Hiller looked vulnerable on several shots, but Carlyle blamed him only for Franzen's first goal. He said he pulled Hiller and replaced him with Jean-Sebastien Giguere at 2:46 of the third period because "it wasn't warranted that he continue to play," and because he wanted Giguere to get some playing time.
"If we decide to go in that direction he's not coming in cold," Carlyle said, refusing to identify which goalie will start -- and, for good measure, displaying his usual charm in declaring that it's not the media's business to know.
It's likely, though, to be Hiller. He's the guy who carried them this far. His defense will have to help him now if the Ducks are to keep going.
"We didn't have good enough coverage. There was too much space for Hossa," Carlyle said.
"You give quality players the number of chances we gave up in that game, where he scored the goals from were basically areas that were critical in coverage and we weren't there. We've got to be better in our coverage of those players in that area.
"We could have done some things differently, but we expected their will to be at the highest level, and they provided that."
That means the Ducks' will must be stronger. And even that might not be enough.
The biggest plus for them is the possible return of rugged defenseman James Wisniewski, who missed Game 4 while recovering from the bruised lung he suffered Tuesday when he was hit in the chest by a shot.
He practiced all-out Saturday, staying on the ice after most of his teammates exited, and afterward pronounced his chances of playing today as 50-50. "I feel real good, but we'll see how things go overnight," said Wisniewski, who will be examined by team doctor Craig Milhouse today.
"I had no pain at all. I was maybe just a little short of breath, but I hadn't skated in five days. I rode the bike fine, and everything. I'm pretty happy. I bounced back quick."
The Ducks can only hope they will do the same today.
They have no choice.
"It's definitely a big game, a must win," center Ryan Getzlaf said. "We're playing a team that if we get behind in this series it can be a long way to catch up.
"So that's going to be our focus, to try and steal one and go back home."
If they lose, they'll face the end of their season. They weren't expected to make the playoffs or beat San Jose in the first round. Having done that, they're not ready to go out yet.
"We have to play better. There's no secrets," Teemu Selanne said.
"They were better. We were not that hungry that we were expecting to be and that's got to change."
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helene.elliott@latimes.com
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NHL playoffs
DUCKS VS. DETROIT
GAME 5 -- TODAY
Best-of-seven series tied, 2-2
at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena
2 p.m. PDT, FS West
