 |
| POWER
PLAY |
27TH
- 14.8 |
| PENALTY
KILL |
4TH
- 85.4 |
| FORWARDS |
| JP
DUMONT |
29-43-72
(+5) |
| JASON
ARNOTT |
28-44-72
(+19) |
| ALEXANDER
RADULOV |
26-32-58
(+7) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| MAREK
ZIDLICKY |
5-38-43
(-5) |
| RYAN
SUTER |
7-24-31
(+3) |
| DAN
HAMHUIS |
4-23-27
(-4) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| DAN
ELLIS |
23-10-3
(6 SO)
2.34 GA
.924 PCT |
|
| CHRIS
MASON |
18-22-6
(4 SO)
2.90GA
.898 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Nashville
vs Detroit |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
APR.
10 |
NASHVILLE
1 - DETROIT 3 |
SEED
8 |
2 |
APR.
12 |
NASHVILLE
2 - DETROIT 4 |
SEED
1 |
41-32-9
(91) |
3 |
APR.
14 |
DETROIT
3 - NASHVILLE 5 |
54-21-7
(115) |
| |
4 |
APR.
16 |
DETROIT
2 - NASHVILLE 3 |
|
| |
5 |
APR.
18 |
NASHVILLE
1 - DETROIT 2 (OT) |
|
| |
6 |
APR.
20 |
DETROIT
3 - NASHVILLE
0 |
|
| |
7 |
APR.
22 |
NASHVILLE
at DETROIT |
|
| Detroit
Wins Series 4-2 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
| |
The Detroit Red Wings won the President’s Cup for the fourth time during this short century with 115 points. Meanwhile the re-tooled (read stripped down) Nashville Predators eked into the playoffs by a mere three points over the ninth and tenth placed teams.
Niklas Lidstrom stood proud and stoic next to the President’s Cup as it was awarded to the team, yet avoided its touch at all costs as the Wings did not want to jinx themselves as they try to win the true prize—the Stanley Cup.
Although the Wings have a league-leading 17 consecutive playoff seasons under their belt, they have experienced some difficulty making it deep enough to make a play for the Stanley Cup.
With it being six long years since the Cup last graced Joe Louis Arena, let’s look at what the Wings have to offer during this playoff run. Detroit will open the playoffs against the Nashville Predators and the Predators could ruin the Wings season. The two teams played eight times this year. Nashville won three of those games and two went into overtime.
Forwards; Pavel Datsyuk finished the season high on the NHL scoring charts with 97 points while teammate Henrik Zetterberg was close behind with 92 of his own. The deep Red Wings do not have any other high end scorers but Dan Cleary can contribute and Tomas Holmstrom always raises his game another two or three notches in the playoffs. The Red Wings will come after teams with forwards such as Dallas Drake, Kirk Maltby, Jiri Hudler and Valterri Filppula.
Jason Arnott has stepped up his play for the Predators this season and has always contributed in the playoffs over the course of his career. But the already thinned Nashville squad will be without Martin Gelinas, Jed Ortmeyer and Steve Sullivan while David Legwand is listed as day-to-day. Detroit would be unwise to let J.P Dumont (72 points), Martin Erat and Alexander Radulov play unchecked because they could score in bunches if they are left unattended. While they don’t receive much glory, Jerred Smithson and Jordin Tootoo are usually at 100% speed all the time.
Defensemen
Nashville core strength comes from a young talented, puck-moving, tenacious defense. Puck movement is a key during the playoffs and the Predators are loaded with skilled defenders such as Dan Hamhuis, Marek Zidlicky and Ryan Suter. Nashville is tough to play against as Greg deVries, Shea Weber, Ville Kostinen and Greg Zanon can make life miserable for opposing forwards.
Many say Niklas Lidstrom (60 assists) is the best all-around defender in hockey and coach Mike Babcock has him on the ice for an average of over 26 minutes per game. Like Nashville, Detroit is also deep on the blueline with stalwarts like Brad Stuart, Brian Rafalski, and Niklas Kronvall available along with dependable defenders Andreas Lilja, Chris Chelios and Brett Lebda.
Goaltending
Detroit boasts perhaps the best goaltending tandem in the NHL with Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood. Each of them has won a Stanley Cup and hope to do so again. Expect the team to rotate the pair if need be going with the “hot” goaltender. Nashville has Chris Mason and Dan Ellis and they have each had their ups and downs this year.
What to expect: the Wings have the superior team with superior depth. But the Wings have been there before. There have been years when they were the best and then forgot to play with desperation in the playoffs. Babcock has re-tooled the roster to the point where they have some go-to guys and other guys willing to do it the dirty way. Nashville does not have the talent Detroit does. In order to compete they will need to outwork the Red Wings and have one of their goaltenders get blazing hot. Expect the Red Wings to win in five games.
