As I sat down to watch Game 6 of the Coyotes-Red Wings series this afternoon, I was preparing to write about a Detroit win and how the Red Wings once again showed the NHL why they have been to the Stanley Cup Finals six times since 1995.
Solid wins in Games four and five in which they outscored the Coyotes 7-1 gave the impression the Wings had put their stamp on this series, and were about to teach the upstart Coyotes a lesson they have tought so many other teams in the playoffs over the last 15 years.
However, just a few hours later I realized this was not going to be the case. Despite being outshot 14-6 in the first period, the Coyotes came out of the first period with a lead, and cruised to a solid 5-2 beat down of the Red Wings to force a Game 7 on Tuesday night in Phoenix.
The Red Wings, who pride themselves on playing disciplined hockey, were uncharacteristically undisciplined on Sunday afternoon. Detroit gave up a shorthanded goal to the Coyotes Lauri Korpikoski just 4:10 into the game as Detroits' Brad Stuart nonchalantly carried the puck out of his end.
Detroit's penalty kill, which is always amongst the best in the league, had it's worst game of the series Sunday as they allowed the Coyotes three power play goals on six opporunities; two of which came in the second period that allowed the Coyotes to blow the game open.
After Game 5 on Friday, it seemed the Coyotes cinderalla season was nearing it's end. The Wings had just unleashed one of their classic playoff performances and were coming back to Joe Louis Arena with a chance to clinch the series in front of their passionate home fans.
But, no one expected the Coyotes to even make it to the playoffs, but they did. After five losses in their final nine games dropped them to fourth in the Western Conference standings, their weren't many people who gave the Coyotes a chance against the two-time defending Western Conference champions, who happened to be entering the playoffs having won 17 of their final 22 regular season games.
But, the Coyotes have won two of the three games in Detroit, and have now pushed the Red Wings to their first Game 7 in the quarterfinals since 1994, which, just for the record was a Red Wings loss.
The Coyotes have defied the odds makers all season long and they did it again Sunday afternoon. If they do it one more time on Tuesday night they will advanced to the second round for the first time since 1987 when the franchise was still in Winnipeg.
Considering what they've already overcome this season, a Game 7 against the Red Wings on home ice doesn't seem like that arduous of a task.
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