Photo: Detroit News

Yes, the Detroit Red Wings will open the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the road. But no, travel won’t be a concern this year.

For the past two years, the Wings have had to deal with west coast travels in the first round of the playoffs. But thanks to the one point they earned in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, Detroit locked up the No. 5 seed and the Western Conference and a meeting with Central Division rivals the No. 4 seed Nashville Predators.

“That’s great and we don’t have to travel across the country, which to me is the biggest thing,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “Every matchup in the league is tough so to me the less travel you have the better off you are.

“We know Nashville good, they know us good, it’ll be fun going down to their building, it’s always exciting down there, we’ve played some good games in there this year, so that should be a lot of fun.”

The Predators will host the Wings in the first two games of the series at Bridgestone Arena next week.

“We just got to go down and win games there,” said Henrik Zetterberg. “We wanted to have home ice, we’re pretty good at home. We play good in their building. It’s a loud building, it’s a lot of fun. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”

Game 1 will be either Wednesday or Thursday.

The league will unveil the full schedule for the first round on Sunday afternoon.

***

GAME BROWSER: CHI 3, DET 2 (SO)

Most Valuable Wing: Pavel Datsyuk scored the game-tying goal with 46 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and earn the Wings the No. 5 seed-clinching extra point.

Three Stars: 1. Henrik Zetterberg (DET), 2. Patrick Sharp (CHI), 3. Pavel Datsyuk (DET)

CHI: V. Stalberg (10:14 – 1st), A. Shaw (17:20 – 2nd), P. Kane (SO)

DET: J. Franzen (08:11 – 3rd), P. Datsyuk (19:13 – 3rd)

Goalies

CHI: C. Crawford (W)

DET:  J. Howard (L)

Key Stat: 5 –Seed for the Red Wings in the Western Conference.

Next Up: The Red Wings will face the Nashville Predators on the road to open the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs next week.

Photo: Detroit News

Detroit Red Wings defeat Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 (OT)

The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks have made it two nail-biting games in their last two meetings in less than a week.

Fortunately for the Wings, both overtimes have ended in its favor.

Todd Bertuzzi, who scored two goals, netted the game-winning goal at 4:21 in overtime to lift the Wings over the Blackhawks 3-2. The victory marked Detroit’s 14th straight win at home, which matches a franchise record set in 1965.

“Even though we’re in the thick of a tight race, it is something we can be proud of as a team,” said defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom. “This franchise hasn’t done this since the 1960s, so it says a lot that we’ve been able to do it.”

Tomas Holmstrom and Todd Bertuzzi scored goals for the Wings in the first two periods of the game to give the Wings a 2-1 advantage heading into the third period.

That is when the Jimmy Howard Show began. Howard stopped 15 shots, of his 25 for the game, in the third period. When Drew Miller served a double minor for high-sticking midway through the third, Howard held off Chicago’s firing squad for four minutes.

“You knew eventually they were going to start coming and pressing,” Howard said.

With Howard’s performance in the third period it looked like in the final minute of play that the Wings were headed to victory. That was before Marion Hossa’s shot bounced off Nicklas Lidstrom and Jonathan Toews got credited for the game-tying goal to force overtime.

At the 4:21 mark of overtime, Bertuzzi scored on a rebound to secure victory.

“It seems every time it’s always a Saturday against them at noon,” Bertuzzi said. “It seems to always create some good drama.”

The Wings can extend its home-winning streak on Monday when they host the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 p.m.

***

GAME BROWSER: CHI 2, DET 3 OT

Most Valuable Wing: Todd Bertuzzi scored a goal in regulation and in overtime to send the Red Wings to its 14th consecutive game at home.

CHI: A. Shaw (14:54 – 2nd) , J. Toews (19:08 – 3rd)

DET: T. Holmstrom (PPG, 12:56 – 1st) , T. Bertuzzi (16:10 – 1st) , T. Bertuzzi (04:21 – OT)

Goalies

CHI: C. Crawford (L)

DET: J. Howard (W)

Key Stats: 14 – Consecutive victories at home for the Red Wings, which matches a franchise record set in 1965.

26- Wins this season by Jimmy Howard, a league-best.

Next Up: The Red Wings will host the Buffalo Sabres on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

The Red Wings are in Long Island tonight for a match-up against the Islanders with the puck drop slated for 7 p.m.

Here is what’s making headlines today in Hockeytown:

Datsyuk out with lower body injury

Pavel Datsyuk will miss today’s game vs. the Islanders with what is being called a lower body injury. Datsyuk, who netted the game-winning goal in overtime against the Blackhawks on Sunday, leads the Wings with 43 points and has 13 goals this season.

