Red Wings outlast Blackhawks to take 1-0 Western Conference Finals lead

Two Original Six teams meeting in the Western Conference Finals is a special occurrence. But when those two teams happen to be the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks, consider it a bonus, especially since these bitter rivals have not met this late in the season since 1995.

Those at the game or at home watching could not have asked for a more physical, fast-paced game than what was offered as the Sunday matinee in Detroit. The Red Wings won 5-2, per the Detroit Free Press, taking a 1-0 lead in the battle -- er, series.

The visiting Hawks got on the board early with a backhanded goal by Adam Burish early in the first, but the Red Wings didn't wait long as Daniel Cleary tied it up 3 minutes later with a wrister.

The veteran-laden Wings proved to be too much, opening up the game with three unanswered goals in the third period punctuated by Henrik Zetterberg's empty-netter with under a minute to play.

Red Wings fans in Detroit Tweeted and rejoiced in their team's "dominating" performance:

1. 
   madcrayons Blackhawk DOWN! GO WINGS! #redwings 17 May 2009 from web
2. 
   Insanitiki Empty Net Goal! This GAME IS OVER!!!! WOOT! #redwings 17 May 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   zaldor Way to go Red Wings! They win game 1 of round 3 of Stanley Cup playoffs! 17 May 2009 from Twitterrific
4. 
   TomLeyden 7 Wins to Go: Red Wings take Game One of the Western Finals 5-2. Dan Cleary, Chris Osgood and Johan Franzen my three stars. 17 May 2009 from web
5. 
   iChilly REDWINGS DOMINATE the blackhawks!!! 17 May 2009 from TweetDeck

Those in Chicago were disappointed in their team's loss (as well the Cubs and White Sox), but have hope going forward. At least their Tweets said so:

1. 
   praying4ariot Ah well blackhawks played good...detroit was a little better...there are still more games it is best of 7 after all 17 May 2009 from txt
2. 
   MAmatz The blackhawks just broke my heart :( we are dead, so close. What is wrong with Chicago sports? 17 May 2009 from web
3. 
   MCapp22 Cubs, White Sox and Blackhawks all lost today. Not a good day for Chicago sports teams. : ( 17 May 2009 from web
4. 
   pinsuda Sad... #RedWings beat up the #BlackHawks with a final score of 5-2.. We'll just have to get them in the next game! 17 May 2009 from TweetDeck
5. 
   klyph oh well, it's only 1 game. Right, #blackhawks? Next game get some more offensive pressure, mmmkay? 17 May 2009 from TweetDeck

Blackhawks radio analyst Troy Murray (@muzz19) Tweeted his thoughts throughout the game from Joe Louis Arena.

1. 
   muzz19 At Joe Lewis! 17 May 2009 from txt
2. 
   muzz19 Players coming out for warm ups. . .lots of BHawk fans. 17 May 2009 from txt
3. 
   muzz19 Lets get ready to rumble!. . Game on! 17 May 2009 from txt
4. 
   muzz19 Good first 20 mins. . Burish line had lots of energy. Best line for Hawks! 17 May 2009 from txt
5. 
   muzz19 Khabby very good period. Too many mistakes in critical areas but only down by 1. 17 May 2009 from txt

Despite the loss, one Blackhawks fan (@stevewsop) had the opportunity to meet Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz, the man credited with building the storied franchise up again.

The series continues Tuesday night in Detroit at 7:30 EST. Buckle up!

Red Wings outlast Blackhawks to take 1-0 Western Conference Finals lead

Red Wings defeat Ducks 4-3 to advance in NHL playoffs

After several long months of economic turmoil in the Motor City, Detroit has something to be happy about tonight.

Per the Detriot Free Press, the Detriot Red Wings defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 Thursday night to in Game 7, winning the series and advancing to the next round in the NHL playoffs.

Wings had the puck for most of the first two periods and it showed by scoring three goals. Detroit's Jiri Hudler made the first goal of the night at 4:17 in the first period, followed by another Red Wings goal by Darren Helm at the beginning of the second.


Twitpic posted by @XAlien88

Anaheim's Teemu Selanne put the Ducks on the score board, but Mikael Samuelsson's answered back to put the Wings up 3-1.

However, Anaheim wasn't down for the count. Corey Perry scored a little over a minute later, and Bobby Ryan's goal tied the game at 3-3. Detroit fought back with 3:00 left in the third to go up 4-3 on Anaheim via a Daniel Perry goal and win the game.

The Red Wings now face the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals.

