The Detroit Red Wings face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round series. This is the 24th straight season the Wings have made it to the playoffs.
Sports commentator John U. Bacon notes how remarkable this streak is, considering how many players and rule changes have been made in the years.
But Bacon is doubtful about how far the Wings can make it this year.
"The Wings have got their work cut out for them," he says.
Bacon says this isn't a dominant Tampa Bay team, but they still have led the league in goals scored.
Currently, the Wings have two goalies, neither of which is the obvious choice to start. For Bacon, this puts them at a disadvantage.
The game will also pit former Red Wings player Steve Yzerman against his old team, adding even more emotion to the game.
Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper has ties to Michigan as well. Cooper got his starting coaching for Lansing Catholic Central only 13 years ago.
Bacon says Cooper's new era style of coaching is vastly different from the older methods of Wings’ coach Mike Babcock.
On the Wings' chances in the first round Bacon says, "Tampa Bay is extremely good at home and not very good on the road so the Wings can win this round if they win one or maybe two games in Tampa Bay. Not easy, but they have to."
