The Detroit Red Wings looked like heavy underdogs heading into their Western Conference semifinal series against the Chicago Blackhawks, but after their thorough beat down of the Hawks in Game 2, the series is tied 1-1 and the Wings are the team with momentum.
The Red Wings head back to Detroit, where a raucous home crowd with await them, with all of the momentum. Their 4-1 win in Game 2 stunned the Chicago crowd and the Blackhawks looked like they had no answer for the the Red Wings. Detroit out-shot Chicago 30-20, dominated in the face-off circle and had it not been for a few excellent Corey Crawford saves, would have won by five or six goals.
But the Blackhawks are still the Presidents' Trophy winners. They are still the team that demolished the Wild in the first round. They are still the team that was a heavy favorite coming into the series. Chicago may have lost home ice, but it was only one game and they have not lost in Joe Louis Arena in two years.
Disastrous Game 2 or not, the Blackhawks are still the favorites, but the Red Wings have confidence now. Back at home, they can go really put some serious doubt in Chicago's mind, or the Blackhawks can show why they are Stanley Cup favorites.
Will Jonathan Toews wake up?
Jonathan Toews scored 23 goals in the regular season, but he hasn't scored in the postseason and hasn't scored in his last eight playoff games, dating back to last season. In fact, he has just three goals in his last three postseasons. Henrik Zetterberg did an excellent job shutting down Toews in the first two games, but Toews needs to find a way to get going in Game 3. The Blackhawks won't make it much farther in the playoffs without their best player producing.
Can either team score on the power play?
Game 2 was a power-play wasteland, with Detroit going 0-for-4 with the man advantage and Chicago coming up empty on their two chances. One of these teams has to make special teams count, and that makes getting a power play goal.
Can the Wings build on their confidence from Game 2?
Prior to Game 2, the Red Wings had lost eight straight games to the Blackhawks. Between that and Chicago being the Presidents' Trophy winners, this series looked like a rout waiting to happen, but Detroit stole Game 2 at the United Center and all of a sudden the Wings are right in the series. With the way that the Hawks dominated the Wings and Detroit's youth, the confidence from Game 2 cannot be underestimated and now the Red Wings have a chance to build on it in front of their home crowd in Game 3.
Time: Monday, May 20, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC Sports
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