Posted by Pierre LeBrun
DETROIT -- Darren Helm got his third career NHL playoff goal in his 27th postseason game Sunday.
"I still haven't scored a regular-season goal in my career, so I guess I'm keeping them for the playoffs," said the 22-year-old Helm.
He's got one assist in 23 regular-season games. He's played mostly on the fourth line in his young NHL career, but got third-line duty Sunday.
"My game is to forecheck with speed and try to wear them down in the game and in the series and hope the chances will come," said Helm.
New faces
Derek Meech replaced grizzled veteran Chris Chelios in the Wings' lineup as the sixth defenseman. For Meech, 25, it was his first career NHL playoff game. Like Chelios, he didn't play much, though, totaling six shifts for 3:19.
Also playing his first NHL postseason game was 22-year-old forward Justin Abdelkader, who stepped in for injured forward Tomas Kopecky. Abdelkader played 6:32 on the fourth line between Kirk Maltby and Mikael Samuelsson.
Tough Ducks
Anaheim defenseman James Wisniewski returned after missing only one game with a bruised lung. The tough cookie played 22:09 on Sunday. Ducks star Ryan Getzlaf also played despite battling the flu. He didn't practice Saturday.
LeBrun update
OK, puckheads, I'm packing my bags here at Joe Louis Arena and hitting the road to Chicago tonight with veteran Globe and Mail hockey writer Tim Wharnsby. Our day began this morning when we drove from Toronto to Detroit. All in all, we're talking a good nine hours total by the time we hit the sack tonight. And before you ask, ESPN is not cheap. We just love driving!
ESPN.com Stanley Cup playoffs blog
