Sitting Down on Job, Shanahan’s Still Dangerous

For once, the Mighty Ducks had Detroit’s Brendan Shanahan right where they wanted him--on his backside. And still he beat them.

Sure, Duck defender Kevin Haller seemed to have done a good thing by knocking Shanahan down late in Sunday’s game. Hadn’t he already burned the Ducks once during in this game, and repeatedly over the years? So it was even worth the penalty Haller was about to be given.

Haller never saw the penalty box.

A moment later during the delayed-penalty call, Igor Larionov’s shot deflected off Shanahan’s leg for the game-winning goal in the Red Wings’ 3-2 victory at the Pond.

The seat-of-the-pants goal was just the latest, and possibly greatest, indignity that Shanahan and Larionov have fed the Ducks. They, and center Steve Yzerman, have been their tormentors for years, each averaging a point a game against them.

Sunday was more of the same. Shanahan had two goals and an assist. Yzerman scored a goal. Larionov had two assists, both to Shanahan, who ended the Red Wings’ four-game losing streak just by sitting down on the job.

“I really had no place to go,” said Larionov, whose shot came from the blue line as two Ducks were bearing down. “I saw Shanahan lying there and fired it at him.”

There was nothing goalie Guy Hebert, Shanahan’s former St. Louis Blue teammate, could do but hope the referees called Shanahan for being in the crease. That Haller was about to be hit with a penalty made that a longshot.

“It was all in slow-motion,” Shanahan said. “I knew there was a penalty, so I knew I was safe in the crease. I just hoped the referee would see it that way.”

Shanahan has 10 goals and 19 points in 19 games against the Ducks. Larionov has 23 points in 21 games. Yzerman has 21 points, including 10 goals, in 20 games.

“I didn’t realize I have done so well against them,” Shanahan said. “I used to own Guy in practice when we were in St. Louis, but he has owned me ever since.”

Sure. That’s what Duck fans remember, not the night that Shanahan’s goal in the second overtime gave the Red Wings a sweep in the 1997 playoffs. Of course, it was Mikhail Shtalenkov in the net for the Ducks that night.

Sunday was Hebert’s turn.

“I’ll take it,” Shanahan said. “You win with an ugly goal, it’s still a win.”

These days any win is a good win for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, who have been in a tail spin since opening the season 6-2. But Shanahan demonstrated why the Red Wings have won two cups with a pin-point pass that tied the score, 1-1, in the second period. He found Yzerman rushing to the net on the opposite side and rifled a pass through two defenders.

“It really coming at me fast so all I could do was swat at it,” Yzerman said.

Shanahan and Larionov then did a stand-up routine to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead in the third period. From behind the net, Larionov suckered defenders Jamie Pushor and Mike Crowley toward him, leaving Shanahan alone in the front of the net. Larionov’s pass left Hebert a sitting Duck.