NHL

Game	Date	Matchup/Result	Breakdown
1	Thursday, April 24, 7:30pm et (TSN)	Colorado 3 @ Detroit 4	Recap \| Box
2	Saturday, April 26, 2:30pm et (TSN)	Colorado 1 @ Detroit 5	Recap \| Box
3	Tuesday, April 29, 10pm et (TSN)	Detroit 4 @ Colorado 3	Recap \| Box
4	Thursday, May 1, 10pm et (TSN)	Detroit 8 @ Colorado 2	Recap \| Box
Red Wings win series 4-0

DETROIT RED WINGS
Team Page \| Roster \| Stats Regular Season Record: 54-21-7, 115 pts Head-to-Head Record: 4-0-0 Last Stanley Cup Win: 2002 Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: 2002 Last Postseason Appearance: 2007 Players with Stanley Cup Rings: Darren McCarty (3) , Kirk Maltby (3), Kris Draper (3), Tomas Holmstrom (3), Nicklas Lidstrom (3), Chris Chelios (2), Chris Osgood (2), Brian Rafalski (2), Dominik Hasek, Pavel Datsyuk How they got here: The Red Wings first round win over Nashville was a lot like their regular season - good start, poor middle, decent finish. After taking the first two games at home, the Wings lost twice in Nashville and replaced starting goalie Dominik Hasek with Chris Osgood. Johan Franzen's overtime goal in Game 5 saved Detroit from falling behind in the series, and Osgood blanked the Predators in the sixth game to wrap it up. There were some good signs for Detroit with Niklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall playing well on defence and Jiri Hudler notching five points, but there were also causes for worry. Although Osgood played well, the benching of Hasek could serve as a distraction. And the usually reliable Kris Draper was an uncharacteristic -3 in the series. Can the older Red Wings - and there are lots of them - turn it up another notch against their rivals from Denver? 1st Round Series Pages: Red Wings vs. Predators What They Bring To The Table: The Red Wings were once again the class of the Western Conference, sporting their third straight 50-plus win season. Included in that total were four wins in as many tries against Colorado - three by shutout. But there were some stretches when the team didn't look as good as advertised. They went through an awful run in February where they lost 10 of 11 games and had to cope with injuries to key players like Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Dan Cleary and Niklas Kronwall. Nevertheless, the team still has a lethal one-two punch in Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg while defenceman Brian Rafalski set career highs in goals and points. Where depth is concerned, the team is well balanced with the reliable shutdown duo of Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby, along with forwards Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen and Mikael Samuelsson. Defence is also a very strong suit, with Lidstrom, Kronwall and Rafalski joined by Brad Stuart and veteran Chris Chelios. Coach Mike Babcock has said all season that The Dominator is the man, but Osgood was clearly the better option in the first round.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
Team Page \| Roster \| Stats Regular Season Record: 44-31-7, 95 points Head-to-Head Record: 0-4-0 Last Stanley Cup Win: 2001 Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: 2001 Last Postseason Appearance: 2006 Players with Stanley Cup Rings: Joe Sakic (2), Peter Forsberg (2), Adam Foote (2), Milan Hejduk, Scott Parker How they got here: The first round seemed just like old times for Colorado fans as Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg paced the Avalanche to a six-game win over Minnesota. It was a hotly contested series with five of the six games being decided by one goal, including three in overtime. Sakic set the tone with the overtime winner in Game 1 and led the team with six points in the series. Andrew Brunette paced the Avs with three goals and tied Forsberg's total of five points. At some point, the young guns will have to fire, but for now the Avs are happy to have the old guard back on point duty. The real story for Colorado, though, was another re-birth by a former Habs' goaltender. He did give up two overtime goals in the series, but Jose Theodore was otherwise excellent, brushing off the cobwebs to stop 188 of 200 shots (.940 save percentage) and post a 1.88 goals against average. 1st Round Series Pages: Avalanche vs. Wild What They Bring To The Table: The Avalanche have been one of the league's most resilient teams this season considering all the key injuries they have endured. Colorado has had to play long stretches without captain Joe Sakic, wingers Ryan Smyth and Marek Svatos, sophomore Paul Stastny and defenceman Jordan Leopold. With an injury-plagued lineup, the team has had big contributions from players like Wojtek Wolski, Andrew Brunette, and especially goaltender Jose Theodore. The former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner put together a very strong season, reminiscent of his award-winning campaign back in 2002. With a healthier lineup and the return of centre Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote, the Avs have the depth, talent and experience to do some damage out of the Western Conference. Statistical keys to the series - Detroit ranked third in the league on the power play, with a 20.7% success rate. Colorado ranked 28th at 14.6%. - Detroit ranked eighth in the league in penalty killing, with an 84.0% success rate. Colorado ranked 21st at 81.4%. - Detroit ranked first in the league with 34.4 shots on goal per game and first in the league with 23.5 shots allowed per game. - Colorado ranked fifth in the league with 27.3 shots against per game. - Detroit ranked third in the league with 3.07 goals per game and first with 2.18 goals against per game. - Andreas Lilja (133), Brad Stuart (118) and Tomas Kopecky (111) are the Red Wings' leading hitters. - Ruslan Salei (162), Jeff Finger (121) and Ben Guite (115) are the Avalanche's leading hitters. Salei's total includes hits with Florida. - Kris Draper is the Red Wings' top face-off man -- 58.6%. - Paul Stastny is the Avalanche's top face-off man -- 51.0%. - Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg tied for fifth in the league with 43 goals. - Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom ranked fifth in the league with 60 assists. - Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk ranked fourth in the league with 97 points. - Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk first in the league with a plus-41. Nicklas Lidstrom ranked second at plus-40 while Henrik Zetterberg ranked fifth at plus-30. - Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg ranked second in the league with 358 shots on goal. - Detroit's leaders in power play ice time (per game): Nicklas Lidstrom 4:43 Henrik Zetterberg 4:35 Brian Rafalski 4:28 Pavel Datsyuk 4:23 Tomas Holmstrom 4:21 Brad Stuart 3:00 * - Stuart's stats include totals with Los Angeles. - Colorado's leaders in power play ice time (per game): Joe Sakic 5:14 John-Michael Liles 4:39 Paul Stastny 4:11 Peter Forsberg 3:55 Ryan Smyth 3:53 Milan Hejduk 3:40 - Detroit's leaders in penalty killing ice time (per game): Nicklas Lidstrom 3:57 Chris Chelios 3:57 Andreas Lilja 2:53 Brad Stuart 2:51 Kris Draper 2:43 Niklas Kronwall 2:24 * - Stuart's numbers include totals with Los Angeles. - Colorado's leaders in penalty killing ice time (per game): Adam Foote 4:30 Brett Clark 3:12 Kurt Sauer 3:10 Scott Hannan 3:04 Ben Guite 2:45 Ian Laperriere 2:31 * - Foote's stats include totals from Columbus

