The Ducks gave the fans at Honda Center a glimpse into the future last night when rookie Kyle Palmieri stole the show by scoring not one, but two highlight reel goals.
Anaheim played a desperate and relentless style of hockey in Wednesday nights 4-0 whitewash of the visiting Detroit Red Wings. It was the first time the Ducks have held Detroit scoreless since 1997 and the first time ever at the Pond/Honda Center.
The Ducks played like the hungrier team for the majority of the game although statistically the teams appeared evenly matched throughout. The Ducks forwards were relentless on the puck which resulted in four beautiful goals including Teemu Selanne's 1,400th NHL point on career goal number 660.
With goal-scoring leader Corey Perry on the shelf with a bum shoulder, it appeared as though the Ducks were going to struggle to find goal scoring. Unfortunately for the Wings, Anaheim had an ace up their sleeve in 21-year-old Kyle Palmieri.
When Palmieri was recalled from Syracuse he was leading the AHL in goal-scoring with 32 tallies in only 42 games. After last nights performance AHL goalies can breath a tad bit easier because I don't think he is coming back anytime soon.
It's not exactly a "Corey Who?" type of situation but it sure makes the loss of No. 10 and easier pill to swallow.
Palmieri wasn't the only standout in the win. Jonas Hiller provided plenty of his own fireworks at the other end. Hiller stopped all 23 Detroit shots en route to his fourth shutout of the season and 15th of his career.
Hiller improved to 27-25-11 on the season with a 2.53 GAA and .911 save percentage.
Personally it was great to see Hiller get the shutout. He has been such a rock for the Ducks in the net. In my opinion he IS the team's MVP.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Etem Up!
Ducks prospect Emerson Etem continues to light-up the competition playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. The Long Beach native has reached the 60-goal mark for the first time in his WHL career in only 63 games.
The 19-year-old still leads the league in goal scoring while playing up to ten fewer games than his closest competition.
Etem's WHL stat line...
2011-12 Regular Season Medicine Hat Tigers 63GP 60G 45A 105pts 29+/- 32PIM
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Here is a link to a story I wrote for the TheHockeyGuys.net about the Ducks chances of winning their last 12 games of the season just to have a shot at the playoffs.
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