Chicago Blackhawk Fans and NHL Execs Get Their Original 6 Semi-Finals Matchup

The conference semi-finals of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs have concluded and the conference finals are upon us, out west the dream match up of NHL executives seeking higher television ratings and Blackhawks fans hoping to finally get by an old rival has come true as the upstart Chicago Blackhawks take on the battle tested and defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.

To compare this rivalry to anything short of a hammer vs. a nail over the past fifteen years would be a shame.Gre On one hand you have the Wings who are seeking their fifth Cup since 1997 and their sixth Stanley Cup Finals appearance since 1995. 

This is also the third year in a row that the "Winged-Wheel" has made it to the Western Conference finals.

On the other hand this is as far as the Blackhawks have made it since 1995, the year they lost to Detroit in five games in the Western Conference Finals. 

To put it all together, this is the second time the Blackhawks have made the playoffs this decade, Detroit has already won two Stanley Cups in that same time period while making the playoffs each year since 1991, the longest such streak in professional sports.

The Wings have had the luxury of being a blow-out winner in round one of the playoffs by sweeping away Columbus in four games before being taken down to the wire in round two before prevailing against Anaheim in seven games. 

Chicago was seen as an inexperienced team by many national analysts, a team that would not be able to handle getting roughed up by Calgary, yet got back in six games. 

Nobody thought they would be able to penetrate the net being protected by Roberto Luongo in round two, yet they got by the favored Canucks in six games.

Now two original six rivals meet in what promises to be a fast paced best of seven series. Sure the teams met six times in the regular season, the Wings came out on top with a record of 4-2-0 while the Hawks finished 2-2-2. 

Hawks fans will argue that they won the last two games of the year against Detroit, games that meant nothing for either team. Wings fans argue back that they handled the season series with ease, winning the first four contests. 

The fact that two of the Wings four wins came in the form of a shootout makes what happened in the regular season irrelevant in my eyes.

The Blackhawks enter as a huge underdog in this series but a well rested team not having played since Monday night.  Detroit comes in favored and having only two days of rest when the puck drops at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday afternoon.

3 Keys for the Hawks

1) Stay out of the Box

Of the four remaining teams in the playoffs Chicago enters the semi-finals as the most penalized this post season. The Wings enter the series converting 26.4% of their power play opportunities into goals. 

The Hawks have also spent 77 more minutes in the penalty box than the Wings this postseason in just one more game, give the Wings an advantage like they have against Calgary and Vancouver and this series will be short.

2) Don't fall behind 

This postseason the Hawks have gotten a few breaks and won several games despite failing to score first, in fact they enter with a 5-2 record when failing to score the first goal.  Conversley, Detroit is 6-1 when scoring first. 

The Wings are hard as hell to come back on and Chicago won't be able to the same way they did against the Flames and Canucks.

3) Don't Rely on Khabibulin 

Don't get me wrong, its fine to count on any goaltender to be there during any game and the postseason.  Just because Khabibulin has out performed Kiprusoff and Roberto Luongo does not mean he has been anything great this postseason as he has allowed nearly three goals a game en route to an 8-4 playoff record. 

The Hawks defense will have to step it up a notch because relying too heavily on Khabi will make this series end in a bad way for the Blackhawks.

3 Keys for the Wings

1) Continue to Control the Puck 

Despite what many Blackhawks fans will tell you, the goal tending and defense of the Blackhawks simply is not that strong. 

They can get away with it to a certain degree because of the ability of their forwards but if the Wings continue to put 35+ shots up a night they will be headed the Cup finals for the second straight year.

2) Stay out of the Box 

A key for Chicago as well I am aware but the Wings penalty kill has done very poor this postseason, killing only 72% of penalties against them which is good for last among remaining playoff teams. 

Chicago also has the best conversion rate on power plays in the postseason, scoring on just under 30% of them this year. The team who keeps five men on the ice for the majority will win this series.

3) Get Pavel Datsyuk Involved 

His defense was strong as usual against Anaheim but offensively he has only five points in eleven games. 

If he keeps the Toews-line in check it will mean great things for Detroit, if he keeps it in check while showing some of the brilliance he has on offense, the Wings roll.

Prediction:

The Hawks will leave Detroit knotted at one but after that Detroit runs away with it.  4-2 Wings