Chicago and Detroit Preview

Think back to the first day of 2009, when a jam-packed Wrigley Field was hosting this year’s Winter Classic in the NHL, who would have had any idea the Red Wings and Blackhawks would later meet in the Western Conference Finals? This will be the 15th meeting in the playoffs of these Original Six rivals, the last coming 14 years ago.

Chicago is the biggest underdog of the remaining teams chasing the Stanley Cup and just not because they are playing Detroit. The Blackhawks have picked up fewer extra credit hours than a D-student hosting all-night parties. Chicago’s postseason resume reads like Cat in the Hat. However, things are changing quickly in the city of broad shoulders, as the Hawks has amassed a large quantity of young and speedy skaters, with an average age of under 25, who are growing up quickly.

Consider this tidbit, Chicago sophomore stud Patrick Kane was two years old when six-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom played his first NHL game. The Blackhawks closed the season 9-3 and took down Calgary and Vancouver without any playoff pedigree. Jonathan Toews is another young star and Martin Havlat is as big a reason as any the Canucks were sent packing. The Hawks power play has been on fire, converting almost 30 percent in the postseason and they are 24-9 ATS when they get four to five power play opportunities per game this season.

The Detroit Red Wings should have their interest piqued, facing a division rival and considered one of the up and coming teams in the NHL. This is a perfect opportunity for Detroit to show their Central foe that playoff hockey is significantly different from the regular season. The Red Wings blueliners will be in charge of limiting speed rushes by the Blackhawks and if they can steal the puck, the defensemen are well-skilled in playing keep away to frustrate the younger team, which Detroit coach Mike Babacock hopes leads to miscues and scoring chances for his team.

Goalie Chris Osgood won’t go down as an all-time great netminder, just a winner who picks up jewelry for winning Stanley Cups. Johan Franzen has been scoring machine in the postseason with eight goals and 15 points. Hockey fans know what Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk bring to the party, plus the Red Wings have all that experience which has helped them be 22-2 in home games off a home win scoring four or more goals over the last two seasons.

Detroit won the first four meetings, which were all played by Jan. 1, before either team new what specifically they would end up with. Chicago won a pair of meaningless games on the last weekend of regular season to secure fourth seed. The Wings are 8-3 in the postseason and the Hawks are 8-4. From the standpoint of pure talent these two aren’t that apart, but in the end, the experience factor will matter as Detroit keeps dream alive for fifth Cup in last dozen years.

3DW Pick- Detroit (-220) in six

Series odds from DiamondSportsbook.com