Marian Hossa News

Chicago Blackhawks Bryan Bickell and Marian Hossa watch from the bench during the second period in Game 4 of the Western Conference semi-finals against the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in Detroit, Thursday, May 23, 2013.

A pair of Game 5s take place tonight and we could see a pair of teams move on to the Conference finals should they earn victories tonight.

While Pavel Datsyuk, left, and Henrik Zetterberg have expectedly played well, Detroit's defense has been amazingly stellar in the first four games against the Blackhawks.

Jonathan Toews grudgingly skated to the penalty box for the third time in 5 minutes and 34 seconds, and the look on his face spoke volumes to longtime teammate Brent Seabrook.

Suppose we are folding the tent right now. Suppose the season is officially over and a 3-1 deficit is too much for the Chicago Blackhawks to overcome.

Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard stops a Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews shot during the second period in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in Detroit, Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Graham Hathway writes for the Detroit Red Wings blog Winging It In Motown . His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers.

May 18, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane celebrates with center Patrick Sharp after scoring a goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of game two of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center.

Maybe it was the extra rest, or another raucous crowd at the United Center. Maybe it was just the resumption of one of the NHL's biggest rivalries.

The second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs has been exciting up to this point, and each series has the potential for an upset.

The Blackhawks took to the ice at the United Center, before heading back to Detroit for Game 4 Thursday night.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, right, battles for position in front of the goal with Detroit Red Wings counterpart Henrik Zetterberg during their Western Conference semi-final series.

Sometimes, a hockey team can pack all the sandpaper and abrasiveness coaches seek for a road trip into a hostile arena, and it still won't be enough.

After game one nobody thought the Wings had a chance to win their series with the Blackhawks and now after game 2 everybody is calling for the upset.

It was a promise that the Blackhawks delivered. After the series victory over Minnesota in the first round, the Hawks promised to not come out flat again.

The top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks will try to extend their lead in the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday when they host the Detroit Red Wings in Game 2 at United Center.

Despite their 5-1 record so far in these Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's no secret that the Chicago Blackhawks still have yet to play their best hockey.

The Wings left the United Center on Saturday afternoon with a 4-1 victory banked on the hard work especially of their captain, Henrik Zetterberg, who had two assists.

After waiting for the NHL lockout to end and playing only 48 games instead of the usual 82, the Chicago Blackhawks stormed through the season winning their first 24 games without a regulation or overtime loss.

But that won't stop the Blackhawks from trying to become the kind of team that dominates the NHL in a way the Red Wings and Devils did for long stretches of the last two decades.