Marcus Kruger (right) scored the goal that put the game out of reach for the visiting Red Wings. (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

To a man, the Chicago Blackhawks came out of their first-round series with the Minnesota Wild saying they had to take their game up a level if they hoped to continue on the path to the Stanley Cup. They proved tonight that they weren’t just flapping their gums.

After a stodgy first period, the Hawks seriously ramped up their attack on the way to a convincing 4-1 win over the Red Wings in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Marian Hossa opened the scoring for Chicago in the first, with Johnny Oduya, Marcus Kruger and Patrick Sharp tallying in the third. Damien Brunner replied for Detroit after Hossa’s goal, but that was all the Wings could muster.

If not for the heroics of goalie Jimmy Howard, who stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced, things would have been a lot worse for the visitors. The Hawks came at Detroit’s defenders in waves, overwhelming them with numbers or sheer tenacity and pinning them in their own zone for long, exhausting stretches. Howard made some big saves along the way — his skateblade stop on Dave Bolland’s breakaway bid was a highlight — but too often he was left on his own while his defenders stood still or were caught looking the other way while their checking assignments skated unmolested into the slot.

This was a statement game from Chicago. Now it’s up to the Red Wings to prove they can match it.

A few more observations from the series opener:

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A revived Milan Lucic will present a big, rugged challenge for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers. (Getty Images)

By Sarah Kwak

Snapshot

The Bruins are riding into the second round still high from the thrilling comeback they mounted in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Maple Leafs. The Rangers, meanwhile, silenced one of the league’s hottest offenses as they rode their Vezina Trophy-nominated goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, who posted Game 6 and 7 shutouts against the Capitals. On paper, these two teams do have a lot in common. They’re physical clubs that like to play all 200 feet; they have plenty of scoring talent, however inconsistent it can be, and superb goaltending. This should be a physical series with the potential for a goalie duel unless the offenses find ways to come to life.

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Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews and Pavel Datsyuk make the Selke a highly contested award. (Icon SMI (2); Getty)

By Allan Muir

The league announced today that Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk, and Chicago’s Jonathan Toews are the three finalists for the 2012-13 Frank J. Selke Trophy, which is awarded “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.”

Nary a “knock me over with a feather” nominee in that bunch. The Selke has taken a few hits over the years as being a reputation-based award, but this trio burnished their well-established reps for two-way excellence with undeniably strong seasons.

When the vote counts are revealed, it won’t be a surprise to learn this was the year’s most hotly contested hardware. You can’t make an argument against any of these guys.

MORE NOMINEES: Hart | Norris | Vezina | Calder | Lindsay | Masterton

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The Penguins put two power play goals and a shortie behind Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson in Game 1. (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• Pittsburgh’s power play and penalty kill set the table for a decisive Game 1 win over the Senators.

• Ottawa’s special teams, on the other hand…

• Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson promises that adjustments will be made after his team’s weak Game 1 effort.

• The Kings almost blew their opener because they didn’t know how to handle a two-goal lead, writes Helene Elliott.

• The Sharks may have outshot the Kings, 35-20, but they didn’t do the one thing they had to in order to beat the champs.

• Raffi Torres’ hit on Jarret Stoll has some wondering if he’s really changed his ways at all.

• San Jose fourth-liner Bracken Kearns doesn’t just have the best name in hockey, he has the coolest back story.

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Jonathan Quick was stellar for the Kings, but was aided by the defense in front of him. (Chris Williams/Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

It’s safe to assume that Jonathan Quick will be called upon to steal a game or two if the Los Angeles Kings hope to hold onto their title as Stanley Cup champs. But don’t be fooled by Tuesday’s 35-save performance: The series-opening 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks was not one of those stolen wins.

That’s not to diminish Quick’s efforts as much as it is to give credit where it’s due.

While Quick was a model of poise and efficiency, stopping everything he faced with a minimum of motion, his teammates’ efforts made it all look so easy. For all the time of possession, for all the opportunities the Sharks had to let fly, the Kings never allowed them what they really needed: control of the puck in the middle of the ice or on Quick’s doorstep. Held to the outside all night, San Jose racked up shots but few real scoring chances.

Rebounds? Deflections? Not a chance. If a puck eluded Quick’s control off the original shot, it was quickly swept into a corner or up and out of the zone by a someone in a black sweater.

