Preview: Red Wings vs Blackhawks 2009

Records

Detroit (2): 51-21-10 (112 pts) Home: 27-9-5 Away: 24-12-5
Chicago (4): 45-24-12 (104 pts) Home: 24-9-8 Away: 22-15-4

How They Got Here

Detroit swept Columbus slipped past Anaheim in 7 games.
Chicago beat both Calgary and Vancouver in 6.

Head-to-Head

Oct 25 – DET 6 CHI 5 (OT)
Dec 6 – DET 5 CHI 4 (SO)
Dec 30 – DET 4 CHI 0
Jan 1 – DET 6 CHI 4
Apr 11 – DET 2 CHI 4
Apr 12 – DET 0 CHI 3
Detroit won the season series 4-2.

Fights

None

Lineup

Goaltending: EDGE Chicago
Scoring: EDGE Detroit
Defense: DRAW
Coaching: EDGE Detroit
Grit: EDGE Chicago

Schedule

Sunday, May 17 at Detroit, 3:00 p.m. NBC, TSN, RDS
Tuesday, May 19 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Friday, May 22 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Sunday, May 24 at Chicago, 3:00 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
* Wednesday, May 27 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* Saturday, May 30 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* Monday, June 1 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS

Prediction

It’s time to renew an old rivalry. The last time Chicago and Detroit met in the playoffs, Patrick Kane was six years old. It was the 1995 Western Conference Finals and Detroit would go on to beat the Hawks in only 5 games. The Wings are Cup favorites for a lot of people, and rightfully so, but I think this series will be a rude awakening for Detroit. I have been very impressed with what Chicago has done so far. The production put up against Vancouver should alone be a huge cause for concern in Motown. Add that to the fact that the Detroit penalty kill has been brutal and Chicago is sporting the top power play, there will be plenty of goals getting passed Osgood despite his solid play up to this point. The Blackhawks win this in 5 high scoring games.

David’s Pick

Just classic. The focus on this series will be huge, and for good reason. The Red Wings are the current NHL powerhouse, and Stanley Cup champions. The Blackhawks, after many years of futility, are stocked with young talent and are clearly not a fluke a team. They’re the up and comers, and have been playing to quiet any of the doubters. If Roberto Luongo couldn’t stop them, Chris Osgood isn’t going to fare much better. The Red Wings D will have to play far better than they have so far. The Ducks gave the Blackhawks hints about how it can be done, and with the Hawks speed, it’s entirely doable. The big guns for Chicago will have to show up. They have so far and there’s been little sign they’ll stop. Blackhawks in a showy 7.