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PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference quarterfinals; Red Wings lead 2-0.
Darren McCarty made a simple statement about playoff hockey.

``It doesn't matter how you win,'' the Detroit Red Wings forward said. ``It doesn't have to be pretty.''

Considering how Saturday's game ended for the Nashville Predators, if they don't get off to a good start in Game 3, things could get real ugly real fast in their first-round playoff series with the Red Wings.

Mathieu Schneider's slap shot went off goaltender Tomas Vokoun and off the boards before hitting Vokoun's skate and trickling into the net with 2:45 left to give Detroit a 2-1 victory Saturday over Nashville and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.

``I thought it was underneath him, I turned my head and thought the play was over,'' Schneider said. ``I can't believe it went in.

``I think it's probably a little deflating for them to go through the whole game and lose in the last couple of minutes.''

Manny Legace made 27 saves, and Robert Lang scored for Detroit.

``He's dangerous right now,'' Red Wings coach Dave Lewis said of the center, acquired from Washington in February.

Nashville has scored just two goals in the series and has been outscored 4-0 in the third period. The Predators led 1-0 through two periods in Game 1 on Wednesday before falling apart over the final 20 minutes.

Vladimir Orszagh scored on Saturday for Nashville, which is 0-for-9 on the power play in the series.

``We're standing in a bit of a hole,'' Predators coach Barry Trotz said.

The Predators were without standout defenseman Marek Zidlicky, who left Wednesday's game with what the team is calling ``an upper body injury.'' Zidlicky was third on the team during the regular season with 53 points, and was a key performer on the power play.

``That has to hurt them,'' Lewis said.

The odds are stacked against the young Predators. Detroit has the most playoff experience among teams in the postseason, and Nashville has the least.

Nashville began the playoffs with a combined 247 games of postseason experience, while the Red Wings have 11 players who have played at least 100 games, led by Chris Chelios with 216.

Detroit is making its 53rd postseason appearance and 14th in a row while Nashville is in the playoffs for the first time in its six-season history.

Nashville's top two scorers -- Steve Sullivan and Scott Walker -- haven't registered a point in the playoffs after combining for 140 during the regular season.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Red Wings - 109 points, 1st seed. Predators - 91 points, 8th seed.

PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS: Red Wings - Lang, 2 goals; Kirk Maltby, Tomas Holmstrom, Brendan Shanahan, 2 assists; Lang and Holmstrom, 3 points; Shanahan, 4 PIM. Predators - Adam Hall and Orszagh, 1 goal; Scott Hartnell, Greg Johnson and Martin Erat, 1 assist; Kimmo Timonen, 10 PIM.

PLAYOFF SPECIAL TEAMS: Red Wings - Power play: 10 percent (1 for 10). Penalty killing: 100 percent (9 for 9). Predators - Power play: 0 percent (0 for 9). Penalty killing: 90 percent (9 for 10).

GOALTENDERS: Red Wings - Legace (2-0, 1.00 GAA); Curtis Joseph (no appearances). Predators - Vokoun (0-2, 2.52); Chris Mason (no appearances).

REGULAR SEASON SERIES: Predators, 3-2-0-1. Detroit scored 13 goals in winning the last three matchups. Vokoun was pulled in two of those three after allowing just six goals on 79 shots in the first three games. Joseph went 2-3 with a 2.21 GAA in five starts, while Legace allowed one goal in winning his lone outing against Nashville. The Wings' Shanahan had five goals and two assists in the series, while no Predator had more than two goals.

Nashville 3, Detroit 1

By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer
April 11, 2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tomas Vokoun made the Nashville Predators' first home playoff game in their six-year history a memory to savor.

Vokoun came up with 22 of his 41 saves in the third period and the Predators beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 Sunday for their first playoff victory, pulling within 2-1 in the first-round series.

David Legwand scored a short-handed goal, Adam Hall had a goal and an assist and Scott Hartnell padded the lead with a goal as the Predators finally made some postseason history they can enjoy.

