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Energy boost Wings' intensity in Game 3 has made this a series againPosted: Monday April 22, 2002 1:38 AMUpdated: Monday April 22, 2002 2:21 AM
This game wasn’t a must-win game for the Red Wings, but it was certainly of grave importance. The tell-tale sign? The amount of hitting initiated by the Wings -- many of those bodychecks coming on the forecheck as a result of shoot-ins. Dumping and chasing is a style normally eschewed by the puck possession professionals from Hockeytown. However, they had to get after it, something they didn’t do enough of on home ice. That early energy generated a power-play goal by captain Steve Yzerman, who skated better in the first period than at any time in the first two games. Throughout the first and early in the second, Dan Cloutier again held his team in contention with his superb play. After robbing Sergei Fedorov early in the second, the veteran Red Wings showed signs of frustration, taking five successive penalties. The megastar lineup griped and groused after every call, another indication that the stakes were high in this one.
The Canucks drew even off a set play from a face-off -- a tactic coach Mark Crawford creatively employs more than any other NHL bench boss -- with Todd Bertuzzi sneaking in all alone and finishing over a falling Dominik Hasek. But in all, Detroit killed off nearly six minutes of penalty time in the middle frame, before resuming their full-tilt assault with up-ice pressure. But Cloutier and the Canucks were calm and composed, as they’ve been throughout the series. The biggest difference in this game from the first two -- and the best indicator of the stakes -- was the sense of urgency displayed by Detroit. The intensity of the one-on-one battles made the first two games look like September preseason affairs. Kirk Maltby went at it with Ed Jovanovski. At the other end, Bertuzzi continued his punishing rivalry with Chris Chelios, battering the 40-year-old warrior, but not besting him. Every whistle drew a congregation of snarly combatants -- always a sign that contempt has replaced formality. Chippy bordered on dirty at times -- none more so than a seemingly well disguised intentional stick to the face on Bertuzzi by Brendan Shanahan. In addition, in their honest effort to get to the front of the net, the Red Wings crashed into Cloutier at least three times throughout. Despite all that, the game, and maybe the series, changed on a 100-foot shot with 25 seconds remaining in the second period, one that Cloutier simply missed. Then, to start the third, the Red Wings continued to dominate -- able to enter the zone on the rush, with the earlier dump-ins effectively softening the Canucks defensive posture. Swiftly, Shanahan tested Cloutier, pouncing on a forechecking-induced turnover wiring a wrister from 20 feet. The heretofore impeccably positioned Cloutier was guilty of drifting towards the shooter -- just that quickly the Wings led 3-1. Suddenly, the Canucks were a lot less self-assured than moments earlier. Suddenly, the Wings found the right threshold of inspired play. Suddenly, this is a dandy series. Three Stars1. Shanahan: He had a goal and assist, played physically and competed with an edge -- a stick to the face of the opposition’s best player qualifies. 2. Bertuzzi: The aforementioned "opposition’s best player" scored a goal and punished people along the wall with several crushing bodychecks. 3. Yzerman: The captain also had a goal and an assist playing on a line with Shanahan and Fedorov, but his contribution went deeper, as he came out and showed his teammates the requisite and expected work ethic. Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, is a hockey analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and will provide Stanley Cup Playoffs commentary throughout the postseason for CNNSI.com.
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