Hawks-Wings Game 5 Preview
Turns out they are actually going to play Game 5 despite everyone saying the series is over. So take some time from all that reading you’re doing about a Stanley Cup Finals rematch and remember that the Western Conference Finals aren’t over yet.
The Blackhawks have plenty going for them that no one talks about. First, no one thinks they can win. Seems like a great way to motivate a young team while taking the pressure off at the same time. Second, Detroit is still banged up. I know it didn’t matter in Game 4, but that wasn’t the same Hawks team I watched all season long. With the Kronwall fiasco hopefully behind them, it should be a much more competitive game tonight. Finally, they had the three day break again to refocus and put the ugliness of Game 4 behind them.
That’s not to say the deck isn’t stacked against them. Detroit proved itself the better team even without two of its stars on Sunday. The Wings have the experience and rarely have trouble closing teams out in the playoffs. Let’s get on with the bullets.
- Pavel Datsyuk and Nick Lidstrom are out again for Game 5. Wings coach Mike Babcock noted that sometimes it’s easy to step up and replace guys in the short term, but the longer players are out, the harder it becomes. Don’t celebrate too soon though. Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin are out for Chicago. Havlat played well in his abbreviated return Sunday, and the Hawks struggled hard without their goaltender. Hard to say which set of injuries is worse, but based on depth the Hawks are feeling this one more.
- Injured or not, the Blackhawks will be fighting to continue their season. A good start is always important, but even more so tonight. Fall behind by multiple goals and thoughts of the golf course or finding whatever beach Joakim Noah is at start to creep in. The Hawks have done well when facing adversity throughout the playoffs, but this will be the first game they face elimination. Chris Osgood has the most elimination game shutouts in NHL history and it will be important to ensure early that he doesn’t add to that record number.
- Cristobal Huet doesn’t get much of a grace period. He played well in the third period of Game 3, but was awful in Game 4. The NBC guys were saying that the Wings needed to shoot high on Huet, but really anywhere they shot it seemed to work out.
- Oh and it might be a good idea to stay out of the penalty box. The Wings could lose three more players and still have two good power play units. Also, if the Hawks continue their passive play on the kill, they’re just asking for trouble. When you have guys that might not play the blue line on the advantage due to Lidstrom being out, they need to be pressured. Last game the Hawks just sat back while the defensemen peppered the goal.
- Leave Kronwall alone. Sure, if someone has an opportunity to finish a hard, clean check on him then go for it, but the first guy that goes out of his way to hit Kronwall or takes a penalty trying to get some kind of revenge should be reduced to Chelios-minutes. I’m looking at you Versteeg.
- Quenneville needs to keep his cool this game. His tirade in Game 4 was the start of the meltdown and tonight quiet confidence needs to be the theme. Back to basics for the Hawks who need to mind their responsibilities defensively, stay out of the box, and capitalize on the power play to win.
Game is at Joe Louis Arena and on Versus at 6:30 CT. The Hawks need to win three straight to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, so we’ll see if they can start tonight.
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