I apologize for the OtW’s disappearance over the past 24 hours. There’s been some trouble with the database connection. My hope is that it’s all in the past. I’ll set up an alternative soon in case the site goes down again.
Monthly Archive for April, 2008Page 2 of 8
Update (5:18 PM): Steph at No Pun Intended has her post on the game up here. - Matt
Update (2:10 PM): George Malik’s wrap-up is here. - Matt
The Detroit Red Wings took a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference Semifinal series with the Colorado Avalanche yesterday by winning 5-1 at home.
I did not take notes on the game, so I just have a few thoughts on it:
… The Wings came out flying for the second game in a row. After watching the Predators swarm for the first ten minutes of nearly every game last round, the Wings’ early dominance has been a refreshing change of pace. The best part about it? With just a few hitches, they kept it up for the rest of the game.
… Just prior to the game, it was announced that Peter Forsberg, who participated in warmups, would not play. They also told us that Scott Hannan was out. Both players would have had an impact on the game, to be sure, but it’s hard for me to see the result being that much different. The Wings were on a mission.
… I thought that was Henrik Zetterberg’s best game of the playoffs. He looked very confident with the puck and made decisions with it we haven’t seen from him in a while. For one thing, he didn’t constantly take it around behind the net, chosing instead to take it to the front much more often.
… Johan Franzen continues to impress. There are shifts in which he just will not be denied. He’s excelling at both ends and looks nothing like a mere third year player.
… Franzen’s linemates, Mikael Samuelsson and Valtteri Filppula, are also having a solid second round. That’s creating a problem for the Avs, who apparently don’t have the depth to stop both the Wings’ dangerous top line and their hot second line. Both the Eurotwins+Homer and Franzen’s line are wrecking havoc in the Colorado end. Even the third and fourth lines have caused problems for the Avs in this series. The Wings’ depth is incredible.
One thing’s for sure: Babcock should not make any changes to the lines for the road games. Keep the Eurotwins together and Franzen with Fil and Sammy. Keep Helm in the lineup and continue to rotate Drake on the third and fourth lines. That is the arrangement that is winning these games. Anything else is a concession to the Avs.
… The Wings’ third pairing combined for a whole lot of fail on the Ian Laperriere goal. Brett Lebda, instead of quickly sending the puck up and out of the zone when there was plenty of space to do so, opted to rattle it around the boards behind the net to Chris Chelios.
Kris Draper by that point had left the right wing boards and was in the middle of the ice, operating under the assumption that Lebda would make the right decision. Chelios, for his part, had a brain cramp. Rather than take a second to think and adjust to Draper’s new position, he sent the puck up along the boards to where Draper used to be, promptly turning it over. Seconds later, the Avs ruined the shutout.
… Chris Osgood, by the way, had another solid game. He wasn’t given a lot of action, facing just 20 shots, but was there to make the save when needed.
… At the other end, Jose Theodore continued his “sick” play. He had no chance on Franzen’s first, but was caught somewhat out of position on his second. Filppula’s goal was a bit of a bad bounce, but Theodore’s poor positioning cost him that one. As for the Zetterberg goal, he didn’t look like a former world-class goalie on that one either.
Peter Budaj, on the other hand, was solid. He faced 20 shots and it took the hot stick of Johan Franzen to beat him in the third. I’d think the Avs would go with him in Game 3, but Joel Quenneville seems intent on sticking with Theodore.
… Brad Stuart did not really stick out in his return. That’s a good thing, for the most part.
… Darren Helm and his fourth line compatriots, Jiri Hudler and Darren McCarty, continue to look great. They had the Avs on their heels a few times yesterday and provided great energy.
… Unlike the NBC broadcast crew, I didn’t think McCarty was foolish to fight Cody McCormick in the second period after the Wings took a 4-0 lead. He would have been foolish to turn down such a blunt challenge. Had the Wings not had a four-goal lead, it’d be a different story. As it was, however, McCarty showed that he was not averse to droppinng the gloves and may have deterred unecessary violence against the Wings’ stars as the game went on.
If the Avs take that fight and make something of it in future games, good for them. It won’t change the fact that this is the Wings’ series to lose.
… The main concern coming out of the game was the fact that the Wings couldn’t find a way to put one or two in the net when the Avs had their meltdown in the second half of the second period. Five penalties in a row should have resulted in something. Of course, by that point, they already had two power play goals, so it’s not the end of the world.
