Coach Carlyle always talks about "measuring stick games," - important games where you can see where you stack up against the competition. Today's game against Detroit is such a game. Detroit has been the class of the NHL all season, and the Ducks have been a bit of a disappointment. Today's game is particularly huge, because barring any unforseen developments, it'll be the first time all season that the Ducks have played against Detroit with their full roster, as Selanne is back, and Pahlsson is expected to play. Granted, Detroit is now missing Dan Cleary, and while I don't discount Cleary's contributions to the winged wheel, I somehow think that they'll manage just fine without him. Regardless, it should be one helluva game, and I can't wait to watch it!

Things to watch for:

1. Teemu pots his first goal of the season.
2. Pahlsson's first game back after missing the last 20 with abdominal problems.
3. Who starts in net? Conventional wisdom would say Giguere, and I'd be shocked if he didn't...but Hiller played what was easily his best game of the season against New York a couple of nights ago...so you never know.
4. Will Detroit be able to withstand Anaheim's physical presence? They did a pretty good job of it in the last game between these two teams, but with the last change today, it should be interesting to see if they feel the need to match Anaheim's physicality.

12:30 can't come soon enough!