Conklin to get start

After getting his first win since the Oct. 8 contest vs. the Colorado Avalanche, a 3-2 overtime victory over the Blackhawks, back-up goalie Ty Conklin will get his second consecutive start tonight against the Islanders. Conklin (2-4) played an integral part in Detroit’s 3-2 victory over Chicago on Sunday night, holding the Blackhawks scoreless in the second, third and overtime periods. He also made a save on a Chicago penalty shot in the third period to keep the game at 2-2 and force an eventual overtime.

Red Wings look to keep pace with Blackhawks, Blues atop Central

With its 3-2 overtime victory over Central Division rivals Chicago, the Red Wings are in a three-way tie for first place in the division with Chicago and St. Louis. If Detroit can pull out a victory, where victory hasn’t been too common in recent history at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, then they will remain on track with fellow Central division leaders.

Photo: Detroit News

Detroit Red Wings defeat Chicago Blackhawks 3-2

The Red Wings found themselves in a familiar situation on Sunday.

They had trailed 3-0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday only to battle back with three goals of their own. But the Wings lost a heartbreaker 4-3.

Fortunately for Detroit, the ending changed in Sunday’s match-up vs. division rivals Chicago.

After trailing 2-0 early in the first period, the Wings scored two goals to tie it up and force overtime where Pavel Datsyuk netted the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory.

“The way we had to play (Saturday) night, I didn’t think we’d have much energy (Sunday) – and we sure didn’t early,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “Our guys stayed with it and dug in. This is a big win for us.”

After two quick goals early in the first period by Dave Bolland and Patrick Sharp, who scored 44 seconds apart, the Wings found themselves in s 2-0 hole before Valtteri Filppula broke the two-goal lead with a power play goal of his own.

After a scoreless second period, Dan Cleary scored the only goal of the third period to deadlock the game to 2-2 before the two division foes headed to overtime. It was there where Datsyuk gave the Wings first place in the division with the game-winning goal.

Ty Conklin, who was filling in for Jimmy Howard, stopped 29 shots in his sixth start of the season. He made several key saves in the third period, including stopping a penalty shot by Chicago’s Jimmy Hayes at 7:53.

“We showed a lot of character,” Conklin said. “It could have been easy to quit, I guess, or not pull it out like we did.

“We worked ourselves back into last night’s game, too. This was a good win.”

***

GAME BROWSER: DET 3, CHI 2

Most Valuable Wing: Valtteri Filppula scored the first of Detroit’s goals (a powerbplay goal), to break Chicago’s 2-0 lead, and added an assist.

DET:  V. Filppula (PPG, 13:29 – 1st) , D. Cleary (15:15 – 3rd) , P. Datsyuk (03:08 – OT)

CHI:  D. Bolland (PPG, 03:35 – 1st) , P. Sharp (04:19 – 1st)

Goalies

DET:T. Conklin (W)

CHI: C. Crawford (L)

Key Stats: 29 – Saves by back-up goalie Ty Conklin, who was filling in for Jimmy Howard.

3- Unanswered goals by the Red Wings after Chicago took a 2-0 lead to start.

Next Up: The Red Wings hit the road to play the New York Islanders on Tuesday at 7 PM.

Photo: Detroit News

Chicago Blackhawks defeat Detroit Red Wings 3-2

From the beginning it looked as if the first match-up between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks of the season would be decided in the third period.

Indeed it was. But unfortunately for the Wings, it wasn’t the outcome they were hoping for.

The Blackhawks scored the lone goal in the third period to top the Wings 3-2 Friday at the United Center.

“Anyway you look at it, that’s not good enough,” Babcock said. “We didn’t have enough sustained pressure in their zone.

“It’s a one-shot game. You know it’s going to be like that coming in.”

Detroit and Chicago exchanged goals in the first and second periods, but it was the Blackhawks that were able to get the deciding goal in the opening minutes of the third period.

Justin Abdelkader scored first for the Wings just over nine minutes into the first period. Todd Bertuzzi netted the Wings’ second goal at 5:25 mark of the second period off a deflection of a Mike Commodore shot from the top of the slot.

Jimmy Howard stopped 25 shots, but it wasn’t enough for the victory.

Chicago’s Brent Seabrook scored the deciding goal just 1 minute and 52 seconds into the third period.