… The Wings did not take their foot off the gas yesterday and they cannot take it off going into Game 3. The extra day between games will be good for resting bumps and bruises, but it can’t dull their resolve. They have to put on a similarly dominating performance Tuesday night and take a stranglehold on this series. There can be no repeat of 1999.
The Avs, whether or not they get Forsberg or Hannan back, will be highly motivated in Game 3. They know the series is not over and that they can take a step toward preserving themselves with a win at home in front of their crowd.
I can’t wait.
Links
For your viewing pleasure, Johan Franzen’s hat trick via NHL TV: (after the jump)
Continue reading ‘Johan Franzen’s Hat Trick’
That’s what the Wings just put on. Or at least as complete a game as is possible. They flat out dominated for all but a few brief periods today. A heck of a performance. Here’s hoping it’s a sign of more to come.
I’m starting to feel foolish for maintaining that this series would be a close one. I really thought the Avs were better than this. I guess not. It’s not over yet, of course, but if the Avs don’t dig deep and get it together in Game 3, they’ll be headed for a quick Round 2 exit.
And let me just say that Peter Forsberg is not necessarily the answer for Colorado. They are going to have to do this as a team, with or without him. And nothing they’ve shown so far, including their comeback attempt in Game 1, has demonstrated that they have what it takes.
The Wings, on the other hand, look as determined as I’ve ever seen them. They are series about this run, folks.
And how about Johan Franzen? Please keep it up, Mule!
I can’t wait until Game 3.
BtJ liveblog here.
I’ll have more on the game tomorrow morning. End-of-year schoolwork beckons.
By the way, I apologize for the disappearance of the site today. There was some issue with the server and the database that I couldn’t get anyone to handle until midway through the third period.
This afternoon is the second game of the Western Conference Semifinal series between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche. The Wings lead the series 1-0 after winning 4-3 Thursday night.
The Avs came out of Game 1 somewhat embarrassed. They’re bound to be better today. Some keys to the game for Colorado:
A stronger start. They got knocked around for virtually the entire first period Thursday night. If they come out of the gates playing like they did in the second and third periods, they’ll be in a better position.
Stay out of the box. The Wings only managed one power play goal in Game 1, but it wasn’t for lack of opportunities. The Avs need to keep the penalties to a minimum if they want to keep the ice level and not tilted toward their end.
Play with more physicality. The Wings were the rougher team Thursday night and there aren’t many nights where that’s true. The Avs need to use their bodies more.
Wojtek Wolski is out for sure. Peter Forsberg is questionable, but there’s a slim chance he’ll play. Jose
Theodore will return for Game 2 after being pulled in Game 1 due to an illness-induced poor performance. Expect him to be tougher to beat today.
The Wings played a fairly solid game Thursday night, but they have a few areas upon which they could improve. Some keys to the game for Detroit:
Another strong start. They came out guns blazing in Game 1 and should repeat that today. With the Avs certain to be better prepared, there’s no reason to hold back in the opening minutes.
Better decisions defensively. The Wings played nearly a complete defensive game, but the Avs made them pay for the few mistakes they did make. Defensemen like Brian Rafalski need to remember to let the forward take the trailer in a 3-on-2 rather than leave his partner hanging out to dry with a 2-on-1 down low. That sort of thing.
Special teams. They need to capitalize on power play opportunities and kill off penalties. They didn’t do a good enough job of the first on Thursday and will probably have to do more of the second today.
Brad Stuart will return to the lineup after returning to Michigan from California following the birth of his son, Logan Michael. Andreas Lilja should be the odd man out. Kirk Maltby likely remains out.
Chris Osgood will start again for the Wings.
This isn’t must-win territory for either team, but there are obvious benefits to winning this game. I think we can expect an exciting afternoon as both teams play to their potential. The Avs are at a disadvantage with two key offensive contributors out, but they still have skill enough remaining to keep themselves in the game. The Wings will have to be as close to perfect as possible.
Joe Hass is liveblogging the game again here.
Update (4:46 PM): Forsberg is maintaining that he’s “day-to-day” and that a decision on his status for Game 2 has not been made. - Matt
George Malik summarizes a Joel Quenneville press conference in which the Colorado coach says first line winger Wojtek Wolski is unlikely to return during this series due to an “upper body injury.”
Peter Forsberg is “questionable” for Game 2 with the groin injury that kept him out of Game 1.
Both injuries are obviously bad news for the Avs, but gret news for the Wings.
According to Macomb Daily reporter Chuck Pleiness (via Bruce MacLeod), Pavel Datsyuk opted out of practice today. The official story is that he’s ill.
