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The Detroit Red Wings have enough postseason experience to know any comeback starts with one win in a series where the first three games were decided by one goal.
The Red Wings are facing their earliest elimination from the playoffs since 2006. Edmonton sent Detroit home after six games; Nashville is trying to do it in five.
The Predators will look to advance for a second straight year when they host the Red Wings on Friday night. A loss could be Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom's final game should the defenseman decide to call it quits this summer.
''It's not time to get too frustrated,'' Detroit center Valtteri Filppula said Thursday.
These are the Red Wings after all, the team with the longest postseason streak in North American major professional sports at 21 straight seasons. This is the franchise with four Stanley Cups with six Western Conference titles and 32 series victories in that stretch. This season, the Red Wings set an NHL record winning 23 straight at home.
They can tap into their experience of just a year ago trailing San Jose 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals. They won three straight to force a Game 7 - a game Detroit lost 3-2.
''We just have to think positively,'' Filppula said. ''We hopefully still have a few more games to play. We just have to play through it, and hopefully the puck starts going in.''
Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard said the most important thing is to ''outwill'' the Predators.
''Our backs are against the wall,'' Howard said. ''We all know the circumstances if we lose we start our summer. I don't think anybody wants that in this room.''
Solving Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne will be key. The Red Wings have outshot the Predators in all but one game, and they won that game despite a meager 17 shots. Rinne has made at least 35 saves in Nashville's three wins, becoming just the eighth goalie in the past 24 postseasons to post three games with 35 saves or more against the Red Wings.
''He catches everything, so we have to keep it away from his glove,'' Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. ''But I don't think we can tell our guys to stop shooting. We have to keep getting to the net as hard we as can.''
Babcock wants his Red Wings to play just as they did Game 4 on Tuesday night despite losing 3-1. He said the exceptions are the mistakes in their own zone and off the rush. He sees the Predators making lots of the same mistakes only to see Rinne cover up with the save.
''We just have to stay the course, I believe,'' Babcock said.
Babcock also isn't ready to talk about the possibility of not having Lidstrom back for a 21st NHL season, saying he's heard the same story for years now. He said he'd be shocked if Lidstrom retires.
''The way I look at it is we have to win a game, so that's our approach,'' Babcock said.
Lidstrom said his health is good and he'll handle a decision to return just as he has in recent years. He'll take some time to figure out what he wants this summer, after the season ends. He also isn't thinking about whether Friday night is his last game.
''I think I've learned from other years, I try to push that aside and just go out and try to play a real solid game and come out with a win,'' Lidstrom said.
The pressure is on the Predators, whose first postseason series win came a year ago in six games over Anaheim. They lost their first two playoff series against their Central Division rival, though those losses came as the young franchise lost its first five Game 5s.
Nashville has won the last two, the first in an overtime win at Anaheim that allowed the Predators to return home and clinch that first series. They also avoided elimination winning Game 5 at Vancouver in the Western Conference semifinals to force a sixth game.
Rinne said it always seems to be the hardest game, especially against Detroit.
''They've been there and done that, and they have the experience and veteran players who have seen those kinds of situations and been through them,'' Rinne said. ''We have to really be prepared for it and treat it as game number one or any other game. The team that wants is more is going to get it.''
Nashville finished ahead of the Red Wings in the standings for the first time this season and just won its first two postseason games in Detroit in Games 3 and 4. Coach Barry Trotz believes he hasn't seen Nashville play its best yet. He said Friday night will be the biggest game yet and hopes his Predators are ready.
''You are in survival mode,'' Trotz said. ''It is no different than someone who is surviving for their life type of thing. You have that fear factor. You have that desperation. You have that adrenaline factor that kicks in. It is one of those things that is hard. They have a great team and they have a great tradition. We have to match everything that they have and then some.
Team Comparison
TeamGWLOTLPtsStandingsGFGARoad/Home
Nashville82482681042nd Central23721026-10-5 Home
Detroit82482861023rd Central24820317-21-3 Road
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The Red Wings are facing their earliest elimination from the playoffs since 2006. Edmonton sent Detroit home after six games; Nashville is trying to do it in five.
