Half Way to the Cup!!! Here Come The Western Conference Finals...

At the conclusion of Game 6, Detroit Red Wings' Coach, Mike Babcock, said the Wings had to play with urgency and tonight, in Game 7, they did just that. Detroit defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4-3, when Dan Cleary scored with just three minutes remaining in the deciding game of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. The Red Wings now prepare to take on their old nemesis and fellow Original Six foe, The Chicago Blackhawks in the Conference Finals. This is the third year in a row our Hockeytown Heros will head to the Finals...which is no small fete.

Red Wing netminder, Chris Osgood did everything, including standing on his head to stop 24 of 27 shots on goal tonight and it was just enough to seal the deal and clear the way for further defense of The Stanley Cup.

Give some credit to the youthful goalie in net for Anaheim, Jonas Hiller, who stopped 36 of 40 shots tonight. In the end, however, the expansive talent and depth of the Winged Wheelers was just too much for him. You can be sure this young man will be back next year and he certainly has all the tools to be a Superstar between the pipes....but not this year.

And so we wait for Game 1 of the 3rd round, hoping for a smooth journey. But be not decieved, the Chicago Blackhawks are hungry, talented and equal to the task. It won't be easy, especially for a Chicago team that wasn't supposed to make the playoffs to begin with. These guys are ready for war and The Boys from Hockeytown had better rest up and be ready when the puck drops in Game 1 at the Joe Louis Arena.

Meet Me in Hockeytown....For Game 7

Try as they might, the Detroit Red Wings just couldn't get the puck past young Anaheim netminder, Jonas Hiller tonight. Hiller faced 39 shots, allowing one goal and forced a dangerous Game 7 back at the Joe Louis Arena on Thursday night, as the Ducks take Game 6 by a score of 2-1.

Chris Osgood faced fewer shots on goal, but that isn't surprising. What is surprising is how the Mighty Ducks' defense shut down the Red Wing offense this evening. Pavel Datsyuk continues to struggle to find the back of the net, but Zetterberg, Hossa and a host of others were also left silent as the final horn sounded.

Coach Mike Babcock wouldn't tip his hand (as well he shouldn't) during a post-game interview on Fox Sports Detroit, but he did say the Red Wings needed "to have an urgency for all 60 minutes in tonight's contest", but did not. As Red Wing One departs California tomorrow, you can bet the Team will be focused on getting the job done, in order to face the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final.

Yep, it's good old fashioned Stanley Cup Playoffs and it's never easy. Let's hope the boys from Hockeytown get to life Lord Stanley's shimmering chalice one more time, when the dust settles. It's all on the line now...and we'll see what happens on Thursday evening. Let's GO WINGS!