MacLeod says “it’s pretty clear that Datsyuk is banged up,” and goes on to point out that it hasn’t stopped him from being effective. As long as that’s true, I don’t mind him missing practices.
Update (4:49 PM): Bruce MacLeod relates that he had the three finalists finishing 1) Datsyuk 2) Madden and 3) Zetterberg on his ballot. - Matt
Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk have been named two of the three Selke Trophy finalists. John Madden of New Jersey is the other. Congratulations to them both. I just hope the votes don’t get split between them.
The Free Press has a piece in which an unnamed blogger tests the NHL’s premise that “matter” flies off a twirled octopus and endangers the Wings’ opposition. The result? If boiled properly, there’s no danger. Bring back the twirl! (via Snapshots)
Update (10:32 PM): Christy Hammond has a brief post up on the game with some great accompanying pictures. My favorite: Al twirling the octopus in the zamboni pit. - Matt
Update (10:22 PM): Apologies to Joe Sakic: it was Andrew Brunette who turned the puck over along the left wing boards just prior to Johan Franzen’s second goal, not the Avs’ captain. Thanks to Justin for pointing that out in the comments. - Matt
Update (12:46 PM): George Malik’s wrap-up is here. - Matt
The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Colorado Avalanche last night 4-3 and took a 1-0 lead in their Western Conference Semifinal series.
Just prior to the game, it was announced that Peter Forsberg would not play because of a groin injury. The news had an obvious effect on Colorado’s morale. For more on that, see Adrian Dater’s post.*
The Wings came out strong, with the top line of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Tomas Holmstrom looking particularly good. From the onset, it looked like the Avalanche did not have an answer for those three.
Andreas Lilja and Niklas Kronwall laid on a couple big hits in the first five minutes as the Wings looked more physical than their opponents, for once.
The Avs scored first, despite the fact that they were being outplayed for the bulk of the first 10 minutes. With the Wings only partially changed from their fourth line to their second line, Paul Stastny, Ryan Smyth, and Milan Hejduk gained the Detroit zone and began to grind it out. A quick centering pass by Smyth from behind the net led to a lightning-fast goal by Stastny. He got the puck up over Osgood from close range and put his team up 1-0 at 8:53.
The Wings responded 53 seconds later. Zetterberg carried the puck into the Colorado zone on the left wing and, met with Cody McLeod just over the line, dropped it off to Datsyuk behind him. McLeod then released Zetterberg and took Datsyuk, who sent the puck up to a free #40. Hank fought through a hold from Adam Foote and put the puck through Jose Theodore to tie the game up at 9:46.
Following the goal, the Wings looked strong. Their physical edge continued with a Kris Draper hit on Tyler Arnason at the Colorado blueline and the top line continued to wreck havoc in the Avalanche end. The fourth line of Jiri Hudler, Darren Helm, and Darren McCarty, put on a nice shift just prior to an Avalanche penalty at 11:04.
The Wings took a 2-1 lead at 13:48 off a fortunate bounce. Johan Franzen began the play as he carried the puck into the Colorado end. He was sandwiched by two Avalanche players and just managed to get the puck up to Dan Cleary. Cleary’s shot was stopped by Theodore, but the puck disappeared. Watching it live, it looked as though Franzen was the first to find it and knock it in. Replays, however, showed that the puck hit Theodore and bounced 20-30 feet straight up in the air. After a delay, it landed to Theodore’s left and bounced into the net.
Not long after the goal, Ben Guite had a big scoring chance for the Avs, but Chris Osgood made the save.
The Wings extended their lead at 17:23 while on the power play. Following the faceoff, Niklas Kronwall and Jiri Hudler played catch for a little bit before Kronwall unleashed a blast toward the net. Johan Franzen, coming across the front, got his stick on it and redirected it down to the top of Theodore’s right pad and in.
At 18:48, the Avs returned to the penalty box as the Eurotwins+Holmstrom cycled in the Colorado end. Those three then skated circles around the Avs until the period ended.
The Wings began the second on the power play, but couldn’t convert. They did, however, score within the first two minutes of the period. Joe Sakic Andrew Brunette turned the puck over to Mikael Samuelsson along the far side boards in the Colorado end. Sammy then slid it across to Valtteri Filppula, who dropped a no-look pass to Johan Franzen 43 feet out. Franzen’s one-timer beat Theodore over his left pad at 1:13.
