Wings Have Rare Game 1 Loss, Trail 'Yotes

For the first time since the Conference Semi-Finals in 2006/07, the Red Wings have lost a series opener in the playoffs. Detroit won 4 of the next 5 games against the Sharks to win that series, the same sort of response will be required in this one to continue on in the playoffs.

Detroit faced a team last night that ran high on energy from a delirious Phoenix crowd enjoying their first taste of playoff hockey in 8 years.

The Wings drew first blood from a surprisingly bad goal given up by Vezina-contender Ilya Bryzgalov, but the Coyotes drive was admirable and weren't to be stopped. The Wings again gave Phoenix a deficit to look at but again they drew even and in the third period got the game-winner from the stick of Derek Morris to take Game One, 3-2.

Amid the unwelcome disappointment of a playoffs loss, there are positives to be taken from this tight game. Firstly, the Coyotes powerplay will almost certainly prove to be anomalous. Phoenix went 3/4 with the man-advantage, scoring on their first three chances in only 2:38 of cumulative powerplay time. All this against the best penalty killing team down the stretch. So, the PK can't get any worse. Improving that will go a long way to a W.

Further to that, the Coyotes were an electric team all night. Shot stats painted a muddy picture of the kind of game that was played. The Coyotes seemed to run on pure adrenaline for most shifts while making almost no mistakes in their own, nor the neutral zone. Even Dave Tippett wouldn't expect that kind of play to be sustained over a 7-game series.

It should also be kept in mind that the pressure remains on Phoenix for Game Two to hold onto their home-ice advantage. This is a pressure that the more experienced Red Wings will look to exploit to wrestle away the advantage.

Let's hope they can... stay tuned. Same place, same time, Friday night. Go Wings!

Red Wings Finish 5th with Gutsy Win over 'Hawks

A solid OT road win over possibly the league's best all-round team is a great way to sum up the Red Wings finish to the 2009/2010 regular season.

After trailing 1-0 after the first from an ugly, very playoff-like powerplay goal from the Blackhawks Dave Bolland, Detroit kept their sticks on the ice as they defended against the formidable Chicago attack whilst countering with some offense of their own.

Patrick Eaves tied the game up in the second and a Tomas Holmstrom tip on Brian Rafalski's blueline drive in the third gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead as the "De-troit sucks!" chants had a rare silencing at the United Center.

The playoff-like defense continued as the Wings defended their modest lead with success but the skate of the red-hot Colin Fraser was too much to stop, tying it up only 3 minutes later.

The Wings were forced to kill off one more penalty with 2:32 left on the clock to earn the point keep them above the Predators, but the Kings overtime win in Denver moments earlier meant Detroit needed a second point to take 5th-place and a first-round match-up against the Coyotes.

The free-flowing OT period lasted only 3:11 as Brad Stuart ended the regular seasons for both teams with just his 4th goal of the season, capping off the Wings amazing finish to the season with a 3-2 overtime win, and a 15-2-2 run.

Additional bonus: No Conference title for Chicago. Unlucky!!

Special Teams

Today's game was a rare one, where Detroit took more penalties than their opponents. Detroit went 0/2 on their opportunities while keeping the 'Hawks to 1/4 after giving up a PP goal only 11 seconds into the first man-advantage of the game.

In Net

- Jimmy Howard had another great performance, capping off a 15-1-2 end to his regular season. Howard made 27 saves for the Wings including 16 in the middle frame, keeping the Wings in the game.

- Antti Niemi stopped 18 of 21 Detroit shots on goal, finishing his magnificent rookie season with a 26-7-4 record.

Up Next...

The Phoenix Coyotes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs!!!

One Step Closer; Wings 3, Penguins 1

I doubt it could be called "revenge", but the Red Wings gave the Penguins some minor payback from their last visit to the Joe. A visit which I don't remember so clearly.

Moving right along, the Wings have now taken 11 of the last 12 points they've contested for and continue to consolidate their place in the top 8 of the West. The big win over the defending Champs now gives Detroit a 4-point lead over Calgary, who sits in ninth. Both teams have 10 games to play in the season.

The first period began with an early powerplay, one of four that the Wings weren't able to convert on. The period progressed as a stalemate until Valtteri Filppula continued his fine form with a great toe-drag move to thread the puck through the legs of both Sergei Gonchar and Pens' goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury to take a 1-0 lead late in the 1st.

The second period was also tightly contested with both teams trading goals. Henrik Zetterberg rolled on with his hot-hand, backhanding a rebound off his own backhand attempt by Fleury before Pascal Dupuis cut the lead in half amid a goal-mouth scramble.

A delirious Red Wings audience watched Henrik Zetterberg solidify the lead with his 22nd of the season and they steadily headed to one of their strongest victories of the season with a 3-1 result.

