Pressure is on Wings to win Game 5
Detroit was in good shape when they headed to Calgary up 2-0. The thinking was that all they needed to do was win one game and they would have a firm grip on the series. After two straight losses all of that has gone out the window and the team faces a must-win on Saturday.
Ansar Khan - MLIVE
Now the pressure is on the Wings to win Game 5 Saturday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena. It’s something they failed to do in their last two playoff series losses — last year against Edmonton and in 2004 vs. Calgary.
Khan goes on further in this blog entry:
The pressure is squarely on the Wings in Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena Saturday afternoon. They faced more adversity this season than in 2005-06 and believed coming into the playoffs that it would help them during tough times.
Playing at home usually isn’t as big a factor in the NHL as it is in other sports, but for some reason, Calgary is a much different team in the boisterous Saddledome. That’s why it’s imperative for the Wings to hold serve at home.
Khan also said there’s a good chance Kyle Calder could be scratched for Game 5. This is something that Ken Kal suggested in this segment on WXYT. Most fans have been understanding as far as Henrik Zetterberg struggling after coming back from a three week layoff, but his lack of production is starting to get more attention.
It’s particularly frustrating for Zetterberg, who doesn’t have a point in the series, after returning from a 19-game absence due to an inflamed disc. He was good the first two games, generating chances and playing more physical than usual, but he’s struggled since the series shifted to Calgary.
“We haven’t created the same kind of chances we did in the first two games,” Zetterberg said. “We have to find a way to get to the net and create some chances.”
Certain players are making a case for more playing time: Valtteri Filppula is one and so is Johan Franzen. Helene St. James has a good article on the Mule and his versatility.
“His game has evolved more so than just being a straight-ahead, dump-it-in, go-in-and-chase-it guy,” team vice president and former teammate Steve Yzerman said. “He hangs onto the puck; he’s got the ability to make a play and also to beat a guy one-on-one with some skill, but also to drop the shoulder and just drive to the net. He’s a big body, a powerful guy, and he plays with a lot of determination. He doesn’t hesitate going ahead — he knows he’s going to get hit or he knows he’s got to go through somebody. There’s just not much hesitation to his game.”
Given how bad Detroit’s power play has been Franzen might be able to help the unit get some good chances inside rather than just relying on shots from the point that haven’t proven to be very effective over the past two games.
As far as Game 4 reaction, Matt over at On the Wings has some thoughts on the game and Christy over at Behind the Jersey also has a writeup on the game.
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