The Red Wings had a lackluster showing tonight, falling 4-0 to the Ducks.  Anaheim now has a 2-1 lead in the series heading into game four on Monday night at the Joe.

Special teams again proved to be a killer for the Wings as they go 0-for-4  on the power play while Anaheim goes 2-for-4 including a short-handed goal.

But the game didn’t turn for the Ducks until 4:50 remaining in the second period when Justin Abdelkader was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for a hit on defenseman Toni Lydman.  The game was tied 0-0 before the hit, but the Ducks were able to score 18 seconds after the penalty.

Detroit was able to kill off the rest of the penalty without any more damage to go into the third only down 1-0.  With the Wings on the power play early in the third, Ryan Getzlaf was able to steal the puck from Damien Brunner and score around a sprawling Jimmy Howard.

Obviously the big play in this game was the Abdelkader hit and the repercussions that could follow leading into game four.  Detroit fans think that the hit didn’t deserve the initial game misconduct much less a suspension on top of it.  We will have to wait and see what Brendan Shanahan thinks of the hit and if it warrants an additional suspension.

I don’t think that Abdelkader should face additional punishment for this hit, the game misconduct was punishment enough to the Wings and Abdelkader.  If Abdelkader is out for game four I expect Damien Brunner or Gustav Nyquist to take his place on the top line.