2009 NHL Western Conference Finals Game 3

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press; Pavel Datsyuk is a game-time decision tonight, I still say he goes unless his foot falls off then he's a game-time decision. Also a look at the lineup if he doesn't go...hello Ville Leino.

Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune; The Blackhawks were able to get half of their Dynamic Duo on track in Game 2 with Jonathan Toews picking up two goals. Now its winger Patrick Kane's turn to join the fray if the Hawks want to get back into the series and he knows it.


Dave Dye, Detroit News; Turnovers, Dustin Byfuglien, Ville Leino, and Patrick Kane highlight the Game 3 things to watch for.

The Chicago Tribune highlights the Game 3 matchup between Chicago d-man Brian Campbell and Detroit winger Dan Cleary.

Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News; The Red Wings are ahead two games to none in the Western Conference Finals but they aren't rolling, yet. If they can get superstars Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa scoring then, as they say, it's on like Donkey Kong.

Steve Rosenbloom, Chicago Tribune; The Blackhawks can't win the series tonight, but their season may end if they don't and they need a healthy Duncan Keith to makeup for mistakes being made by their blueliners.

Angelique S. Chengelis, Detroit News; "Detroit Sucks!", "Detroit Sucks!"

Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune; A Mike Babcock-hates-Americans update from Mike Babcock.

Here are a couple items not related to on ice action...

Nathan Vardi, Forbes; The Chicago Blackhawks are the NHL's answer to George and Weezie Jefferson, from the low rent district to the penthouse in two years.

Reed Albergotti, The Wall Street Journal; You're assistant manager Frank Selke and the Toronto Maple Leafs have just won the Stanley Cup. Your name and title will be engraved on it for everyone to see. Unfortunately, you'll forever be known on the Cup as "ass man" Frank Selke.

2009 NHL Western Conference Finals News and Notes

With today an off day for the series here are a few items from the series, including ESPN's E.J. Hradek taking the same stance as myself on Brian Campbell's "I'd do it again" statement.

E.J. Hradek, ESPN.com; The Worldwide Leader hockey columnist is back with another 5 things learned, this time from Game 2. As previously mentioned he touches on "Brain Dead" Campbell as well as Mikael Samuelsson's journey from goat to hero and lineup shake-ups from Detroit head coach Mike Babcock.

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press; Pavel Datsyuk's sore foot and morning skate line combos highlight this blog post from the Wings beat reporter. I'd find it hard to believe that Pavel doesn't play tomorrow unless his foot has to be amputated.

Ted Kulfan, Detroit News; Jeremy Roenick is at it again. The man known as "Styles", just check his license plate, has once again come down with a severe case of foot-in-mouth disease. This time he bumped his gums in the direction of Detroit bench boss Mike Babcock. Shocking, I know.

Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune; Nicknames come in forms and the NHL is filled with them, from "Mr. Hockey" to "The Great One" to "Sid the Kid". But where do these aliases originate? Well its definitely not a cloak and dagger ceremony.

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune; Jon Fratelli never imagined he would pen a sports anthem. But that is what "Chelsea Dagger" has become. Whether it's being played at Celtic Park in Glasgow or at the United Center in Chicago after a Blackhawk goal that is what his song has become.

Neal Rubin, Detroit News; Detroit and Chicago may be the Midwest sporting version of the Hatfield's and the McCoy's but they also go together Jenny and Forest, aka peas and car-rots.

2009 NHL Western Conference Finals Game Two; Detroit Red Wings 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 OT

Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune; Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell gave the puck away at the Detroit blueline in OT, ten seconds later that same puck was in the back of his own net and the Detroit Red Wings have a 2-games-to-none stranglehold on the series. Yet Campbell says he'd make the same play again. Hey, dopey, the result would be the same as well. The Blackhawks may now be regretting the monster contract they gave this joker in the off-season as the bonehead mistakes and streaky play continue.

Ted Kulfan, Detroit News; Ted gives his Three Stars of Game 2 which are identical to mine; Chris Osgood, without the big stops he made earlier and often, see Dave Bolland's shorthanded chance with the Hawks up 1-0, the Wings are going to a hostile United Center tied at a game apiece. Mikael Samuelsson, two Detroit wins, two game winning goals, ho-hum. Jonathan Toews, he willed his team into overtime with two key goals, too bad Brain Campbell willed his team to an 0-2 hole in the series.

Michael Rosenberg, Detroit Free Press; Chris Osgood may have struggled during the regular season but in the post season his star has shined as bright as any member of the Red Wings and in Game 2 his was the brightest.

With the Chicago Blackhawks down 2-0 to the Detroit Red Wings, sorry Mr. Bettman, the Western Conference Finals are over. So bring on the Eastern Conference champs and lets wrap this season up before the beginning of June. Or at least that's the view of columnists in both cities as Terry Foster of the Detroit Free Press and Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune write.

Tim Sassone, Daily Herald; The Blackhawks still believe and according to Brian Campbell the Red Wings have done what they're supposed to do, win at home. Yea, I know a series doesn't start until a team wins on the road, thats great. You know what else you hear? Baby daddy's proclaiming, "I take care of my kids". As Chris Rock says, "You're supposed to take care of you're kids" (@1:54, NSFW).

2009 NHL Western Conference Finals Game Two

The Chicago Tribune, puts the Game 2 spotlight on the match up between the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane and Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg. The Red Wings held Chicago's young sniper without a shot in Game 1.

