably the easiest playoff OT victory for Giguere. His teammates needed “Giggy” in regulation, but they didn’t really need him in overtime, as they regained their poise and their game, resulting in Lilja’s turnover that resulted in Teemu Selanne’s winner.
The Ducks have the Wings on the brink of elimination because of J.S. Giguere.
So, I'm not the only one who watched the entire game. It was great entertainment.
Pulling the goalie with 90 seconds remaining and maintaining control of the puck till scoring with 40 seconds reamained was pretty to see.
It was a cheap goal, admit it. Lindstrom's stick deflection would not score 999 times out of 1000.
(I'm pulling for Detroit and cussing at the same time.)
Didn't pee-wee coaches teach these guys to "never let your guard down."
We saw that 'steal' and goal coming.
It was textbook beautiful. The Network actually showed it at good angles, so kudos to NBC/VS.
I know Flying Pig probably threw a beer can through the wall...twice. There's no such thing as a 'routine chance to bring the puck up the ice.'
Giggy is making himself some serious money this postseason. I'm making a prediction here:
Giguere is definitely eaving Anaheim after this year, and there's a good chance he may get Dipietro Numbers on his FA deal. Someone's gonna kill the market to get this guy.
TKF: Lombardi can't afford to, especially if Giggy gets that Cup on his resume. That'll push his asking price to over $6 million, heck, probably comparable to Khabibulin's $6.75 million per. After all, Giggy has a Conn Smythe already. If he should backstop the Ducks to the Cup, he'll earn Khabby money easily, and that'll be far too much for Lombardi and the Kings.
TKF: Funny thing is the only teams who can actually afford to pay top dollar for giggy are teams who need it the most.
I'd love to see Washington go out and grab Giggy, a first lne center, and two top four defensemen in the off season. They sure could afford it if they had the balls to use the checkbook.
What is the cap space for the Kings. Its gt to be lower with so any younger players in the lineup. Of courst Oleg and Dan kill that figure eating up 5 mill for 2 players that will not play for the team this season.
TKF: the Kings presently have over $29 million committed to payroll for next season, due to the re-signing of Derek Armstrong to $1.5 million per season and Jack Johnson's new contract (believed to be over $900K per season for three seasons as an entry level contract).
However, they have to re-sign Cammalleri (who made $1.7 million last season and will probably seek $3 million as a raise)and could push it to almost $32 million. Now factor in either re-signing Aaron Miller and Mike Weaver or finding replacements. Now factor in re-signing Lundmark and Kostopoulos. And now deciding if they'll re-sign Heward and Modry or find replacements for them.
That's not counting whether or not they'll re-sign Garon and/or LaBarbera. Their defence depth appears to be the pressing need, and I'll concede they could use a top two centre.
Now factor in that Kings ownership likely won't spend much over $40 million for next season, and suddenly there's no cap room for a major UFA signing.
Great article spector, even though I don't agree with the out physical comment? The detroit shot at Pronger came early with "whoever that was" sent flyin at center ice in a different direction! And I loved the blow the whistle everytime Pronger touches a redwing.
I'm surprised they didn't call Anaheim for knockin the glass into the crowd. That was kinda kool to watch the fat boy rub his head for a few secs!
They may not have had the # of hits total, but they had the good ones. I thought Franzen was taking helicopter lessons there for a while. Bottom line, stats don't win a championship, things like grit, heart & determination do! Call the 6 on 4 goal cheap slshusker, even if it hadn't of been deflected & went in, Ronald Mcdonald was there for the stuff.
One more thing, was that a red octopuss flailing around in front of Detroits goal right before Teamu scored? Good luck tuesday Detroit, I could watch these two go at it for another 7 game series!!!
I've read at least a dozen articles on game 5 from at 10 different publications and Spector is easily the most unbiased of them. It is unbelievable to me how many Detroit Homers are in the media. Brett Hull's disgraceful claim that the Ducks were "terrible" and basically don't deserve to win was ridiculous. Did Detroit deserve to win? It's hard to believe a team can go into Detroit and hold them to one goal and be "terrible". Brett should just rip his shirt off and expose the Red Wings jersey he is wearing underneath it.
Another Fox hockey writer actually had the gall to imply that Detroit is getting screwed by the refs. If you go back and look at the series on tape, you can count up the phanton tripping and hooking penalties the Ducks have been assessed.
