Just like in 2004, Detroit took Nashville out of the playoffs in six games. In the same fashion, Detroit took the first two games, lost the next two, switched their goalie and won the next two games to win the series. However, this time we saw Nick Lidstrom doing something he hasn’t done since the 2002 Stanley Cup Run- score from center ice.In game 1 the Red Wings opened the series up by scoring the first goal six minutes into the game. Johan Franzen took a pass from Hudler and Kronwall to bury it home. Jordan Tootoo later responded with two minutes to go in the second period, tying the game up. In the third, Pavel Datsyuk took advantage of a puck that hit the referee on the way out of the Nashville zone and passed it to Henrik Zetterberg for a goal. Zetterberg later added an empty netter immediately after Kris Draper won a faceoff right outside the Predator’s blue line. Detroit won the opening game 3-1.
The Wings carried the momentum from the first game into game 2 where Darren McCarty banged home the rebound from a Dallas Drake shot 2:26 into the game. Lidstrom blew a puck by Dan Ellis on the power play in the opening minute of the second period, and Detroit looked ready to roll. However, in one of the weirdest bounces you will ever see, Erat shot the puck in around the glass. As Hasek went behind the net to play the puck, it hit a stanchion, bouncing right out in front of the net for Radulov who shot it into the open net. Only 11 seconds later, Jordin Tootoo struck as he scored five-hole of Hasek. The Predators ran around the Wings for the next few minutes until Kris Draper took a shot than bounced off of a Nashville skate and into the net. Tomas Holmstrom added an insurance goal midway through the third to give the Wings a 4-2 win.
In Nashville for game 3, Detroit struck first once again. Kris Draper and Jiri Hudler scored to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. But 12:53 into the second period, Alexander Radulov and David Legwand scored two goals in two and half minutes to tie the game for the Predators. With the crowd on its feet, Pavel Datsyuk scored 40 seconds into the third period on a two on one. Detroit was only four minutes away from going up 3-0 in the series, but Nashville struck again, and struck fast. Ryan Suter and Jason Arnott combined for two goals in 9 seconds, giving Nashville a 4-3 lead. Erat added an empty netter to seal the win 5-3.
Excited on their performance form game 3, the Predators opened up game 4 with two goals in 32 seconds just five minutes into the game. Both were from defensemen, Dan Hamhuis and Shea Weber. Pavel Datsyuk would score a power play goal 6:24 into the second period, but the Predators score again only 11 seconds later. Dominic Hasek was pulled in favor of Chris Osgood, who shut out the Predators the rest of the game. Though Datsyuk added another goal, the Predators held on to win 3-2, and tie the series up at 2-2.
Back in Detroit for game 5, the Red Wings scored early in the first as Valtteri Filppula put them up 1-0. Out shooting Nashville 18-7 in the first period, that was the only goal for either team. Detroit continued their barrage in the second, throwing 20 shots on net as opposed to Nashville’s 3. It would be the same in the third, but Ellis stood tall and Detroit could not muster a goal. With 44 seconds to go in the game, Radek Bonk scored on Osgood to tie the game at 1, sending it to overtime. Taking advantage of a turnover 1:48 into the overtime period, Johan Franzen took a pass from Niklas Kronwall and scored on the breakaway to win the game, 2-1, for Detroit.
In game 6, the first period and half was scoreless, fast paced hockey. Both teams had some great chances, but the goaltenders stood their ground, each making some terrific saves. But 13:44 into the second period, shorthanded, Lidstrom took the puck at center ice and scored on Dan Ellis. The puck bounced in front him and jumped top shelf, but nevertheless, the Wings led 1-0. After killing off the rest of the penalty and a 5 on 3, Detroit continued throwing pucks at the net, outshooting Nashville 21-4 in the middle period. Only 3:52 into the third, Jiri Hudler one timed a puck home to put the Wings up 2-0, and Rafalski scored an empty netter with 5 seconds left. 3-0 final Detroit, they move on to play either Calgary or Colorado in the second round.
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