Dave Dye, The Detroit News: Hits on various topics coming into Game 2 including, the Red Wings needing to stay out of the penalty box and Chicago's young stars to play like stars, which seems to be the topic everyone is talking about.

Adam Jahns, Chicago Sun-Times: Three keys to Game 2 including, surprise, surprise, the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Martin Havlat having big games.

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press: The Red Wings playoff achievements can be attributed to one man who reminds a teammate of his 80 year old grandfather.

Rick Morrissey, Chicago Tribune: "Here's the question of the series: Is it possible to man up when you're barely what society considers a man? We're talking about the Blackhawks' 20-year-old star, Patrick Kane, who is cute and cuddly enough to make teenage hearts throb. But he whiffed Sunday in the opener of the Western Conference finals. No shots on goal against the Red Wings. A plus-minus rating of minus-3."

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press: What do you do when Pavel Datsyuk, Marian Hossa, and Tomas Holmstrom aren't scoring? If you're the Detroit Red Wings you don't worry because those three players do the little things that help teams win championships.

The Detroit Free Press and Chicago Tribune share articles by Tribune Reporter David Haugh discussing pro athletes who played in both towns, one in particular who is cheering for the Blackhawks to end their Stanley Cup drought.

2009 NHL Western Conference Finals Game One; Detroit Red Wings 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2

The Canadian Press, TSN.ca: "[Dan] Cleary matched a playoff career high with two goals against the team that drafted him, leading the Red Wings to a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday."

Mitch Albom, Detroit Freep Press: "The Wings began Sunday as if they’d do the same; they were a step behind, looking around, their timing off. But they adjusted by the end of the first period, dominated in the second, and straight-armed their way to a 5-2 victory in the third. "

Rick Morrissey, Chicago Tribune: "For the last 10 years or so, Rule No. 1 in the NHL has been that you can't make mistakes against the Red Wings. Once you do, only the IRS has more effective methods of making you pay."

Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune: "Adam Burish jerked his hands to his throat, expecting to feel blood gushing out like a horror movie climax or one of the frightening scenes that have played out on NHL ice rinks."

E.J. Hradek, ESPN.com: "In Game 1 of the Western Conference finals/Original Six matchup between Detroit and Chicago, experience triumphed over youth. In sports, that seems to happen. If the Hawks are smart (and they seem to be), they'll be looking to apply any lessons learned in Game 2. We'll see."

2009 NHL Western Conference Finals Game One; Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Jon Greenberg, ESPNChicago.com: "Detroit and Chicago have a tremendous rivalry in place," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Thursday. "Playing in the Winter Classic [which Detroit won 6-4] rekindled a lot of that, as well."

Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune: "You could tell when fans were chanting after our last game about Detroit it's something that's definitely in place," [Joel] Quenneville said of the rivalry. "A playoff series wouldn't take much to light that fire."

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press: "But as good as the Blackhawks are up front, and as fast as they are, the Wings should own this series. "

Brett Ballantini, NHL.com: "While Detroit’s defenders and skilled netminder Chris Osgood will construct their share of roadblocks in an attempt at slowing the high-octane Chicago offense, it’s the Blackhawks' defensemen who will be pressured more than ever. "

George Sipple, Detroit Free Press: "Living in Detroit, I actually hated the Red Wings, hated the Pistons, hated all the Detroit teams," [Patrick] Kane said Friday..."

Angelique S. Chengelis, The Detroit News: "Nicklas Lidstrom believes the more the Red Wings win, the brighter the outlook -- albeit a temporary fix -- for the city."

Brian Compton, NHL.com: "The Chicago Blackhawks have suffered through some painful times in the past decade, but their fans in the Windy City are smiling from ear to ear these days, and with good reason."

Tim Sassone, Daily Herald: "As the Blackhawks prepare to start the Western Conference finals today at Joe Louis Arena, it's only natural to think of Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and how he shares so many of the same qualities as former Red Wings Hall of Fame center Steve Yzerman."

Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune: "It will be the 773rd all-time meeting between the teams and the first in the postseason since the 1995 conference finals. The Wings have captured four Stanley Cup championships since then, while the Hawks' trophy case is still barren since they beat the Wings for the Cup in 1961."

Tim Sassone, Daily Herald: "They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. So if people want to compare what Dustin Byfuglien has been doing for the Blackhawks in the playoffs to what Tomas Holmstrom has been doing for the Red Wings for years, that's OK with Big Buff."

Tim Kulfan, The Detroit News: "Coach Mike Babcock saw a good sign that [Pavel] Datsyuk may be ready to break open offensively. In Thursday's Game 7 against Anaheim, Datsyuk stood in and absorbed a hit by the Ducks' Todd Marchant in order to make a play for Mikael Samuelsson, who scored and gave the Wings a 3-1 lead."

Dave Dye, The Detroit News: Breaks down the Wings-Blackhawks series.

Tim Sassone, Daily Herald: "In honor of the Original Six heritage, here are six matchups that should figure prominently in the best-of-seven West finals that start today at Joe Louis Arena."

Pierre LeBrun, ESPN.com: "Detroit won four of six games in the season series, the first two in shootouts, before dropping a meaningless home-and-home set to the Hawks to wrap up the regular season April 11-12. It's the 15th playoff meeting between the Original Six rivals, with the Wings winning the last encounter, in the 1995 West finals."