Battle of California - Kings, Sharks, and Ducks

Of all the times the Anaheim Ducks have been eliminated from the playoffs, this one hurts the least. Plenty of positives from a postseason that wasn't really supposed to be.

There's nothing predictable about G7 except handshakes and boos. The Ducks and Red Wings stage their final battle tonight.

This time I opted for Detroit's alternate Octopus logo. We shall see what the aftermath of the postgame scrum in G6 is (other than another round of hyperbole by Wings fans -- forget what they said...

I wish fans of both the Ducks and Red Wings would focus more on their opposition in this series and less on referees, but what can you do?

Game five is important. And Battle of California officially turns three years old.

The Red Wings are trailing in a best-of-seven series for the first time since 2007, once again against the Anaheim Ducks. Scary. Also, Sleek wins a historically-insensitive T-shirt!

The Ducks pulled off a rarity in G1 and G2 -- a road split in Detroit. The five previous Red Wing opponents weren't so fortunate. In fact, the last team to pull it off? The 2007 Anaheim Ducks.

The Detroit Red Wings emerged bloody but victorious with a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal Stanley Cup Playoff NHL series.