Brendan Smith News

Chicago a In case they weren't aware already, the Chicago Blackhawks now know they're going to have to earn it if they want to get past Detroit.

Henrik Zetterberg and the Detroit Red Wings are hoping for a better showing today in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Singled out by most analysts and fans for a subpar Game 1, Smith scored the eventual winning goal Saturday in the Red Wings' 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks that evened the best-of-seven series at a game apiece.

Brendan Smith netted the game-winning goal late in the second period, part of a four-goal burst which lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks to even this Western Conference semifinal at one game apiece.

In Game 4 against the Ducks, they scored two - one by Brendan Smith to tie the game at 1-1 and one by Pavel Datsyuk to tie the game at 2-2 and send the game to overtime.

Nobody on the Red Wings played particularly well in Game 1 of their playoff series against the Blackhawks, but few seemed to take the abuse on social media and network airwaves like defenseman Brendan Smith.

No two teams have met more times in the NHL 's regular season. Next to the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens , it is the most frequent matchup in the league's history.

Well that sure was fun wasn't? The Blackhawks rolled to a 4-1 Game 1 victory over the rival Red Wings in front of a raucous United Center crowd.

Pavel Datsyuk takes part in the Detroit Red Wings morning skate prior to Game 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks after being named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Award for a record sixth straight year.

This group of Blackhawks - including Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook - has never beaten the Detroit Red Wings when it truly counted.

The Detroit Red Wings' Game 7 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Sunday means they'll get to square off with one of their longtime foes for the final time in the Western Conference playoffs.

But there's no time to dwell on that, not with a Game 7 looming in Anaheim on Sunday against the Ducks.

The Anaheim Ducks had a chance to eliminate the Detroit Red Wings and advance to the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith clears the puck away from goalie Jimmy Howard as Anaheim Ducks winger Bobby Ryan looks on in Game 6 Friday.

Red Wings' Daniel Cleary on playing through pain: Red Wings forward Daniel Cleary talks about big hit from Daniel Winnik in Game 5. Video by HELENE ST.

Henrik Zetterberg made certain the Detroit Red Wings' playoff streak did not end during his first season as captain by leading a late-season charge in which the team won what amounted to four elimination games.

After Nick Bonino scored the overtime goal in Anaheim's 3-2 victory in Game 5 Wednesday, goaltender Jimmy Howard and Detroit Red Wings teammate Jonathan Ericsson had to board the team plane this morning and fly back across the country to play Game 6 Friday.

The Detroit Red Wings were pushed to the brink of elimination on Wednesday with a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 5 of their first-round matchup with the Anaheim Ducks , which will send the series back to Joe Louis Arena with the home team facing a must-win situation.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - When teaching young defensemen like Brendan Smith the ways of the NHL, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock often asks them, "What would Nicklas Lidstrom do?'' The first answer that comes to mind is "play 25-30 minutes a game, excel at both ends of the ice and win the Norris Trophy at the end of the season.'' The short answer is ... (more)

After alternating wins in each of the first four games of the Western Conference quarterfinals, the Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings will fight for an edge in Wednesday's pivotal Game 5 matchup at Honda Center.