The first round of the 2010 NHL Playoffs speak of the Detroit Red Wings’ character better than almost any series of games. Crushing dreams and taking control are the names of the game for the Red Wings.
After leading in the series two different times, the Phoenix Coyotes faced a game seven against Detroit after a miracle season in the desert. Facing numerous problems off the ice yet still finishing as the fourth seed of the Western Conference, the Coyotes were actually considered the favorite by many heading into the series. With game seven in Phoenix, the hockey world set its eyes at what promised to be a tight, high-intensity game. Sometimes, promises cannot be kept.
The Red Wings offense made the Cinderella-story Coyotes look foolish in game seven, exploding with four goals in the second period. Adding two more in the third, they crushed the Coyotes, 6-1.
“From early in the game, their top players came out and dictated the pace, and we had no answer for them,” Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett said. "They were relentless. When their top players play like that, their whole group just jumps right in. Hats off to them; they played an unbelievable game.”
Go to work night in and night out. That seems to be a general practice for the Red Wings.
Almost exactly one year later, the Coyotes received the same fate in the playoffs. Stacked to face the Red Wings in the first round again (this time as the sixth seed; Detroit as the third seed), the Coyotes were outmatched even more noticeably, getting swept in four games. Detroit just could not be stopped, despite not having stars Henrik Zetterberg for the entire series and Johan Franzen for half of the series.
Detroit saw 13 different skaters score a goal and 16 different skaters score a point in the series.
Almost exactly mirroring last season, the Red Wings came into the second round outmatched against a powerful San Jose Sharks team. The Sharks took a 3-0 series lead then lost game four. The series was an exact replica of last season until that point; this time the Red Wings took control.
After losing to the Sharks in five games last season, the Red Wings seemed to play with a little more fire this time around. Detroit took game four 4-3, game five 4-3 and game six 3-1. The Red Wings forced a game seven with San Jose, set to be played Thursday night at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
The Red Wings have become the third team in two seasons to force a game seven after being down 3-0 early in the series. They are trying to become only the second team to actually win game seven.
We are seeing two sides of the Red Wings this round; a team that got down early and couldn’t seem to find their footing and then a team that fought back and showed that they are winners by dominating the play more than not.
Most impressive in the last three games has been the play of defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom. At 41 years old, Lidstrom is proving why he should be in the conversation as one of the greatest to ever play the game. Scoring two goals and one assist in the three victories, Lidstrom has taken control of the rink. The big three San Jose forwards (Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley) have not been much of a factor in the three games. There is no question as to why the NHL Writers Association feels that he deserves yet another Norris Trophy this season.
Pavel Datsyuk has been just as impressive in the three Detroit wins. Racking up five assists, Datsyuk is finding the open man the minute he becomes available. Add in the fact that he is the best two-way forward in the NHL and it’s easy to see why he is averaging over 20 minutes/game in the three wins.
Even though the game will be played on home-ice, the Sharks are coming into this game as the underdog. Detroit has been in game seven situations before and they rarely come out with their heads down. The Red Wings will win every game when they play the way that they have as of late. The only way that the Sharks will beat them is if one of the legs of the red centipede is broken.
Losing is not in the conversation for the Red Wings. Coming this far means absolutely nothing if the Detroit team does not advance.
This is just another day at work. Punch the card, do the job and come out with your head up high.
--------------------
Quotes courtesy NHL.com.
