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DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are off to the best start in team history. But they still have been unable to solve the Detroit Red Wings. Curtis Joseph continued to thrive at Joe Louis Arena and Brett Hull remained red-hot as the Red Wings held on for a 2-1 victory over the Ducks. Despite the loss, Anaheim has matched the best 26-game start in its 10-year history. But the Ducks lost all three meetings with Detroit this season, the last two by one goal. "We let this one get away," Anaheim coach Mike Babcock said. "That's frustrating because we've improved as a team." Joseph protected a one-goal lead with just under two minutes to play when he stopped Steve Rucchin from the low slot and got his left shoulder on Petr Sykora's shot moments later. "There were a couple of chances there," Joseph said. "I just challenged on the one, hit me in the shoulder. Fortunately, the rebound went behind the goal line. There was a little bit of action, but overall, I think we played real well." Joseph has won his last five home starts and is 7-0-2 at Joe Louis Arena since losing his home debut on October 17. "I'm seeing the puck well, guys are clearing the rebounds out front and tonight we tried to win this, 2-1, which is always great" Joseph said. Hull scored the eventual game-winner 2:19 into the second period. Off a scramble in front, he got the puck on the left side and beat goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere from a tight angle for his 10th goal of the season. "When it went in front, Boyd (Devereaux) whacked it and (Giguere) couldn't get down to cover it," Hull said. "It was just against his pad, bounced away and I just grabbed it and put it in." "I thought I had it," Giguere said. "I'm not quite sure what happened after that. The only thing is, it ended up on Brett Hull's stick. And we didn't want that to happen." Hull has seven goals and five assists during a 10-game points streak. "I'm getting more shots," he said. "If there's an opportunity to pass, I pass. If it's time to shoot, I shoot. I'm just getting better spots to shoot it." Sean Avery scored the other goal for Detroit, which has won three of four following a three-game winless streak. Paul Kariya produced the lone goal for the Ducks, who had a four-game unbeaten streak stopped and fell to 2-15-3 all-time in Detroit. "We gave them two goals," Babcock said. "Last time we were here, we were outshot, 44-26. Tonight, we had them in trouble." Avery got his second goal of the season - and second in as many games - with 2:24 to go in the first period. He tried to make a pass from behind the net, but the puck hit Giguere on the leg and caromed into the net. "I heard Mac (Darren McCarty) in front of the net and I just threw it out there," Avery said. "I'm just playing a simple game, getting the puck to the net. When that happens, good things happen." Kariya got the Ducks on the board 2:19 into the second with his 12th goal. Joseph stopped a one-timer by Rucchin, but Kariya got to the rebound in the right faceoff circle and shoveled it in. |
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