As the final seconds ticked away, a beaten Sidney Crosby took out his frustrations on his opponent, Henrik Zetterberg, but the Red Wings wouldn't have it. Jimmy Howard even got involved as a fired-up squad in Red left the ice to an enraptured and energetic crowd, serenading the Pens' captain with chants of "Crosby Sucks!"

Wow Factor

Funnily enough, I think Pascal Dupuis' goal was one of the biggest positives of the game. Detroit seemed to respond to the challenge as they gave their talented opponents very little to work with and were determined to take full points.

Special Teams

Typically, for a Detroit Red Wings contest, not many powerplays were awarded. The Red Wings were unable to convert on any of their 4 chances, but gave the Penguins nothing on their sole PP, extending their streak of successful penalty killing to 9 games.

In Net

- Jimmy Howard stopped all but one of Pittsburgh's 27 shots on goal.

- Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves of 33 for the Penguins.

Next...

Detroit continues their 3-game home stand as they await the arrival of the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.

Revenge Served; Red Wings 2, Flames 1 Recap

It was a red-hot start for the Flamers, in stark contrast to the one they'd had the night before but they weren't able to build on the early goal, as the Wings slowly took control and in turn, control of the playoff race.

The Flames were quick to get on the board, as Craig Conroy nabbed his first goal in 2010 only 1:47 into the game to take a 1-0 lead.

The Red Wings then took over in the second piling the pressure on the Flames, but goalie, Miikka Kiprusoff, was equal to the task. The Wings first and only powerplay of the game came late in the second and it didn't get off to a great start as Curtis Glencross forced a breakaway early in the PK. In an attempt to stymie the chance, Jason Williams was forced to hook the streaking Glencross, resulting in a penalty shot. Jimmy Howard made the save and pumped his fist in relief which proved to be the turning point for the Wings.

40 seconds later, Pavel Datsyuk ties it up, to enter the final period all square.

After a big 4-minute penalty-kill for Detroit, in which Calgary mustered almost no offense, the third period was a stale-mate most of the way. The game looked destined for overtime until, with just 79 seconds remaining, Tomas Holmstrom tipped in a shot from Johan Franzen silencing the rabid Southern Albertan fans.

Jimmy Howard was able to withstand the barrage of the final minute to record his 27th win of the season and give Detroit a 3-point lead over the Flames with equal games remaining.

WOW Factor

The obvious turning point of this game was Howard's penalty shot save on Curtis Glencross. Without that, the Flames would've owned a 2-goal lead in a very tight game and the Wings would most likely be sitting out of the playoffs right now.

Special Teams

Only 16 PIM's were handed out in this game resulting in 4 powerplays but the Red Wings dominance of special teams was where the game was won. Going 1-1 on the PP and killing Calgary's 3 chances, including a 4-minute double-minor for high-sticking in the third period set up the victory.

In Net

- Jimmy Howard stopped 22 of 23 shots for Detroit including a penalty shot from Curtis Glenscross.

- Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 26 of 28 for Calgary.

Next...

Detroit heads to Kelowna for a few days before meeting the last-placed Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on Friday night. Calgary will meet the Avs in Colorado on Wednesday.

Detroit Blast Wild 5-1

Two out of three ain't bad: Detroit came up big over Minnesota, Nashville loses 8-5 to the Sharks, but Calgary rolls on, shutting out the Senators, 2-0. All this means that Detroit remains out of the playoffs -- in 9th for now, but draws within a point of 7th-placed Nashville with all three teams having playing the same amount of games.

In this game, not always does the score reflect the game but in this case it was fairly accurate, as Detroit steam-rolled over the Wild, 5-1.

The Wings got off to a start quick which, in the end, set up the victory. Johan Franzen opened the scoring at 2:25 as the Wings piled the pressure on Wild goalie, Josh Harding, the puck barely exiting the Minnesota zone for the first five minutes. Tomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg added two more mid-way through the 1st to make it 3-0. Some hope came though, as Andrew Ebbett gave the Wild a chance, just 11 seconds before the 1st intermission as the puck went in off his skate making it 3-1.

Detroit controlled the game from that point on however, Howard shutting the Wild out the rest of the way with Miller adding a shorthanded goal and Franzen netting his second late in the game, to seal to win.

Henrik Zetterberg answered the call from his coach to be better, adding 2 assists to his 1st-period goal, to tie Pavel Datsyuk for total points this season for the Red Wings lead. Johan Franzen's 2 goals is also a welcome sight for Wings' fans. A hot Mule come April can decide the winner of a playoff series and all signs seem to show that Franzen can once again, be a hassle for defenders in the second season.

Chris Osgood's patient wait on the bench looks like it will continue as Jimmy Howard doesn't seem to be showing signs of faltering. Howard stopped 21 of 22 shots, but didn't need to be spectacular for the win with a lot of help from his skaters.

Detroit will play their last home game before a 3-game Western Canada road trip next week when they meet the Sabres at the Joe.