Red Wings get under the Blackhawks' skin -- and right back in the series

They found their legs. And then they used them. Again and again, shift after shift, the Red Wings did, pulling together until they’d pulled even, skating away with Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

• Photos: Red Wings 4, Blackhawks 1 -- Game 2

Blackhawks taking aim at greatness

Recent history suggests they can’t. The salary cap is designed so they won’t. But that won’t stop the Blackhawks from trying to become the kind of team that dominates the NHL in a way the Red Wings and Devils did for long stretches of the last two decades.

Red Wings' Mule is in need of a kick-start

Somebody better kick the Mule again. And they’d better do it while the Red Wings are still alive and kicking because they’re probably not going to be for long if they don’t get something more out of Johan Franzen in the Western Conference semifinals against the Blackhawks.

• Photos: Red Wings and Stanley through the years
• Interactive: Red Wings vs. Blackhawks: matchups, key players

Michigan's Trey Burke ready for NBA with help from trusted allies

The consensus national player of the year announced he was turning pro last month, and last week the point guard announced he was bypassing more high-profile sports agents to sign with his father, Benji Burke, a newly licensed agent, and his cousin, Alonzo Shavers, who has a relatively small list of NFL clients.

Jimmy Howard can't bail out Red Wings in opener

This one was hardly Howard’s fault. For nearly 50 minutes, he was about the only reason the Wings still had a chance to steal an early series lead, or at least force overtime.

• Photos: Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 1 -- Game 1

Red Wings revel in underdog role against favored Blackhawks

Now the task is to beat the Red Wings, beginning with Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday at the United Center. And that’s something this Chicago team and its coach have yet to do, even as they’ve done just about everything else.

• Photos: Red Wings practice ahead of Game 1 vs. Blackhawks

Red Wings still trying to figure future of Valtteri Filppula

They’ve held on this long. But how much longer can they keep holding on? That’s the immediate question, as the Red Wings flew to California on Saturday after forcing a win-or-else Game 7 against Anaheim on Sunday night. But that’s also a question about the future.

• Photos: Red Wings 4, Ducks 3, OT -- Game 6

Wings' Jimmy Howard stands tall to earn another winner-take-all match

Howard stood in his crease and just shook his head, wondering how a simple game of 5-on-5 could’ve become so lopsided. At times, it seemed as if he was the only one playing defense. At times, he probably wished he was.