Red Wings vs. San Jose In The Second Round Of The 2011 NHL Playoffs

The rematch from last years opening round against the Coyotes went very well for the RedWings. Seeing them sweep the Coyotes out of the playoffs and possibly back to Winnipeg. In the Wings second round match up they will have the opportunity to get some revenge on the team that ended their playoff run last year in the conference semi-finals.

The match up of these two teams sets up for a very physical, hard hitting series. San Jose is known for how big their players are all through their roster and they aren't afraid to throw it around at the opposing teams players. The depth players on the RedWings like Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader and Patrick Eaves among others showed in their last series that they can be as physical as any other player on the ice. The way that Jim Howard performed well and the way that Antti Niemi struggled at times in their first round series, and how they both perform in this series will have a large impact on who will get to the next round. I believe that the depth and balance of scoring that the Wings exhibited in the first round will give them an edge on the offensive side of the puck, but the sheer size of the Sharks could cause problems for them if this series goes 6-7 games. I also think that it is critical for Detroit to get off to a good start in game 1 tomorrow night out in San Jose and to show the Sharks that this wont be a quick and easy series for them this year. I see the Wings taking this series in 6 games and moving on to the conference finals.

Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and congratulations to the newest member of the Detroit Lions Defensive line Nick Fairley.

Drew in the D

Tigers Start Off Home Stand With A Sweep Of The Sox

The Tigers were able to get a sweep in their recent series against the White Sox thanks largely to the great performances they got from their starters. Justin Verlander started it off on Friday night out doing the Sox' ace Mark Buehrle, and finally getting some solid run support from his teammates. Brad Penny, who has been anything but good thus far had a great showing Saturday, one-hitting the White Sox in a shut out. Max Scherzer made it a clean sweep for his team also shutting out the Sox' through 8 innings as well as ringing up 7 K's in his Easter sunday performance.

Another story line from this weekends series is the emergence of the Tigers offense which out scored the White Sox 21-3 over the teams 3 game series. It wasn't just the big name players that did it but it seemed like someone different stepped up every game to help the team to each win. Slumping Austin Jackson showed some life at the plate with Jackson getting some timely hits during the last two games and driving in some runs for his team. The Tigers will now welcome in the Seattle Mariners for a 3 game set to wrap up their current home stand, and again will look to take all 3 from their opponents again.

Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and congratulations to Justin Verlander for reaching the 1,000 strike out plateau on Friday.

Drew in the D

Wings Sweep Coyotes Out Of The Playoffs

The RedWings role players came through big time once again to help their team to their 4th win of the series, clinching the round one sweep of the Phoenix Coyotes. The two lines that have really impressed me in these first 4 games of the postseason is the Bertuzzi, Cleary, Abdelkader line and the Helm, Draper, Eaves/Miller line. They have out worked, out muscled, and in general just out played who ever they are out on the ice against. It was no different tonight with both lines getting multiple goals in the Wings 6-3 win. Let it be known Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader who will now be known as the "Beast" and "Killer" respectively for their ascendancy into the ranks of legitimate NHL players.

Jim Howard was again solid when called upon tonight. The game started off a little shaky for him with his defenders being used for bank shots that gave the 'Yotes an early 2-0 lead. Late in the game though, when the Wings had a one goal lead he made two spectacular saves one on a cross ice pass that he used his shoulder to deny Shane Doan. The other was a quick glove save on a break away that stopped a shot that was labeled for the top corner.

The RedWings have a chance to rest and heal up with the series sweep of the Coyotes. Possibly getting as many as 8 days off until they start round 2 depending on how the other western conference series go. This is good news for key players like Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen who are recovering from injuries. But now that Detroit has taken care of business they can take a some deep breathes and recharge for what ever team they will face in round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and you need to get on our killer instinct level Vancouver 7-1!?! really?

Drew in the D

Wings Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead Against The Coyotes

Two goals in quick succession in the first three minutes of tonight's game gave the Wings a huge shot of momentum that they used to propel themselves to a big 4-2 win in game 3 of the series. "Franzenstein" scored yet another playoff goal, when he skated in all by his lonesome and ripped a snap shot over Bryzgalov's shoulder for the Wings 4th goal of the game. Again the RedWings 3rd and 4th lines out played their Phoenix counterparts, with the "Manitoba Missile" and Justin "Killer" Abdelkader playing integral roles in helping their team to the win tonight.

