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Please do not let this be the final GDT of the year, Wings.

You may recall that you guys whipped our asses pretty good in Game 4 last year. If, however, the Sharks learned their lesson from last year's beatdown and look like they're going to get the sweep this time around, enjoy watching what could be the final games for some of the classiest players in the league. Here's the link to a nice tribute to these guys from ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.g...erre&id=6487568 Whether your season ends after Game 4 or you live to fight another day, Red Wings fans have a lot to be proud of. Lace 'em up . . . drop the puck . . . and may the best team win. I seriously wish you didnt follow me up there. As nice as you seem I wish nothing but the worst for your team. I hope for injuries, penalties and loss after loss. Smug is Smug and sadly you dont know what it is to win. You can keep hoping for the S word but as imminent as it may be you still havent sat at the edge of your seat with your father when your team won in 2002 and said that there would never be a team as good as this EVER. Youll never stand next to your girlfriend and hear that your team won the cup for the first time in over 4 decades. You will never be laid up in a hospital and watch you team win the cup after a horrible motorcycle accident and you will never get to hope your runaway dog comes back while you watch your team win the cup in 2008 and then have him show up the next day. You may love your team My team won and it won A LOT. My team changed my life, my team gave me a reason to live, my team brought a family together, and my team gave me a reason to believe, Your team lost. Even if they win they cant do what the Red Wings have done no matter what. Heres to the Wings and heres to the guys that gave me so many great memories.

Quik someone post a pic of the sharks with the cup!

I know we're all hoping Friday's not Nick's last NHL game ... but if it is, he's had an incredible career. Fun to look back: Lidstrom's 10 Best Playoff Goals No. 1 on the list is the bomb that broke Dan Cloutier. Definitely one of my favorites. Edit: I think this is fine in this part of the message board, but if not, feel free to move it mods. Thought it was a cool find on a random blog.

With 20 consecutive seasons in the playoffs, six SCF appearances and four Cups in the last 15 seasons, the Red Wings have been the closest thing the NHL has had to a dynasty over the last two decades. Winning the fourth game in a playoff series is always tough, but to do it at The Joe, against a great team like the Wings is even tougher. Take it from a guy who knows both teams that will line-up against each other in Game 4. You may recall that you guys whipped our asses pretty good in Game 4 last year. If, however, the Sharks learned their lesson from last year's beatdown and look like they're going to get the sweep this time around, enjoy watching what could be the final games for some of the classiest players in the league. Here's the link to a nice tribute to these guys from ESPN.com: http://sports.espn.g...erre&id=6487568 Whether your season ends after Game 4 or you live to fight another day, Red Wings fans have a lot to be proud of. Lace 'em up . . . drop the puck . . . and may the best team win.

Franzen. He is the prime example in my opinion of what is wrong with this team now days. 2008 he was a machine. But you know what? The first 3/4 of that season he was a checking line player who worked his ass off. When he got 1st line time, he exploded offensively ad had an amazing post season. Since then, he has become a scorer, and that has totally changed his work ethic. All season long he has been floating around on the ice. People can say "as long as he shows up for the playoffs" all they want. I don't buy it. The guy was a workhorse before he became what he is now, and that is the Mule this team needs. He could have been a 40 goal scorer this season, but he decided to take the last couple months of the season off. I don't recall the Red Wings of the late 90's doing that... I say try and package Franzen for a true power forward, who will do what ever it takes to win, ALL YEAR LONG. Bring in a couple nasty bastard for the bottom 6, tweak the defense to make it bigger and meaner, and we have a team that can do some damage again. We need a few nasty players who can wake this team back up when they play like they are half asleep. The talent and depth is there, it's the heart that isn't. This team needs a Mule again, and I really don't think #93 is living up to that name anymore... This team doesn't need big changes. It either needs a bunch of smaller one, or just one big one to shake things up.

