Detroit Red Wings eliminate Phoenix Coyotes from Play-offs in a 4-0 clean sweep – NHL Play-offs
The Detroit Red Wings pounded the play-off life out of the Phoenix Coyotes, defeating them 6-3 and eliminating them in a four-game clean sweep at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The Coyotes entered the game with confidence in their home arena and hoped to at least win game four to stay alive in the Western Conference quarter-final series, but the Red Wings were too much for them to handle. This extended the Coyotes record for the
most series lost consecutively, making it 13 now having won their last play-off round back in 1987 when they were known as the Winnipeg Jets.
"We knew they were going to come out and play with their best effort and I thought they did, but we really wanted to win tonight," Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said.
The Coyotes really did not lack anything in their game play, but the Red Wings overpowered them offensively. The number three seed in the Western Conference opened the scoring when Tomas Holmstrom scored their first 3:47 into the initial period. Phoenix
was quick to react as Taylor Pyatt made the tying goal and Captain Shane Doan took the lead, all before halfway through.
Pyatt scored his first of the post-season nearly two minutes after Holmstrom inaugurated the scoring. He intended to pass the puck to another forward who was battling for positioning but to his luck, the puck hit Detroit’s Jonathan Ericsson’s skate and slid
through Jimmy Howard without him even noticing. Doan turned the game around in favour of the home team which was their first lead since game one. The Red Wings had the last say in the first when Patrick Eaves scored with a little over a minute remaining to
again tie up the heated competition.
Phoenix took advantage of the power-play that carried over from the first period when Brad Stuart was booked at 19:39. Martin Hanzal made the tie-breaker in the opening minute, but the Red Wings levelled the score once again as Niklas Kronwall scored on
one of three power-play opportunities during the second.
Entering the final period, the Coyotes wanted to smell victory but had trouble avoiding the Red Wings who tore them apart in the third. Daniel Cleary, Todd Bertuzzi and Patrick Eaves scored in the final six minutes of regulation time which meant nothing
else but defeat for Phoenix. In the final moments, it was inevitable that the home team was about to be eliminated and the crowd knew it.
"I've never been swept four straight, ever. That's embarrassing," Doan said. "It's frustrating when you know you're better and we didn't show it."
Detroit Coach Mike Babcock was extremely happy with his team who played consistently throughout the series and became the first team to advance in the play-offs. An advantage they have now is they can rest and ready themselves for the semi-finals which will
not take place for a while since all other teams are still unclear of victory.
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