Coyotes looking for Lidstrom

 Let's put a bottom line on Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals between the Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes.

If the Coyotes continue to beat up the Red Wings without retaliation the series will be 2-0 in favor of Phoenix. If the Wings fight back they will return to Detroit tied 1-1.

I've often rejected the poor Wings got beat up argument that Wing fans scream at times. But this time they are right. The Coyotes outhit the Wings 43-20 in Game One during their 3-2 victory. The major culprits were Shane Doan (nine hits) and Ed Jovanovski (seven) who used the Wings as target practice.

And they want to do it again. Their primary target will be the forwards of course, but it was interesting to hear that they want to smack around defenseman Nick Lidstrom also.

They respect him, admire him and want to be like him. But they also know Nick is long in the tooth.  They believe if they can make him work a little harder it might shut down the Wings defense even more.

It is just something to look out for.