Jeff Riger: Wings Force Game 7!
Sitting at Joe Louis Arena about 13 minutes before the game 6 pregame show started, all these thoughts started to go through my head. With a hurt Pavel Datsyuk and a missing Johan Franzen how the Wings could win game 6 or even play better then in game 5 which was not very "Red Wing" like. I also started to wonder who would come out the hungrier team in the early going of game 6? Would it be the home team Detroit that dispersedly needs the home crowd behind them or would it be the Sharks who know that a game 7, even though back in San Jose would be embarrassing and potentially fatal? But then it hit me just as Budd Lynch started telling the packed Joe to get ready for the light show before game. THE WINGS WON GAME 5! A game that they had no business winning let alone being in. They won it by grit and determination and with the high lights going through my memory, there is now no doubt that the Wings cannot do the same on a very important May Tuesday in Downtown Detroit. But will they?
Game 6 started like any playoff game in Detroit, multiple octopi were tossed on the ice including one of the biggest squids I have ever seen in my life but would it translate to one of the biggest wins in quite some time? As for what team would come out the strongest, it was the Wings outshooting San Jose 11-1 during the first ten minutes and they almost beat Anti Neimi a couple of times. The line of Jiri Hudler, Valtteri Filpula and Justin Abdelkader easily were the best while both power play units were dangerous when the Wings had the extra attacker. Detroit played great in the 1st period of play as they led at least in shots: 18 to 6 over the Sharks and in quality chances: 9 to 2 but there was no goals which probably left Wings fans torn. On one hand, Detroit fans should be delighted with the utter domination they saw their team display. On the other hand, it is a tough pill to swallow when a team's plays that well but come away with nothing to show for it but momentum.
The second period started with the same pressure by Detroit as the Wings got shot after shot in the early going of the period on Neimi. Pavel Datsyuk with the hurt wrist and all went at it with Tori Mitchell in the first 5 minutes of the period. Both players were sent to the penalty box as the crowd erupted into a "Datsyuk, Datsyuk," chant. From there the Sharks were put on the power play and the Wings almost scored shorthanded as Henrik Zetterberg led a breakaway with Darren Helm and even though the pass was flawless, Helm could not beat Neimi. Moments later Dan Cleary, fresh out of the penalty box had a clear breakaway on Neimi and for a split second all of Joe Louis Arena thought he scored but then the whole building came to the frustrated realization that Cleary went too far and hit the post and it was still a scoreless game.
Later in the 2nd period with just less than 7 minutes to play, Jimmy Howard was forced to make his most impressive save of the game. It was a slap shot from the blue line on a San Jose power play by Jason Demer and it was just about to be re-directed but Howard was able to convert on a glove save, still a scoreless game! Late in the 2nd period the Wings got their 4th power play and they almost converted. Thomas Holmstrom fired a shot on a half open net but was stopped by Neimi. Holmstrom then was hit by Tori Mitchell causing him to flip through the air. Again, close but no score after 2 periods. To help illustrate how dominating the Wings were in the first two periods all one has to do is to look at the shot total... Wings 32- Sharks 13.
So we start the third period and everyone in the building was starting to feel the pressure. Despite totally outplaying San Jose, you had to believe that the next, or in this case the first goal would win the game. How many times have you seen a team dominate only to lose on a fluky goal and even though no Wings fan would admit, you could guarantee they were thinking it. And what do you know? Moments after typing that last sentence Logan Couture beats Jimmy Howard on San Jose's 16th shot of the game. There was a review on the play as there was a question if the entire puck crossed the line, the answer was it did and at the 16:05 mark in the 3rd period the Sharks led it 1-nothing, putting Detroit closer to elimination.
Detroit not quitting, almost tied the game about midway through the 3rd period as Henrik Zetterberg had Neimi beat for sure, but Jason Demers made an unbelievable defensive play and the game remained 1-nothing in favor of the Sharks. BUT THEN IT HAPPENED! There was a single fan yelling at other fans to get fired up and to get excited and then Henrik Zetterberg helped with the cause. Zetterberg re-directed a Nick Krownall shot, and FINALLY Neimi was beat on Detroit's 39th shot of the hockey game. It was a 1-1 game with 9:12 remaining in regulation.
And then IT happened again! Mike Babcock switched his line and put Valtteri Filpula on with Datsyuk and Holmstrom and things clicked. Filpula nets one and gives the Wings the lead. Datsyuk, who else gets the assist! From there Jimmy Howard made his best save of the game against San Jose's Devin Setiguchi and avoided giving up the lead. Adversity still affecting Detroit as Justin Abdelkader was called for holding but Detroit killed off the biggest power play and with less than 5 minutes to play the Wings still led 2-1.
Justin Abdelkader had a holding penalty called against him with around 6:40 to go in the 3rd and the Red Wings were fortunate enough to kill the penalty. The Wings sealed the win with an empty net goal by Darren Helm. Game 7 will be held in San Jose on Thursday evening.
Listen below to Henrik Zetterberg tie the game at 1
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Listen below to Valtteri Filppula score to take the lead 2-1