Contact the author at: sharon.weatherhead@prohockeynews.com |
|
| Game
1 |
Nashville
1 - Detroit 3 |
|
PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 1-0 |
The
playoffs are often a topsy-turvy affair chock full of
upsets and surprises. That was not the case in Detroit
last evening as the heavily-favored Red Wings outshot
the Nashville Predators by a two-to-one margin and won
by a pair of goals.
Nashville netminder Dan Ellis had a solid outing but the
weight of Detroit's pressue caused just enough of a crack
in the young netminder to make a difference. Ellis was
a rock for most of the evening as he posted 37 saves and
limited the Wings to a pair of goals before an empty-net
score put the game completely out of the upstart Predators
reach.
Johan Franzen scored the first goal of the series on a
backhand goal after the puck was deflected to him by Nashville's
Radek Bonk. The score came early in the first period and
based upon the two teams play it appeared Detroit would
win easily.
But that would not be the case as Nashville grinded up
and down the ice with the Red Wings and nearly tied the
score when Vernon Fiddler hit the post. The game continued
and Nashville did indeed tie the score when Jordin Tootoo
deflected a Greg Zanon shot home past Detroit's Dominik
Hasek. The goal came after it appeared the Predators had
iced the puck into the Wings zone, but no call was made
and the game was even.
Controversy would rear its head again on the game-winning
goal after Nashville's Shea Weber appeared to have cleared
the puck from Nashville's zone. However, the puck glanced
off the referee to Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk and the officials
let the play go instead of blowing the whistle. Suddenly
Detroit's two top scorers, Henrik Zetterberg and Datsyuk,
were on a two-on-one and Zetterberg did not miss with
a one-timer after accepting a pass from Datsyuk. The score
would stand until Zetterberg iced the game with an empty-net
goal with just under 20 seconds left in the game.
By the time the game had ended Detroit had a precious
win while the Predators knew they could play with the
Red Wings even on a night when two of their top players,
Jason Arnott and Alexander Radulov, were held shotless. |
|
| Game
2 |
Nashville
2 - Detroit 4 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 2-0 |
Detroit,
MI - The late season push to make the playoffs may have
taken a bit out of Nashville as the eighth-seeded Predators
are staring at a 0-2 deficit against the high-octane Detroit
Red Wings.
The hockey gods were not smiling on the Predators in Detroit
for the opening two games of this series.
Saturday afternoon the Red Wings seemingly got the breaks
and bounces and humbled the Predators in a 4-2 win. Kris
Draper deflected a shot off a Predators defenseman at
the 5:00 mark of the second for what was the game winner.
That deflection was one of many bad bounces in the game
and the series so far. But Nashville can hardly complain
too loudly as Alexander Radulov netted a power play goal
in the second off a bad bounce from behind the Detroit
cage to make the score 2-1 Detroit.
Heading home to Tennessee the Predators need to find a
way to settle down, play some solid defense and look for
the breaks that seem to come Detroit’s way as effortlessly
as breathing.
Dominik Hasek picked up the win while making 25 saves
on the afternoon.
Detroit’s Chris Chelios skated in the 248th playoff game
of his career. That broke the previous record set by Patrick
Roy.
The series now shifts to Nashville where the Predators
look to avoid the sweep
.
Contact the author at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com.
|
|
| Game
3 |
Detroit
3 - Nashville 5 |
|
by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 2-1 |
Nashville, TN - Nine seconds. 0:09 elapsed time on the clock.
In those nine seconds, the Nashville Predators got themselves a victory over the Detroit Red Wings and assured at least a game five back in Detroit later this week.
The Predators’ Ryan Suter potted a slapshot from the top of left circle and beat Dominik Hasek to tie the score at 3.
Then the nine seconds came and ended with Jason Arnott beating Hasek again and sending the Nashville crowd into a frenzy and the Predators’ bench into a sea of ecstasy.
In those nine seconds the Predators switched from stumbling through an almost certain four game sweep to feeling like giant killers on Monday night.
Kris Draper and Jiri Hudler had built a 2-0 lead for the Wings through the early second before the Preds came back with two of their own to tie the match. Alexander Radulov and David Legwand each beat Hasek in the second.
But Pavel Datsyuk gave the Wings the lead early in the third on an unassisted goal at 0:40 before the Predators unleashed their heroes of the night.
Martin Erat closed out the scoring with an empty netter at 19:39.
The Predators will now look to even this series at two games apiece and force a game six back in Nashville.
