Nicklas Lidstrom (5) of the Detroit Red Wings skates off the ice after losing to the San Jose Sharks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 8, 2010 in San Jose. (Jed Jacobsohn/ Getty Images)
The San Jose Sharks took the Detroit Red Wings out in five games in the second round of last spring's playoffs, and that fact is not lost on the Detroit players as they prepare to begin the rematch in this year's Western Conference semifinals.
"There is a little bit of revenge we want to get," Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said.
"I wouldn't say it's high up on our list of motivation," added defenceman Brad Stuart, but definitely when you do get knocked out by a team. You want to put it behind you. The best way to do that is by taking them out.
"Our goal is to win the Cup. Revenge isn't theme, but I'm sure we can use it as a little bit of motivation."
Four times previously, the Wings have been eliminated from the playoffs by the same team in successive seasons, most recently when the Colorado Avalanche took them out in second-round series in 1999 and 2000.
Detroit dropped back-to-back Western Conference finals to the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1988, and were beaten in consecutive Stanley Cup finals by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1963 and 1964. The Leafs knocked the Wings out of the playoffs three years in a row between 1947-49.
The Sharks are taking nothing for granted, though.
"I think it's just the rivalry that makes for good games between these two teams, Sharks forward Devin Setoguchi said. "Both teams get fired up to play against each other."
Franzen ready to go
Johan Franzen, who missed Game 4 of the opening round against Phoenix with a injured left ankle, confirmed after Wednesday's practice that he will be a go for Game 1.
"I'm fine," Franzen said.
His teammates left little doubt as to what Franzen's presence remember he scored five goals in Game 4 against the Sharks last spring will mean in the upcoming series.
We all know how important he is for our team, Detroit forward Dan Cleary said. When he's going, he's very hard to stop.
If he gets on a roll, it's complete dominance physically. His skating, he's so powerful working without the puck and his shot is world class.
All's Well
A surprising star for the Sharks in their first-round dispatching of the Los Angeles Kings was centre Kyle Wellwood, a mid-season waiver pick-up. He had four points in six games, set up Joe Pavelski's Game 3 overtime winner and was plus-six.
"Kyle's been a two-ingredient player," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "One, his ability to play. He has a knack for being around the puck. It seems to follow him. He's a wiry guy, it's hard to knock him off the puck for a guy his size (five-foot-10, 181 pounds). He's been creative offensively.
"Equally important was the fact that he has an NHL resume. At the time when we brought him in, we had a number of real young players up from the American League. Not that they couldn't play, but it kept everyone else honest when Kyle and Ben Eager [acquired from Atlanta at the same time] showed up."
Datsyuk for Selke
Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk joined Vancouver's Ryan Kesler and Chicago's Jonathan Toews as this year's nominees for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward.
"I'm very happy," Datsyuk said. "Now I try to win. It's not easy. I have good competition."
Datsyuk had 71 takeaways this year, good for 11th in the NHL, even though he only played 56 games.
"Always every year it's harder and harder," he said of trying to win the Selke. "I'm happy with the nomination. It's the first step."
"There is a little bit of revenge we want to get," Wings goalie Jimmy Howard said.
"I wouldn't say it's high up on our list of motivation," added defenceman Brad Stuart, but definitely when you do get knocked out by a team. You want to put it behind you. The best way to do that is by taking them out.
"Our goal is to win the Cup. Revenge isn't theme, but I'm sure we can use it as a little bit of motivation."
Four times previously, the Wings have been eliminated from the playoffs by the same team in successive seasons, most recently when the Colorado Avalanche took them out in second-round series in 1999 and 2000.
Detroit dropped back-to-back Western Conference finals to the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1988, and were beaten in consecutive Stanley Cup finals by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1963 and 1964. The Leafs knocked the Wings out of the playoffs three years in a row between 1947-49.
The Sharks are taking nothing for granted, though.
"I think it's just the rivalry that makes for good games between these two teams, Sharks forward Devin Setoguchi said. "Both teams get fired up to play against each other."
Franzen ready to go
Johan Franzen, who missed Game 4 of the opening round against Phoenix with a injured left ankle, confirmed after Wednesday's practice that he will be a go for Game 1.
"I'm fine," Franzen said.
His teammates left little doubt as to what Franzen's presence remember he scored five goals in Game 4 against the Sharks last spring will mean in the upcoming series.
We all know how important he is for our team, Detroit forward Dan Cleary said. When he's going, he's very hard to stop.
If he gets on a roll, it's complete dominance physically. His skating, he's so powerful working without the puck and his shot is world class.
All's Well
A surprising star for the Sharks in their first-round dispatching of the Los Angeles Kings was centre Kyle Wellwood, a mid-season waiver pick-up. He had four points in six games, set up Joe Pavelski's Game 3 overtime winner and was plus-six.
"Kyle's been a two-ingredient player," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "One, his ability to play. He has a knack for being around the puck. It seems to follow him. He's a wiry guy, it's hard to knock him off the puck for a guy his size (five-foot-10, 181 pounds). He's been creative offensively.
"Equally important was the fact that he has an NHL resume. At the time when we brought him in, we had a number of real young players up from the American League. Not that they couldn't play, but it kept everyone else honest when Kyle and Ben Eager [acquired from Atlanta at the same time] showed up."
Datsyuk for Selke
Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk joined Vancouver's Ryan Kesler and Chicago's Jonathan Toews as this year's nominees for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward.
"I'm very happy," Datsyuk said. "Now I try to win. It's not easy. I have good competition."
Datsyuk had 71 takeaways this year, good for 11th in the NHL, even though he only played 56 games.
"Always every year it's harder and harder," he said of trying to win the Selke. "I'm happy with the nomination. It's the first step."
