'History Will Be Made'

Of course history will be made. Could the NHL pick a more obvious slogan for these playoffs?

"Hockey will be played."

I've included a large chunk of some interesting statistics from NHL.com below. I guess none of it really matters, but these are good for driving yourself insane.

"Detroit isn't accustomed to playing seventh games on the road and hasn't won one since 1964. Phoenix is looking for its first playoff series win -- the last time the franchise advanced to the second round was when Winnipeg accomplished the feat in 1987. Something has to give.

Stat pack: The Red Wings are 4-4 overall in Game 7s since 1991, most recently losing to the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final last June. … The Coyotes are 0-4 all-time in Game 7 and Doan is the only player remaining from their most recent seventh game, against St. Louis in 1999.

Puck drop: Home ice hasn't meant very much in this series, but Game 7 can be a different beast. Teams scratch and claw for every last point during the regular season in the hopes of gaining that one extra game in their building to decide who wins and who loses. Since 1939, home teams are 80-49 in Game 7, a .620 winning percentage."