Look for much more energized Red Wings in Game 2
Q. The Red Wings team that showed up Wednesday, was it just a tired bunch, were they overmatched or what was the deal?
A. I don't think you can put any measurement into that first game. The emotional series with Anaheim probably wore down the Red Wings and then they had to make a quick transition to come in and play Game 1 against the Blackhawks.
I thought by the end of that game the Blackhawks were the fresher, more energized team. Mentally, Detroit probably just didn't have it. (Goalie) Jimmy Howard was great, otherwise in that second period the score would've been a little bit different.
It's just 1 win and you expect a much more energized Detroit team mentally and physically in Game 2.
Q. Was that the Blackhawks' best playoff performance to date?
A. Absolutely. From start to finish the tempo was where it needed to be, the intensity was what Joel Quenneville was looking for and I don't think you saw that type of pace in any of the games against Minnesota.
Q. Should everyone just chill about the Viktor Stalberg situation and realize it's just what sometimes happens in the playoffs?
A. It's a part of playoff hockey, there's no doubt about that.
You look at the lineup and you say ‘OK, Dave Bolland is coming in — where do I make the adjustment?'
Nobody is going to be happy coming out. Stalberg's going get an opportunity to get back, you just don't know when it's going to be. Nobody expects any player when he's not in the lineup to be happy about it, but you have to be a professional, have a good attitude and prepare yourself for when you do get that opportunity.
Q. You mentioned Bolland. How do you think he performed in his return to the lineup?
A. It was what you expect from Dave Bolland: a feisty playoff attitude. I thought he competed well. He made a couple of nice plays defensively. He did well on the faceoffs, which was a good sign
I thought he was really solid in all aspects of what Dave Bolland is all about in the playoffs.
Q. Any concerns heading into Game 2?
A. The concern is you can't think that you're going to dominate the Red Wings like you did.
They're going to have the rest that they needed and they're going to make some adjustments for what the Blackhawks did in Game 1.
The danger is looking at this game and thinking it's going to be similar to Game 1 — because it's not.
ŸTroy Murray is in his 13th year as a member of the Blackhawks broadcast team and his eighth year as the color analyst for the team's radio broadcasts. The Selke Award winner was a five-time 20-goal scorer and a veteran of 15 years in the NHL, playing in 915 career games.