The Fifth Liners

With the time difference between the US and the UK, it's pretty rare I get to watch a live game so today's game is extra awesome. The Detroit Red Wings headed to Chicago hoping to get a win on the board and equalise the series. The Blackhawks had different ideas and hit the Red Wings like a steam time right from the faceoff. Detroit held off well and soon were bringing the game to Chicago. Even killing off a powerplay after Brendan Smith was caught hooking Marian Hossa. The deadlock was broken after 14 minutes when a superb passing play allowed Patrick Kane to score past Jimmy Howard . Detroit will be disappointed with the goal as it looked like something straight from the training rink. No keeper in the league would have saved it though so Howard can't be too unhappy. Detroit came close while shorthanded after a loose puck escaped in center ice but Corey Crawford made himself big to deny Detroit. The visitors finished the period with the shot advantage b...

Last night the Detroit Red Wings evened the score against the Anaheim Ducks to tie the series. It's tough being a Detroit fan, no doubt there was lots of shouting at the TV coming from Michigan. The Wings took an early lead in the first period, netting twice to no reply. After Johan Franzen scored a third, it looked like the Wings had this one in the bag. Then something happened, either Anaheim turned up or Detroit switched off; cos the game was turned on its head. Saku Koivu put the ducks on the board in the second and at the start of the third, the Wings found themselves 4-1 up. Goals by Ryan Getzlaf , Kyle Palmieri and Bobby Ryan brought parity to the proceedings and it was down to Detroit's Gustav Nyquist  to score the winner in overtime. Justin Abdelkader and Damien Brunner also scored for the Wings. The next two games are at the Joe Louis. Anaheim did well to come back from a three goal deficit and will be disappointing to have not taken any...

Detroit Red Wings #1 goalie Jimmy Howard hasn't had his best season, the team has lost 6 of its last 10 games, with 2 of those being shootouts. The added pressure of the team dropping out of the playoff places made winning last night's game vital. According to  NHL.com , Howard sought advice from former Wings Goalie Chris Osgood, Coach Jim Bedard and Jedi Master Yoda  in his attempt to end the slump. Whatever that advice was, it worked. Howard made 22 saves including breakaways and a mis-hit penalty shot after Bobby Butler was tripped by Jakub Kindl . Helping the Wings to beat the Nashville Predators 3-0. Howard, braced for action.  Howard's performance was so good last night that he earned the 1st star of the game. The two points earned see the Wings jump back into that last playoff place although things are still very tight with a few teams still in contention. Henrik Zetterberg , Johan Franzen and Justin Abdelkader scored for the Wings and new boy Dann...