After game four win without Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit would have to repeat the feat in game five. This time, they were also without breakout defensive star Jonathan Ericsson. They also had to face a Chicago side that now has nothing to lose and would be at its most dangerous. With the pressure off, the Blackhawks were loose and ready to have some fun on the Detroit River.

Chicago 1 @ Detroit 2 (OT) – It was only fitting that such a closely fought series would go to overtime in the deciding game. Once again, it was Detroit exploiting its depth to get an early overtime victory to send them to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive year.

There was no scoring in the first two periods but there were a fair number of chances. In the first period alone, Detroit managed to get 21 shots on Cristobal Huet without getting one to light the lamp. Their ten shots in second period were also turned aside. However, Chris Osgood didn’t have things much easier at the home end of the ice. Osgood turned aside twenty shots over the first fourty minutes to keep the score levelled at zeroes.

Six minutes in the third, the Red Wings opened the scoring. A Brett Lebda shot from the point was tipped in front by Dan Cleary to give Detroit the lead and nearly blow the roof off the Joe Louis Arena. The lead would only last seven minutes. Patrick Kane took the puck along the right wing, cut down to the side of the Wings goal where he lifted a back just under the crossbar to even the game at 1-1.

The score would remain level for the final seven minutes of regulation so it was off to overtime. The extra frame would last less than four minutes. A Brett Lebda shot from the point bounced off those infamous Joe Louis Arena boards and onto the stick of Tomas Holmstrom. Holmstrom jammed away at and slid it under Huet but it slid across the crease. That was where Darren Helm was camped out. He slammed home the rebound to win the game and the series and literally blow the roof off the Joe.

Despite what seemed like a resounding loss in the series, the Blackhawks can leave with their head held high. With the exception of game four, every game was a close one. Chicago gave Detroit everything that they could handle in this series. This series came down to experience and depth and Detroit had both in spades. Many pundits thought that this team was years away from this level but its a credit to these players that they were able to come together to get by two good playoff teams in Calgary and Vancouver. Expect them to see a finals of their own in the not too distant future.

Meanwhile, Detroit had a very good tune-up for their next series: the much anticipated rematch with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The big thing now for Detroit is resting for the finals. Without three very good players is bad enough in the Western Conference finals. Without three very good players in the Stanley Cup Finals could be nearly fatal.

Detroit wins the series 4-1

Three Stars of the Night:
1. Darren Helm (Detroit)
2. Cristobal Huet (Chicago)
3. Chris Osgood (Detroit)

Saturday’s Schedule:
Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings (TV: CBC, NBC)