image: Zuma Press

Detroit showed their strength as a team when they pulled together to compensate for the absence of star players, Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk.  They played a patient, determined game and in the end it paid off.

I have to say that I was impressed with Blackhawks backup goalie, Cristobal Huet, tonight despite his team’s loss.  He looked a lot better than he did during the last game.  Unfortunately, he had just made an incredible save when Darren Helm scored for Detroit at 3:58 into overtime (Dan Cleary scored the other goal in the team’s 2-1 victory).

Now, of course, we know for sure that the defending Stanley Cup champions will face their rivals from last year in a rematch between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  I didn’t think that I would be but I’m actually pretty excited.  It’s pretty rare to see the same two teams heading to the Stanley Cup finals and then there’s the fact that Marion Hossa has changed sides and this year will put on a Red Wings jersey as he takes on his former Penguin teammates.  He left the team (and turned down the lucrative contract that they offered him) because he thought he had a better chance of winning the Cup with the Red Wings.

I’d like to mention that the last time this sort of thing happened, the Edmonton Oilers ended up beating the New York Islanders in 1984 after losing to them the previous year.  If history repeats itself, there’s a chance that the Penguins will be hoisting Lord Stanley over their heads in the next week or two.

I just thought I’d also point out that Sidney Crosby went ahead and grabbed the trophy after winning the Eastern Conference Finals but Henrik Zetterberg refused to touch it.  Sid had a good point, though.  He didn’t touch it last year and it didn’t seem to change his luck.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see…

image: TSN

Amazingly, the schedule is already available and it begins this Saturday.  Fortunately, that means that both teams will have gotten roughly the same amount of rest (just a day difference).

• Game 1 – Saturday, May 30, 8pm ET Penguins at Red Wings
• Game 2 – Sunday, May 31, TBA Penguins at Red Wings
• Game 3 – Tuesday, June 2, 8pm ET Red Wings at Penguins
• Game 4 – Thursday, June 4, 8pm ET Red Wings at Penguins
• Game 5* – Saturday, June 6, 8pm ET Penguins at Red Wings
• Game 6* – Tuesday, June 9, 8pm ET Red Wings at Penguins
• Game 7* – Friday, June 12, 8pm ET Penguins at Red Wings

* If Necessary

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His offence?  After a roughing call against defenceman Matt Walker as the first period ended, Detroit scored and extended their lead to 3-0 (they ended up winning the game with a final score of 6-1 and have taken a 3-1 series lead). 

After the game, coach Quenneville said: "I think we witnessed probably the worst call in the history of sports there. Nothing play.  You know, they scored, it’s 3-0.  They ruined a good hockey game and absolutely destroyed what was going on the ice. … Never seen anything like it."

I have to agree with him.  I did not agree with that call and I think it really changed the dynamics of the game.  It’s too bad.  The Blackhawks will try to stave off elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday in Detroit.

image: TSN

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image: Zuma Press

Things looked a little promising for the Blackhawks at the start of the game.  Sure, I was concerned when Cristobal Huet was announced as the starting goalie but I was encouraged by the fact that Martin Havlat was in the lineup despite the fact that he took a crushing hit this past week and failed to practice with the team.  I had no idea but those few moments of hope for Chicago were about to fade – quickly.

First of all, Havlat, who commentators claim forced his way on the ice and dared management to stop him, only played for seven minutes and 59 seconds.  Then, of course, there were all those goals that Detroit scored against them.

It started with a short-handed goal by Marian Hossa.  During the remainder of the game, Hossa scored a second time along with Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg, who also scored twice.  The lone goal tallied for Chicago was scored by captain, Jonathan Toews.

The Red Wings barely seemed bothered by the absence of star players Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, who was a last-minute scratch (no reason was given).  “We heard this morning during the pre-game meal he (Lidstrom) was not playing. We just had to deal with it,” Zetterberg said. “Everybody had to step up and play.”  I think it goes without saying that the team definitely pulled it together.

