Detroit Red Wings eliminated by Nashville Predators 2-1 -NHL Playoffs Update
It had been over 10 years since Detroit was eliminated from the postseason in the opening round by Edmonton Oilers, but Nashville Predators added their name to the list by ousting the Red Wings in game 4 of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup
Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Nashville continued playing strong in the series and showed the world that they were one of the most underrated teams out there. Detroit won a single match during game 2 in Nashville but lost all remaining contest to be ousted by 4-1 after a 2-1, Friday
night, April 20, 2012, loss at the sold-out Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
"We've grown to the point where we have great respect for the Detroit Red Wings, but we're not in awe of them," Nashville head coach, Barry Trotz, said. "That's the stepping stone that we've taken. Obviously, beating Detroit in the first round is a step
in the right direction."
Last year, Nashville advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and this time, repeating it again, especially against a team like Detroit Red Wings has to definitely be a special moment.
For Detroit fans, each and every game of the series might have been close in regards of it being decided by a single goal differential, but looking at the 4-1 end result certainly is not easy to swallow, especially for Red Wings head coach, Mike Babcock.
"When you lose 4-1 in a series, you can talk about all of the games being a one-goal game," Babcock said. "To me that's not close, 4-1 is not close."
Alexander Radulov kicked off the scoring in round-one with less than four minutes remaining to play while Detroit levelled it in the second period as Jiri Hudler got it past Predators’ goalie, Pekka Rinne, with the tip.
After assisting the first, David Legwand got a lucky opportunity in the opening 13 seconds of the third and final period of regulation to snap it past Jimmy Howard for the game-winner.
"It's disappointing," Detroit defenseman, Niklas Kronwall, said. "Right now it's just empty I think.”
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