The Final Weekend!

So it is mind boggling to look at The Western Conference Playoff picture right now. The Wings (currently residing in 6th Seed) could end up playing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Seed, The Sharks, Hawks, Canucks and Coyotes respectively. They are in a 3 way tie with L.A. and Nashville at 98 pts, so we know very little. What we do know is that The Wings are in the playoffs (a big fat "I told you so" to all you panicky Wings fans out there), Jimmy Howard will get the start in net, and they will begin on the road for the first time since Lidstrom joined the team either Wednesday or Thursday. This is my favorite time of year. No doubt about it. This is like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter all rolled up in one in our household. I literally DVR every playoff game on VS. and CBC (especially CBC) and will catch up on all of the playoff activity at the end of every day. I think it's the most exciting event in sports and I am typing fast just thinking about it.

I look forward to predicting my playoff brackets and usually being at least 50% wrong. That's the great thing about The NHL though. An 8th seed can knock a 1st seed out very easily. Wings fans know that all too well. San Jose knows that all too well. So many factors go in to a series; injuries, goal tending, the skating endurance of a team, lucky bounces. In Detroit we have been blessed with a lot of the good lately. Many believe this is the year we get bounced quickly. The team is understandably tired after 3 great Stanley Cup runs. I believe they are poised for a run due to the fact that many of our key players recently returned from injury, and of course the X-Factor, Jimmy Howard. I think he has the ability to steal a series, and should he falter, well there is always Chris Osgood who is on a first name basis with "Stanley." The biggest factor is that they have been outstanding since The Olympic Break, the hottest team in hockey.

A recap of the last month.

3/19 L 2-3 Another disappointing effort vs. Edmonton is saved when Rafalski taps in the tying goal with .3 seconds left on the clock. Though we lost in the Shootout the pt gained puts Calgary further in the rear view mirror.

3/20 W 4-3 The big victory on Hockey Night in Canada. I jumped up and down in joy when Hank Z. scored the OT game winned in Vancouver with yes, .3 seconds left on the clock. A possible first round preview.

3/22 W 3-1 Finally, a good solid defensive performance against our Stanley Cup rivals from Pittsburgh. The end of the game features Jimmy Howard gloving Sid The Kid in the face after repeated cross checks on Hank.

3/24 W 4-2 Another solid defensive outing over The Blues.

3/26 W 6-2 A drubbing of The Wild. Man, do they look just awful.

3/27 W 1-0 Shootout victory over The Preds. This was in my top 3 best games of the season. No goals allowed by Pekka Rinne or Jimmy Howard in Regulation, this game went to an 11 round shootout. Kronwall gets the winner. Jimmy made 33 saves through overtime, then 10 in the shootout. This was the first of 2 playoff style games with The Preds.

3/30 5-4 Another last minute win over Edmonton at The Joe, when Brad Stuart deflects a Datsyuk shot into the net.

4/01 3-2 over The Jackets as Holmer and Datsyuk each record a goal and an assist.

4/03 3-4 loss to Nashville in part 2 of the playoff like series. A great game for both teams at The Joe.

4/04 3-4 loss to The Flyers in Phili and wow did they look exhausted after that Preds game. Phili took advantage and hit The Wings every chance they got on there way to a playoff birth. Ozzie got his first start in 25 games and looked average.

4/07 4-3 Win over The Jackets in the regular season finale at The Joe. A questionable penalty to The Jackets results in 3 Wings goals in 1:16. We'll take it.

Now The Wings will be on the road until next weekend at the earliest, with stops in Columbus, Chicago, and who knows where next?

This will be determined in a crazy weekend of season finales. The only team left fighting for it's last chance at making the playoffs is The Rangers, currently a fighting with The Bruins for the 8th Seed in The East. Of the potential match ups I cannot say which would will benefit The Wings the most. I think if we get past the first round we could run all the way to the Cup Finals. Getting past the first round is going to be really tough. I don't think The Sharks, Hawks, Canucks or Coyotes are a team The Wings couldn't take out in a 7 Game series. They all are vulnerable. They could also each defeat The Wings in a 7 Game series.

San Jose > fighting for number one seed, Marleau, Thonrnton and Heatley each have over 80 pts, but will the addition of Heatley undo the typical San Jose flop in the playoffs? This is the last chance of their core group to do something before the team gets busted up, they would not be so happy to draw The Wings in Round One. We have great success vs. Nabokov.

Chicago > this would be an amazing series, and in my opinion the least likely for our success. The Hawks have been running like a machine for most of the season and have great playoff experience from last year. They have been hit with injuries lately and that could hurt them. They are also starting a rookie goalie, Antii Niemi. An X-Factor.

Vancouver > Luongo has looked very shaky since The Olympics. If not for that factor I might favor the speed, depth of the scoring lines and overall drive of The Canucks over The Wings. Their defense has some big holes and if Jimmy can out play Roberto, it's over!

Phoenix > I'll admit it, I don't know it they're for real or not. We're about to find out. Two people they have that are for real are Dave Tippett (former Stars Coach) who is a great playoff Coach and Ilya Bryzgalov who may win The Vezina Trophy this year. An unbeatable goalie is enough to take a series. That is the obvious advantage. The other is Phoenix is very young and don't care how experienced The Wings are. We can hope this will lead to bad penalties and lot's of turnovers. I would not feel comfortable with a lead in this series as The Yotes' have demonstrated an ability to score very quickly.

I could guess all weekend long on our match up (and probably will), but by my next post we will know who awaits The Winged Wheel in the first round. The Wings are currently tied with The Jackets 0-0 after 2 periods and a determining game between Chicago and Colorado is about to begin.