Anaheim Ducks Elimination; Forces Game 7

Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood stops Anaheim's Corey Perry during Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Perry got the better of Osgood last night, however, scoring the game-winning goal in Ducks' 2-1 win over Detroit to force a seventh game at the Joe Louis Arena. (Photo courtesy of Reuters)

The Stanley Cup playoffs have always been championed for the simple fact that any team, regardless of seeding, can make a run to the finals to play for the right to hoist Lord Stanley's chalice. The Anaheim Ducks only validated that last night.

Down three games to two, the eighth-seeded Ducks needed a win on their home ice against the reigning Cup champion Detroit Red Wings to force a deciding Game 7, and the Ducks prevailed by a score of 2-1; with goals from young stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. It wasn't easy, however, as Detroit cut a 2-0 deficit in half with 2:25 remaining in regulation on a Johan Franzen goal, and the play of the game was Jonas Hiller's save against Detroit's Marian Hossa in the final seconds.

Game 7 will be held tomorrow night, with the winner advancing into the Western Conference finals to take on the Chicago Blackhawks, who closed out Vancouver Monday night. "It was unacceptable the way we played last game," said Getzlaf after the final horn sounded. "We were excited about tonight."

The 2007 Cup champion Ducks will have many more reasons to be excited tomorrow night in Hockeytown, as they look to move closer to a second championship in three years.