Detroit Not Sweating Playing a Game 7
Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk and the Ducks' Scott Niedermayer duke it out after Anaheim's 2-1 Game 6 victory on Tuesday. (JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP)
The last time the Detroit Red Wings found themselves going the distance in a playoff series it was against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2002 conference finals, and it ended with a 7-0 pasting in favor of the boys from Motown.
They’ve been here before, and in all likelihood they’ll be here again some time in the future. Would the Wings have loved to end their series with the Ducks in 6 games? Of course, but things don’t always work out the way you hope.
“What a great thrill to be playing a great hockey club like that in a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs,” Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
And so are the Wings. They are 10-4 at home in Game 7 situations, but to win tonight they’re going to have to hearken back to Game 5. Roll four lines, pepper Hiller with plenty of shots and force the Ducks to play in their own zone. The Wings know what needs to be done, and they’re ready to get it on.
“A lot of guys here the last two or three years have been through a lot of ups and downs during the playoffs, whether it’s winning or losing,” Detroit’s Kirk Maltby said, “and I think that’s going to go a long way.”
Echoed Detroit’s Dan Cleary:
“I’m excited,” he said. “We just have to play the way we can. We played great in Game 5 and we’ve just got to get the job done.”
But for Detroit to do that a few players need to get their game together. Pavel Datsyuk, who piled up a not-too-shabby 97 points in the regular season, has been all but absent in these playoffs with only four points — two of them against the Ducks.
Datsyuk was mere millimeters from raising his arms in celebration in Game 6, but instead found himself raising his fists instead. That can’t continue, especially if the Wings want to.
And what about that post-game goonery a couple of days ago? Think Detroit feels intimidated? Frustrated? Will there be any carryover? Not at all, because to do that would mean Detroit is going to play Anaheim’s game.
“It’s no secret they were one of the more penalized teams during the course of the season, and they’re going to play the way they’re capable of playing and do what they think they need to do to win,” Maltby said. “But there’s no retribution going into a Game 7. The best way to answer anything like that is to just win the game.”
Continued Cleary:
“It’s not going to matter to us. We don’t get intimidated by anybody or whatever anybody does. It was just a couple of minor little bouts.
“There’s no intimidation. No messages were sent in our minds. We’re not going to back off one bit. I felt that some guys took liberties on certain players that aren’t known to fight, so we’ll see Thursday.
“We’ve just got to be aggressive on them; we’ve got to force them to play good defense; we’ve got to be physical on Niedermayer and Getzlaf, Perry, these guys; we’ve got to be hard on them, hit them, take away their time and space. We’ve got to want it more.”
Winner continues on, loser goes home.
Keep it simple.
Detroit Not Sweating Playing a Game 7
Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk and the Ducks' Scott Niedermayer duke it out after Anaheim's 2-1 Game 6 victory on Tuesday. (JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP)
The last time the Detroit Red Wings found themselves going the distance in a playoff series it was against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2002 conference finals, and it ended with a 7-0 pasting in favor of the boys from Motown.
They’ve been here before, and in all likelihood they’ll be here again some time in the future. Would the Wings have loved to end their series with the Ducks in 6 games? Of course, but things don’t always work out the way you hope.
“What a great thrill to be playing a great hockey club like that in a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs,” Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
And so are the Wings. They are 10-4 at home in Game 7 situations, but to win tonight they’re going to have to hearken back to Game 5. Roll four lines, pepper Hiller with plenty of shots and force the Ducks to play in their own zone. The Wings know what needs to be done, and they’re ready to get it on.
“A lot of guys here the last two or three years have been through a lot of ups and downs during the playoffs, whether it’s winning or losing,” Detroit’s Kirk Maltby said, “and I think that’s going to go a long way.”
Echoed Detroit’s Dan Cleary:
“I’m excited,” he said. “We just have to play the way we can. We played great in Game 5 and we’ve just got to get the job done.”
But for Detroit to do that a few players need to get their game together. Pavel Datsyuk, who piled up a not-too-shabby 97 points in the regular season, has been all but absent in these playoffs with only four points — two of them against the Ducks.
Datsyuk was mere millimeters from raising his arms in celebration in Game 6, but instead found himself raising his fists instead. That can’t continue, especially if the Wings want to.
And what about that post-game goonery a couple of days ago? Think Detroit feels intimidated? Frustrated? Will there be any carryover? Not at all, because to do that would mean Detroit is going to play Anaheim’s game.
“It’s no secret they were one of the more penalized teams during the course of the season, and they’re going to play the way they’re capable of playing and do what they think they need to do to win,” Maltby said. “But there’s no retribution going into a Game 7. The best way to answer anything like that is to just win the game.”
Continued Cleary:
“It’s not going to matter to us. We don’t get intimidated by anybody or whatever anybody does. It was just a couple of minor little bouts.
“There’s no intimidation. No messages were sent in our minds. We’re not going to back off one bit. I felt that some guys took liberties on certain players that aren’t known to fight, so we’ll see Thursday.
“We’ve just got to be aggressive on them; we’ve got to force them to play good defense; we’ve got to be physical on Niedermayer and Getzlaf, Perry, these guys; we’ve got to be hard on them, hit them, take away their time and space. We’ve got to want it more.”
Winner continues on, loser goes home.
Keep it simple.
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