"Detroit Leads the Series, 1-0"

Well, we took the first one. But it sure wasn’t easy…from the Freep:

When the Red Wings needed them, their two superstar forwards came through with a goal that changed the momentum of the game.

The Wings had just endured a frustrating second period against Nashville on Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena, thwarted yet again by a hot goalie. The score was tied at 1, but then Pavel Datsyuk spun his magic with the puck and Henrik Zetterberg, reading his Eurotwin's every move, slid across the ice to finish a perfect setup. Zetterberg added an empty-netter to lift the Wings to a 3-1 victory over the Predators and a 1-0 lead in the first-round series.

Detroit pretty well dominated the game, statistically. From ESPN:

(click for larger)

While the shots are probably the most telling statistic, the shots-on-goal stat also illustrates what a fantastic job Nashville’s Dan Ellis did in goal (he was last night's Third Star)… and the very last thing Deetroit needs in these playoffs is yet another hot goalie. But a quick perusal of the stats shows the Wings are well-prepared for Nashville. Nothing about last night’s game disappointed me.

Not many Anaheim fans can say the same thing this morning… Your five-word mini-review: The Ducks sucked, Turco didn’t. Schadenfreude ‘R’ Us today! (That has nothing to do with last year, Gentle Reader. Nothing at all. Heh.)

Speaking of fans… Here’s a couple of photos from the Freep’s photo gallery of last night’s game that illustrate (in a small way) another reason why I love the game. Captions as found at The Freep.

Detroit fans (Left) Betsy Cushman from Dearborn and Linda Padgett from Northville cheer the Red Wings in the closing seconds of the game between the Detroit Red Wings the Nashville Predators, April 10, 2008 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI. the Red Wings defeated the Predators 3-1. KIRTHMON F. DOZIER/Detroit Free Press

Alyse Schaub, 8 years, gets a puck from Detroit's Aaron Downey as the team warms up prior to the start of the Wings first game against the Nashville Predators, April 10, 2008 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI. (KIRTHMON F. DOZIER/DFP)

And now it’s off to make the rounds. Back later with “more better stuff,” as Blog-Bud Jim sez…

Update: Added from NHL.com... Zetterberg's winning goal. The video ain't the best, but if you pay attention you'll see (a) an aborted clearing pass by Nashville, (b) a lucky bounce and superb puck handling by Pavel Datsyuk, followed by (c) a dazzling cross-ice pass by Datsyuk to Zetterberg who is perfectly positioned for (d) the game-winning one-timer. Ellis had NO chance...

Pretty, ain't it?