History begins tonight! esteef

Yeah, that's a toughie. Howard can't assume the puck is coming at 10 mph. He also shouldn't be assuming that it's coming at 100 mph. And what if Setoguchi doesn't even shoot? Howard wouldn't have been able to get back across the crease if Setoguchi passes back across the ice; it's an open net shot. All Howard had to do was plant his damn skate; he can cover the part of his pad that comes off the ice with the stick that is otherwise in front of his body serving him no purpose. And voila! He stops the shot. Knowing not to fling yourself out of your crease is basic goaltending. While he has been impressive for most of the playoff run, he has steadily declined as the pressure increased. Goalies like Hasek and Osgood played their best in high pressure situations. As for Boyle's goal; my main complaint about Howard on that play is that he dropped to the ice when Wellwood sent the puck across to Boyle, and basically crab-walked over to try and square up to Boyle. Furthering that, Howard dove forward when trying to make the save, offering up more open net. When he swiped his glove at the puck, the entire top half of the net was available. Howard didn't try to "block" the shot, he tried to "grab" the shot. He didn't try to put his body in front of it, or simply get his glove in the path; he swiped at it. Take away one of those decisions, Howard probably stops that puck. Take away all three, and Howard definitely stops it. Hudler is the popular scapegoat around here, I won't deny that. And his first 30 games of the regular season were not spectacular by any stretch. But the fact remains that since Christmas, even if you remove the time Hudler played with Datsyuk, Hudler has outperformed Franzen. And if you look at the stretch Hudler played with Dats, it's hard to argue who has better chemistry WITH Datsyuk. Hudler has outperformed Franzen in the playoffs, and everyone was giving Franzen plenty of leeway in the regular season because "he'll be great in the playoffs." Well he's not. Hudler's been on of the team's top forwards. Babcock has said so. Ken and Mickey have said so. You have always hated him because he's small and European. Good for you. As for Filppula... wasn't it just a few months ago I was classified as a "Filppula hater" by this forum? I lose track of these things, outside of those like yourself who simply can't acknowledge positives about a player.

The other approach isn't working for the Wings. So ... JINX!

Most impressive jinx ever.

There's no excuse, the Sharks are simply finding a way to win end of story

Maybe by some miracle Heatly will drive the team bus to game 4... I'm sorry if that was tasteless but...I don't care.

if a cup cost 5 years and 30 million I will take it any day of the week

Yeah, I would've thought it was defence that won playoff games. Wings can't seem to concentrate for a full 60 minutes, and therefore are losing games.

You never cease to amaze me... In your eyes, Hudler never looks bad. Face it, he stinks, and I am so glad everyday more and more people are seeing it. Hopefully Holland see's it now. Trade him for whatever you can get... Howards poor positioning? I am far from a huge Howard fan, but on the goal you speak of, if Setaguchi gets all of the puck Howard makes the save. As a goalie you can't assume the puck is going to come at you at 10 MPH, it's like a batter waiting for a fastball and then swinging way to early on a change up and looking like he is swatting at flies. When you are expecting 100 MPH and get 10 MPH, you kinda look silly, but Howard played that play perfectly from a technical standpoint. On Boyles goal, unless that puck hits Howard, there was no way he was going to stop it. Unless it hits them, NO goalie can stop a wrister above their glove. You can research every goalie ever to play the game and they have ALL given up goals top shelf above the glove. Either it hits them or its in... Besides, Howard DID get a piece of it, so it did hit him but just not enough... Your crush on Hudler and Filppula disturbs us, maybe Holland should trade them to you? I am 99% sure they will both be on the roster next season, and that is way too unfortunate because they are a waster of nearly $6M in cap.

Hmm. Sure, what the hell.

Makes ya wonder if he's hurt? I can see limiting his ice time in the first series but if Babs is still trying to save him I think he's waited a little too long He's the perfect human..I hope he gets a lot of ice time Friday.

Tried to fit the quote from 300 with the Wings...this is all I got. :/

I laugh everytime I see this. Not only did they make him look like a pig, but they painted him in mid-oink.