So….apparently there’s a game tonight
Lost amid all the hubub about the end of Game 5 is that the teams will meet up again tonight to play Game 6 in Calgary. TSN has an article up on tonight’s festivities.
The Detroit Red Wings will try to end their Western Conference quarterfinal series this evening, when they visit the Calgary Flames for Game 6 at the Saddledome.
The big difference from Game 5 compared to the two games played in Calgary was that Detroit’s special teams units came to life, scoring 3 power play goals and 2 goals on the penalty kill. The specialty teams were all that Calgary could really hang their hat on as an area where they had previously outplayed Detroit. Their last refuge right now is that Game 6 will be played on home ice, where Detroit hasn’t beaten them all season.
As TSN points out, Dominik Hasek has been solid thus far in the series, allowing 1.81 goals per game. His save percentage is .917 but he also hasn’t faced as many shots as his counterpart for the Flames.
Detroit will likely spend more time in the box than Calgary, as that has been the case for the past 3 games. Over that span the Red Wings have committted 22 penalties to the Flames’ 18. Many of those Flames penalties obviously came late in Game 5. So Detroit’s penalty kill is probably going to have to be very strong again tonight if the Wings are to win the game and advance to the second round.
Another good sign for Detroit is Henrik Zetterberg seemed to shake off the rust and have a brilliant game yesterday. He potted two goals and had one assist in 19:34 of ice time. Here is how the goals break down for each of Detroit’s lines:
Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom line: 5 goals
Franzen-Lang-Bertuzzi line: 2 goals
Cleary-Draper-Maltby line: 3 goals
Samuelsson-Filppula-Hudler line: 2 goals
The Wings are in good shape for tonight’s game. All of their lines are scoring and their special teams made huge strides yesterday. So long as they play smart, disciplined, physical hockey and continue to take shots from close in rather than bad shots from the point they should be in good shape.
I didn’t mention much about Dominik Hasek’s excellent play early on yesterday, but he was nearly as big of an emotional spark as Dan Cleary was for Detroit. By stoning the Flames on some excellent breakaway opportunities he filled the team with confidence and it showed. The team can help him out though by not taking bad shots from the point that get blocked and spring odd-man rushes.
If Kipper wants to slash players like McLennan did then he’ll likely get tossed and an AHL netminder will take his place. So the key for the Red Wings is to not back down and to get as many good scoring chances from the hard areas as possible. Take perimeter shots and you are playing into Calgary’s hands to force a Game 7.
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Any idea when word on suspensions will come down today? I’m really only counting on McLennan being suspended, as the league doesn’t want to over-penalize a team in the playoffs - in spite of how much Langkow deserves one as well…highly doubtful Iginla sees any type of suspension either.
Have the Flames called up an extra netminder? I thought the broadcast said yesterday that McLennan was their only backup - and if so, why are they allowed to? Seems a bit ridiculous to let a team with a suspended backup get the benefit of a call-up - that should be reserved for injuries only. But maybe that’s just me.
Pierre,
Just got back and it looks like the news is out as far as punishments go.