DETROIT RED WINGS

Team Page | Roster | Stats
Regular Season Record: 54-21-7, 115 pts
Head-to-Head Record: 4-0-0
Last Stanley Cup Win: 2002
Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: 2002
Last Postseason Appearance: 2007
Players with Stanley Cup Rings: Darren McCarty (3) , Kirk Maltby (3), Kris Draper (3), Tomas Holmstrom (3), Nicklas Lidstrom (3), Chris Chelios (2), Chris Osgood (2), Brian Rafalski (2), Dominik Hasek, Pavel Datsyuk

How they got here: The Red Wings first round win over Nashville was a lot like their regular season - good start, poor middle, decent finish. After taking the first two games at home, the Wings lost twice in Nashville and replaced starting goalie Dominik Hasek with Chris Osgood. Johan Franzen's overtime goal in Game 5 saved Detroit from falling behind in the series, and Osgood blanked the Predators in the sixth game to wrap it up. There were some good signs for Detroit with Niklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall playing well on defence and Jiri Hudler notching five points, but there were also causes for worry. Although Osgood played well, the benching of Hasek could serve as a distraction. And the usually reliable Kris Draper was an uncharacteristic -3 in the series. Can the older Red Wings - and there are lots of them - turn it up another notch against their rivals from Denver?

1st Round Series Pages: Red Wings vs. Predators

What They Bring To The Table: The Red Wings were once again the class of the Western Conference, sporting their third straight 50-plus win season. Included in that total were four wins in as many tries against Colorado - three by shutout. But there were some stretches when the team didn't look as good as advertised. They went through an awful run in February where they lost 10 of 11 games and had to cope with injuries to key players like Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Dan Cleary and Niklas Kronwall. Nevertheless, the team still has a lethal one-two punch in Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg while defenceman Brian Rafalski set career highs in goals and points. Where depth is concerned, the team is well balanced with the reliable shutdown duo of Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby, along with forwards Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen and Mikael Samuelsson. Defence is also a very strong suit, with Lidstrom, Kronwall and Rafalski joined by Brad Stuart and veteran Chris Chelios. Coach Mike Babcock has said all season that The Dominator is the man, but Osgood was clearly the better option in the first round.

