Blackhawks on the brink
By Judd Hall
In 1983, the Edmonton Oilers were quickly dispatched in four straight games by the Islanders in the Stanley Cup Final. The following season, Wayne Gretzky and company took down those same Isles to win the first of their five championships.
Why am I talking about playoffs past? Because we could be seeing something similar happening in this year’s Western Conference Final.
Chicago came into this series full of vim and vigor after beating the Flames and Canucks. Fast forward to today and you can see that the Blackhawks’ youth is losing the war to the veteran champs from Detroit, down three-games-to-one. Perhaps this is the setback that will catapult the ‘Hawks to greatness in the future.
There are several culprits to why the ‘Hawks are floundering like they are during this round. The most glaring has to be their special teams play.
The Red Wings and Chicago had the best power plays of any team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After four games, it’s safe to say that Detroit is having more success with the advantage as they’ve scored five of its last 15 power plays…Three of those special teams scores coming in the Wings’ 6-1 deconstruction of Chicago as $1.30 road favorites last Sunday.
Detroit’s was extremely solid when shorthanded as well. They’ve given up three PPG on 14 chances to the Blackhawks. More importantly, the Red Wings are finding ways to create scoring chances while down a man. That’s how they got the ball (or is that puck?) rolling in Game 4 as Marian Hossa scored on an odd-man rush and shorthanded no less.
Now that the scene has shifted back to Joe Louis Arena, the sportsbooks fully expect that the Red Wings will close out the series on Wednesday as $2.40 home favorites (risk $240 to win $100) with a total of 5 ½.
If Chicago wants to force this series to a sixth game as a 2/1 road pup, then they’ll need to figure out what’s going on between the pipes for them. Nikolai Khabibulin suffered what the club is calling a lower body injury during Game 3. Cristobal Huet didn’t allow a goal on the six shots he saw last Friday night in 22 minutes of work. In Game 4, however, Huet was pulled early in the second period after giving up his fourth goal of the game.
Recent call-up Corey Crawford was brought into the contest for the rest of the second period, giving up one goal on seven shots. Huet returned for the final period but the damage was already done. All signs are pointing towards the former Canadiens goaltender to get the starting nod on Wednesday night.
Something else for the ‘Hawks to focus on is finding a way for Patrick Kane to be relevant in this series. Kane has yet to score against the Red Wings in this series on just five shots on goal. He was averaging just over three SOG during the regular season.
I don’t think I’m the only guy that isn’t willing to plunk down almost three bills on a team to close out a series. I’d be more willing to play along with the Red Wings on the puck line (-1 ½, plus-125). Since the 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Detroit has posted a solid 9-4 puck line record in games that they could eliminate its opponent.
You can watch this game on Versus starting at 7:35 p.m. EDT.
vegasinsider.com
Hockey Today
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, May 27
Chicago at Detroit (7:30 p.m. EDT). The defending champion Red Wings can move into the Stanley Cup finals with a victory. They won the first two games of the series at home and lead 3-1.
STARS
Tuesday
— Max Talbot(notes), Penguins, had a goal and an assist as Pittsburgh eliminated the Carolina Hurricanes with a 4-1 victory and advanced to the Stanley Cup finals for the second straight year.
— Marc-Andre Fleury(notes), Penguins, stopped the last 30 shots he faced in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals as Pittsburgh beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1.
SAD FAREWELL
Peter Zezel, a center who played 15 NHL seasons after breaking into the league as a teenager with the Philadelphia Flyers, has died. He was 44. Zezel struggled with the rare blood disease hemolytic anemia for the past 10 years and died on Tuesday. Zezel suffered from the ailment off and on, but had rebounded after being in critical condition in 2001. He was admitted to the hospital last week for scheduled surgery, but complications developed and his conditioned worsened.
SID’S SETUPS
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby(notes) had two assists to extend his point streak to six games as the Penguins completed a sweep of the Eastern Conference finals with a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
SECOND TIME AROUND
Pittsburgh is the first team since the 2000 and 2001 New Jersey Devils to get to the finals in consecutive years. The Penguins are the first runner-up to return to the finals since Edmonton in 1983 and 1984.
STATS
The Pittsburgh Penguins outscored the Carolina Hurricanes 20-9 in their four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals. They scored at least three goals in each game and trailed for a total of 20 minutes, 30 seconds in advancing to the Stanley Cup finals for the second straight year and fourth time overall. … Carolina G Cam Ward(notes) had been 5-0 in NHL elimination games until the Penguins beat him 4-1 on Tuesday night. … The Hurricanes’ lone tally in Game 4 was scored by Eric Staal(notes), who netted only one goal in the series. Carolina had been 7-0 in these playoffs when Staal notched a goal, but went 1-9 when he was kept off the scoresheet.
SPEAKING
“To be real honest, I don’t think it felt easy at all.”—Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma after the Penguins completed a four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals with a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings defeated Chicago 6-1 as a -130 favorite in Game 4 on Sunday. The seven goals scored went OVER the posted over/under total (5.5).
Marian Hossa scored a pair of goals and added an assist for Detroit, while Henrik Zetterberg also scored a pair of goals in the win.
Jonathan Toews scored the Blackhawks' lone goal, and Cristobal Huet made 21 saves in the loss.
Team records:
Chicago: 46-24-12
Detroit: 51-21-10
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing Edmonton are 7-3
After playing Detroit are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3
Detroit most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
Before playing Edmonton are 6-4
After playing Chicago are 8-2
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games on the road
Chicago is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
Chicago is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Western Conference Finals
Chicago at Detroit
Chicago:
3-10 SU at Detroit
18-9 Under off BB Overs
Detroit:
9-0 SU off road division win
25-3 SU at home off BB division games
CHICAGO vs. DETROIT
Chicago is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games
Detroit is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Chicago
Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Chicago
NHL Playoffs
Detroit is 7-3 vs Chicago this year, winning 5-2/3-2OT in Games 1-2 in this building; with Penguins clinching their series last night, Detroit could use win here, so Pittsburgh won't have extra rest for Finals. Red Wings scored three goals in 10:18 with man advantage in Game 4 win; they are 5-18 on power play in series. Blackhawks are 3-5 on road in playoffs- if they're 3-6 after this game, their season is over.