The First Must Win Game Of 2013- Chicago Visits Detroit

May 10, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Al Sobotka swings an octopus that was throw on the ice before game six of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Game #4- Chicago Blackhawks vs Detroit Red Wings (Wings lead series 2-1)

Game Time-7pm

TV– NBCSN

Preview- The Red Wings dominated Game #2 and then caught a bunch of breaks in Game #3 and to their credit took full advantage of those breaks to take control of the series 2-1.  Pavel Datsyuk has controlled the face-off dot and threw in a pretty sick game clinching goal in Game #3 to boot.  The Wings have been very defensive minded against the Hawks in the Mike Babcock chess match with Joel Quenneville.  The suspect Detroit defense has been stellar especially against the Hawks captain Jonathan Toews.   To help the defense out has been Jimmy Howard who has been stellar in both Detroit wins.  The Wings defense has clogged up the neutral zone while giving Howard clean sight lines for Hawks shots.  Detroit has a shot to take a strangle-hold on the series with a win tonight.

The Hawks after game three were introduced to someone they haven’t met this season that goes by the name adversity.  The Hawks came out of the gates flying right to the President’s trophy.  Now is the time for guys to step up and prove that this is the Chicago Blackahawks team with the heart of a champion and not some weak Vancouver Canuck knock off that can win regular season games only to crack under the Cup playoff pressure.  The Hawks stars need to step up and step up quickly and yes for a rare occasion we are talking about the Captain Jonathan Toews who still has a goose egg on the scoresheet behind his name with goals scored in eight playoff games.  One Hawk that looks to be on the verge of a huge breakout is Brandon Saad who had a great Game #3 and could finally have the his mojo back for a big Game #4.

Prediction-The Hawks come out flying and take control of this game early and tie up the series with a 3-1 win, even though there will be entirely too many stupid octopus thrown on the ice.

What is your prediction?

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