The calendar says it's January, but it could just as well have be April, or more likely - May, at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday.
The intensity of the dislike between the Ducks and the Detroit Red Wings was evident from the start, when a staggering 34 penalty minutes, including two fighting majors, were called during the first period.
The West-leading Red Wings won the game, 2-1, in the sort of fashion that resembled the Stanley Cup playoffs more than a midseason game.
Detroit's puck-possession style of play and overall speed created more scoring chances, and thus more Ducks penalties. Detroit cashed in on a 5-on-3 power play for its first goal and scored its second on an odd-man rush that gained traction when Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin's stick broke.
Why was this a key game? Not only are the Wings way ahead of the field in the West (17 points) at the All-Star break, but the Ducks are gaining ground in the Pacific Division since the return of defenseman Scott Niedermayer.
It's also important to note that both of Anaheim's trips to the Sanley Cup Finals (2003) and (2007) included playoff series victories over Detroit.
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