Random Thoughts On The Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals: Day Thirteen

by Mike

Detroit: 6; Phoenix: 1
Detroit wins the series 4-3
Wow was this series a barn burner. I was wrong about something though. In the end, chemistry was the difference. Shane Doan was not ready to go and the Coyotes significantly missed his leadership tonight. There was not enough hustle or enough speed from them and while things were tight through the first period; the Red Wings unleashed a torrential downpour of offense thanks to the crafty magic of... surprise, surprise... Pavel Datsyuk and Hendrik Zetterberg. Niklas Lidstrom was his usual self and while Jim Howard wasn't really tested tonight, the Wings never gave the Coyotes the opportunity to get going. Good for the Red Wings for a well-earned victory.

But you know what was the most iconic thing for me this evening? The fact that even after the game had been decided, the near capacity crowd in Phoenix gave their home team a standing ovation and let the hockey world know that they're here. They just haven't had much to cheer for for a long, long time... hopefully that means something to the current Coyotes roster, their organization, the NHL, Jerry Reinsdorf, and the rest of the hockey world.

With that decided, Detroit will now face San Jose in the Western Conference Semifinals. The last time this happened, Detroit won in 6 games. Considering how much history has repeated itself with Nashville and Phoenix, it could very well happen again.