The Chicago Blackhawks were not just the NHL's best team in the 2013 regular season, they were record-setters.
The Detroit Red Wings have endured a steady decline since winning their last Stanley Cup in 2008. After Nicklas Lidstrom retired this past summer, it appeared that the Red Wings were no better than 50-50 to even make the playoffs this season.
Yet after six games of the Western Conference semifinal round of the playoffs, these two teams are tied at 3-3.
The Red Wings and head coach Mike Babcock had no concerns about their public perception and reputation this season. They went out and defeated the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the playoffs, and then they took it to the Blackhawks by building a 3-1 lead.
Chicago did not play with the same verve in the postseason that it had displayed when it went the first 24 games of the regular season without suffering a 60-minute loss. The Blackhawks then beat the Minnesota Wild in five routine games before starting off their series against the Red Wings in lackluster fashion.
But the Blackhawks have surged when their season was on the brink o ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steve Silverman
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