Detroit Red Wings looking to avenge last year’s loss against San Jose Sharks: NHL Play-offs Preview
It is for the third time that the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings are facing each other tonight in the semi-finals in a span of five years. Detroit had won in 2007, but San Jose answered back by eliminating them in last year’s play-offs.
The Red Wings want a comeback this year and avenge their previous loss and are looking to make a clean sweep against the Sharks like they thrashed the Phoenix Coyotes in the Western Conference quarter-finals after winning all four games consecutively. The
Sharks are not ready to give up the series that easily and will fight for a chance at the Stanley Cup. They overtook the Red Wings in the regulation season in the final games for the second spot of the conference and have not looked back since.
In their own quarter-final series, the Sharks had a little difficulty after putting the Los Angeles Kings on the verge of elimination after game four, but managed to throw them out in Game 6 in a late overtime win. They are only in need of team chemistry
and consistency which they lacked for a few games. If they begin to act accordingly in a fashioned manner, the Sharks can become an unstoppable team.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings should easily be able to win Game 1 as they had the longest resting period in comparison to the rest of the teams. It has been nine long days since they eliminated Phoenix.
"Obviously last year we came right from Phoenix. (We) didn't have the same opportunity to rest or prepare," Coach Mike Babcock said after Thursday’s practice. "This year we would have been in big-time trouble if that had been the case just because we had
so many injuries."
Detroit’s centre player Pavel Datsyuk has been their best performer during the first round series against Phoenix. He picked up a total of six points in their four-game clean sweep including two goals and four assists. Datsyuk has high hopes of continuing
his dynamic performance against the Sharks.
Another benefit in favour of the Red Wings, injured players Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen will be rejoining the line-up for the round two series. Zetterberg was unable to play throughout the whole quarter-finals due to a knee injury, but Franzen only
remained out for Game 4. Having both available for play is sure to create that extra boost that they will need.
San Jose Sharks
A good step for the Sharks have taken entering the semi-finals against the Red Wings, is not to get off track. They have a target in mind and working towards it is all that they are worried about right now. Even though they have won seven of the previous
nine post-season matchups, the Sharks are not playing it overconfident.
"You can wipe that right out the window," forward Devin Setoguchi said. "Every year is different. It's a new series, a new season. It doesn't matter how many games we won against them the last two years. It's going to be totally different in this series."
Ryane Clowe is leading his team in performance statistically because of his consistent performance. He has four goals and seven points in the first round. The remaining team is also contributing in a big way but remaining consistent is something that they
are lacking.
Other than Kent Huskins being out with an upper-body injury, the Sharks are supporting a healthy roster.
The highly anticipated matchup between the two Western Conference giants is scheduled to begin at 10:00pm ET in Detroit on Friday.
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