Chicago Blackhawks vs Detroit Red Wings

I bet against the Red Wings in the opening round.  I bet against the Red Wings in this round.  So far, not so good.

I said before I greatly respect Red Wings coach Mike Babcock as maybe the best in the game.  What he’s doing with this young team is remarkable. 

At the beginning of the playoffs, I really thought only the Henrik Zetterberg line was of playoff caliber.  Now they have three lines who are all making real contributions to the effort.  Parlay that with goaltender Jimmy Howard’s excellent play and you have a young team blending with its veterans, finding its way through the playoffs.

I still think the Blackhawks are the class of the West, no worse than the second best team in hockey (to the Penguins, who aren’t playing so great either).  But right now this Red Wings team scares the heck out of me.  I looked at tonight’s game, with the Blackhawks -140 and couldn’t come up with a play.  My first thought was the series price on the Blackhawks, which is -220.  A Red Wings victory tonight will flip that around quite a bit.  The Red Wings already have home ice.  

Sorry, folks.  I cant figure this one out.  I have to pass.