OK, as a Red Wings fan I'm very relieved to see my team going into the United Center up 2-0 against the Blackhawks.  That being said, however, the Red Wings did not look good last night.  Even coach Mike Babcock said the team had no legs.  The Wings played with a decent amount of grit and determination, but in the end the game would have ended up 2-1 (possibly 2-0) in the favor of the 'Hawks were it not for a couple of very lucky breaks the Wings were able to capitalize on.

I can't comment on Rafalski's power play goal because I missed the first period and didn't see the penalty that was called, but the consensus in the Windy City is that the call was questionable at best, and since the officiating throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs has often left me scratching my head, I'm willing to give the 'Hawks fans the benefit of any doubt on that one.

As for the other two goals, while the Wings' forwards continued to grind on defense, it still appeared to me that the puck took a couple of flukey bounces that resulted in a breakaway for Dan ("Book 'em Dan-O") Cleary and the 3-on-1 that gave the Wings the game-winner in overtime. 

Most of what I saw was a Chicago team that was playing Detroit better on both sides of the puck for a large chunk of the game.  They were getting to the puck faster, they were controlling the puck and the pace of play much better, and they were spending way too much time in the Detroit zone.  It was Osgood (is there REALLY any more question about his worthiness to be the net-minder for the defending Stanley Cup champs?) that kept the Wings in this one.  Hopefully this game will be a wake-up call to the Wings.  Their luck is about to run out.

P.S.:  Props to Jonathan Toews, Patrick ("Hat-Trick") Kane, Patrick Sharp, and Kris Versteeg for playing an excellent game against the Wings that, unfortunately for them, did not yield the desired reward.  Brian Campbell also deserves a call-out because (1) I'm not convinced it was entirely his fault the 3-on-1 developed, and (2) From where I sat, I don't think he could have defended that one any better than he did.  He was simply outnumbered.

P.P.S.:  I feel bad for Pavel Datsyuk -- the poor guy can't beg, borrow, or steal a goal right now.  I don't feel so bad for Marian Hossa though.  He has made several turnovers against Chicago and Anaheim that make you wonder just what the heck the guy was thinking...