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GAME 2: Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Matinee; Put up or shut up time...

May 18, 2013, 10:28 AM ET [11 Comments]
Mark Spizzirri
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PUT UP....OR SHUT UP!

Heading into this afternoon's early matinee Game #2 (1:00pm ET, CBC, NBC) in the Western Conference semi-final between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, the majority of the talk since Chicago's emphatic 4-1 defeat of the Wings on Wednesday night surrounds the expected elevation in play by the Red Wings.

Following Game 1, the Red Wings returned home to sleep in their own beds Wednesday night, enjoyed a full day off Thursday, before returning for practice at the JLA Friday morning before taking the short "commuter" flight back to the Windy City.

Whereas the majority of media and some fans have begun to annoint the Blackhawks as the definite winner of this series, Mike Babcock did his best to put the brakes on that during his press conference on Friday.

"I've seen us play before, so that's what I base it on. That's why I try not to go on all these theories that I keep hearing about. The key for me is, I'll make up my own mind. I'll watch it and make decisions based on that. When we do what we do, then we can evaluate our game. We can't even evaluate our team until we play." - Mike Babcock


He reiterated that his job as head coach is to remain at an even keel during the postseason, attempt to smooth out the roller coaster of emotions players and fans feel over the course of a playoff run. As Babcock so calmly put it to the media asking him questions,

"C'mon guys, it's only Game 1"


Babcock fully expects a much better effort from the Red Wings this afternoon after feeling they fell prey to fatigue after an emotional and physically demanding series (on the ice and in the air) against the Anaheim Ducks.

However, the flip side to that coin is the Chicago Blackhawks are fully expecting a much better effort from Detroit over the course of the entire 60 minutes. The danger for the Red Wings is that while they present more problems for the 'Hawks today than perhaps Minnesota did in Round 1, they may bring out the best in the 'Hawks more than the Wild did.

The lineup appears as though it will remain unchanged for Detroit. Drew Miller who suffered a broken right hand on April 20th, has been cleared to return to the lineup. I don't suspect Babcock yet has confidence in the strength of his hand to place him on the 4th line in place of Patrick Eaves or Todd Bertuzzi.

So given all the shrugging off of this Game 1 loss by the Red Wings as "no big deal", the time is now for the Red Wings to "put up OR shut up"!

Another loss, similar in nature to the Game 1 loss where the Blackhawks dominate the Red Wings for 40 minutes and win comfortably, will only fuel the fire of pundits who believes the Red Wings are truly outmanned in this series. Worse off, it could begin to place the seeds of doubt deep in the sub-conscious of some players themselves that Chicago is just simply better.

Jimmy Howard did his best to alter the script in Game 1, as he was the sole reason Detroit was even in the game after 40 minutes, as he turned aside 17 second period shots from the Chicagoans to keep the Wings tied at one goal apiece heading into the 3rd period.

Howard won't be able to do it all by himself. He will need a much better performance from the remainder of his teammates. Will Babcock and Red Wing fans get that effort from their club?

We'll know for sure in about five hours time.

Return post-game for an "instant reaction" to Game 2 and discuss the outcome with fellow Red Wing fans and the odd Blackhawk fan who ducks into the Red Wing forum.


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