Winging to the Conference Finals
The Red Wings sealed the deal on the San Jose Sharks last night with a 2-0 victory, and clinched the series 4-2.
Red Wings forward Mikael Samuelsson scored two in the first period, and goaltender Dominik Hasek made 28 saves to complete the shutout victory, the 13th of his playoff career. The Red Wings depleted defensive corps were anchored by Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Chelios who played almost the entire game recording 29 and 26 minutes respectively.
So the Red Wings have shrugged off to previous playoff dissappointments and put together a beautiful run that has exposed their grit, determination, and resilience in the face of adversity. Now they move on to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 5 years to face off against the Anaheim Ducks, the second best team in the West (in points).
The San Jose Sharks dropped three in a row to the Red Wings and will find it difficult to pull anything positive from this playoffs, especially after recording a Conference tying 51 wins during the regular season. Joe Thornton was dominant in the Sharks first 9 playoff games recording 11 points, but was shutdown over the last two. Is this as far as the big guy can carry his team? Perhaps Boston recognized this last year? In any case, the Sharks must learn the agony of losing in the playoffs, and pay their dues before moving on..... just like Ottawa, Buffalo, Anaheim, and even Detroit. Their time will come..... just not now.
The playoffs really haven't thrown us to many surprises, but for that matter, the four remaining teams were four that were at the top of the standings for most of the year.... no Cinderellas this year Edmonton. The matchups are going to be outstanding. The Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference should live up to it's billing, and the Ducks vs. the Wings in the West..... well I have no complaints whatsoever.
Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh
Comments
Detroit and Anaheim should be sick. So should Buffalo and Ottawa for that matter. Yeah, it's kind of weird not having that cinderella team in the conference finals this year - first time that's happened in quite some time, isn't it? The nice thing about that is that it also truly feels like the best four teams are playing each other and no hockey fan should find a reason to complain about that.
I think both Detroit and Ottawa benefited from facing a little adversity early in the season by not getting off to blindingly good starts. Buffalo and Anaheim could both sweep their respective series and all that adversity would mean jack squat, but there seems to be a really palpable hunger in these Detroit and Ottawa teams right now. It should make for some great hockey.
Posted by: Stache | May 8, 2007 11:14 AM
Stache who do you like? I'm tearing my hair out trying to pick winners here.
Posted by: Cap | May 8, 2007 11:26 AM
First of all, I know you personally, you have no hair, unless you're talking about your arse-crack, and I know you actually enjoy pulling hair from there.
Second, this site is playoffBEARD is it not? How about some commentary on the face mullets???
Posted by: Duges | May 8, 2007 04:11 PM
Hmm...I go with Buffalo and Anaheim. That might be far too perfect of a story (runners-up last year making it this year) to come to fruition though, but that's what I'm feeling at the moment.
I'll be excited if I'm proven wrong on either or both accounts.
Posted by: Stache | May 8, 2007 09:42 PM