Of the four goals Theodore allowed, this was the worst, but the blame rests mostly with Sakic Brunette for the turnover. In any case, Joel Quenneville saw fit to pull Theodore at this point. Peter Budaj came in and Theodore went to the bench, though he eventually changed into street clothes and left the arena because he was “ill.” If he was so sick, why did he start in the first place? I wonder if he wasn’t pouting.
The Avs seemed to wake up a bit after the goalie change. They had a couple solid scoring chances not long afterwards and scored their second goal just over four minutes after the Wings’ took their 4-1 lead. It ws a simple enough play: JM Liles broke in down the left wing and took a shot that beat Osgood five-hole. Chris Chelios dove across in an attempt to block the shot, so it may have been tipped. If it wasn’t, it was a weak goal to give up. 4-2 at 5:17.
The Wings didn’t immediately take their foot off the gas, as they had a number of solid chances in the subsequent minutes. They put on a decent power play beginning at 6:15 and and had some strong cycle shifts at full strength. The Avs continued to improve throughout all of this, however, and gradually the balance of play evened out for the most part.
The Avs had a big scoring chance with 6:20 or so left when Paul Stastny found himself free to take a shot from the slot. On the flurry that followed, Ryan Smyth roughed up Nick Lidstrom and got away with it. In the shift following that, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Holmstrom put on another good performance. Darren Helm and Darren McCarty had a 2-on-1 nearly develop not long after that, but it fizzled out.
At 16:29, Milan Hejduk made things interesting by scoring the Avs’ third goal. The play began as a 3-on-2 with Ryan Smyth carrying and Brian Rafalski and Nick Lidstrom back. No big deal, right? Wrong. Smyth got the puck up to Stastny and rather than fall further back, Rafalski chose to stick with Smyth, creating a 2-on-1 down low. Stastny waited until he was virtually at the goalline and then slid the puck across to Hejduk, who tipped it in just inside the right post. Osgood couldn’t get across fast enough.
After that, the Avs swarmed a little. In the midst of this, Nik Kronwall laid on another big hit, this time on Jones at center. Andreas Lilja took an ill-timed holding penaly at 17:50 and put the Avs on the power play. Colorado had a few chances with the man-advantage and put the Wings on their heels a bit. Chris Osgood, however, came up big.
I missed the first 10:00 or so of the third because I had to run an errand, but from what I can tell from the BtJ liveblog, the Wings looked decent.
When I got back, one of the first things I saw was Jordan Leopold’s running of Valtteri Filppula into the endboards around the 10:30 mark.
The second half of the third period, at least, was mostly Colorado’s game. They were much more dangerous than they had been in the first and second and forced Chris Osgood to make a number of big saves. They beat him once, but the shot rang off the post. The Wings could get little going offensively.
Budaj was pulled for the extra skater with about 1:08 left and the Avs had some trouble getting set up. When they did, however, they came very close to scoring. The play began with Smyth behind the net. He sent a pass out front to Leopold, who was covered by Brian Rafalski and stood to Osgood’s left at the post. Rafalski lifted Leopold’s stick and the puck went through to the slot, where Liles had jumped up. Osgood somehow managed to get across and make the save on Liles, who should have had a goal. Save of the game, if not the playoffs to this point, for Chris Osgood.
That came with 8.4 seconds left. The remaining time wound down and the Wings finished on top, 4-3.
The Big Three obviously had a strong game. The second line looked good as well. The third line was physical and did its job. The fourth line also did its job, but ran into a couple matchup problems that should have been avoided. See the Stastny goal.
Defensively, the Wings were pretty strong with the obvious exception of the Rafalski brain cramp that led to Hejduk’s second goal.
Chris Osgood looked steady, though the Liles goal was a little weak. He came up big in the third period, however, and saved the Wings when the Avs were creating scoring chances.
In addition to the loss of Forsberg, the Avs saw Wojtek Wolski leave the ice in the first period with what is being described as an upper body injury. It could also be a knee issue, however. That’s a big loss as he was one of their top line wingers.
Scott Hannan took a shot off the inside of his foot and though he finished the game, he may not be able to go Saturday.
Ryan Smyth looked good for the Avs. Some of their best chances were generated by his passes.
The final score was the result of a combination of two things: 1) the Avs waking up and actually playing hockey, and 2) the Wings letting up a bit offensively. In Game 2, you can bet that Colorado will come out stronger, but you can also count on the Wings to press the attack for longer.
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*Say what you want about Dater, but his bluntness is at times refreshing. Not many beat writers are so quick to be critical of the players they talk to on a daily basis.
