FanHouse Todd Marchant

As a hockey fan, there are few things I enjoy more in sports than overtime in the playoffs. Actually, the only thing better than overtime hockey, for my money, is overtime hockey in a Game 7.

On Sunday, we were treated to a triple overtime thriller between the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings, which ended when Todd Marchant beat Chris Osgood with a perfectly placed shot under the crossbar, tying the Western Conference semifinal at one game apiece. If some folks in the NHL -- or the media -- had their way, it might have ended far earlier, robbing us of the brilliant goaltending performances of Osgood and Jonas Hiller, and the drama of a game ending in triple overtime.

Surely, NBC executives were grateful for the work of Anaheim Duck Todd Marchant. After all, they were one period of extra-time hockey away from having to pre-empt the start of prime-time programming. Being that this is May, a major ratings period in television, this isn't exactly a wonderful proposition. Even the biggest hockey fan has to admit that there isn't a huge number coming to you when you air a hockey game.

Those who were watching, though, were treated to a classic. The Ducks and Red Wings gave us our first multiple-overtime game of these playoffs, and one can only hope it's a sign of things to come in this hotly-contested series.

We have our first classic of the NHL playoffs.

The Anaheim Ducks weathered wave after wave of Detroit attacks in the first two overtimes, then picked up a goal on their first counter-attack of the third overtime. After over 100 minutes of hockey, the Ducks skated away with a 4-3 win.

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The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.

After months of humming, hawing, indecision, speculation, and waiting, Scott Niedermayer finally announced what we all expected: He's coming out of 'retirement' and will return to the Ducks this season.

Brian Burke announced the big news at a conference Wednesday evening, and was very candid about how the Ducks were behind Niedermayer during the whole process, the fact that there will be no changes to the captaincy (which Chris Pronger now has), and that Scotty should be back within the next couple of weeks.
(Click here to listen to the audio of Burke's press conference.)

"We are obviously very pleased that Scotty has chosen to come back and play," said Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. "He earned the right to take time in making a decision, one that was clearly difficult for him."

Scotty's return will be HUGE for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who are struggling and sit out of the playoffs with a mediocre 13-12-4 record. The rest of the Western Conference can't be thrilled that the Ducks are getting back a premier defenseman, but they probably expected it to happen sooner or later.