By Bryan Jeon
Just hours after Calgary Flames backup goalie Jamie McLennan was suspended five games by the league for his slash on Johan Franzen in Game 5 the day before, the latter got the last laugh, scoring the series-advancing game-winner in double overtime for the Detroit Red Wings in a 2-1 victory. It was Franzen’s second goal of the series, which was assisted by Nicklas Lidstrom, who had a solid series with two goals and five assists in the 4-2 series win.
Detroit outshot the Flames 55-21 in Game 6, outshooting them in every game this series. Goalie Miikka Kiprusoff had another busy night, recording 53 saves, as the Flames were outshot 255-129 in the six-game series. The difference of 126 shots on goal was the largest by opposing teams in any NHL playoff series during the expansion era.
The top-seeded team in the Western Conference will either play the sixth-seeded Dallas Stars or fifth-seeded San Jose Sharks in the second round. The Stars play the Canucks in Vancouver for Game 7 Monday at 6pm PT.
Chris, I think we need to put a friendly bet on the Red Wings-Sharks series. A Chick-fil-A dinner sound good?
Bryan
I’m down.
Update: Series tied up, 2-2.