Detroit will face their fourth consecutive division opponent on New Years Eve when they host the St. Louis Blues at 7 p.m.

***

GAME BROWSER: DET 2, CHI 3

Most Valuable Wing: Justin Abdelkader scored the Red Wings’ first goal of the game in the first period.

DET: J. Abdelkader (09:49 – 1st) , T. Bertuzzi (05:25 – 2nd)

CHI: J. Toews (PS, 14:32 – 1st) , M. Hossa (07:30 – 2nd) , B. Seabrook (01:52 – 3rd)

Goalies

DET: J. Howard (L)

CHI: C. Crawford (W)

Key Stats: 3 – Penalties by the Red Wings late in the third period.

7- Penalties by the Red Wings for the game in comparison to Chicago’s two.

Next Up: The Red Wings will host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday–New Year’s Eve–at 7 p.m.

Brendan Smith will be suspended for the remaining three exhibition games and five regular-season games.

Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith will be been suspended for the three remaining exhibition games and five games in the regular season after a shoulder-to-head hit on Chicago Blackhawks forward Ben Smith on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Brendan Smith had a meeting with NHL senior vice president of player safety, Brendan Shanahan, to determine his fate.

“Obviously we’re trying to cut down the head hits,” Brendan Smith said. “I thought it (the suspension) was a little steep, but we do want to cut down on the head hits and you never want to see anyone get hurt.

“He made a great move and I was actually trying to catch up. He had a step and it was very fast play, we were going full speed. I was never targeting his head. I feel terrible about the outcome of what happened.”

Ben Smith suffered a concussion and is day-to-day in regards of his status.

“I got in touch with him afterward and apologized,” Brendan Smith said. “I had no intention of hurting him at all. I was just trying to play the game and not let him get to the net and score.”

Coach Mike Babcock feels that the suspension is ”a little extreme, to tell you the truth.”

Smith will still be eligible to play in Grand Rapids, where he is likely headed to start the regular season, said general manager Ken Holland.

“Certainly we expected him to be suspended,” Holland said. “He hit his head. (But) I thought it was a hockey play. He tried to hit his body and he missed the body and hit his head. The suspension is a little stiffer than I would have liked but Brendan will learn from hit and we’ll honor it.

“We think he’s (Brendan Smith) going to be an NHL player, a chance to be a pretty good NHL player, but it’s a process and he has to be patient and this will add to the patience.”

After sweeping the Phoenix Coyotes in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, all the Detroit Red Wings have been able to do is sit and wait. And watch some of the other series.

One of those series, one that will have an impact in Detroit’s semifinal opponent, that has caught the Wings’ eyes has been the Vancouver-Chicago series that is entering a pivotal Game 7 on Tuesday night.

The Canucks, who started off the series with a commanding 3-0 lead, have dropped the last three games to the Blackhawks and it’s do or die for both teams in Game 7.

“It’s crazy how quickly things can change,” Brad Stuart told MLive.com. “Five, six days ago Vancouver’s feeling pretty good about themselves and now they got the weight of the world on them.”

Danny Cleary echoed Stuart’s sentiment and is amazed at how the series has played out.

“I couldn’t believe that (Schneider started Game 6). Obviously, they’re looking for answers,” Cleary told MLive.com. “Luongo, confidence-wise isn’t where he wants to be. Chicago is playing well. They’re a good team.”

Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo was pulled in Games 4 and 5 and watched as Cory Schneider got the start for Game 6. Luongo saw the ice in Game 6 when Schneider was injured in the third period.

“Seems like that’s a theme in this year’s playoffs, goaltending, or a lack of it,” Stuart told MLive.com. “You see a guy like Luongo get put on the bench for the start of (Game 6), that’s pretty big for a guy like that not to get a start in a huge playoff game. Definitely makes for good drama, interesting to watch.”

Even Red Wings coach Mike Babcock admits that he finds the Vancouver-Chicago series nerve-wracking from a fan’s perspective.

“It’s way more comfortable being on the bench than it is watching on TV,” Babcock said. “I can’t stand that. I couldn’t be a fan. I wouldn’t come to the games. I’d be a nervous mess. I’m not even in the series and I can’t sleep after the games are over.

“Who would have figured? Chicago now has made one heck of a series and that’s what the playoffs are all about.”

The Detroit Red Wings have been playing the waiting game.

After sweeping the Phoenix Coyotes in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Wings have been getting a little R & R. That’s not to say they haven’t needed it. Indeed they have.

Henrik Zetterberg, who missed the entire Phoenix series, is healthy and ready to go in the Western Conference semifinal.

