Western Conference Playoffs

[tiger tiger]

Wings completely dominate the Yotes. 6-1. Special teams were the key. Detroit killed off quite a few penalties at critical times and even a 5 on 3 for over a minute. The killer was the goal by Stuart just as he got out of the penalty box, with seconds left in the period. Detroit showed they can step it up another level still.

Congrats to Phoenix for a great season. Tippett should get the Jack Adams for best coach. Don't know what will happen in the off-season, but this could be the last game in Phoenix.

[tiger tiger]

No rest for the Wings as they start off Round 2 with the Sharks.

Howard gets tested by the Sharks firepower, and fails miserably. Falling down 3-0 in the first 10 minutes. Detroit slowly fights back, but lose 4-3. Sharks take game 1.

[tiger tiger]

Canucks dominate the Hawks. 2-0 lead after the 1st, 5-0 after the 2nd. Niemi gets repalced by Huet in the 3rd. Luongo plays one of his best games in the playoffs this year. Scoring from all Canuck lines. 1-0 for Vancouver!

[tiger tiger]

Detroit takes the lead in the game but a few bad penalties help the Sharks get back into the game. Sharks win it 4-3 and take a 2-0 lead in the series. The Wings do not look confident in front of Howard as he seems to overplay some shots and is caught out of position on the rebound.

[tiger tiger]

Canucks take a quick 2-0 lead again, and even hit a post. Chicago quickly reply with a tally of their own in the 1st period. Remained that way until the Hawks tied it with a shorthanded goal, and then took the lead with 1 1/2 minutes left. Empty netter made it 4-2 Hawks. Hawks recovered after a shaky start and outplayed and outmuscled the Canucks. They were the hungrier team tonight.

[tiger tiger]

Wings have the lead going into the 3rd, but the Sharks score 2 to tie it at 3-3 and force overtime. Marleau gets the OT winner to give SJ a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Very few teams have ever come back from being down 0-3. The Sharks are looking good for the Western Conference finals.

[tiger tiger]

The Hawks outplayed the Canuckleheads from beginning to end, winning 5-2, and taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

[tiger tiger]

The Wings came out flying! Facing elimination, they score 5 in the 1st period. Frazen sets a franchise record with 6 points in a game (4G, 2A). The Sharks didn't show up and sat back comfortably on their 3 games to 0 lead. Got shelled 7-1. Series now 3-1.

SJ have a chance to finish it at home.

[ranbethscards]

Way to go Red Wings!

[tiger tiger]

Canucks have no answer for the Hawks PP, and they continue to play undisciplined hockey. Luongo looks shaky and is far from playing his best hockey. They lose a critical game 7-4. Chicago has a commanding 3-1 lead going back home.

[dlong1]

Wow! What an aweful game. The Shark should have had 3 more penalties for 9 mins of Red Wing Power Plays. I don't believe that the Wings stood a chance of winning with the way the game was called.

1. Shark reached over the goal net and hit a Wing in the face with his stick - 2 minutes
2. Shark went for the knee of a Wing on a flagrant hit. 5 minutes with ejection
3. Shark shoulder to the face. 2 minutes

The last 2 were terrible non-calls and I believe cost the Wings the game. Within a minute of Franzen being laid out with the shoulder, the Sharks scored the game winning goal. If these would have happened to Crosby I'll bet the penalities would have been called. This is not "sour grapes", just telling it like it is.

Dan

[tiger tiger]

Been sick for the last week, plus the baby too.

Updates in the Western Conference:

Sharks finish off the Wings. The Wings looked a little tired. Too much of a push at the end of the season? Is Howard good enough for #1?

Hawks dominate the Canucks in game 6, winning 5-1. Canucks were depleted on the defensive end, and Luongo couldn't step it up. Chicago's agressive style mixed with skill was too much for the Canucks to handle. The Canucks seem to be missing something still.

[tiger tiger]

Western Conference Finals:

Chicago and San Jose. Sharks and Hawks come out flying. They trade chances, and SJ gets on the board first. Hawks manage to tie it, and take the lead in the 3rd. Niemi made some huge saves to give the Hawks the win. It was a goaltender's duel tonight.
2-1 Hawks, Chicago stealing 1 from SJ at home.

[tiger tiger]

Game 2 in SJ. Hawks come out flying again. Jump to a 3-0 lead and never looked back. Sharks did score 2, but it wasn't close. 4-2 Hawks. Hawks have a huge 2-0 lead coming back home. Hawks are an unbelievable 7-0 on the road.