Mighty Ducks Sweep Red Wings

2003 Playoffs

The hero of the series, goalie Jean-Seastien Giguere made 32 saves and Jason Krog and Paul Kariya scored the other goals for the Ducks, who had been swept out of the playoffs by Detroit in their only two previous trips to the postseason.

"If you would have asked me at the beginning of the series about a sweep, I would have said, 'No,'" said Giguere, who stopped 32 shots in the Game 4 victory.

The Red Wings, Stanley Cup champions three of the past six years, became just the second defending Cup winner to be swept the following season in a four-game opening series.

"We just did not get it done, not one game," Detroit coach Dave Lewis said. "Their team played hard. One guy (Giguere) did not beat us; he was the difference, but their team beat us."

Flyers Prevail In 3OT
Mark Recchi scored his second goal of the game with 6:06 remaining in the third overtime period to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 victory Wednesday night over the Toronto Maple Leafs to even the series two games apiece.

"This was a must win for us," Philadelphia captain Keith Primeau said. "We're even instead of going home down 3-1."

Ed Belfour made 72 saves before Recchi's wrist shot from the faceoff circle hit the goalie's stick and barely trickled over the goal line for the game-winner.

"Eddie Belfour battled tremendously hard. He was great tonight," Recchi said. "I was just trying to get it on net."

Jeremy Roenick also scored for the Flyers, who outshot the Leafs 75-38, setting a Philadelphia playoff record for most shots on goal.

Senators In Control
The Ottawa Senators twice early and held on to beat the New York Islanders, 3-1, to take a commanding three games to one lead in the first-round, best-of-seven series.

"We got those two quick goals, and that made it just a great game for us," said Ottawa goalie Patrick Lalime, who faced just 22 shots. "I wasn't too busy. They had a few chances, but our defense and penalty killing was great."

Mike Fisher scored just 28 seconds into the first period, and Anton Volchenkov had a goal less than four minutes later for Ottawa, which will try to wrap up the series at home Thursday night.

"This puts us in a good position going home," Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson said. "We know they won't give up, though."

Avs Go Up 3-1
Joe Sakic scored two goals and added an assist on Dan Hinote's third period tally as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild, 3-1, for a three games to one lead in the Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Patrick Roy barely missed his second straight shutout while stopping 24 shots for the Avs, who will try to end the series in Denver on Saturday.

"What Patty did in the net in the last two games has pretty much shown why he's so special," coach Tony Granato said. "We have to be at our best on Saturday. We can't let off the gas at all."

Bolts Even Series
Martin St. Louis scored a pair of second-period goals and Vincent Lecavalier added an insurance tally early in the third as the Tampa Bay Lightning evened their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals.

"I'm not concentrating on figuring out why we're being so successful," St. Louis said. "I'm just trying to get as many chances as I can and create chances. When that stuff happens, you just go with it. You don't try to figure out why."

Blues Take Game 4
Martin Rucinsky had two goals and an assist as the St. Louis Blues rallied from behind to a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks and a three games to one series lead.

"As soon as they scored, you're taking the most positive thing out of anything," Blues center Doug Weight said. "Hey, we've proved all year that we're good coming from behind and it's something we definitely talked about."

Vancouver had an early lead on Markus Naslund's first period goal, but couldn't add to the score despite of outshooting the Blues 33-20.