Contact | Home | Archive | AHL | ECHL | About Us | Quick Shots | Audio | Europe | Web Radio | Email Hockeytalk
|
|
|
|
|
Contact | Home | Archive | AHL | ECHL | About Us | Quick Shots | Audio | Europe | Web Radio | Email Hockeytalk |
|
By Josh Brewster, Charles Smith and Dennis Bernstein (Back to Playoff Main Page) OVERVIEW: Could we be headed toward a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final? In measuring Detroit’s success as a franchise, it is interesting to note that if the Wings defeat the Chicago Blackhawks, they will face either the Penguins or the Hurricanes, both of whom they defeated to win a Cup earlier this decade (CAR '02, PIT '08). When you stop to consider that the 1997 Red Wings (4th in the West) and the 1995 Devils (5th in the East) are the only Cup champions to finish lower than second in their conference, it appears more likely that Detroit will become the 13th team (of 15) since 1993-94 (when the NHL went to its current East/West format) to win the Stanley Cup after finishing either first or second in its conference.
ROUND 3: WESTERN
CONF. FINAL HISTORY: DETROIT PLAYOFF RECORD: NHL Playoff Appearance: 57th (18th consecutive) Stanley Cups: 11 (1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008) All-Time Playoff Series Record: 64-45 All-Time Playoff Game Record: 293-257-1 CHICAGO PLAYOFF RECORD: NHL Playoff Appearance: 54th (first since 2002) Stanley Cups: 3 (1934, 1938, 1961) All-Time Playoff Series Record: 42-50 All-Time Playoff Game Record: 196-222-5 PLAYERS WHO HAVE WON THE CUP: DET: CHICAGO: Andrew Ladd, Sammy Pahlsson, Nikolai Khabibulin (1 each) PREVIEW: The Red Wings won the first four of six of the regular season series (including the Winter Classic in Chicago), then the Blackhawks polished off the Wings in the last two meetings. Is this a foreshadowing of things to come? Is coach Joel Quenneville’s club ready to take the next step? The Wings won the division, and as a result, home ice advantage in this series in large part by defeating the Blackhawks in the season series. Offense: The Wings are looking very strong with Johan Franzen and his slot-occupying tactics, which have again led to key playoff goals courtesy his willingness, along with Thomas Holmstrom's and Dan Cleary's, to play directly in front of the opposition’s goalie. It killed the Ducks, and it could kill the Hawks. Further down the lineup, Darren Helm has scored pivotal goals, and Kris Draper has returned from injury to be one of the best fourth-line players in the NHL, which goes to show just how much depth the Wings have. One of the most interesting aspects of this series will be Chicago’s ability to field offensive threats from throughout its top three, if not top four, lines. The Anaheim Ducks, who Detroit eliminated in the previous round, were top-heavy offensively, and failed to get regular contributions from their second, third or fourth lines. That won’t be the case with Chicago, as Joel Quenneville has not hesitated to place Martin Havlat on the third line with Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien. We have also seen Patrick Kane and Jon Toews distributed throughout the lineup. Sometimes Quenneville will play with a clear top-six, sometimes he tries to roll four lines. This will be the best offensive matchup so far during the postseason. Defense: Cam Barker was 3-3-6 vs. Vancouver, while Brent Seabrook went 1-5-6 and Brian Campbell, 1-3-4. Defensively, Duncan Keith, who many believe is a Norris-level defenseman, will have his hands full. Hawks defensive corps should be able to hold the fort, but will they be able to avoid the penalty box in trying to contain Johan Franzen, Dan Cleary and Thomas Holmstrom, who will surely do whatever it takes in the slot to disrupt Nik Khabibulin? The Wings’ defense featured contributions from Nick Lidstrom going 2-5-7 including a game-winner. Brad Stuart went 1-2-3, but the Wings will need more, which will likely be supplied by Brian Rafalski, who returned from injury to appear in games 6 and 7. It appears that the Blackhawks should be able to keep pace defensively, although the Wings have a huge advantage in Nick Lidstrom. Goaltending: CHI: Khabibulin: 12GP; 2.76GAA, .896SV% DET: Osgood: 13GP; 2.06GAA, .921SV% In the nets, Nik Khabibulin has won Stanley silver before, Chris Osgood has won thrice (twice as starter) and this series will come down to what the skaters do, not as much what the goalies do. Can Chicago win the time of possession battle that the Ducks couldn’t? The Ducks were overwhelmed in the shots department, surrendering roughly 100 shots more than they took. The Hawks will try to make the Wings’ defense chase them, and if they do, they’ll be the only club so far to dictate offensive play. PICK: Hard to imagine the Wings getting off to a slow start in this series. As the series goes on, the skating ability and general composure of the champion Wings will seize control.
What could be finer than a good old fashioned Original Six matchup to decide Western Conference supremacy? The young Blackhawks have more than proven themselves in beating Calgary and Vancouver. These teams are very similar. Lots of offensive weapons, and steady defense anchored by a good playmaking, puck moving defenseman. Although I have twice before predicted the downfall of the 'Hawks and been wrong, the inexperience will now finally catch up with the youngsters. The Wings have way too much skill, depth and discipline, and unlike Vancouver, have more than enough scoring punch should this turn into a shootout. Look for a rather surgical dissection to be performed by the defending champs.
The Red Wings and their fans can take a collective sigh of relief that there was no game eight versus Anaheim. They were taken to the limit by a veteran team with a sharp goalie, one effective line and not much more. The Ducks physical style of play took Pavel Datsyuk (no goals in the Anaheim series) and Henrik Zetterberg's effectiveness away but when Hudler, Helm, Samulesson and Cleary score in the elimination game seven, it's a testament to the genius of the Detroit organization. Coach Mike Babcock will welcome the change in gears against a younger and speedier but far less experienced and physical Blackhawks team. Chicago ascends higher into the playoff stratsophere and finds the breathing even more difficult just one step away from the Cup Finals. While it's good to have a goalie in Nikolai Khabibulin who's won a Cup and Patrick Kane's game was flat out amazing in the clinching game six against Vanocuver, it's Jonathan Toews that must step up his game in order for the Blackhawks to reach the summit. It's just a matter of too much playoff experience over youthful, enthusiastic talent as the Red Wings set up a Stanley Cup rematch.
|
|