The Predators will look to advance for a second straight year when they host the Red Wings on Friday night. A loss could be Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom's final game should the defenseman decide to call it quits this summer.
''It's not time to get too frustrated,'' Detroit center Valtteri Filppula said Thursday.
These are the Red Wings after all, the team with the longest postseason streak in North American major professional sports at 21 straight seasons. This is the franchise with four Stanley Cups with six Western Conference titles and 32 series victories in that stretch. This season, the Red Wings set an NHL record winning 23 straight at home.
They can tap into their experience of just a year ago trailing San Jose 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals. They won three straight to force a Game 7 - a game Detroit lost 3-2.
''We just have to think positively,'' Filppula said. ''We hopefully still have a few more games to play. We just have to play through it, and hopefully the puck starts going in.''
Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard said the most important thing is to ''outwill'' the Predators.
''Our backs are against the wall,'' Howard said. ''We all know the circumstances if we lose we start our summer. I don't think anybody wants that in this room.''
Solving Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne will be key. The Red Wings have outshot the Predators in all but one game, and they won that game despite a meager 17 shots. Rinne has made at least 35 saves in Nashville's three wins, becoming just the eighth goalie in the past 24 postseasons to post three games with 35 saves or more against the Red Wings.
''He catches everything, so we have to keep it away from his glove,'' Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. ''But I don't think we can tell our guys to stop shooting. We have to keep getting to the net as hard we as can.''
Babcock wants his Red Wings to play just as they did Game 4 on Tuesday night despite losing 3-1. He said the exceptions are the mistakes in their own zone and off the rush. He sees the Predators making lots of the same mistakes only to see Rinne cover up with the save.
''We just have to stay the course, I believe,'' Babcock said.
Babcock also isn't ready to talk about the possibility of not having Lidstrom back for a 21st NHL season, saying he's heard the same story for years now. He said he'd be shocked if Lidstrom retires.
''The way I look at it is we have to win a game, so that's our approach,'' Babcock said.
Lidstrom said his health is good and he'll handle a decision to return just as he has in recent years. He'll take some time to figure out what he wants this summer, after the season ends. He also isn't thinking about whether Friday night is his last game.
''I think I've learned from other years, I try to push that aside and just go out and try to play a real solid game and come out with a win,'' Lidstrom said.
The pressure is on the Predators, whose first postseason series win came a year ago in six games over Anaheim. They lost their first two playoff series against their Central Division rival, though those losses came as the young franchise lost its first five Game 5s.
Nashville has won the last two, the first in an overtime win at Anaheim that allowed the Predators to return home and clinch that first series. They also avoided elimination winning Game 5 at Vancouver in the Western Conference semifinals to force a sixth game.
Rinne said it always seems to be the hardest game, especially against Detroit.
''They've been there and done that, and they have the experience and veteran players who have seen those kinds of situations and been through them,'' Rinne said. ''We have to really be prepared for it and treat it as game number one or any other game. The team that wants is more is going to get it.''
Nashville finished ahead of the Red Wings in the standings for the first time this season and just won its first two postseason games in Detroit in Games 3 and 4. Coach Barry Trotz believes he hasn't seen Nashville play its best yet. He said Friday night will be the biggest game yet and hopes his Predators are ready.
''You are in survival mode,'' Trotz said. ''It is no different than someone who is surviving for their life type of thing. You have that fear factor. You have that desperation. You have that adrenaline factor that kicks in. It is one of those things that is hard. They have a great team and they have a great tradition. We have to match everything that they have and then some.
