Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals was just another reminder that there is NO team outside of Anaheim and Pittsburgh thet can challenge the Wings in their quest for another title. The Anaheim series showed what the Wings are made of, as the Ducks forced Detroits hand early and often in games. Their patience to wait for mistakes and almost bullet-proof D-men almost sent the Wings home for some early tee times and cold ones on the deck. But Detroit responded. And they did it like they always do: calmly and efficiently, with 4 lines rolling like an avalanche down the mountain side. I look forward to seein those Ducks in the Conference finals next year. But i digress. This team has taken it's shots, and come out the superior team just about every time they hit the ice.
Now Chicago is a great story and there is no bigger fan than myself of what they are doing and how they are playing despite being a younger team than my high school JV squad. It willl be a great regular season and playoff matchup for years to come, with Kane and Toews matching up with Zetterberg and Datsyuk for years. Holy exciting batman. And Homer Jr. in Byfuglien will be a friggin thorn in our side for some time, but thats just thew point. No one has been that for the wings since Colorado all those years ago. Sure the Ducks have dropped us in the playoffs and given us countless runs, but they don't inspire the same feelings as a renewed Wings-Hawks rivalry.
Chicago did something almost no one has done against the Wings: generate a ton of shots, 39 to be precise, and anyone that thought all you had to do was pepper Ozzie and goals would just happen was again shown the way to Oz. If anyone asked me who i would rather have of all active goalies, heading into game seven of any kind of series, including the final, i would take Ozzie. Only Martin Brodeur is better among actives, and after witnessing his last 2 playoffs, I had to drop him. That was the difference last night and will continue to be until these two franchises find some young studs to take the reigns and make this an even more exciting story than it already will be. Buckle up boys and girls,(and anyone who doesn't fall into those categories......), because the next five + years are gonna belong to these two teams, battling for supremecy and the right to Our Lord, Stanley himself.
Keywords: Blackhawks, Red Wings, rivalry