I can’t say the same for Huet, who was a hot mess between the pipes for Chicago.  He allowed five goals in 26 shots on net and, at one point, was replaced by third goalie, Corey Crawford for the last 15:55 of the second period.  When Huet returned in the third, I figured the slaughter was over but he ended up allowing one more goal by Zetterberg on a power-play.

Game 5 takes place on Wednesday, May 27 at 7:30pm (ET) in Detroit.  If they win the game, they will take the Western Conference title.

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image: TSN

Detroit definitely came out pumped and ready.  It’s kind of hard not to be when you have fans like the ones in the Joe Louis Arena.  Octopi were on the ice, people were screaming and the Bulin Wall came tumbling down.  Seriously, Chicago netminder, Nikolai Khabibulin was shaky between the posts and, in the end, Detroit skated away with a 5-2 victory.

In the end, the more experienced Red Wings won out over the speed and agility of the young Blackhawks.  Only Adam Burish and Kris Versteeg managed to score while stars like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane failed to get on the board.

Speaking of Burish, did you see him almost get his throat sliced up?  It was a really close call and, although he was bleeding, he remained in the game.

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For the first time in the postseason last night, Jonas Hiller showed how human he really is.  He got knocked in the net and, as if that wasn’t bad enough, his helmet fell off and when he went to stand up, he hit his head on the crossbar.  He ended up getting pulled (he still made 36 saves) and was replaced by Jean-Sebastien Giguere who, correct me if I’m wrong, hadn’t made an appearance in the playoffs until that moment.

I was starting to think that this game was going to go to overtime but with just three minutes left in the game, Dan Cleary won for the Red Wings, sending the defending Stanley Cup champions to the Western Conference finals for the third straight year.

On the east coast, the Carolina Hurricanes upset the #1 Eastern Conference seed, the Boston Bruins, by eliminating them in overtime of Game 7.  It doesn’t get much closer than that.

I really was a little shocked and disappointed by this turn of events.  Truly, as naive as it might sound, I thought that the Bruins and the San Jose Sharks might be the last two teams standing after the amazing seasons they had but they were eliminated by teams that I really had dismissed (Carolina and Anaheim, respectively).  Sometimes I like being wrong but this isn’t one of those times. 

The Bruins’ amazing season came to an end last night at 18:46 into overtime when Scott Walker used his hands to put the puck behind Bruins netminder, Tim Thomas, instead of using them to punch Aaron Ward in the face. 

The Hurricanes will go on to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals which means that Eric Staal and Jordan Staal will be competing against each other.  They will be just the fourth set of brothers to do that.  Who are their parents going to cheer for?

images: Zuma Photos

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image: TSN

The victory can be attributed to the younger Chicago players who played the most important role in winning the high scoring game (final score 7-5).   Budding star, Patrick Kane recorded his first playoff hat trick while Jonathan Toews scored the go-ahead goal in that insane third period.  This is the first time the team will compete in the Western Conference finals since 1995.

The best part (for the Blackhawks) was that they got to win at home, in the United Center, with the support of a thunderous crowd.  It was insanely loud in that building and the team seemed to really be fueled by the energy.  “It’s awesome. We didn’t want to go back to Vancouver,” Toews said. “Nobody knew what was going to happen. It was unbelievable. … We’ve found ways to come back, especially late in games.”

Chicago coach Joel Quenneville added: “I don’t think anybody anticipated the craziness of the third period. The turns and swings were gigantic.  How it unravelled and unfolded, it was an amazing ending.”

Indeed, it was and I was really surprised by how the two goalies fared.  Chicago’s Nikolai Khabibulin made 33 saves but his Vancouver counterpart, Roberto Luongo, made just 23.  “We had some chances early and I made some saves, but the rest of the way I didn’t help my teammates out,” said Luongo, who was near tears in the Canucks’ locker room. “When you let in seven goals, I don’t think that’s a very good performance.”  Sorry, Luongo, but I’d have to agree.

The Blackhawks will face either the Detroit Red Wings or Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference finals and I’m hoping for a Blackhawks/Ducks matchup.   What about you?

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