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SeaRay400_SD • 4 hours ago Report AbuseRED WINGS FANS and hockey fans around the world sense this may be it for Nick Lidstrom...It would be nice, should the Wings be eliminated from this years playoffs round 1, that we pull out a win in Nashville so that Wings fans have the honor to celebrate the career of one of the greats of all time... More2 Replies
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steve • 2 hours 28 minutes ago Report Abuse23 straight at home, but lost the 2 most importantReply
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Hater1 • 53 minutes ago Report AbuseRedReply
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GOON • 3 hours ago Report AbuseThis may be in fact, the end of an era for the Wings. With Lidstrom potentially retiring, and Holmstrom most likely retiring, two great warriors may be gone. Neither Holmstrom, or Lidstrom have anything to prove to anyone or any other team. Four Stanley Cups each, 7 Norris Trophies for Lidstrom,... More2 Replies
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Randy • 46 minutes ago Report AbuseWell...Hawks down 3-1....losing two games at home. Sound familiar????3 Replies
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Randy • 48 minutes ago Report AbuseWingsReply
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SUPERIORFORCE • Santa Monica, California • 5 hours ago Report AbuseThis was my post before the series started.3 Replies
Listen before you negate this. No one is a more
hard core Red Wing fan than me but I must express... More
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John E • 5 hours ago Report AbuseIf we pull a game out, there is hope. If we loose it; and thus, the series, we will not have been beaten by chumps. The Preds have worked very hard over the past 5 years. They graduated. Trotz should reinforce their mission is to the finals, and nothing else. Go Red Wings..2 Replies
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Patrick • 4 hours ago Report AbuseLet's Go Red Wings!Reply
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Red Line • 25 minutes ago Report AbusePreds in 51 Reply
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robert l • Tulsa, Oklahoma • 1 hour 36 minutes ago Report AbuseThe wings have talent, they have no goons! In this age of hockey goons are a MUST to keep the opponents looking over their shoulder. The wings have Bert, but he's a better player than goon. Detroit can out gun anyone, but they will continue to get out gooned1 Reply
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Thomas M • Milwaukee, Wisconsin • 5 hours ago Report AbuseNo scorer and no goalie, did you expect anything different. I live and breathe the Red Wings but I also know this team lacks so much. Terrible power play, terrible penalty kill, defensemen out of position, the list goes on. We need some major changes this summer, maybe starting with Babcock. ... More3 Replies
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Hater1 • 5 hours ago Report AbuseThe Wings are done. No way the Wings win 3 in a row with Rinne in goal and/or Howard on the other end. Go Wings. There is always next year.Reply
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edj • 4 hours ago Report AbuseBarry Trotz just said on NHL Live that fans in Nashville have got on the bandwagon. Is he saying that the are only bandwagon fans?Reply
(Just messing with you guys, I know he meant it as a compliment to his fans)
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Hollywood Yeah Right! • 2 hours 29 minutes ago Report AbuseMichigan = Where government bail outs happen.........Reply
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DAN • Columbus, Ohio • 2 hours 24 minutes ago Report AbuseAs much as I love those Wings, Nashville is the better team right now. Rinne is great and Howard is not. I feel that the sun is setting on a great dynastic run for Detroit. They are going to need a lot of talent coming to town to get back where they were just three seasons ago.1 Reply
But their... More
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Johnson • Dearborn, Michigan • 2 hours 28 minutes ago Report AbuseMcDonald for game 5goalie2 Replies
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beelze • Fraser, Michigan • 2 hours 14 minutes ago Report AbuseThe END of the Red Wing era will be heralded by them being the 1st team to exit the playoffs. Lidstrom and Holmstrom will retire, Stuart gone to Cali. Forget Suter, he'll stay in Nashville and Parise will not join a depleted Wing squad. New Age dawns in the NHL and it's left behind Vancouver,... More5 Replies
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Chris Chellio • Chandler, Arizona • 4 hours ago Report Abusewhy would jimmmmmy have anything at all it say? Jimmmy get a job. Goalie is not for you. You jimmmmmmy and you alone have lost 3 games. Man up jimmmmmmy your not a number one goalie. never have been 14 shots and 3 goals come on jimmmmmmmmmmy1 Reply Comment hidden due to low rating. Show Comment
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edj • 2 hours 31 minutes ago Report AbuseLet's..Reply
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Team Stat Leaders
Team G WLO TLPts
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Nashville
82482681042nd Central
23721026-10-5 HomeDetroit8248286102 3rd
Central24820317-21-3 Road