The story of the game though, was the solid play, yet again, of Jim Howard in net for Detroit. Once his team took the early 2-0 lead Howie was called on at least 3 times to make ten-bell saves on Coyotes chances. He was flashing his pads and his glove all night keeping Phoenix from getting any closer then 2 goals. It is visually obvious that he has matured and improved his play this playoff season from his first taste of the post season last year. He has outplayed his opposite in Ilya Bryzgalov, who some would say was going to be the dominant goal tender in this series. He is also carrying a very solid .928 save percentage right now through 3 games and looks very comfortable back stopping his team.

The Coyotes had some good energy and jump in tonight's game, but only for periods of time and not for the full 60 minutes like they needed. Even though the Wings have a 3-0 lead in the series it will be that much harder to get that 4th win to end the Coyotes season (and if the rumors are true end their stay in Phoenix). One of the best parts of watching the Wings in in this series is the way they are winning, with players on all four lines contributing on offense and defense. Tonight was a perfect example of this with Darren Helm setting up Ruslan Salei's goal and Nicolas Kronwall providing the assist on Drew Miller's goal. This is what made the RedWings so good in 2008 when they made their deep run, they had more depth then their opposition and every player on the team made an impact on each series.

Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and Happy Birthday Miguel "El Caballo" Cabrera

Drew in the D

The Magic Man Does It Again Against The Coyotes

It was a great start to the Saturday afternoon game 2 in the Detroit for the Redwings, which saw the Wings take a 3-0 lead in the 1st period. Pavel "Magic Man" Datsyuk was once again the catalyst on the ice for his team making plays and in general making the opposing players look silly. The "Magic Man" recorded 1 goal and 3 assists today in the game and was equally as effective on the defensive side of the puck as well. For the second game in a row Datsyuk tried his now patented between the legs shot, and even though he failed to score on it again the play leading up to the shot and the aftermath reinforce how good this guy is, and just what an impact he can have on his teams play during the game. Pavel went after a lose puck in the neutral zone and he won it from the Phoenix player by chipping it over his stick perfectly to himself in stride. Now this might not seem like an extraordinary play of sorts but when you consider he put negative spin on the puck so it was FLAT!!! and not spinning in the air and bouncing on the ice away from him just shows the control and subtlety that this great player possesses. Once Pavel gained control of the puck and skated around the Coyotes defence man you could tell everyone watching as just waiting for the next move that would result in a Wings goal. That's exactly what happened the "Magic Man" put the puck in between his legs and put the puck on net, and since everyone knows just how dangerous this guy can be he drew the three coyotes trying to play defense on him which left Darren "Manitoba Missile" Helm open to skate in and roof the rebound for his team 3rd goal of the period.



Johan Franzen who is lovingly referred to as the "Mule" by the Redwing faithful was transformed into the playoff creation known as "Franzenstein" this afternoon. At the beginning of the 1st period in today's game Franzen went into the corner after a lose puck and was hit by Shane Doan as he was falling propelling him face first into the boards. He was helped off of the ice bloodied and battered and there was speculation as to whether or not he would be able to return. Franzen has suffered from headaches and concussion symptoms before and he had recently been cut above his nose by a high stick during the last game of the season which required a few stitches. Those few stitches would be considered minor to what he had to go through today to get patched up. Franzen had to first sit in the "quiet" room which is an isolated room in the arena where all players who are under observation for having a concussion are tested for symptoms. Once he passed the tests and was ruled healthy as far as concussions go he then had to have 26 stitches to help close the gash over his left eye. About mid-way through the 2nd period a large intimidating figure adorned in the red and white of Detroit stepped out onto the ice to the cheers of his adoring fans. But there was something different something not quite right with the "Mule" he was no longer just Johan Franzen he had a large over sized band aid covering the fresh stitching on his face and a plug in one of his nostrils. There were also trails of dark dried blood from the areas of repair. Johan Franzen had been transformed by the harshness and physicality of the NHL playoffs, he had become "Franzenstein", and he has never looked better.

The teams will travel to Phoenix and start their preparations for game 3 of the series on Monday night at Jobing.com Arena in Phoenix. Being up 2-0 in a series is definitely a positive for the Redwings and it is exactly the position they wanted to be in before heading out on the road. I expect the Coyotes to come out like they were shot out of a cannon with their fans behind them and trying to will them back into this series. But Mike Babcock and his team know this and i also expect them to be prepared for what they will see from their opponents on Monday night.

Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and congratulations to Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland on his 1,500th win as a manager last night

Drew in the D

Wings Take Game 1 Against The Coyotes

Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen will get most of the media love for the Wings game 1 win tonight, and rightly so for how well they played. But i was very impressed with how Jim Howard played in net for his team, and he was the reason those players were in the position to win the game for the Wings. Howie got beat early by a really well placed shot from Kyle Turris but on a big 5 on 3 penalty kill he made a great glove save on the same type of shot by another Phoenix player. Howie would then make a handful of great saves after that to keep the Coyotes lead to just 1. Howie eventually would hand the game off to the "Magic Man" and the "Mule" in the 2nd period and they made sure to put their mark on it. 

Pavel was great on and off the puck tonight making his patented moves in the offensive zone to set up chances for his teammates as well as getting back on the back check causing turnovers to shut down the Coyotes offense. The "Mule" was a force tonight, he was as assertive as he has been this season which bodes well for the Wings for the remainder of this series, and the rest of the playoffs. Franzen really helped to create both of the Wings first 2 goals tonight. On the first one he crashed the net from the goal line causing the Phoenix defense to react to him which allowed Datsyuk to pick up the rebound and make a pretty little wrap around move to beat his Russian friend to tie the game. The second goal was vintage Mule with Franzen skating in over the blue line and ripping a wicked wrista over Bryzgalovs shoulder to give his team the lead. Rafalski would round out the 2nd period scoring giving his team its 3rd goal of the period when he scored on a slap shot during a powerplay at the end of the period. Jiri Hudler got in on the fun shortly after the start of the 3rd period when he took a page out of Franzens game by unloading a sniper shot under the cross bar to beat Bryzgalov for the Wings 4th goal of the game.

It was a great way to start off the playoffs and this series. Not only playing well on defense and the pk, but also playing hard and fast and showing how dangerous the team can be offensively and on the powerplay. The Wings and the Coyotes will have two off days between tonight's game 1 and game 2 which is scheduled for a Saturday afternoon start in Detroit.

Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and did i mention i love this time of the year because i love this time of the year.

Drew in the D

Cabbie Walks It Off For Tigers 4th Win Of The Season

It has been a disappointing start to the Tigers season to say the least. Having only won the home opener in the CoPa this year the home fans were desperate for something positive. Miguel Cabrera gave them what they wanted when he hit a walk-off single to win their second home game this year putting their record at 4-7. It was a back and forth game all day with the teams taking a lead and then allowing the other team to come back and tie. Brad Penny, who has been shaky at best in his first two starts was better today but still had some rough spots. He left the game with the lead but Joaquin Benoit, but Benoit couldn't hold the lead for his team. In the top of the 9th Cabbie started a very nice double play fielding a grounder and playing catch with Santiago to end the inning and give the Tigers a chance to win it in the bottom of the inning. The Tigs' loaded the bases which brought Miguel to the plat with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth and the big fella delivered once again. Hopefully this will give the team something to build on offensively and maybe give them some confidence which looks to be lacking at times early on this season, and there needs to be more consistency with their pitching from their starters down to their bullpen for the Tigers to be successful like they and their fans want them to be this year.

Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and LETS GO RED WINGS!!!...i love this time of the year.

Drew in the D

Red Wings vs. Phoenix In The Opening Round Of The 2011 NHL Playoffs

...Again

It's finally here, that's right the playoffs. The NHL's second season officially gets under way on Wednesday night with the Detroit Red Wings hosting game one of their quarterfinal series against the Phoenix Coyotes. It was nice to see the Wings get into a playoff mode today when they battled in Chicago against the Blackhawks, and were it not for Dallas losing to Minnesota the Wings would have shut the door on the 'Hawks playoff hopes with the win they picked up in the United Center today. Detroit will have almost all hands on deck come Wednesday with Nick Kronwall added to the ready to roll list for the game. But Henrick Zetterbergs availability for Wednesday's game is still up in the air. In my opinion Z will probably miss most of the first round if not all unless the team falls behind and needs him even in a limited role to try and generate some wins to advance to the next stage. 

The match up provides some interesting story lines with the Wings beating the Coyotes in game 7 in Phoenix last year to end what was their dream season, and both teams getting 2 wins against each other this season to split the season series between the two teams. I expect the Coyotes to come in looking for revenge and maybe a little bit of blood sensing that maybe some of the Wings are less then 100% healthy. But look for the Wings to show why they have making the playoffs 20 straight seasons and reaching the 100 point mark in the past 11 straight is by no accident. Wings move on to the second round beating the Coyotes in 5.

Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world

Drew in the D