Vladifan

never mind. wishful watching on my part.

Wrong. He had a pretty good one in the first period.

I do think he was afraid of getting hit there. And then Thornton tried to take him out a bit later.

Good luck on that one. We have it all, and I'm watching Versus. Ok, I guess I've made my point.

Yeah, well just wait till the second Franzen call.

The Sharks are obviously uptight. We HAVE to take advantage of that!! Please, please, PLEASE????!!!

They just cut off Fox Detroit here and I get to watch this game on Versus. I COULD HAVE SWORN that this whole series was supposed to be available on FoxD. It was there two nights ago. oWHY THE HELL ISN'T IT THERE TONIGHT?! I HATE VERSUS. I HATE DIRECTV. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Here's an excerpt from the Austin American Statesman, written mainly about the Texas Stars, Dallas's AHL team here in central Texas. Here's what caught my eye: <<..."The Stars may epitomize the relative rise of hockey nationwide. NHL ratings on Versus are up by 20 percent, but Andrews (AHL commissioner) said ESPN will bid for the next contract...">> This is news to me. But I sure wouldn't mind if they did.

Murph just said Babcock probably wouldn't hesitate to change up the lines, even moving Cleary up. I LIKE it. He does better on the top lines. WhatEVER works, kids! GO, BELOVED RED WINGS!! GO, JUMPIN' JIMMEH!!!

Deep down, I'm just nervous for them. But I have no concrete reasons to think they can't keep on movin' on. I'm a firm believer in positive mental energy that can translate/transmute (whatever the word is I'm looking for...) to physical energy. Problem is, I think I'm in the minority, and you really, really need numbers for something like that to work. They can DO this, and they can do more.

I fervently hope I get to keep looking forward to this one and your Sundance one.

No, I did not remember that. Wowza! But I'm older and the brain cells are quickly diminishing. Meanwhile, we were in China about two years ago, for about a month. It is the best trip we ever took, bar none. Saw Beijing, Xian and the Terra Cotta warriors, Chongching, (sp?), sailed down the Yangtze, etc., etc. I'll make this quick before it gets deleted. China is probably the most powerful country on the face of the earth and we have every reason to believe that they will be a true power if they're not already. They can do it ALL and with very little mechanization. I never saw a harder working people. Yeah their hierarchy sucks, but it is a beautiful country and so are its people. Over and out!

I'm very proud of the way the Wings came back in game four. They will always be my team no matter what happens. But oh yeah, I am nervous for them. This fact remains. Whoever wins game five in a series more often than not moves on to the next level. Can't tell you the stats, but they are noteworthy. Meanwhile, I want to think that the Sharks will feel more pressure than the Wings, and that the Wings (and Franzen) are in Nabokov's head. GO, WINGS!! Either way, Grypho, I'm going to miss you. You are indeed a class act and I believe, a true hockey fan.

<<"In 2007, the NHL signed an agreement to extend the NHL on Versus to the 2010–2011 season. Versus paid $72.5 million for 2007–2008 and will pay inflationary increases over the next three years." >> This is from Wikpedia so you might want a salt shaker handy.

Yeah, well I read this guy's column and his brain should be in the Smithsonian, along with the other Neanderthal craniums.

The Wings can do this. Why? I thought you'd never ask. We are in Nabokov's head. (It wouldn't hurt though, if Franzen just smiled at him now and then.) If any of the three are "on", they cannot stop Zetts, Franzen and Bertuzzi. The pressure is mostly on the Sharks. Ba Dum CHHHH, and you're welcome.

We were lucky to see Roy when he was at his worst, too. Muueeeehaaahaaa. Sick, I know - but I couldn't resist.

I swear the talent just gets better and better on these threads. This is BRILLiant! THANKS!

I think Marty's column was a copy from the Sharks' board. Check the link. It threw me for a minute too. But it sure didn't sound like the Marty we know. And he doesn't ***** like a lot of us do, so I don't know what you're referring to on that one. I hope, I think I'm right on this.

Every point raised in that article is solid and reasonable. No, ESPN won't devote as much time to hockey as most of us fans think they should. But the timing is such that I think it would be stupid and naive of them not to bid. Hockey ratings are picking up and can only be enhanced by more media coverage. And if Bettman gets in the way, I hope is ass is grass. Announcing a hockey game has to be a difficult job and I don't mind Doc Emerich. But I loved Clement and Thorne. They were colorful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable and they definitely added to the coverage.

Ya think??!! In the past, I think you've been right about the Sharks giving life to the Wings. But I'd say the Wings enlivened themselves in game four. By the way, I can't remember a time when we've had visitors who showed so much class and understanding of The Game. Oh gawd, please not. Texas just got rid of him. What a self-destructive loser.

Thanks, Mindfly. I hope it makes a difference. I didn't wear any Red Wings stuff for game four, so I'm gonna do the same thing again. Strange, but true.

Love Hudler's face in that situation. In fact I'm pretty sure they used Hudler's face for this emoticon. --->

<<But the Sharks played down the idea that they were trying to send a message, preferring to look at it as continuing to play the hard-hitting style they have in both this series and the first-round match against the Colorado Avalanche. The hope is to wear down opponents over the long run. >> Damn. Marty was right. They DO want to be the Ducks.

Damn. You're lippy and inspirational.