Will the Wings Make it or Break it?

With the NHL playoffs getting closer and closer to the coveted Stanley Cup Finals I'm starting to shake a little in my boots with the horrible (and forbidden) thoughts that each game could be the last for the Detroit Red Wings who are now fighting for their lives, and their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. Will this year be the year that the Wings bring the cup home for 12th time? Previously bringing home 11 Stanley cup victories, the last time being in the 07-08 season in a 4-2 series win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. But the real question being, will the Wings survive this current series against the San Jose Sharks?

To say that the start of the series with the Sharks was rough would be an understatement, I would have to say that it was downright brutal. Wings fans were out-raged and disappointed when the Sharks took an 3-0 series lead leaving the Detroit Red Wings fans wondering when they returned home to Joe Louis Arena would they play like the team who swept Phoenix Coyotes in round one. Where was that team when the Wings were now teetering on the edge of having that same fate as the Coyotes in round two? I was surprised (and still am) that we have allowed the Sharks to race ahead in such a great lead over us. Detroit swept the first round, and that was without 2 of our power players Henrik Zetterberg (out with lower body injury) and  Johan Franzen. But with both returning for game 1 of the series vs the Sharks didn't help much, losing to the sharks in over-time 1-2.

Killing power plays has always been a strong suite for the Wings giving up 22 penalties to San Jose, allowing 3 goals to be scored off of those in the last 4 games. Not horrible but not great when those 3 goals have been crucial in 3 San Jose wins. The Big question looming on all Wings fans minds is, Will this series be a repeat of last years series where San Jose eliminated Detroit in game 5? I guess all we Detroit fans can do it hope for the best from our team, hope Howard continues to play as hard as he has been playing and hope that the offense works the puck tonight like they have never done before. If Detroit can play like they did in game 4, in which a 360-spin from Todd Bertuzzi resulted in a goal for Detroit and the killing off of 8 power plays resulted in a win for Detroit, then possibly the Wings could come back. Find out tonight what happens, The game will air at 8 p.m eastern time on Vs.