Red Wings Take Western Conference

The Detroit Red Wings have hoisted the Stanley Cup 11 times in their history and this year, they're going to have the chance to do it for the 12th time. Wednesday night they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in overtime, winning the series in five games. In the Finals the Wings will face the Penguins and for the first time since the Oilers and Islanders did it in 1983 and 1984 the Stanley Cup finals will be a repeat of the previous season.

Despite missing Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom due to injury, the Wings closed out the Hawks on their home ice at the Joe. The scoreboard doesn't paint a clear picture of the game, either. If not for Hawks netminder Cristobal Huet, overtime likely would not have been necessary.

Red Wings 2, Blackhawks 1 (OT): Recap | Box Score
Red Wings Win Series 4-1

For much of the game, and especially in the first period, it seemed like Huet was the only Hawk who came to play. He stopped 21 shots in the first period alone en route to allowing two goals and making 44 saves. It was in stark contrast to Game 4 when Huet allowed five goals and was pulled for Corey Crawford who hadn't played in an NHL game all year.

Huet kept the Hawks in the game long enough so that Patrick Kane could show why he is one of the best young players in the game today. Despite facing a barrage and getting outplayed even when they had the man advantage -- in large credit to Detroit's Darren Helm -- the Hawks were only down one in the third when Kane took the puck and flew up the right wing side. He evaded the defense and put a highlight reel backhander past Chris Osgood, the netminder's only blemish on the night. The goal forced overtime, but the Hawks demise would be swift and decisive.

This was Detroit's night from start to finish. They looked like the defending Cup champions and not only that, ones who knew exactly how to close out a series. They jumped on the Hawks early and didn't let off the pedal. Huet frustrated them all night but they simply kept plugging away and totally outworked Chicago up and down the ice.

The Wings now move on to face the Penguins in the Finals, the same team that they defeated in six games last year. The series will start this Saturday at 8 PM ET in Detroit.

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DETROIT - MAY 27: The Detroit Red Wings celebrate with their fans along the boards after Darren Helm scored the game-winnning goal in overtime for a 2-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks during Game Five of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 27, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

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DETROIT - MAY 27: Henrik Zetterberg #40 (R) of the Detroit Red Wings recieves the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl from NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Jim Gregory after the Red Wings won 2-1 in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks during Game Five of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 27, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Henrik Zetterberg;Jim Gregory

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DETROIT - MAY 27: Head coach Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings answers questions from the media at a press conference after their 2-1 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks during Game Five of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 27, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Babcock

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DETROIT - MAY 27: Goalie Chris Osgood #30 of the Detroit Red Wings answers questions from the media at a press conference after their 2-1 overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks during Game Five of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 27, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Osgood

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DETROIT - MAY 27: Dave Bolland #36 of the Chicago Blackhawks falls over the top of Brian Rafalski #28 the Detroit Red Wings as Rafalski controls the puck during Game Five of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 27, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dave Bolland;Brian Rafalski

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DETROIT - MAY 27: Andrew Ladd #16 of the Chicago Blackhawks sets up in front of the goal against goalie Chris Osgood #30 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Five of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 27, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Andrew Ladd;Chris Osgood

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DETROIT - MAY 27: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates with the puck against Valtteri Filppula #51 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Five of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 27, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Patrick Kane;Valtteri Filppula

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DETROIT - MAY 27: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on against the Detroit Red Wings during Game Five of the Western Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 27, 2009 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Patrick Kane

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