Phoenix Power Play Prolongs Playoff

Phoenix prevailed two out of three times on the road in Detroit to force a deciding Game 7 in the Western conference quarterfinals with the Red Wings. The Coyotes defeated Detroit 5-2 at Joe Louis Arena in Game 6 Sunday night to even the playoff series and ensure a Game 7 Tuesday night at home. The fourth seeded Coyotes now have a chance to stun the two- time defending Stanley Cup Champions. Phoenix hasn’t reached the second round of the hockey post-season they were the Winnipeg Jets in 1987. The Red Wings do not have history on their side. Detroit hasn’t won a Game 7 on the road since 1968.
Phoenix’s penalties in the opening period did little to thwart their effort. The Coyotes were charged with three penalties during the game’s first five minutes, but managed a short-handed goal 4:10 into the contest. Lauri Korpikoski silenced the Detroit crowd with his team down a skater and seized control of the puck in the neutral zone for his first post-season goal. The second year player from Finland fired a wrister past Detroit’s Jimmie Howard for a 1-0 Coyotes lead. Calder Trophy finalist, Howard stopped 24 of 29 shots but struggled in defeat. The Phoenix penalty-killers did a stellar job handling the Red Wings despite the defense allowing 14 first period shots on goal. Phoenix netminder, Ilya Bryzgalov, fended off 31 of 33 in net as five different Coyotes scored on the opposite end of the ice. The Wings misfired off Bryzgalov’s sticks, skates and pads most of the evening. The teams exchanged goals just 24 second apart to open the second period scoring. Mathieu Schneider gave the visitors a 2-0 edge on a power play tally at 2:27. The Wings quickly responded with Brad Stuart’s first playoff goal at 2:51.
Radim Vrbata doubled the Coyotes’ lead by rocketing a cross-ice feed from Robert Lang beyond the reach of Howard. Wojtek Wolski added an even-strength goal at 14:01 in the second to add to the Phoenix onslaught in Detroit. It was Wolski’s fourth contribution of the playoff series and came off a Petr Prucha deflection. Phoenix outshot the Wings 15-12 in the second period and took a 4-1 advantage into the final 15 minutes. Taylor Pratt parked the puck between the posts at 5:25 in the third for the Coyotes’ third power play goal. Phoenix was 3-for-6 on the power play, while the Red Wings went an unproductive 0-for-5. Detroit’s Darren Helm made it a 5-2 affair when he poked a goal through Bryzgalov with a minute left in regulation. It was Helm’s first goal of the playoffs but hardly enough to help the Wings wrap up the series with a Game 6 victory. The Redwings outshot, outhit and won the faceoff battle at home Sunday but Phoenix’s early goals were a major setback for the home team. The Coyotes mowed through Motown and now return to Glendale and home-ice advantage. Will the Redwings rupture their resistance on the road?

Parting Points: Did Javier Vasquez come with a return policy?

The Kings were ousted by the Canucks and Jacques Lemaire stepped down as the Devils’ head coach in other NHL news.

Thursday Take-Twos (NHL playoff edition)

Derek Morris buried the game-winning goal with less than three minutes into the third period to lift the lively Coyotes over the raucous Red Wings in a first round NHL matchup in Glendale. Fourth seeded Phoenix scored goals in each of the three periods to put away fifth seeded Detroit 3-2. Morris, traded to the Coyotes from Boston at the deadline, broke a 2-2 tie and assisted on two other power play goals. Ilya Bryzgalov was superb in net after allowing two Detroit goals in the first period. Bryzgalov made 38 saves as the Coyotes won their first playoff game since 2002. Red Wings’ 13 year veteran, Tomas Holmstrom, scored the first goal of the Western Conference series Wednesday. Nicklas Lidstrom followed Holmstrom with a power play goal as Detroit took an early advantage in their 19th straight playoff appearance. Lidstrom needed five stitches after taking a stick to the face in the third period. Phoenix was outshot 30-15 through the first two periods, but managed to find the net twice off the sticks of Ketih Yandle and Wojtek Wolski. Detroit goalie, Jimmy Howard, staved off 32 shots but his team fumbled 1-of-6 power play opportunities. The Coyotes split four regular season games with the Wings and were the stronger team last night. The Wings have the upper hand in previous playoff meetings with the Coytes. They certainly have more post-season experience. But now they must play catch-up in order to continue their Stanley Cup title chase.
Brian Boucher was brilliant for the Flyers in recording his first playoff victory in ten years. Philadelphia derailed the Devils on their home ice 2-1 in an Eastern Conference showdown between neighborhood rivals. Journeyman Boucher turned aside 23 shots, including a stifling save with ten seconds in regulation on an attempt by Patrik Elias. Boucher denied Zach Parise and Elias all night. Chris Pronger and Mike Richards added second period goals as the seventh seeded Flyers’ momentum continued into the first round playoff meeting. Philadelphia secured a playoff berth just this Sunday with an overtime win over the New York Rangers. New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur made just 12 saves and received little help from his offense. The Devils couldn’t put anything together, forced shots and couldn’t adjust on defense. A besieged Brodeur was thoroughly outdueled by Boucher. The home team had little answers for Boucher and the Flyers at the Rock. The Devils’ lone goal came in the third period but it was too late. Travis Zajac’s slap shot bounced in front of Boucher with 2:43 left to spoil the goalie’s shutout bid. New Jersey was an unsuccessful 0-for-5 on the power play. The Flyers grabbed home-ice advantage with the first win of the seven game series. The Devils are accustomed to being behind in the playoffs. New Jersey has not won a post-season series in three years. For the Devils’ sake, let’s hope this is not another first round exit.
Parting Points: Brandon Marshall was shipped from Denver to Miami. Who else will go shopping before the NFL schedule hits the newsstands on Tuesday?
More NHL playoff updates: The Pens dropped their post-season opener in a 5-4 grinder against Ottawa. Chris Stewart notched the game-winning goal for Avalanche as the Colorado clipped San Jose 2-1.
Thursday’s Tune- “Reason for Breathing” by Babyface