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PHT Predicts: Red Wings vs. Coyotes -- Who do you have?

Phoenix Coyotes v Detroit Red Wings

DETROIT,MI - NOVEMBER 8: of the Detroit Red Wings skates in a game against the Phoenix Coyotes on November 8,2010 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Claus Andersen

Familiar foes face off once again. Last year when these two faced off, the Red Wings took out the Coyotes in seven games and breaking the Coyotes hold on home ice in the series. This year, Detroit has home ice and a lot of the same faces are back for another go-around. One face that isn’t there to start the series is Henrik Zetterberg. He’s ailed by a knee injury and won’t begin the series against Phoenix. While they’ve still got Pavel Datsyuk, Nick Lidstrom, and Johan Franzen is that enough to hold off Shane Doan, Ray Whitney, and Ed Jovanovski?

Jimmy Howard will square off against the always intimidating Ilya Bryzgalov in goal and with the Coyotes coming into this one defensive-minded, can they frustrate the Wings into bowing out in the first round? That is the question. As for how we see this series breaking down, “contention” is the word.

James says:
The Red Wings are banged up and the Coyotes gave them a great fight last year, but every part of me thinks that the team who “owns” the NHL (Detroit) will beat the team owned by the league (Phoenix). Besides, I made Detroit my pre-season Stanley Cup winning pick, so I need to pick them for at least one round, right?

There is one frightening fact that makes me slightly worried, though: fantastic Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is in a contract year. What better way to pad his bank account than to beat the mighty Red Wings?

It’s the Wings in 6 as Johan Franzen puts together another astounding playoff series.

Matt says:
The Red Wings have the experience that just about every team in the NHL would kill for. The core of this team is the same core that make it to consecutive appearances in the finals and was within a period of taking home back-to-back Stanley Cups. Jimmy Howard doesn’t need to battle head-to-head with Ilya Bryzgalov, he’ll just need to give the Wings a chance in the low scoring games of the series. The Coyotes gained some valuable experience last season when they lost Game 7 against the same Wings at home, but it won’t be enough. Wings in 6.

Joe says:
Detroit has kind of meandered around the last month of the season while the Coyotes have done the same thing themselves. History doesn’t count for much in these situations because it can always be re-written. That said, the Coyotes haven’t won a playoff series since 1987 when they were the Winnipeg Jets. Phoenix will be throwing the snake and they’ll be wearing white but they’ll be left wondering if this is the last time they get to see their team play. Phoenix will be tough and annoying, but the Red Wings have too much talent to lose. Wings in 6.

Do you think we’re secretly in the back pocket of Canada and we’re picking against Phoenix because we’re huge Winnipeg Jets fans? Prove us wrong and make your vote heard in our poll.

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