Detroit at Anaheim

Anaheim's backs are against the wall. They are down 2-1 after getting hammered at home last game 5-0. They are without their best player as Chris Pronger has been suspended. So why back them? Sometimes when it seems a team is down and out, they are not. This is a must-win game for the Ducks who can't afford to drop another home game and go down 3-1. Also, when teams lose their best player, that first game out can be a strong one for them emotionally. The rest of the team knows they have to step it up tonight and leave it all out there with Pronger on the bench. We expect inspired play from the rest of the team to make up for his absence. Detroit has been playing great in the playoffs but for them to win back-to-back road games would be a big stretch. The Ducks are 21-6 at home this year vs. winning teams and 13-3 vs. the elite teams that outscore opponents by 0.3+ goals per game. They are 22-5 the past two seasons after having lost two of their last three games. They are also 12-2 this year revenging a loss in which they scored 0 or 1 goals. We'll back Anaheim in a very important home game for them.