Mike Modano made his 1st start of the playoffs, coming in to replace Franzen. The Redwings were looking to finish the series early and sweep the Coyotes.
The Redwings took 3.47 to get infront as Datsyuk made an incredible play. Datysuk picked up a chip forward by Holmstrom and skated into the zone. He then made a move east to west between the circles and layed a backhand pass back to Holmstrom who wristed the puck high past Bryzgalov.
The Coyotes got themselves level at 5.46 with a lucky goal. Pyatt brought the puck in towards goal from the wing, centered the puck and got a lucky touch off Eriksson's skate. That touch took the puck between the legs of Howard and in behind him. This seemed to settle the Coyotes down and was just what Phoenix needed at this point, to get back in the game quickly.
Phoenix got their 1st lead since game 1 at 9.46. A snap shot by Doan cannoning in off of Lidstrom giving Howard no chance again as the puck went underneath him.
Bryzgalov then pulled off a fantastic save on a great Redwings move. Cleary found Kronwall with a pass from the boards, he deked to infront of the net and made a back hand pass to Bertuzzi whose shot found the stick hand of Bryzgalov as he slid across his net.
He made another 2 saves from the same player with just over 2 minutes left, one shot hitting him in the chest and another made with the pads as Bertuzzi came from behind the net.
The Redwings had the game tied before the end of the 1st, Helm flattening Yandle behind the net then taking the puck infront and finding Eaves with a pass through the crease. Eaves knocked the puck in to ensure the Redwings were level at the end of the period.
A call on Stuart for slashing at 19.39 did mean the Coyotes would go into the 2nd period on the powerplay.
Phoenix took advantage on the powerplay as Hanzal stuffed the puck in past a diving Howard. The pass from Vrbata from the top of the crease giving him half an empty net to aim at. The Phoenix powerplay continuing their dominance of the Detroit penalty kill in this series.
Detroit got their first powerplay chance 4.29 in Korpikoski going for high sticking. It took 4 seconds for Lidstrom to get the 1st shot in from the point which Bryzgalov covered. This lead to Detroit dominating the zone and it was Kronwall who got it tied at 3-3. After Kronwall centred towards net, Cleary tried to sweep the puck in with the puck bouncing about infont. Kronwall settled it down and swung it right off the bar and post into the top of the net.
Turris had a great chance at 12.09, skating in on Howard and firing a rolling puck towards the top shelf, Howard grabbing it with his glove and making the spectacular looking save.
Schlemko was called for tripping soon after at 12.47 and Detroit were unlucky not to take their first lead of the game. Filppula hit the near post off a bad angled wrist shot before a pass across the crease was just tipped away from Rafalski on the back door. 2 long range shots from then Lidstrom both went wide as Detroit moved the puck around superbly on the man advantage.
Yandle was next to hit the post with 4 minutes left, firing a low skipping puck towards net that hit another skate infront. This time it bounced off the post and not under Howard.
The game went into the 3rd tied 3-3 and both teams were created a couple of chances in the first 5 minutes of the period but neither team could get the lead. Phoenix went on the first powerplay at 6.13 with Stuart making a mistake, sending the puck into the crowd and getting a delay of game penalty. The Redwings coming away with one of their most effective kill of the series as the Phoenix crowd were hoping it was their chance to get infront.
Howard stoned Doan with just over 10 minutes left. Schlemko made a rush to the net and backhanded a pass across to Doan, who did well to get enough on it with his backhand to get the shot on net but Howard smothered it as he slid post to post.
Cleary gave Detroit the lead with 6.19 left. With no pass to make and the defense coming closer to Cleary, he fired the puck from in behind the goal line in off Bryzgalov at the near post. The netminder didn't have his leg tight to the post and Cleary looked up, saw this and made the perfect play.
Bertuzzi then made it 5-3 wih 4.26 remaining. Cleary and Filppula keeping the puck deep and along the boards. Cleary got it to Bertuzzi behind the net and he used his size and strength to a wrap around shot through the pad of Bryzgalov and into the net.
Bertuzzi hit a post with just over 2 minutes left and as the Coyotes brought the puck down the other way, Bryzgalov was yanked from the net. Detroit took a time out as the puck was covered by Howard and Phoenix had just 2.05 left to try and keep their playoff dreams alive.
Datsyuk had the first chance at the open net, missing with around a minute left. It was left to Eaves to find it with 35 seconds remaining to make the score 6-3 on the night and give the Redwings a 4-0 series lead.
I expected the Redwings to win this series, what i didn't expect was a sweep. The regular season games between the 2 teams were close and i expected that here in the playoffs. Even though the results were close, Detroit controlled the play for most of the series and never looked like losing. In 4 games Phoenix only looked dangerous towards the end of game 2, in which they had already handed Detroit an uncatchable 4 goal lead.
Phoenix needed a strong series from Bryzgalov who going into this was arguably their best player. They didn't get it. He ended the series with a 4.36 GAA and 0.879% save percentage. In the 3rd period with the game tied at 3-3 he allowed Cleary and Bertuzzi to score on him when he should have been making saves and that ultimately won Detroit this game.
Player of the series for me was Pavel Datsyuk. He was mezmorising in game 2 and scored points througout, leading the Wings with 2+4 so far in the series. He looked dangerous when on the puck and at times dangled past opponents as if they weren't on the ice.
The Redwings look good going into round 2 and will be the only team to get the maximum recovery time before it starts. This could help them going deeper into the playoffs.
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