Most difficult playoff opponent

[Probert 5 For Fighting 0]

It's easy to do this in hindsight, but it's pretty incredible to note that the most trouble this Wings team had with any their opponents(which increased in "talent" every round) was back with Nashville in round one. Since then, there hasn't a been a definitive stretch in any game against COL,DAL or PIT where the Wings were definitively outplayed.

To watch this team become increasingly more dangerous in each game since we closed out a tough Nashville team is pretty impressive, and should be lauded. Save for miracle performances by Fleury and Turco, they have played to near-perfection for 3 rounds. And Nashville can hold its head up higher than the rest, knowing they were the only team to scare the heebie-jeebies out of the Wings.

[StevieY9802 6]

Nashville was tough but I think Pitt was just as tough over the last 4 games. I am very happy the Wings didn't have to go through SJ or the Ducks. But to anyone who said the Wings had an easier road there, you take what you get. I'm sure the Ducks weren't complaining when they got it easy through the Wild and Canucks last year quickly and could rest and didn't have nearly the travel the Wings did.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Nashville was tough but I think Pitt was just as tough over the last 4 games. I am very happy the Wings didn't have to go through SJ or the Ducks. But to anyone who said the Wings had an easier road there, you take what you get. I'm sure the Ducks weren't complaining when they got it easy through the Wild and Canucks last year quickly and could rest and didn't have nearly the travel the Wings did.

I don't. There was never any doubt in my mind that we were the better team. We didnt even play all that hot in game 6 and still managed a win

[Offsides 21]

Our most difficult opponent was the refs

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

As amazing as it is, Trashville was the toughest opponent. Even when we won the first 2 games against them, we barely hung on. The rest of the series was as close as it gets.

For some reason, we just struggled agaisnt our division all year.

[Probert 5 For Fighting 0]

Agreed. It was a stomach punch to see Talbot/Sykora score and all that...but watching Nashville shallack us 5-3 was the only time I ever felt hopeless watching the Wings this postseason. Pitt was outplayed every game. Many might say Nashville outplayed us when we went up 2-0. We had the Stanley Cup breaks going for us, though.

[StevieY9802 6]

I don't. There was never any doubt in my mind that we were the better team. We didnt even play all that hot in game 6 and still managed a win

But thats exactly why I thought it was tough. They were 2-2 over the last 4 games where they could have easily lost both of their wins. That means it's tough. Not tough is pretty much the last 3 games against the Avs. The better team doesn't always win. Get a hot goalie and you never know.

[Vincanni 1]

My order goes as:

1. Nashville, hard to judge however due to the goalie shift but they were the only team to tie the series with us and handedly beat us in a game.

2. Dallas, really close to Pitt in terms of difficulty, while this series could have easily been a sweep counting Homer's stolen goal to give us the lead in game 4, Dallas showed a lot of heart and made things somewhat interesting for us before folding.

3. Pittsburgh, would have been higher but the first two games weren't even close and though we didn't get raped by the refs to possibly clinch a sweep, the extremely biased officiated was far less concealed than I had seen it in any other playoff series and was the only thing that made this series truly competitive.

4. Colorado, maybe if they had been completely healthy they could have won a game.

[Saran 1]

pittsburgh + refs + luck

[Donaldjr2448 43]

I mentioned this before, Nashville had the 2nd best record (behind San Jose who won 18/20 down the stretch) from Jan 1 up to the playoffs. That says something. I still ddon't think they were an "8th seed" I personally thought that Nashville was probably the second or third best team in the west the second half of the season. I honestly thought we were in trouble when we drew them in the first round this year. I think that Nashville helped us win the cup this year. That test early on got us going for a long playoff run! After Game 5 in that series we totally dominated our opponents!! To answer the question, Nashville was our toughest opponent! Dallas and Pittsburgh were desperate teams, and I think Nashville played us head to head better!!

[Bad Vlad Forever 1]

Nashville was the scary team. That whole scoring in twos business. They were the only ones that put us on the defensive for any stretch of time.

