Detroit Forces Game 7, San Jose Trying To Stop The Bleeding

Added on May 11, 2011 by J Merrill in

NHL

For the second straight series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs a team has squandered a 3 games to zero lead, and now find themselves in a game 7. The Canucks were able to put away the Chicago Blackhawks in the final game of their series, but the experience factor of the Red Wings really showed through last night at the Joe Louis Arena against the San Jose Sharks. Championship teams always find a way to manufacture points in close games, and thats what happened last night in Detroit.

Valterri Filpulla was the game six hero for the Red Wings with less that 10 minutes left in their season. Filpulla didn’t have a point in the series going into game 6, but last night skated off the ice with the game tying assist, and what would be the game winning goal. Filppula assisted Henrik Zetterberg to tie the game for the wings, and 2 minutes later he netted the one they needed.

Filpulla said it was all about believing in the team, and what they know they are able to accomplish. He said “I think you have to believe all the time, whatever the score is, even if you’re behind, that you can come back. Believing we can, it’s definitely a big part of it.” Detroit coach Mike Babcock was pleased with his play on Tuesday night, and he has been saying for a while that players like Filppula really need to step up this time of year. Babcock said of his player “I thought he was excellent. He was a guy we obviously needed more from. He’s an important guy for us.”

The Red Wings have now become the 8^th team to come back from being down 3 games to none and force a game 7, and if they win they will be the fourth team in NHL history to accomplish winning 4 straight to come back in a playoff series. There isn’t much Nikolas Lidstrom hasn’t seen in his 20+ year NHL career, but he hasn’t been in this spot before. Lidstrom said of the game 7 they are facing, “I haven’t been in a situation like this before, but I’ve played in Games 7s in the past and know the importance of the game. It’ll be a fun game to go out there and play.”

The San Jose Sharks have to figure out how to stop the bleeding, and get the momentum back. The Sharks are trying to find the silver lining wherever they can. Joe Thorton says that this is why they worked so hard during the season, to get home ice advantage, and now its time to reap the rewards. He said “Just ask Detroit, they lost three in a row and their confidence wasn’t frayed. We’re a confident group, still. You work 82 games to get home ice in these Game 7s. Now we just have to make it work.”

The one thing everyone agrees on is how good Ante Niemi has been playing, as he has no doubt kept them in all the games and series. Sharks defenseman Doug Murray said that was the only thing he felt the team did right against the Wings on Tuesday night. Murray said “You can’t take much out of this game other than Nemo was great. We put up an embarrassing effort. It’s nothing to do with X’s and O’s. It’s about whatever it takes to get yourself ready. We weren’t skating, we weren’t making quick plays, we weren’t doing anything right.’

The series comes to a head on Thursday night in San Jose and on Versus TV.