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Pittsburgh’s Pascal Dupuis took over the postseason goals lead with a shorthanded tally against Ottawa. (Getty Images)

By Sarah Kwak

The Penguins scored in every possible way on Tuesday night, showing once again their offensive depth and flexibility as they handed the Ottawa Senators a 4-1 loss in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Pittsburgh’s special teams shined, contributing two power play goals and a shorty, but despite the big win, the game was a perfect display of the Penguins’ strengths and weaknesses. This team has, without question, the conference’s best lineup from top to … well, not quite bottom.

After starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s meltdown in Game 4 of the first-round series against the Islanders, Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma turned to backup Tomas Vokoun, a 36-year-old veteran who hadn’t played a postseason game since 2007. Vokoun went on to seal the series with two wins and Bylsma stuck with him for the opener of Round 2. Though he made 35 saves in a solid effort, Vokoun did not erase the sinking feeling that if the Penguins are to lift the Stanley Cup in June, it will be despite their goaltending and not because of it.

Other thoughts from Game 1:

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If goalie Jimmy Howard can steal a game or two, Detroit will have chance to upset Chicago. (Robin Alam/Icon SMI)

By Brian Cazeneuve

Snapshot

This is one of the great historic rivalries in the game, and one we may not see again for a while because next season’s realignment will pull the Red Wings east and away from their traditional foe. Over the years, neither home advantage nor recent history has been a sufficient predictor of how a series between these two teams will go. Chicago comes off a short season that began with a record 24-game streak without a loss. The retooling Wings, meanwhile, had to scramble to get into the playoffs in the season’s final week. The top-seeded Hawks finished 21 points ahead of the No. 7 Wings during the regular season and, not surprisingly, Chicago had an easy five-game series in the opening round against Minnesota, while Detroit needed a full seven-game sweat to dispose of Anaheim. But don’t expect the veteran Wings to be overly impressed or intimidated by the proficient Hawks. These teams have a way of throwing out regular-season results and turning the playoffs into real drama.

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There was never a sense of what kind of team Glen Gulutzan’s Stars was supposed to be. (Dustin Bradford/Icon SMI)

By Allan Muir

The Dallas Stars are in the market for a new head coach.

Glen Gulutzan, who’d manned the bench for the past two seasons, had a third year on his contract at the team’s option. New general manager Jim Nill informed him today that the team would not extend the option.

Although it took a little longer than was expected, the decision to go in a new direction didn’t catch anyone by surprise. After five straight playoff DNQs, including both years under Gulutzan, the Stars are a team in the midst of a significant organizational shakeup. Nill was brought in last month to replace Joe Nieuwendyk and tasked with not just changing the makeup of the team, but the culture of the franchise.

Part of that has to be establishing an identity. Gulutzan’s hands were tied there by the mixed bag of players he was handed, but there was never a sense of what this team was supposed to be under his watch. Like a lot of the youngsters on his roster, he might not have been seasoned enough for this level of play.

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Minnesota Wild backup goaltender Josh Harding was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last fall. (Andy King/AP)

By Allan Muir

I’ve always thought the only honor less desirable than the Masterton Trophy was being recognized at the Academy Awards ceremony during the In Memoriam reel.

The only way to win this one is through “perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey”… with a heavy emphasis on perseverance. Translated: Your career must have been interrupted by some personal tragedy on the scale of a Lifetime Network movie of the week to qualify.

At least the stories of Sidney Crosby, Adam McQuaid and Josh Harding all have happy endings. The three were honored today as the finalists for this year’s award, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

All hockey fans know Crosby’s story: The world’s top player finally returned to the ice in full health this season after missing extensive portions of the previous two due to concussion symptoms. Performing at a level unseen in nearly two decades, Crosby was running away with the scoring title when adversity struck again. Literally. This time, he was hit in the face by a slap shot. The injury derailed his season and his Art Ross dreams, but determination to return in time for the postseason highlighted his dedication to the game.

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Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer heads off to Toronto’s long summer. (Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

An annotated guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• The Maple Leafs broke hearts and shattered dreams with the most unlikely defeat imaginable.

• The hard-working Leafs deserved better than this, writes Steve Simmons.

• As you might imagine, they’re having trouble processing the loss in Toronto.

• We’ll never know how many fans in Boston left the arena or turned off the TV early and missed a comeback for the ages, but I’m guessing there are tens of thousands who are kicking themselves this morning.

• The Bruins won the battle but may have lost the war of attrition. They’re down three defensemen heading into their second-round series against the Rangers.

• With Henrik Lundqvist notching his second consecutive shutout, the Rangers morphed into Team Unflappable and smoked the Caps to win Game 7.

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