At the start of this Western Conference Quarterfinal matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and the Phoenix Coyotes, it wasn't that hard to guess that Ilya Bryzgalov would be the most important player in the series. If the Coyotes were going to upset the Wings, he was going to be the reason.
Bryzgalov was indeed the most important player, but not for the reason anyone would have predicted.
Detroit finished the sweep with a 6-3 win Wednesday night, scoring five goals on the Phoenix netminder and adding an empty net goal. Bryzgalov allowed four goals in each of the previous three games. In short, he failed his team. In retrospect, the result shouldn't be a surprise.
All four games were hard-fought, each closer than the series as a whole ended up. If goaltending had come through for the Coyotes, this is a different series.
I'm not trying to throw Bryzgalov under the bus, his team could have limited Detroit's chances better and taken more advantage of Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard, who was giving up rebounds and bobbling the puck more than he probably wanted to. It's just that it was known going in that Bryzgalov would have to steal games - it was almost expected that he would - and he didn't come close to that.
As for Game Four from the Detroit perspective... Damn, the grinders were out tonight. The first Patrick Eaves goal sums up this series to me. Darren Helm banged the puck loose, took it himself for the shot, and Eaves drove to the net to knock it in. It was about physicality and taking advantage of the chances you get.
Modano in, Franzen out for Detroit, per Malik.
Holy cow! All three other games are tied right now. Two of them in OT.
FSD says it's Franzen's ankle, he can't push off well enough.
Well, I'm stuck watching the Caps/NYR game till it ends....
Homer made a great start to that play and a great finish, with an amazing move by Pavs in the middle.
Damn, in off Ericsson's skate. Wasted that fantastic opening goal.
Nashville's getting owned right now. Pittsburg won in 2OT.
Ugh, Coyotes put one barely through Howard after Detroit can't clear off the ref.
OK. Caps won in 2OT. Now give me the Wings game AFN.
Bert had a tie game on his stick right there. Great stop by Bryzgalov but I don't think Bertuzzi put it where he wanted.
Yes!
Nightmare on Helm Street!
Big grindy goal. Helm knocking people around, Eaves going to the net for the tip-in.
Stupid penaly and a breakdown by the defense lead to that. 4 Wings on 1 Coyote?
Brutal D on the PK. Bunch of guys drifted away from Hanzal.
And we're tied again.
Great job by Kronner to stick with it and get to the rebound there. Nice shot. Holding serve on the PP.
Big save by Jimmy.
That chance never should have happened. Big stop by Jimmy.
Big chance on the PP here.
Damn, some nice chances there, nothing in the net.
Checking in once again from Yokota AFB.
Wings not scoring on the PP is gonna come back and bite them in the ass. Phoenix has their chances coming up.
We need a better 3d period. Looked like we were just trying to hang on again at times. We're letting them take it over our blue line unchallenged too many times. We'll pay for this if it doesn't stop.
Here is the latest series stats:
DET PHX
12 Goals: 7
101 Shots: 91
3 Power Play Goals: 5
0 Short Handed Goals: 0
101 Hits: 102
15 Give Aways: 21
33 Take Aways: 17
46 Blocked Shots: 32
This game reminds me of Game Four of the Columbus series from 2009. Hoping for the same outcome.
Amother dumb penalty by Stuart.
Solid kill, for once.
Cleary! 4-3!
CLEARY!!!!!
How on Earth did that go in? Holy sheeyat.
TURN THE LIGHTS ON IN WINNIPEG!!!!
Bert! Off the skate and in, 5-3!
Signed, sealed, and delivered. That's a sweep!
Get the brooms out! 
I've been waiting so long to say that again.
Now I wonder how many more times they can mention that the Coyotes might not exist anymore in the next 30 seconds.
One down!
Rest up boys! Good day from hot, sunny, and dusty Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Get out the brooms!
As for Game Four from the Detroit perspective... Damn, the grinders were out tonight. The first Patrick Eaves goal sums up this series to me. Darren Helm banged the puck loose, took it himself for the shot, and Eaves drove to the net to knock it in. It was about physicality and taking advantage of the chances you get.
I like what Babcock said about not being sure that the Wings have a fourth line....You can put guys like Helm or Eaves or Abdelkader in any line on the team, and they fit and respond. I hope we can keep them.
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