[xtrememachine1 795]

Nashville was tough but I think Pitt was just as tough over the last 4 games. I am very happy the Wings didn't have to go through SJ or the Ducks. But to anyone who said the Wings had an easier road there, you take what you get. I'm sure the Ducks weren't complaining when they got it easy through the Wild and Canucks last year quickly and could rest and didn't have nearly the travel the Wings did.

Yeah, last year I think the Wings got screwed with the matchups they ended up getting. Last year it was like, "Congrats, you got the number one seed! Now you get to play the Flames, Sharks and Ducks and that's just to GET to the Finals." The Wings were the best team last year and it didn't show because they 3 tough matchups in a row. This year, I think the Wings got an easier path, but that's kinda the point of finishing with the best record in the league. You should have an easier path.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Preds & Stars. I'm kinda giving the edge to the Stars though..

[aflac9262 211]

Definitely Nashville. The whole deal with the back to back goals and what not was becoming so frustrating, and I can't imagine how our guys felt when that whole ordeal was happening. They gave us a run for our money, and could have won that series. We were fortunate to win game five at home in OT, and were able to squeak out a win in Nashville in game six. Game six was so tough - looking back at it, you have to wonder without Lidstrom's center ice goal how things could have been oh so different.

Pittsburgh was our second toughest IMO, it just seemed like they were a very fortunate team. They got a lot of the calls, and were fortunate to even take the series to six games. The Wings shut down Crosby and Malkin for the majority of the series, but got into some trouble when other Pens (ex: Hossa) started to pick up the slack offensively.

Colorado was our weakest opponent, and credit that to the majority of injuries they had. Dallas gave us a bit of a fight, but it still wasn't as tight as the Nashville series. Ellis was tougher to beat than Turco.

[egroen 384]

Nashville -- These Central teams are being bred to beat the Wings, and it is beginning to show. I am thankful we will play less within our division next year.

Sort of how the Rangers were built to beat the Devils.

[ifonlyicouldskate 11]

I would agree with nashville being the toughtest opponent by far. And it sucks because they get no credit or respect from the rest of the hockey world? Ellis was a beast. The Pittsburgh Crosby's were a close second only because they got there asses handed to them in the first 2 games and never gave up and battled to the end. That show character and heart. Dallas being third, I think they were just full of themselves, perhaps over confident because they beat the ducks and the sharks, but paid the price for all of the wear and tear. Then there is the injury riddled AVS the series that was suppose to be all that, and well, we all know what happend there. The coach was too stubborn to make the goalie switch that ended up costing the man his job.

AND NOW WE ARE THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!

[DallasStars 0]

Of course Nashville would be the "toughest". The two played eachother 8 times this season. They would have the best "idea" of how to beat you guys. Although, they lacked the talent.

Besides Nashville, I think Dallas gave you guys the most "fits".

[lfd250 1]

I feel the it wasn't a team, but when the team pulled the goalie at the end of the game. Feels like every time the other team did this (throughout the whole season) we had problems. That's why I was VERY nervous at the end of the one goal games.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Nash and Stars. They both have tough goalies so that argument is kinda moot.. however, we were playing Hasek vs the Preds and he wasn't working out too well then. Because of that I give the Stars a slight edge, but really, they were both good opponents.

Now, as compared to the Pens, I honestly still think the Stars would have taken the Pens, probably in 7 games. Nashville, Im not as sure... Pens in 6 or 7, maybe? Then again, Nashville's gritty style could have given them the same sort of trouble they gave us..

[Yemack 1]

ourselves

[Firehawk 305]

I think Pitt gave Detroit just as many fits as Nashville did, except that they had alot of help from the refs. I can't remember the referee situation in round 1 since it feels like a year ago that it was played.

I don't know about the rest of you, but it hasn't really sunk in yet that the Detroit Red Wings are the Stanley Cup Champions again.

[Lookout14 0]

Our most difficult opponent was the refs

HOW TRUE...my thoughts EXACTLY!