As expected, we've got some excited Red Wings fans and some disappointed Anaheim fans tweeting their thoughts after the game:

1. 
   gmbrown YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RED WINGS SCORE!!! 4-3!!!! 15 May 2009 from TwitterFox
2. 
   lindydreyer W00t! That's how we do it in the D! #redwings #hockeytown 15 May 2009 from Tweetie
3. 
   jburgee CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! CLEARY! #redwings 15 May 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   starletta8 Gwen Stefani, Detroit? Nothing says we're tough like that goal music. #redwings 15 May 2009 from TwitterBerry
5. 
   KSom Oh man, I can't even imagine what the JLA is like right now...it sounds amazing over the TV!! #redwings 15 May 2009 from web
6. 
   kennedyg looks like that #detroit #redwings jersey might still have some use this spring... 15 May 2009 from web
7. 
   azgreenday Dang. The Red Wings must be God's way of apologizing for making people live in Detroit. 15 May 2009 from mobile web

1. 
   seanlackey Really dislikes the Detroit Red Wings 15 May 2009 from TwitterBerry
2. 
   mjwiles19 Does anyone else wonder if these games are fixed? Why did the Ducks just watch the Wings score there? They didn't move... 15 May 2009 from web
3. 
   MrinfluXion Ducks season is over... :(. Raiding... 15 May 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   JakeJNelson #Jonas #Hiller played real good in net for the #Ducks ... should be interesting on he plays from here on out 15 May 2009 from Power Twitter
5. 
   prstreiber Detroit v. Chicago in the Western Conf. Finals -- THAT is some old time hockey! Still pleased the Ducks beat the SJ Fish. 15 May 2009 from web
6. 
   kerrywall This would be an excellent time for the Ducks to pull out the Flying V. Quack! (Come on, you're thinking it too.) 15 May 2009 from web
7. 
   Bam86 Damn. Nice try ducks. 15 May 2009 from txt
8. 
   SKeleven I'm proud of my Ducks. 15 May 2009 from TwitterFon

Red Wings defeat Ducks 4-3 to advance in NHL playoffs

Ducks force Game 7 against Red Wings

Remember that phrase "I went to a boxing match and a hockey game broke out"?

Well, the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks broke out the boxing gloves for a few minutes after Game 6 ended, setting up....

Game 7! Up 3-2 in their second-round Western Conference Series, the Red Wings misfired, per ESPN, allowing the No. 8 seed Ducks to force a decisive game back in Michigan with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night.

Anaheim scored two goals-- one by Ryan Getzlaf, one by Corey Perry-- to keep their upset-minded playoff run alive.

Johann Franzen had the lone goal for Detroit, with just a few minutes left in the third period.

Quack-quack went the Twitterverse:

1. 
   c_rosa Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan = phenom. Loving this game. 13 May 2009 from mobile web
2. 
   hititupCHELS I think I'll have children with Ryan Getzlaf so my kids will have absolutely fantastic eyebrows. 13 May 2009 from txt
3. 
   michelelyl AMAHEIM DUCKS WON!!! And Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are boxing!!! Datsuk and Neidermeyer are boxing too!!! Hockey at it's best! 13 May 2009 from web
4. 
   kmpeer Seriously. Ducks I love you for taking on those wings to a game 7. Thank you Ryan Getzlaf, etc. 13 May 2009 from TwitterBerry
5. 
   Mr_Bevo Anaheim Ducks get a Game 7 in Detroit. Good momentum, but tough arena. #nhl #ducks 13 May 2009 from web
6. 
   keithcavey Niedermayer of the Anaheim Ducks will likely be suspended for an elbow he threw at the end of regulation... not smart. 13 May 2009 from web

Octupus-throwing fans from a down-trodden city tweet support:

1. 
   richarddeitsch Serious brawling at the end of Game Six between the Red Wings and Ducks. Game 7 Thur. in Detroit: The Red Wings first Game 7 in seven years. 13 May 2009 from web
2. 
   vikki89 So the Red Wings are doing what they can for the Detroit economy and spirit.... they are bringing game 7 home... 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   brutalbrian And for the record, even if Detroit doesn't win, it's ok. I am proud to call myself a Red Wings fan. 13 May 2009 from txt
4. 
   JasonPratt That was one hell of a fight after the Red Wings/Ducks game!! Ducks win 2-1. Sux! But now they've gotta face the #RedWings back in Detroit. 13 May 2009 from Tweetie

A Detroit Red Tweeter captured this twitpic of Franzen in the penalty box:

(Twitpic by @trentvanegas)

Ducks force Game 7 against Red Wings