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Ovechkin got a lot of crap from the media for losing to Montreal, despite scoring 10 points in that series. It clearly wasn't his fault that the rest of his teammates choked in that series but everyone pointed the finger at him. The media kept talking about how Crosby has surpassed Ovechkin as a player because of the Caps loss and that Crosby is a better leader and all that s***. Well, if I'm not mistaken, Crosby scored 5 points in this series and only 1 goal. He choked big time in this series, and didn't play nearly as well as Ovechkin did against this same team, scoring around half as many points. I want to hear the hockey media blame Crosby for this loss the same way they did Ovechkin. I know that probably won't happen, but it should. He was completely invisible here just like against us in the Finals the last two years.

the 1996-97 and 1997-98 Detroit Red Wing Hockey Clubs, still the last teams to win consecutive Stanley Cups: Thank you!

I don't know about "more" blame. They were both their team's best players and both under performed. Ovechkin really hurt his team with his superman rushes where he tried to go around 5 people and shoot from the blue line. But Crosby/Malkin sure didn't perform up to par either. I really do think more credit should be given to Halak then Ovechkin/Crosby/Malkin should be blamed. Because they all had great on the door chances that Halak just simply stopped.

I'd love to see the SCF be Original 6 teams. So either Chicago and Boston or Chicago and Montreal. Haven't had one of those in 31 years.

Like when the Pens had 6 guys on the ice vs. Detroit, for 20 or so seconds, and the linesman actually told the Penguins player that he needed to get off the ice instead of call the penalty? Is that the "same standard" that you're referring to? GIONTA!!! You could hear a pin drop in Mellon Arena!

Eat it Carman! 5-2!

Two years ago I was a person that would vehemently argue against conspiracies against one team or another. However, my views have changed after watching the last two years of playoffs. I don't think there's an outright directive to favor anyone, but I definitely believe there is an unspoken rule to favor some teams and players. Kinda like when Jordan was playing. He could get away with murder. Lebron and Kobe would be similar examples. Remember the Ducks last year and what they did to the Wings? The disallowed goals, the phantom holding penalties, etc... Then the famous six men on the ice for the pens for over 30 seconds that wasn't called at a CRUCIAL moment of the series. Tonight's game is a perfect example of the league trying to make games more interesting. The Habs go up by four and suddenly the Pens get four straight power plays. Montreal hasn't had a power play since the first period. I saw a post on lgw after one of the Pens games about how quickly the Pens get a power play after the other team goes up by a goal. All of that can't be a coincidence, imo. So, is there a conspiracy? Probably not. Is there an effort to try to keep games close and to give the golden boy an opportunity to be a winner? Yes, I definitely think that's happening.

I would love Brandon Prust. He can't handle a puck to save his life but he can skate really well and cause some mayhem on the forecheck. Not a bad fighter either, good energy player.

The best part about this whole thing is the look on the faces of all these idiot fans at the Mellon arena. This may be the best thing that God has done this year. The "Flower" has been deflowered.

Please don't let one bad apple from Chicago say that. Chicago was a hockey town from the inception to the late 80's just because they rarely missed the playoffs, and Detroit is actually chasing that record held by Chicago and Boston I believe for a pro sports franchise in consecutive years of making the postseason at like 27. Of course Chicago has bandwagoners tons of younger children are now turned on to hockey and so are adults. Please don't feed people that crap that we are a bandwagon town. When you have a horrendous owner who doesn't do anything to help the franchise come talk to me. The fans are finally being treated right and we were winning and competitive. This is a good thing for both Chicago and Detroit...brings back a solid rivalry. How can you honestly sit here witha straight face and talk about bandwagons when Detroit was absolutely terrible for years and finally got good....A lot of people were there thru the lean times, but a lot were not. Detroit gained bandwagons also back in the day, so that stupid argument doesn't fly. It's just a tool a person like you are using to make yourself think less of Chicago or make their good fortunes somehow mean less. Every franchise has Wagoners, but they also got a lot of true fans, so don't you dare lump a whole city into that category without knowing the whole situation that went on here for years.

If he actually plays Hudler consistently, and as a top 6 guy, he definitely has the potential to hit 70 points if not more. The guy nearly got 60 with minimal minutes last year and he's had those long droughts when he was all nervous about getting traded the last couple years. If Babcock gives him a real opportunity and he makes the most of it from the get go, he won't have to worry about being traded this time around and again, just more minutes and time with better guys will only lead to good things. The guy knows how to put up points. He'll likely cause a good deal of stress in our end, but hey, sometimes you've got to give some to get some. It's really up to him to make the most of the opportunity. He's got the skills, and he's going to get a shot. If he can pony up, he'll have a very, very good offensive season.

