Red Wings sweep series

In a last attempt to hang in the play-offs, the Phoenix Coyotes gave the Red Wings a run for their money. They did not go down easy and held a lead twice through the game that finished 6-3 with a fourth win for Detroit.

This is the second year in a row that Detroit has knocked Phoenix out of the playoffs and the third time out the seven times the Coyotes have made it to the playoffs that the Detroit has kept Phoenix from moving forward.

If anyone gets to hold a grudge against the Red Wings, it’s captain and forward Shane Doan who was also stopped by Detroit in his rookie season with the Jets. Doan has never even made it past the first round of playoffs. This year, Doan scored the most goals he has ever scored in the NHL playoffs, three out of his total of 10. In game four Doan scored the Coyotes second goal that gave the team a lead for the first since the first period of game one.

The game started with a goal from Red Wing’s left wing Tomas Holmstrom followed by a goal to tie by Coyote’s left wing Taylor Pyatt. Doan’s goal gave the Coyotes the lead but the game was tied again by Red Wing Patrick Eaves before the end of the first period.

Martin Hazal regained the lead for the Coyotes with a goal just over a minute into the first period before Red Wing Nikolas Kronwall scored about three minutes later. The rest of the period remained goalless and tied.

Former Coyote Danny Cleary scored the game-winning goal at 13:41 into the third period when Ilya Bryzgalov came off the post a little. Red Wings Tod Bertuzzi and Eaves each scored again to secure the win for Detroit.

The Coyotes are done for the season and await the final decision on whether they are to be moved back to Winnepeg or remain in Phoenix under new ownership. Sportsnet.ca speculates the deal will be done by early June and that the Coyotes will most likely be moved back to Winnepeg.