Contact the author at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com.
|
|
| Game
4 |
Detroit
2 - Nashville 3 |
| by
Linda Morgan Davis - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 2-2 |
Nashville,
TN - Two games in Detroit, two losses and being
written off for the series.
Then a brief nine seconds in game three gave life and
momentum to the Predators. Through 40 minutes Wednesday
night the Predators held off the Red Wings and took a
3-1 lead into the final 20 minutes.
Dan Hamhuis (powerplay) and Shea Weber gave the Preds
a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period.
Pavel Datsyuk cut the lead in half with a powerplay marker
at 6:24 of the second. The goal seemingly gave the Wings
life. The Predators though seem to have a knack for quick
scores.
Greg de Vries quieted the Wings’ bench and sent the home
town fans into a frenzy again as he collected a pass from
Martin Erat and beat Dominik Hasek just 11 seconds after
Datsyuk’s goal.
The Predators were not nearly as responsive after Datsyuk
scored at 3:23 of the third to cut the lead back to a
single goal.
The two teams traded rushes for the remainder of the game
and the Predators survived to force this once four and
done series into at least a six game affair with the two
teams coming back to play in the shadow of the Country
Music Hall of Fame.
Contact the author at lm.davis@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
5 |
Detroit
2 - Nashville 1 (OT) |
| by
Linda Morgan Davis - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 3-2 |
Nashville,
TN - The first two games of this series seem like a distant memory. The results may not have changed on Detroit ice but the Predators are now a different team. The hope in Nashville is it is not too little too late.
Regardless, the Predators have played well and nearly even with the heavily favored Wings. On Friday night, the Red Wings needed 1:48 of overtime to take a 2-1 win and a 4-2 series lead back to Nashville for game six in this now hotly contested series.
Johan Franzen beat Predators’ goalie Dan Ellis with a neat backhander and gave the home town crowd a reason to feel relief for the first time in 61:47 of playing time.
Valtteri Filppula picked up Detroit’s first goal in the opening period and that goal stood up until Nashville’s Radek Bonk netted the game tying score at 19:16 of the third to force the extra frame. Bonk split the Wings’ defense and beat Chris Osgood for the score.
Before being pulled for an extra skater Ellis had stopped 52 shots off the Wings’ sticks and was remarkable for his response to the Detroit pressure and the frenzy of the home town faithful.
The series now shifts back to Nashville for Game 6 and the chance for Detroit to advance and the Predators to extend the series back to Michigan next week. Once counted out the Nashville Predators now have the opportunity to prove the skeptics wrong.
Contact the author at lm.davis@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
6 |
Detroit
3 - Nashville 0 |
| by
Lou Lafrado - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Wins Series 4-2 |
Nashville,
TN - The clock struck midnight for the Nashville
Predators in their effort to upend the Detroit Red Wings
in this best of seven series. The return to home ice for
a Sunday matinee game was not enough to get the 'Preds
over the hump and they fell to the Wings 3-0 in the game
and 4-2 in the series.
Chris Osgood earned the start after his Game 5 performance
in Detroit and he did not disappoint in backstopping the
Wings to the shutout and a berth in the Western Conference
semis set for next week. He faced only 20 shots for the
game.
In the second period Niklas Lidstrom managed to connect
on a bouncing puck and floated the puck over Dan Ellis
in the Predators’ net for a shorthanded goal and a 1-0
lead and essentially beat Nashville.
Jiri Hudler added insurance at the 3:52 mark of the third
to put distance between the two clubs and Brian Rafalski
added an empty netter to finish the Predators off.
Goalie Dan Ellis was superb in net for Nashville, but
superb was not good enough for an eighth seed to upset
the best in the NHL. Ellis made 40 saves on 42 shots for
the afternoon and was credited after the game by head
coach Barry Trotz for keeping the Predators in the series.
Detroit now heads home and they do not have to prepare
for a game seven.
Contact the author at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com.
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| POWER
PLAY |
4TH
- 20.7 |
| PENALTY
KILL |
8TH
- 84.0 |
| FORWARDS |
| PAVEL
DATSYUK |
31-66-97
(+41) |
| HENRIK
ZETTERBERG |
43-49-92
(+30) |
| DANIEL
CLEARY |
20-22-42
(+21) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| NICKLAS
LIDSTROM |
10-60-70
(+40) |
| BRIAN
RAFALSKI |
13-42-55
(+27) |
| NIKLAS
KRONVALL |
7-28-35
(+25) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| DOMINIK
HASEK |
27-10-3
(5 SO)
2.14 GA
.902 PCT |
|
| CHRIS
OSGOOD |
27-9-4
(4 SO)
2.09 GA
.914 PCT |
|
|
|
