DUCKS ARE SHOT DOWN : DETROIT 2 DUCKS 1.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

First the Mighty Ducks lost their patience, then they lost the game Friday night.

After limiting Detroit's quality chances through the first 60 minutes, the Ducks got sloppy in the first minute of overtime and allowed a 2-on-1 with only Paul Kariya back. Brendan Shanahan passed across to Martin Lapointe and he fired in the game-winner 59 seconds into overtime, giving the Wings a 2-1 victory at Detroit.

``We tried a little too hard to end it quick,'' said Bobby Dollas, the defenseman who got caught up ice on the game-winning goal.

``We were just a little too loose,'' Kariya said.

Despite being outplayed for most of the game, however, the Ducks nearly pulled out the win. Guy Hebert appeared headed for his second straight shutout until Sergei Fedorov scored midway through the third period.

Fedorov's goal and a steady showing by goalie Mike Vernon kept the Wings alive long enough so Lapointe could score the winner.

``After two periods we were pretty confident the bounces were going to go our way,'' Lapointe said. ``We needed to keep shooting at the net.''

In overtime, Larry Murphy dug the puck out from the boards at center ice and passed across to Shanahan, sending him and Lapointe on a 2-on-1. Shanahan made a hard pass to Lapointe and he fired it past Hebert on his gloveside.

``I may have challenged him (Shanahan) more than I should have and he just slid it across,'' Hebert said.

``When he passed it I just one-timed it,'' Lapointe said. ``I think he realized I was in better position so I just passed.''

Ducks coach Ron Wilson said he knew his team was in trouble.

``We were really sloppy and loose that whole shift and I could almost see it coming,'' he said.

The Ducks found out, as the Wings did in seasons past, that it's hard to use game-breaking speed when getting hammered in the corners and with little open ice.

But the Wings were in danger of being shut out for the third time in the playoffs until Fedorov tied the score 1-1 at 11:01 of the third. Nicklas Lidstrom passed to Tomas Sandstrom, who carried the puck into the right corner. Sandstrom backhanded back to Fedorov in the right circle, who shot it over Hebert's left shoulder.

``He was my man,'' Kariya said of Fedorov. ``I should have come back and taken him, but I was lazy.''

``I was just trying to put that shot on the net. And all of a sudden I scored,'' Fedorov said. ``I really didn't see where it went in.''

It ended Hebert's attempt for a second straight shutout.

``I probably jinxed myself because I started thinking that if we could just get it to the last minute and they pull their goalie maybe we could get a cheap empty-net goal and put it away,'' Hebert said.

Fedorov's goal also was his first of the playoffs and just his third in the past 26 games.

``I wasn't sure if I was going to score or not. Everyone with a streak like that has to end,'' Fedorov said.

The Ducks were the only Western team Detroit did not beat this season. Anaheim was 3-0-1 against the Red Wings in 1996-97, after going 0-9-3 the previous three seasons.

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Photo, Box

Photo: (Color) Ducks defenseman Bobby Dollas (2) trips over goalie Guy Hebert, as he makes the save.

Associated Press

Box: MIGHT DUCKS vs. DETROIT