Preds attack, Wings sputter and we’ve got a whole new series
Update: time for some minor copy-editing
Quick thoughts.
I thought it was a good idea to start Hasek in net last night, but he hasn’t been really good over the past two games. I really wonder if Chris Osgood gets the start on Friday. Outside of one bad loss to Nashville earlier this season Osgood has a really good record against the Preds over the past two seasons. I’ll look it up, but it could be a good idea to simply give Hasek a night off and let Osgood get the start. We’ll see how Mike Babcock handles this.
The Predators had another two goal output in less than 1:00 and it ended up being too big of a hole for Detroit to overcome dig themselves out from. The only good sign is the Wings got away from the east-west d-man to d-man passing that the Preds have disrupted with their forecheck. It really looks like Detroit is going to have to start playing more north-south hockey to actually see any time in the offensive zone.
Pavel Datsyuk has just continued to step up his game and is really earning that contract. Remember when the Edmtonton series ended and there were people who really questioned whether he could get it done in the playoffs? Uh yeah, the guy has 3 goals, 2 assists and is +3.
The Preds are got a lot of offense from their d-men. Hamhuis, Weber and de Vries all scored for Nashville. With Hamhuis’ goal it was a PP tally and was a nice play as he slid down from the point to score. Weber banked a shot off Kronner’s keister and de Vries scored on a shot Dom has to want back. Here is the scoring so far from the Red Wings’ d-men.
Lidstrom: 1g, 1a, +1
Rafalski: 0g, 3a, +2
Kronwall: 0g, 3a, +3
Stuart: 0g, 0a, -1
Chelios: 0g, 0a, +1
Detroit has the better corps of defensemen but the Preds were able to get offense from an area where they Wings only have one goal thus far. The fourth line of Drake-Hartigan-McCarty was on the ice for Weber’s goal and Drake was just a step late in his attempt to block the shot. Franzen-Filppula-Samuelsson were on the ice for de Vries’ goal.
Detroit got the bounces during the games at the Joe. The Preds have gotten some favorable bounces in Nashville. The series returns to Detroit tomorrow night. Before the series started I said I expected the Wings to face some adversity similar to what they experienced during the 2002 playoffs. I also expected this series to go six games.
The Wings are facing their first bit of adversity. After having two games in Nashville that they wanted to win but didn’t need to win, Detroit is now in a position where Game 5 is an important contest. If they can hold serve and win they are in good shape to advance. Lose and they allow themselves no margin for error.
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