The habs have my vote to go all the way.

There's going to be a new Stanley Cup Champion this year! I love it!

When does the Crosby cross-checking show start?

I've been thinking about this throughout this year's playoffs. I have always dismissed the conspiracy theorists around here as just being tin foil hat nutjobs, but I don't think that they are completely off-base. Let me say first and foremost that I do not believe that there is a blatant conspiracy or intent by the league to selectively eliminate certain teams from the playoffs, or help other teams to get deeper in than they normally would. What I do believe is that Gary Bettman, and I assume those under him, places a strong emphasis on the expansion and extension of the league into new markets as well as an increase in popularity in already-established markets. Everything that he does is to this end. I have no doubt that people in the upper echelons of the NHL casually discuss how it will help the league for Sidney Crosby to win cups (being the next Wayne Gretzky and all) to help with universal league appeal, and how it will help the league for small and non-traditional market teams to achieve success in the post season. That's why the salary cap was such a sticking point in the negotiations that culminated in the league losing a season due to a lockout. Bettman would rather not play an entire season of hockey than allow the league to continue with no salary cap, because that's how important league parity is to him. Parity means that small market teams will start to experience more success. (Ironic that the last team to hoist the Cup before the lockout was Tampa.) I think that it is an attitude that pervades the league's offices, not some sort of unwritten policy. I don't think that Bettman or Colin Campbell calls up Terry Gregson and tells him that his officials need to make sure that the Sharks beat the Wings or that the Penguins win the Stanley Cup. I have little doubt that people in the league feel that the Wings going deep into the playoffs every year is detrimental to the NHL because it is keeping other teams out, thereby preventing the growth of those teams' fan bases. Again, no one tells anyone that the Wings need to get jobbed, but I think that there is a pervasive attitude in the league that leads to negative feelings towards Detroit. Ultimately, I think that the League's front office places more emphasis on marketing and monetary expansion through the development of under-performing markets and lucrative television contracts (that really have yet to materialize) than they do on officiating and making sure that games are run properly. It's possible that young refs aren't as experienced as they should be or aren't trained as much as they should be. Not because the league is purposefully trying to screw over certain teams, but because their priorities are elsewhere. Instead of worrying about putting out a quality product that will appeal first and foremost to hockey enthusiasts, they are spending their time trying to appeal to the mouth-breathing masses. It's the same reason that reality television dominates the airwaves instead of higher-quality programming. In terms of fans, the league is going for quantity, not quality. Anyway, those are my feelings on the matter. I think that as long as Bettman or someone with his mindset is running the league, it is never going to be as good as it could or should be. The recent news about the Coyotes and what happened in Winnipeg further supports that. It doesn't make sense that cities like Quebec City, Winnipeg, Hartford, and Minneapolis lose NHL franchises while warm-weather cities that don't traditionally care about hockey gain franchises. These cities all ostensibly have bandwagon fans that jump ship as soon as their team starts sucking, while the cities that lost their teams are left to wonder if they will ever have an NHL team again. Again, this is bad for hockey as a whole, but it's where Bettman's priorities lie. Chris

I'm glad that the only Cup celebration this stupid arena saw was the Wings skating the Cup in 2008.

I think we all know who is going to get most of the calls the rest of the game... This league really pisses me off

Ok now that was a bad penalty.

Another Pen diving to get a PP.

last thing we need is any more players over the age of like 28 we gotta think future

I'm hoping by "gritty" he also means someone who can actually win fights. esteef

Hey guys, I'm having a discussion with a friend about setting a deadline for Lidstrom to make a decision on his retirement. I felt it was only fair to the team that he lets us know by the 1st of July so we can move forward. My friend disagrees and thinks he should have all the time in the world. Regardless of this discussion it was both our opinions and is just a little back story on my question. Anyways he cited Sundin and Neidermayer as two players given all the time in the world to decide. He asked me for any examples of people given deadlines so does anyone know of any players who were given strict deadlines by GM's. I'm sure it has happened but as i'm no GM expert nor have a great memory I can't recall any. Any help is appreciated and links to news or anything would help. Cheers.

Does that mean Babcock might actually play Hudler... say in key situations where the Wings need a goal (as opposed to renowned goal scorers like Draper and Kopecky (last year)), and give him more than 2 games at a time on the second line? Because I just don't see Hudler, or anyone, scoring 70 pts with 12-13 minutes of ice time.

That took up so much space to say f*** ALL I wanted you to read it again

Vancouver's a young team. They have plenty of time to win the Cup. This isn't their last chance. Seems like people are talking like it is.