DETROIT -- Chris Chelios has seen trends come and go while
playing in an NHL-record 22 postseasons.
The Detroit Red Wings defenseman said players today throw their
bodies in front of shots more than ever because of the league's new
rules.
That leads to more goals caroming off random body parts and
equipment, sometimes with a player scoring on his own team. The
latest example of that gave Detroit a 2-1 win over the Anaheim
Ducks in the opener of the Western Conference finals.
Tomas Holmstrom was credited with the game-winner late in the
third period Friday even though he wasn't the last one to touch the
puck, and he didn't know if it hit his stick or glove before
eventually trickling past goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
"It's not luck anymore," Chelios insisted Saturday. "That's
the way it's going to happen."
The Red Wings are fortunate, Chelios added, to have Holmstrom
standing in front of goalies to shield their view.
"There's no one better," Chelios said. "I don't care what
anybody says. There's no one that's even close to him."
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said only Ryan Smyth of the New York
Islanders can be compared to Holmstrom.
"It's not from a natural-born talent," Carlyle said. "If you
watched today when they practiced, (Holmstrom) was out there for a
good half-hour, 20 minutes, practicing that art. He's a force to be
reckoned with at that position on the ice."
At the other end of the rink, Anaheim wants to increase its
chances of scoring more Holmstrom-like goals Sunday night in Game
2.
"They can't stop what they can't see," Carlyle said. "If you
continue to get people in front of the net for the screens, you get
pucks through. It's not always -- as we just witnessed -- the
prettiest shots that go over the line.
"A lot of times in playoffs, those are the type of things that
happen. They got two what you'd classify ugly goals, but both pucks
went over the line and that's all it takes."
Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin was the last player to
touch the puck on both of Detroit's goals Friday night.
The Ducks don't have a clone of Holmstrom, but they do have
players trying to obstruct sight lines.
"Every line, they have somebody standing in front of me,"
Detroit goalie Dominik Hasek said.
Rookie Dustin Penner, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound wing, was one of
those players trying to distract Hasek.
"I think one of the areas that he will continue to make a
living at is in front of the net," Carlyle said.
Some of the rule changes implemented by the NHL two years ago
after the lockout helped players like Holmstrom.
"Obviously it's a little bit easier now, not being able to
abuse a guy in front, cross-check and do the things that you used
to," Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger said.
Anaheim alternated its strategy against Holmstrom, first leaving
him alone then trying to move him. He didn't recall being left
alone in front of the net too often.
"Pronger was hitting me in the back, but that's OK. It's
playoffs," said Holmstrom, a 10-year veteran. "You're going to
get punished around the net. But it was a little bit more than
normally."
The 6-foot, 202-pound wing usually gets right back on his skates
after getting knocked down, but he had a scary injury earlier in
the playoffs that took him off the ice.
Holmstrom was sidelined with blood on his left eye after
Calgary's Craig Conroy appeared to inadvertently hit him with his
stick and he missed the first three games against San Jose.
The Red Wings fell behind the Sharks 1-2 without Holmstrom in
the second round and are 4-0 since he returned.
"Homer is a big part of our team with his passion and work
ethic," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "He makes our power play
better."
Holmstrom has been on the ice for 10 of Detroit's 12 power-play
goals in the playoffs, including the ugly score that put the Red
Wings ahead in this series.
"That's Homer at his best," teammate Nicklas Lidstrom said.
"If he's not there, the puck is probably not going to go in."