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."