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In Game 2 of the Western Conference Semi-Final, anyone expecting a repeat of the way the Hawks dominated Detroit in game 1 is probably going to be disappointed.

Mike Babcock is too good a head coach and the Wings are too smart and crafty, for that to happen. I would expect the Wings to compensate somehow, to make less mistakes, to perhaps make the Hawks pay for the very aggressive approach they absolutely should take.

In baseball, they tell hitters to take pitches until the pitcher throws a strike. Until the Wings can prove otherwise, the Hawks should continue to assume that relentless pressure on Wing defensemen deep in their end is the key to victory.

At some point, the Wings could make a pinching Hawk defenseman (with late or no forward back rotation) pay with a stretch pass and a goal. On the other hand, Jimmy Howard could be more beatable than he was on Wednesday in Game 1. If the Hawks outshoot the Wings 2-1 again, this one could get ugly

The outcome of the game is hard to predict—the style of play probably isn't. The Hawks will forecheck and try to maintain offensive zone pressure. The Wings will try to force them to over commit. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if Niklas Kronwall or Justin Abdelkader take a run at a Hawk forward or two.

For the Hawks, the prescription is simple. Play hard, play with emotion-but not out of control emotionally as Andrew Shaw did in the first period Wednesday. keep your heads up and play stifling defense over 200 feet of ice. Pavel Datsyuk didn't fail to register a shot because he took the night off in Game 1. He failed because Duncan Keith was all over him for 24 of 27 shifts.

MY INFO ON STALBERG

What I heard was this: Viktor Stalberg addressed his frustration with a lack of power play time to assistant coach Jamie Kompon. Allegedly, in that, or a subsequent conversation, Stalberg expressed some frustration that there was a double standard for him (and presumably other players) and rookie Brandon Saad. Is this true? I don't know. Is it implausible? Not at all. Some might say Stalberg has a point, even if he was out of line expressing it.

Regardless, not much should be made about this. Petty rivalries and TOI complaints are nothing new in NHL dressing rooms. This will blow over and Stalberg will likely see the ice in this series.

All I have for now,


JJ

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