Thank you, Phil for repoting what you see and not getting on the bandwagon.
Hi Lyle:
As we have agreed many times, goaltending has and can steal a game or series. Detroit was clearly the top team in that game and the Ducks goalie stole one for them.
J.S. Giguere is the man. 2003 was no fluke. I hope the Ducks will resign him. I love the guy and he has the coolest nickname and motto "getting Jiggy with it." Yes if the Ducks win the cup his asking price will be above six million, but let us remember he's also quietly built a good regular season resume as well. I remember when he got his first starts back in the 2000-2001 season, he kept the Ducks in the games. That was the rebuilding year when they traded Selanne away and Kariya missed 15 games and thus practically had no offense and thus he took some losses he shouldn't have taken. I hope that the Ducks will resign him, and trade Bryz instead. They can get a lot more value in a trade for Bryz because he's got a low cap number and has shown flashes of greatness and he's younger than Jiggy but he's also unproven but I feel the Ducks can receive a lot for him since teams are desperate for goaltending. However I doubt they can resign Jiggy with two players receiving at least 6 mil in Pronger and Scotty, but with a cup victory I hope the owners, the Samueli family will realize that if you build a winner the fans will come and will resign Jiggy even though it might put them over their spending cap. I also hope Jiggy will give the Ducks a discount after the Ducks made him the starter even though he has had problems with his hips and dehydration and after Bryzgalov showed his flashes of greatness. Spector what's your best guess on what the Ducks will do this offseason?
TKF: I think Miller might test the market but if there's no real interest (and let's face it, that's easy to ascertain long before July 1) he could remain in LA for less.
They won't buyout Cloutier and I doubt they'll buy out Tverdovsky as those buyouts are two-thirds the remaining value spread out over twice the remaining term of the contract.
If ownership agrees to spend $45 million then yes, the Kings have a shot at bringing in a marquee UFA name, but indications I've heard is they'll hold the line around $40 million for another season as they're still rebuilding.
"There’s still a perception that Giguere isn’t a 'big game' goaltender."
Now there's a perception that should have been blown up after he earned the Conn Smythe in 2003. Are they giving that award to "small timers" now, and I just wasn't aware of it?
Funny thing. I went to high school with Aaron Miller. He was a really nice guy, sort of low-key. At the time I didn't know what a good hockey player he was.
The Ducks didn't play well and the Wings couldn't beat them (like Game 1 in reverse) but Giggy was outstanding and Teemu's goal gave me flashbacks to his rookie season in Winnipeg (yes, I was there for his first 2 seasons). I think they'll both be Ducks next year and they'll both be Stanley Cup winners - unless, of course, folks start taking Mr Strachen seriously!
Sorry Spector to use your Blog but he doesn't seem to have one so maybe you could just ask him to quit beating about the bush and come right out with what he really thinks the way ahead for the NHL (and officiating) should be: before the first puck is even dropped in any game that involves Anaheim the refs should just send a Duck - Chris Pronger I think would be his favourite - straight to the box and have them play with a maximum of 4 skaters for the duration!
I'll tell you what will happen tonight in game 6. The wings will open up one hell of a can on the ducks, and pronger will get his just desserts...courtesy of kirk maltby and todd bertuzzi. Lets face it, the ducks don't belong on the ice with the wings, pronger had it backwards when he said the wings couldn't play with them...they've been not only playing with them, but TOYING with them as well. The wings are just like the Pistons, they don't bring their "A" game until they have to, and tonight you'll see it. Don't say I didn't warn you, duckheads.
But seriously, Maltby and Bertuzzi? Surely you can't be suggesting that the Wings would resort to such underhand and, quite frankly, illegal tactics? Indeed, why on earth would they need to? You won Game 3 5-0 so you're already deserving of a place in the finals, aren't you? Oh, I guess not because it's a 7 game series and the Ducks are 3-2 up!
In any case, Chris Pronger perhaps won't be quite as vulnerable because he wears a helmet that actually fits and doesn't fall off after every check!
And of course, you wouldn't be surprised then if M & B were to pick up suspensions, would you? Of course not, because you're so open-minded and not at all smug!
What a great game this is - I love it. It'll be the Ducks in 6 (I hope) or in 7. But if it isn't then I do hope that the Senators don't come in for the same sort of abuse that's been thrown at the Ducks.
All games in the final start at 8pm EST by the way. Interesting!
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