``Obviously, this is an important game,'' Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. ``Detroit is a veteran team, and they wanted to put a nail in the coffin today, and we didn't let them. Hopefully, we can continue to make this a series.''

The Predators started celebrating this historic moment by throwing a party outside the arena for their fans, and they had such stars as country singer Vince Gill on hand inside to mark the occasion.

The Red Wings looked ready to spoil the day as they outshot Nashville 15-1 in the first 15 minutes.

But Vokoun, the only reason why the Predators have stayed close in this series, more than atoned for having the winning goal bounce in off his skate in Detroit's 2-1 victory Saturday. He gave his teammates the chance to cool off the Red Wings.

``Vokoun played unbelievable,'' Detroit goalie Manny Legace said. ``He stood on his head and stole the game.''

He stopped Detroit early, and he was at his best in protecting Nashville's lead in the third period. Brett Hull scored his first goal this postseason at 5:21 of the third to avoid the shutout; Detroit now has outscored Nashville 5-1 in the third period this series.

That would be it.

Vokoun stopped Hull twice at the net early in the period, and he had a kick save off Mathieu Schneider, who got credit for Saturday's winning goal. Greg Johnson made the biggest save with Nashville leading 2-1 when he cleared the puck from the crease after it slipped through Vokoun's legs on a shot by Jiri Fischer from the blue line.

Detroit forward Brendan Shanahan said Vokoun was the difference.

``Those weren't routine saves that he was making. A few of them he didn't even see the puck, so we're getting good traffic, getting good shots. (We've) just got to stick with it,'' Shanahan said.

Vokoun stopped short of calling it his best game.

``But it's more the timing of it, to get the first win for the team in the playoffs. The playoffs are fun, and I'm having a lot of fun,'' Vokoun said.

Game 4 will be Tuesday night in Nashville.

Goals had been very scarce for the Predators, with a stingy Legace giving up only two over the first 138 minutes of the series. Detroit had outshot the Predators 12-2 when Nashville finally got going with a flurry in the final two minutes of the first period.

With the Red Wings on the power play, Legwand, a Detroit native, stole a pass from Derian Hatcher just inside the zone. He skated down ice and scored his first playoff goal over Legace's right pad.

That got the Predators going, and Legace had to stop Johnson with his left pad on a two-on-one seconds later. Kirk Maltby helped swat away the puck as it floated through the air in front of the goal.

Then Hall, of Kalamazoo, Mich., got his second playoff goal, scoring from the right circle at 19:45 of the period off assists from Johnson and Jason York. That brought the fans to their feet for a standing ovation and a much-needed boost for Nashville.

``Anybody who was here felt the energy,'' Vokoun said. ``The fans were unbelievable. It was the best moment since I've been in Nashville.''

Hartnell provided the final edge when he squeezed the puck between Legace's left foot and the post off a perfect pass from Hall with 3:57 remaining. The Red Wings pulled Legace with 1:56 left, but Vokoun stopped Shanahan at the postin the final seconds.

Notes

Detroit went 0-for-5 on the power play and now is 1-for-15 in this series with the man advantage, compared to 0-for-12 for Nashville. ... Five of Detroit's six goals in this series have come in the third period. ... Detroit tied Tampa Bay for most short-handed goals in the regular season with 15. Nashville had 14 in a league where the average was 8.1 per team. ... Hull nowhas 101 postseason goals, behind Jari Kurri (106) for third all-time.

The Red Wings played a pitiful game and after seeing last year's first round loss in head coach Dave Lewis' first season, and now seeing the first 3 games of this series I have come to the conclusion that Lewis does not know how to change his gameplan to combat what the opposition is doing. Once again this year Detroit is not changing the little things they do to combat the style of play Nashville is using against them. If you can't adjust you are in trouble.

I expect the Red Wings to play much better in game 4 and I think they might even win it. However, it won't be because of their head coach....it will be because of the talent they have on the team overcoming an average, at best, coach. They sorely miss Scotty Bowman.


That said, I think the Red Wings will win the series in either 5 or 6 games. Not sure they will get past the 2nd round though if they play a team with a good goalie and good gameplan.