NHL PLAYOFFS : Red Wings’ Sweep Bittersweet

The sight of Steve Yzerman hobbling out of the Detroit locker room on crutches, nursing a sprained right knee, was enough to temper the Red Wings’ celebration of their four-game sweep of the San Jose Sharks.

Their 6-2 victory Saturday night at San Jose sent the Red Wings into the Western Conference finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, a series that won’t start until next Saturday.

But that may not be enough time for Yzerman to be ready to play. He is scheduled to undergo tests today on the knee that locked up in the second period.

Yzerman, who had surgery on the knee in 1988, said this injury did not feel nearly as bad as the injury that led to that operation.

“We’re concerned,” said Detroit forward Bob Errey, who scored the Red Wings’ fifth goal. “He anchors the power play, the penalty killing. He does it all. He leaves a big hole in the lineup. If you’re going to win anything, you need Steve Yzerman out there.”

Detroit, which has not won the Stanley Cup in 40 years, will be seeking its first finals berth since 1966.

“I think it’s going to be a fabulous series. I don’t think any hockey fan could ask for anything more than a Detroit-Chicago playoff,” said Detroit’s Paul Coffey.

The Red Wings took an early lead, as they had throughout the series, with four goals in a 4:33 span in the opening period. They were the fastest four goals in Detroit playoff history, beating the mark of 4:46 set in 1939.

“We didn’t want to give this team any life, so we had to come out like gangbusters and we did,” said Red Wing goalie Mike Vernon, who faced only 17 shots Saturday and 61 while winning all four games of the series.

Chicago 4, Vancouver 3--Chris Chelios brought a sudden end to the Canucks’ season and also the end of NHL hockey at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum, as the Blackhawk defenseman scored in overtime for the second consecutive game.

The Blackhawks’ comeback victory, their third in overtime during the series, completed a 4-0 sweep that eliminated last year’s Stanley Cup finalists and marked the end of 25 seasons for the Canucks at the Coliseum.

The Canucks, who will move into luxurious GM Place in downtown Vancouver in September, left the ice to mostly appreciative cheers from the crowd of 15,016, although there were some soft drinks thrown on the ice.

Chelios took a pass from Denis Savard and snapped a quick shot past Kirk McLean at 5:35 of overtime. Jeremy Roenick forced the overtime when he scored midway through the third period by banking a shot off the out-of-position McLean.