Detroit Red Wings: Top 5 Playoff Goals Of The Last 5 Years
Oct 17, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) reacts to his goal in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. The Red Wings defeated the Avalanche 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
In anticipation of the upcoming NHL season, Octopus Thrower continues our Summer series of ranking some of the Detroit Red Wings’ “best of” moments. Today we look back into the Red Wings’ storied 24 year playoff streak and pick out the top 5 playoff goals from the past five NHL postseasons.
#5: Datsyuk Dazzles In Boston
The Detroit Red Wings’ 2013-2014 season was one of the more nerve-racking seasons in recent memory. The team struggled, but managed to grind their way into the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference finishing the season with 93 points.
As we all know the NHL postseason is a completely new and different season where as long as you are in it, you’ve got a chance to win it. However, heading into this particular postseason’s first-round match-up against the President Trophy winning Boston Bruins, my gut feeling wasn’t a good one. The Bruins were a well-oiled, big, rough and tough team at this point, and the Red Wings were lucky to have squeaked into the postseason.
But the #5 goal on our list was one of Detroit’s few high-points during their first-round match-up against the Bruins. The Wings came out in game 1 and played like they were meant to be in the postseason and that they weren’t going to be pushed around by the higher-seeded Boston team.
Detroit battled hard and kept the game tied at zero until Pavel Datsyuk busted out his bag of “Datsyukian” tricks and scored late in the third period in only a way that Pavel Datsyuk can do. Datsyuk’s goal would be the only goal of the game and it would be enough to give Red Wings fans hope for the rest of the series.
Next: #4: Glennie Gets A Shorty
Apr 16, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Red Wings right wing Luke Glendening (41) celebrates after he scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Detroit Red Wings defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
#4: Glendening’s Shorthanded Goal
There’s a lot of things you can say about
. He’s a gritty and hard-working grinder whose style of hockey has been embraced and appreciated by Detroit’s blue-collar hockey fans. Luke Glendening also has an uncanny knack for scoring backhanded goals.
All the previously mentioned skills and qualities that Luke possesses were extremely important in the Red Wings being able to force the offensively explosive Tampa Bay Lightning to a seven game series this postseason. The Wings were not expected to defeat the Lightning in the first-round of this year’s NHL Playoffs, let alone go the distance to seven games.
The Wings played great in game 1 of the series against Tampa. At the start of the third-period Detroit was up 2-1 on the Lightning and Glendening stepped up and displayed some heroic tenacity as Detroit was attempting to kill off a Tampa power-play.
Luke chased a puck into the Tampa zone and caught up with it near the left face-off circle where former Red Wing Valtteri Filppula attempted to cut him off. Aware of Filppula’s presence, Glennie quickly out-maneuvered Val with a swift spin-o-rama and backhanded the puck from the slot and in past Ben Bishop.
The goal would prove to be the game-winner for the Red Wings and set the tone for the rest of the opening round series. The looks of disbelief on both John Cooper and Ben Bishop’s faces after the goal were priceless.
Next: Hank Goes Duck Hunting
Jan 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Henrik Zetterberg (40) receives congratulations from teammates after he scores his third goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the third period at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
#3: Zetterberg’s OT Winner In Anaheim
The Red Wings’ 2012-2013 postseason was both one of the more exciting yet deflating playoff runs the team has had in the last five years. Once again the Wings found themselves matched up against a higher-seeded team in the first round, the Anaheim Ducks.
I distinctly remember having the feeling of just being satisfied that Detroit had once again managed to squeak into the playoffs, and was fully expecting to be ousted by the Ducks in the first-round. However, the Red Wings once again proved that anything can happen in the NHL playoffs.
Heading into game 6 of the series the Ducks held a 3-2 lead over the Red Wings and looked to eliminate Detroit in front of their home crowd at the Joe Louis Arena. Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan tied the game late in the third-period for the Ducks which would set up the overtime showdown.
The veteran leadership of Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk, Niklas Kronwall and Henrik Zetterberg wasted no time in ending the game for the Red Wings. After Datsyuk won the draw in the Anaheim zone and dished it to Hank, who quickly dropped it to Kronner at the blue-line. Zetterberg quickly got the puck back from #55 and rifled a shot from the half-boards past Jonas Hiller just a little over one-minute into the overtime period.
The Wings would go on to beat the Ducks in Anaheim in game seven. Detroit also played an exciting series in the next round against the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite taking a 3-0 series lead over the Hawks, the Red Wings were unable to finish them off in game seven.
Next: Datsyuk Strikes Again
Oct 31, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) celebrates his goal in the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
#2: Datsyuk “Steals” The Show Vs. Nashville
As both a blogger and a die-hard fan of the Detroit Red Wings, who lives in Nashville, nothing makes me happier than watching the Red Wings make the Predators look silly. During a moment in game 3 of the Red Wings’ 2012 series against Nashville, Pavel Datsyuk definitely made the Predators look silly.
To give respect where respect is due, I admittedly did not think the Red Wings would be able to defeat the Preds in the opening round. At the time the Preds were the better hockey team and had the home-ice advantage in the series. The Wings were still able to provide some memorable moments in the match-up against Nashville.
There was not a more memorable moment than when Pavel Datsyuk proved why he is one of the most skilled and dangerous players in the league during game 3. Nashville’s young defenceman, Roman Josi, also learned the hard way that you can’t take your eyes off Pavel Datsyuk when he’s on the ice, not even for one second.
As the Preds held onto a 2-0 lead over Detroit late in the second-period, Roman Josi took possession of the puck behind Pekka Rinne and his own net. Datsyuk had eyes on the puck and quickly trailed behind Josi and with a sneaky stick-lift, Datsyuk was able to steal the puck away and wrap it around into the goal past an oblivious Pekka Rinne.
Next: Helmer Prevents The Sweep
Dec 6, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Darren Helm (43) celebrates his goal in the third period against the New York Rangers at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
#1: Darren Helm’s Game Winner In San Jose
Another Detroit Red Wings’ thrilling late-game goal tops our list of the 5 best Red Wing postseason goals. This one comes courtesy of everyone’s favorite speedy center,
.
In 2010-2011, for a second consecutive year, the Red Wings found themselves easily disposing of the Arizona Coyotes in the first-round and then taking on the San Jose Sharks in the second-round. Heading into game 4 of the San Jose series, the Red Wings found themselves looking at being possibly swept out of the playoffs as San Jose held a 3-0 series lead over them.
As the final minutes of the third and final period ticked away, the Wings and Sharks were tied at three goals apiece. Helm won a draw in the Shark’s zone with just a little under two minutes left to play in the game as the Wings battled to keep the puck in the zone. Helm lined up along the right-side of Antti Niemi and was able to catch the goalie out of position after receiving a nice pass from Patrick Eaves.
Helm’s goal would win the game for the Red Wings, and prevent the team from being swept on home-ice. It was a moment/goal that exemplifies what makes playoff hockey stand out as one of the most exciting postseason in all professional sports, proving that nothing is over until it is truly over.
Next: We rank the original six rivalries for the Detroit Red Wings
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