Mikael Samuelsson scored at 5:14 of overtime on a 3-on-1 break to lift Detroit to a 3-2 victory over the Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night.
The win gives the Wings a commanding 2-0 series lead, with Game 3 to come Friday night at the United Center in Chicago.
For me, this loss is harder to swallow than the 5-2 defeat in Game 1. Quite frankly, I thought the Hawks sucked in the series opener. They made way too many mistakes to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions in that game. Nikolai Khabubulin's fine goaltending - especially in the second period - kept the score from getting out of hand. The Hawks deserved to get their asses kicked in Game 1.
That was not the story on Tuesday night. This was an evenly-played game. The shots were basically even. The scoring chances were even. It can be argued that perhaps the Hawks even had a slight edge. When you play well and still lose, that's not easy to live with.
After the two sides completed regulation tied at 2-2, it was clear whichever team played smarter in OT would prevail. The smarter team proved to be the more experienced Red Wings.
Hawks defenseman Brian Campbell made a soft pass and a turnover at the offensive blue line in the overtime period. That set up the fateful 3-on-1 break that Samuelsson finished off.
Turnovers at the offensive blue line have been a familiar story for the Hawks in this series. Defenseman Brent Seabrook has made not one, but two costly turnovers of that type. Both times, those mistakes became goals for Detroit winger Dan Cleary -- the Red Wings first goal in Game 1 and their second goal to go up 2-1 on Tuesday.
The Hawks have got to cut the soft, backhanded little feeds they are trying to make at the blue lines. The Red Wings are picking those sissy-ass passes off and counterpunching the other way. Detroit is deadly on the counterattack, as the Hawks have learned quickly in this series.
In Game 3, the Hawks can't have any more soft plays in the neutral zone or at the blue lines. For God's sake, get the puck deep and make the Red Wings skate 200 feet to score a goal.
On odd-man rushes after turnovers, Detroit is going to put the puck in the back of the net with regularity. If the Hawks continue to allow odd-man rushes, the Western Conference Finals will be over far quicker than I had hoped.
It's easy to go mention the negatives and what went wrong when one's favorite team loses, and that's been the case of Hawks fans in the first two games of the Western Conference Finals along with the Chicago sportswriters. It makes them sleep well at night I guess.
I thought Da Hawks played well last night, and they weren't that bad on Sunday either, but face it. Detroit is a great team. Da Hawks are not the only team to get burned by the Red Wings when it comes to breakaway goals. It's the style that the Wings run. They run a great system, which they force the other team to cough up the puck, and they press the Hawks well. I thought Da Hawks got worn out in overtime as they did not have that same zip that they had in the first two periods of last night's game, and that was the case again on Sunday's game which Detroit was able to get to Chicago in the third period.
Detroit is simply a better team. They are experienced, and they never beat themselves up. Rarely I ever see them find ways to make mistakes and have the other team capitalize them. The Wings play the game right, and it's a credit to what Coach Mike Babcock does in getting his team to play the game right.
If Blackhawks fans want to sleep well at night by pointing out Brian Campbell's mistakes or calling out Seabrook, go ahead, but it does not change the reality that Detroit is a polished team that should be drinking from Lord Stanley in a few weeks.
Timberwolf, you know damn well that I'm not here to pump air in the Red Wings' tires. I write from the Chicago perspective on this blog. I always have and will continue to do so as long as I have a job here.
And I slept fine last night, thank you very much.
This series is far from over, if Chicago can play hard and clean its mistake (which I don't think is a problem) it can easily go to seven
That's the problem with Chicago sports fans, and you are part of that group too, JB. They are always in denial on everything, and that's why I don't have a great relationship with Chicago sports fans. At least, those fans call spade a spade while Chicago sports fans never want to give credit to the other team. I come to notice that. Who can remember Bears fans being angry at Rex Grossman for losing to the Super Bowl when in reality, the Colts were the better team? How about when Bulls fans whined about Hue Hollins when the Knicks beat Da Bulls in a playoff series? How about Cubs fans blaming on poor Steve Bartman in the 2003 NLCS? I even heard White Sox fans blaming the umps last year in the playoff series against Rays? I like how Bulls fans ripped on the refs during the Celtics series. Why can't Chicago sports fans ever give credit to an opposition? I come to notice that in the 15 years of dealing with Chicago sports fans.
Again, Chicago did everything right in the game last night. They had their chances, but sometimes, a team gets beat. The Hawks got beat. It happens. Sometimes, a team should get credit when its due. I just feel one who is biased just have zero credibility.
I find it funny you and all the Hawks cults and johnny-come-latelys don't even want to acknowledge the Wings are a great team, and some of you feel insulted the Wings are in the same ice as the Hawks.
Oh well. That's your problem. All I know is I am going to enjoy seeing the Wings drink from the Cup real soon.
Ambiorix: How about the Hawks just win a game first, and then we'll go from there?
Why are you going to enjoy "seeing the Wings drink from the Cup" real soon? You're a Wild fan. IIRC, they missed the playoffs and their braintrust resigned.
To my knowledge, you've never been to Chicago and you don't know a single Chicago sports fan. So, I don't know why you speak in such absolutes about the people who reside here.
I don't think Chicago fans are any different than fans in other places.
God knows Timberwolf has never blamed referees or umpires for losses. You have a long record on this very blog of doing just that. The White Sox were a better team than the Twins last season. I've yet to see you give the Sox any credit for winning the division. Instead, you continue to claim that the Sox won the division only because of league conspiracy.
You're living in a glass house, as usual.
I don't recall anybody ever blaming Rex Grossman you dumbass, IIRC it was the defense that game everyone was bitching about.
As for Jason's point on last years Sox, its very accurate, we had no Crede, TCQ or JOse (who was top line before he was injured) so the Twins caught a break not the Sox, if we had all our pieces, we would of won the division sooner, my god your so stupid
Well I listened to sports radio and read through White Sox Interactive minutes after the Super Bowl, and fans were chomping on the bit to get their two cents in savaging Rex Grossman. It was like they were happy that Da Bears lost that game against the Colts because it made the meatheads get their shots in on Rex.
It's too bad because Rex was unappreciated in his time at Chicago. The guy was a winner. He took Da Bears to the NFC Championship Game and in the Super Bowl. A team does not get there without a quarterback making an impact, and by golly, Rex did that. Fans made sure Rex would never recover after what happened in the Super Bowl.
As for the 2008 AL Central Champs*, well if my Aunt Shirley had balls, she would be a man. Talking about someone's injuries or what could have been is nothing more than an excuse and all, and it makes a fan short-sighted. Thank God for Bud Selig, eh.
The 2008 White Sox don't need to make excuses. They won the division. I think they went as far as their talent allowed.
Excuses? Why are you so fucking retarded? So just because we lost our best hitter, the bat and glove in Crede and one of our starters is no reasons why we stumbled? GMAFB, your so fucking stupid. Just give up sports because you lack knowledge in it.
You are correct Ambiorix Burgoss, I guess if the Twins would of lost our best hitting in Mauer, a good bat in Morneau and one of our starters the Twins would of been even worse off, I'm sorry for looking for stupid, and Jason, I apologize for being a butt plug on your articles
Its okay Timberwolf, I know people from Minnesota have natural mentally challenging disorders
Please do not use the word "fuck" or any of its derivatives when commenting on this blog. While I am not personally offended, my bosses might be.
Thanks,
JB