But the question is who will Detroit face in the next round?

As of Sunday night, the Wings have three possible playoff match-ups to contend with. They will face either San Jose, Nashville or Chicago in the second round.

Here are the possibilities for Detroit’s next opponent:

–If San Jose and Vancouver win, Detroit will play the Sharks.

–If San Jose wins and Vancouver loses, Detroit will play the Predators.

–If Vancouver wins and San Jose loses, Detroit will play the Predators.

–If San Jose and Vancouver lose, Detroit will play the Blackhawks.

Another question becomes who will the Wings fare best against?

But that’s a question that Detroit will have to answer for us when they take to the ice for round two late this week.

Detroit Red Wings defeat Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3

That will do it for the 2010-11 regular season for the Detroit Red Wings and I have to hand it to them, they made me giddy when they handed the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 loss at the United Center that–temporarily–put their playoff hopes on ice.

After coming out with back-to-back duds against Carolina (3-0) on Wednesday and Chicago (4-2) on Friday, Detroit was finally able to put a little fire and passion into their performance.

“They outplayed us totally on Friday. It was an embarrassing game for us at home, another boo-fest,” Detroit forward Danny Cleary told reporters. “We really needed to come out and play a good game for ourselves and realize we have a good team and when we play the right way, we can win.”

Heading into the regular season finale, the Wings had absolutely nothing to gain in regards to seeding (they’re locked in at No. 3), but they were able to redeem themselves and find some momentum to take with them into the playoffs, which kick off Wednesday night.

Detroit will face the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a rematch of last year’s first round matchup, and the Wings are hoping for the same result.

But it the Wings are hoping to make a long run in the postseason they are going to ned to avoid the lethargic play that has seemed to rear its head too many times in the second half of the regular season.

The real work begins now–or should I say Wednesday night.

–

GAME BROWSER: DET 4, CHI 3

Most Valuable Wing: Danny Cleary is gearing up for the playoffs. He scored a key goal late in the third period that gave the Wings a two-goal cushion. That would come in handy when Chicago drew to within one goal minutes later. Cleary also added an assist to collect two points on the day.

Goal Scorers:

The Good: The Wings actually showed that they have fight left in them and were able to gain some momentum heading into the playoffs.

The Bad: The Blackhawks still made the playoffs. Other than that, not really much bad to take out of this game.

Key Stat: 4- 

Consecutive games that the Red Wings went without a win until Sunday’s win over Chicago.

Up Next: The Red Wings will begin the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena.

*Select content provided by DetroitRedWings.com and NHL.com

APRIL 10, 2011

12:30 PM

NBC, Detroit 97.1 The Ticket

Detroit Red Wings

Record: 47-24-10

Points: 102

Conference Standing: 3rd

Division Standing: 1st

VS

Chicago Blackhawks

Record: 44-28-9

Points: 97

Conference Standing: 8th

Division Standing: 3rd

–

Aerys Sports Enemy Site: Runs on Duncan

–

I repeat: There is nothing more that I want then for the Detroit Red Wings to put the Chicago Blackhawks out of the playoffs.

But even more importantly, the Red Wings need some semblance of momentum heading into the playoffs. Their previous two games have both been disastrous with play not worthy of Stanley Cup champions. That needs to end. Now.

It isn’t the two losses that bother me as much as it has been Detroit’s performance–or lack thereof.

Reputation alone will not get them through the Stanley Cup playoffs and into the finals. They need to show that they care. That they actually want to win the Cup. Because right now it doesn’t look like they do. As one fan said on twitter during Friday night’s loss, it looks like they were more concerned with keeping the consecutive playoff appearance streak alive then making an impact in it.

This will be the two teams’ final meeting of the regular season. Whether the two meet in the playoffs, well, Detroit can do their part to make sure that doesn’t happen with a victory on Sunday (and Dallas needs to beat Minnesota, which shouldn’t be too big of an obstacle).

The only thing I beg of Detroit:

Please show us that you care. About your fans and about winning the Cup.

–

PREVIOUS GAME

Detroit lost to Chicago 4-2 on Friday.

Chicago beat Detroit 4-2 on Friday.

–

INJURY REPORT

DET: Henrik Zetterberg (lower body), Nicklas Kronwall (upper body) and Chris Osgood (sports hernia surgery) are out for the Wings.

CHI: Troy Brouwer (lower body) and Dave Bolland (concussion) are out for the Blackhawks.

–

STATS

*Content provided by NHL.com