Round One: Columbus @ Detroit

davetherave wrote:SF71...it's all part of playoff hockey... :pirat:

and I love it, hopefully next year we can see Clouston doing the same thing lol, god that is a long time off.

Cronie wrote:I am still not sold on Osgood. I think he is no different than Emery: has the potential to be stellar, but is nothing more who's stats are more a product of the D system in front of him.

However, I could be wrong, just my opinion and semi-gut feeling.

Cronie, of course there's a difference. Chris Osgood wouldn't be caught dead driving a white frikkin Hummer LOL.

Oh yeah, and a couple of Stanley Cup rings.

PS did you watch the game?

There is no 'magic switch for the playoffs'.

Except in Detroit.

Of course, having the league's best power play helps.

1-0 on a Rafalski shot through a Holmstrom screen.

PS very fast, uptempo hard hitting game.

YES!

:D:

The Red Wings execute their powerplay with surgical precision and make it 2-0 seven minutes into the 2nd on a Datsyuk goal in close.

Zetterberg scores a beautiful goal on a feed from Franzen and the Wings put the hammer down.

3-0.

Detroit is playing perfect game right now. Scary.

Another power play, the fourth in a row for the Wings.

Another goal.

4-0 Detroit.

The Red Wings were a boa constrictor tonight.

A singularly impressive performance by the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, and a demonstration of goaltending perfection by Chris Osgood.

No lack of effort by the Blue Jackets...they were simply beaten by a TEAM that knows the true meaning of the word.

Columbus 0, Detroit 4

	1	2	3	T
CLS	0	0	0	0
DET	1	2	1	4

Final

6:00 PM ET, April 18, 2009
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Red Wings take commanding lead over Blue Jackets as series heads to Columbus

DETROIT (AP)-- Brian Rafalski, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Jiri Hudler scored, Chris Osgood posted his 14th NHL playoff shutout, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference series.

Barring a stunning turnaround, Detroit will become the first defending Stanley Cup champion to reach the second round since the Colorado Avalanche did it seven years ago.

Columbus hopes returning home will help Tuesday night when it hosts a playoff game for the first time in franchise history.

The Red Wings have silenced Blue Jackets star Rick Nash, holding him pointless in two games, while making rookie goalie Steve Mason long for the success he had during the regular season.

davetherave wrote:Zetterberg scores a beautiful goal on a feed from Franzen and the Wings put the hammer down.

3-0.

Detroit is playing perfect game right now. Scary.

They are playing against a team that's playing this game for the first time. They've played hockey before, even in the NHL, but this is a whole 'nother level. That first goal, though, the guy's standing right in the crease. Someone's got to move him, since the refs certainly don't look like they want to call goalie interferecnes this year. I mean, what's the reason for even painting the ice blue?

wprager wrote:

davetherave wrote:Zetterberg scores a beautiful goal on a feed from Franzen and the Wings put the hammer down.

3-0.

Detroit is playing perfect game right now. Scary.

They are playing against a team that's playing this game for the first time. They've played hockey before, even in the NHL, but this is a whole 'nother level. That first goal, though, the guy's standing right in the crease. Someone's got to move him, since the refs certainly don't look like they want to call goalie interferecnes this year. I mean, what's the reason for even painting the ice blue?

Prags...good points as always.

Holmstrom is just doing what he always does.

As you know, in the playoffs, the officials try to maintain a fine line of decision making that factors in the increased intensity and aggression.

IMHO NHL referees are exceptional...imagine trying to be on the ice, as they are, at the speed and tempo of today's game...and do what they do. They get it right most of the time.

And when they don't, champions play through it...the others go home.

Columbus is a strong club...but the Wings already have a psychological advantage.

As NHL Network analyst Craig Button said last night, the Red Wings "think as a team."

As you say...the Jackets aren't at that level yet.

The Blue Jackets will get a huge boost from their home crowd...but I now sense--from seeing the extraordinary discipline they have demonstrated in the first two matches--that Detroit has decided they are going to prove history wrong this year.

As I have said earlier, Columbus might have been better off just missing the playoffs than becoming 1st round fodder for Detroit.

Detroit now has insinuated themselves into the psyche of the Blue Jackets. I really don't think the change of venue to Columbus will make a huge difference, it will just be a whole lot quiter in the building.

I will be surprised if Columbus can win one. Poor Vermette the guy migth be swept in back to back years.

We'll be seeing Detroit in the SCF IMO. The style of game they are playing, I wonder if ANYONE can beat them right now.

Like him or not, Ozzy is playing his asssss off.

Ozzy is playing good. I was having a chat with my arogant friend who's a Detroit Red Wing fan and he kept saying Ottawa needed to be blown up that the goaltending situation was terrible and Leclaire was horrible etc. What a dumbass. But then again I couldnt say much his team is ligthing it up rigth now! This one is gonna be over quicky

Ozzy was detroits only real question coming into the playoffs if ozzy keeps this play up they had a good chance of repeating

Whoa...wait a minute everybody. This series ain't over yet. And it's a looooooooong way to the Finals.
:KJK:

Wings played a perfect Game Two.

davetherave wrote:The Red Wings were a boa constrictor tonight.

A singularly impressive performance by the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, and a demonstration of goaltending perfection by Chris Osgood.

No lack of effort by the Blue Jackets...they were simply beaten by a TEAM that knows the true meaning of the word.

:D:

That said, the series isn't over. But the Wings should have the experience necessary to know that.

I'm sure that even despite the 2-0 hole, the C-Bus barn will be rockin' for game 3.

asq2 wrote:

davetherave wrote:The Red Wings were a boa constrictor tonight.

A singularly impressive performance by the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, and a demonstration of goaltending perfection by Chris Osgood.

No lack of effort by the Blue Jackets...they were simply beaten by a TEAM that knows the true meaning of the word.

:D:

That said, the series isn't over. But the Wings should have the experience necessary to know that.

I'm sure that even despite the 2-0 hole, the C-Bus barn will be rockin' for game 3.

No question about that...and Hitch will have been busy going over the video with his staff and players to make the necessary adjustments.