Once again, Jimmy Howard responded after a bad game to get the Red Wings back into the win column. He stopped all 29 Phoenix shots to lead the Wings to a 3-0 win over the Coyotes in Game 4 of the Western conference quarterfinals. Henrik Zetterberg scored in the second and third period, with Pavel Datsyuk also finding the scoresheet for the Wings.
Zetterberg opened the scoring at 15:33 in the second period, tipping a Niklas Kronwall shot past Ilya Bryzgalov. I thought that Z’s stick looked a bit too high (if he touches the puck above the plane of the crossbar, it’s no goal) but the referees agreed that Z was in the clear and the goal stood. The Wings killed off a 17-second 5-on-3, plus the ensuing 5-on-4 Phoenix power play before Dangle Dangle one-timed a pass from Johan Franzen into a wide-open net to put the Wings up 2-0. Z added the final tally less than a minute later, pinballing the puck off of Bryzgalov’s back from the corner.
HOWIE! HOWIE! HOWIE!
Simply put, Howard was awesome last night (that’s what she said). Howard made some solid saves when the Wings needed him to most, justifying Mike Babcock’s decision to stay with the young gun after his rough outing on Sunday. Some even called for Chris Osgood to get the start last night, but Howard shut those idiots voices up, even going old school on one save when his helmet came off.
EXPLOOOSSSSSSIOOOOOONNNNNN!!!!
The Red Wings have made a habit of scoring goals in bunches this series. While that’s all fine and dandy for now, they likely won’t be able to maintain that tendency throughout the playoffs. Getting sustained offensive pressure has been difficult at times in this series (see Games 1 and 3) and won’t get any easier going forward, unless the Wings inexplicably play the San Jose Sharks in the next round. With how this year’s playoffs have gone so far I’m not making any more predictions, but whoever the Wings see will likely try to clog the neutral zone like Phoenix has all series long.
RED WING REACTIONS
Howard turned in his most clutch performance in the most important game of the season for the Detroit Red Wings.
The Triple Deke:
THAT was a playoff game. Nothing feels more tense than scoreless playoff hockey, and that’s what we had for more than half of Game 4. Jimmy pulled his sack out for this one and put it on the foreheads of all that whispered Chris Osgood’s name the last two days.
Nightmare on Helm Street:
Game 4 was a statement game for Detroit. And it was made loud and clear.
Bingo Bango:
The Wings PK went 6 for 6. It was unfuckingbelievable. They even killed a 5 on 3 for 17 seconds after a weak Lilja hooking penalty late in the 3rd.
UNCLE MIKE
Mike Babcock gives Jimmy some praise after his stellar effort in Game 4.
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