COLORADO AVALANCHE

Team Page | Roster | Stats
Regular Season Record: 44-31-7, 95 points
Head-to-Head Record: 0-4-0
Last Stanley Cup Win: 2001
Last Stanley Cup Final Appearance: 2001
Last Postseason Appearance: 2006
Players with Stanley Cup Rings: Joe Sakic (2), Peter Forsberg (2), Adam Foote (2), Milan Hejduk, Scott Parker

How they got here: The first round seemed just like old times for Colorado fans as Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg paced the Avalanche to a six-game win over Minnesota. It was a hotly contested series with five of the six games being decided by one goal, including three in overtime. Sakic set the tone with the overtime winner in Game 1 and led the team with six points in the series. Andrew Brunette paced the Avs with three goals and tied Forsberg's total of five points. At some point, the young guns will have to fire, but for now the Avs are happy to have the old guard back on point duty. The real story for Colorado, though, was another re-birth by a former Habs' goaltender. He did give up two overtime goals in the series, but Jose Theodore was otherwise excellent, brushing off the cobwebs to stop 188 of 200 shots (.940 save percentage) and post a 1.88 goals against average.

1st Round Series Pages: Avalanche vs. Wild

What They Bring To The Table: The Avalanche have been one of the league's most resilient teams this season considering all the key injuries they have endured. Colorado has had to play long stretches without captain Joe Sakic, wingers Ryan Smyth and Marek Svatos, sophomore Paul Stastny and defenceman Jordan Leopold. With an injury-plagued lineup, the team has had big contributions from players like Wojtek Wolski, Andrew Brunette, and especially goaltender Jose Theodore. The former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner put together a very strong season, reminiscent of his award-winning campaign back in 2002. With a healthier lineup and the return of centre Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote, the Avs have the depth, talent and experience to do some damage out of the Western Conference.

Statistical keys to the series

- Detroit ranked third in the league on the power play, with a 20.7% success rate. Colorado ranked 28th at 14.6%.

- Detroit ranked eighth in the league in penalty killing, with an 84.0% success rate. Colorado ranked 21st at 81.4%.

- Detroit ranked first in the league with 34.4 shots on goal per game and first in the league with 23.5 shots allowed per game.

- Colorado ranked fifth in the league with 27.3 shots against per game.

- Detroit ranked third in the league with 3.07 goals per game and first with 2.18 goals against per game.

- Andreas Lilja (133), Brad Stuart (118) and Tomas Kopecky (111) are the Red Wings' leading hitters.

- Ruslan Salei (162), Jeff Finger (121) and Ben Guite (115) are the Avalanche's leading hitters. Salei's total includes hits with Florida.

- Kris Draper is the Red Wings' top face-off man -- 58.6%.

- Paul Stastny is the Avalanche's top face-off man -- 51.0%.

- Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg tied for fifth in the league with 43 goals.

- Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom ranked fifth in the league with 60 assists.

- Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk ranked fourth in the league with 97 points.

- Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk first in the league with a plus-41. Nicklas Lidstrom ranked second at plus-40 while Henrik Zetterberg ranked fifth at plus-30.

- Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg ranked second in the league with 358 shots on goal.

- Detroit's leaders in power play ice time (per game):
Nicklas Lidstrom 4:43
Henrik Zetterberg 4:35
Brian Rafalski 4:28
Pavel Datsyuk 4:23
Tomas Holmstrom 4:21
Brad Stuart 3:00
* - Stuart's stats include totals with Los Angeles.
- Colorado's leaders in power play ice time (per game):
Joe Sakic 5:14
John-Michael Liles 4:39
Paul Stastny 4:11
Peter Forsberg 3:55
Ryan Smyth 3:53
Milan Hejduk 3:40

- Detroit's leaders in penalty killing ice time (per game):
Nicklas Lidstrom 3:57
Chris Chelios 3:57
Andreas Lilja 2:53
Brad Stuart 2:51
Kris Draper 2:43
Niklas Kronwall 2:24
* - Stuart's numbers include totals with Los Angeles.

- Colorado's leaders in penalty killing ice time (per game):
Adam Foote 4:30
Brett Clark 3:12
Kurt Sauer 3:10
Scott Hannan 3:04
Ben Guite 2:45
Ian Laperriere 2:31
* - Foote's stats include totals from Columbus

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