Who’s more nervous? Detroit or Vancouver?

After Saturday’s and Sunday’s Game 2 for both Western Conference Semifinals, there are some questions that have to be answered for the #1 and #3 seeds, respectively.

Now, the question isn’t whether each team will have the skill and the fortitude to come back, but whether or not they’ll even be able to.

After a little research, you’ll be shocked to see what I discovered…

We’ll start with Detroit:

Since the 1988-1989 season, the Red Wings have played in 49 (and counting) playoff series. In those 49 series, when the Wings lose the first 2 games they are 2-6 finishing those out (25% success rate). Those series wins came in two separate seasons:

1992 Divisional Semifinals: Beat Minnesota North Stars in 7 games
2002 Western Conference Quarterfinals: Beat Vancouver Canucks in 6 games

The 2002 season is also a Cup-winning season for the Red Wings. However, all but ONE of their 6 series losses came in 5 or less games:

1992 Divisional Finals: Lost to Chicago in 4 games
1995 Stanley Cup Finals: Lost to New Jersey in 4 games
1996 Western Conference Finals: Lost to Colorado in 6 games
2000 Western Conference Semifinals: Lost to Colorado in 5 games
2003 Western Conference Quarterfinals: Lost to Anaheim in 4 games
2010 Western Conference Semifinals: Lost to San Jose in 5 games

Remember, these are only numbers, however you have to feel that Detroit may be starting to get a little worried after losing the first two to the team that knocked them out in 5 games in last years semi-finals, which seems to be EXACTLY what is going on this year as well.

Now, let’s look at Vancouver:

Since the 1988-1989 season, the Vancouver Canucks have played in 25 (and counting) playoff series. In those 25 series, when the Canucks lose game 2 after winning game 1 they are 3-8 finishing those out (27% success rate). Those series wins came in three separate seasons:

1994 Western Conference Quarterfinals: Beat Calgary in 7 games
2007 Western Conference Quarterfinals: Beat Dallas in 7 games
2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals: Beat Los Angeles in 6 games

Now, of their 8 losses in the same scenario, one came in the cup finals:

1989 Divisional Semifinals: Lost to Calgary in 7 games
1991 Divisional Semifinals: Lost to Los Angeles in 6 games
1993 Divisional Finals: Lost to Los Angeles in 6 games
1994 Stanley Cup Finals: Lost to New York Rangers in 7 games
2003 Western Conference Semifinals: Lost to Minnesota in 7 games
2004 Western Conference Quarterfinals: Lost to Calgary in 7 games
2009 Western Conference Semifinals: Lost to Chicago in 6 games
2010 Western Conference Semifinals: Lost to Chicago in 6 games

So, Chicago/Calgary/Los Angeles have all knocked out Vancouver in this Win 1/Lose 1 scenario twice, and in the same number of games each time for each team.

However, 2 YEARS in a row, Vancouver has ended up in this scenario. Win the first, lose the second, lose the series in 6. But rest assured…Vancouver will always get the series to at least 6 games, they won’t lose in 5.

Yet, as they say, History Will Be Made…is this the year Vancouver breaks their two year old semifinal losing streak? You would think so with the exorcism of the Blackhawks in the first round, however could they be finding a new foe in the Nashville Predators?

This has yet to be seen, however Pekka Rinne and his squad of Merry Men aren’t going to just let the Canucks walk all over them, expect this series to go at least 6…something Vancouver is already used to

Thanks for reading!

~KM