uncle ovipositor

No chance. I realize you probably saw more of the Yotes than you have in years, and I think they're a formidable team, but I've seen a lot of games by both this year and this Avs squad is a better team. Bryz is a great goalie, but Anderson is more dependable. Like the Blues and Bluejackets, this year was a fluke for the Yotes. Next year's Avs will probably win their division. The Sharks got lucky this year, with 2 of the Avs key forwards out, which won't be the case next year.

I think most Sharks fans appreciate good hockey, and the Wings are the model franchise. I don't think there's a better club year in and year out, with as much dedication and intelligence. I still want the Sharks to win, but any fan of the Sharks has to appreciate the Wings. Not just because of the similar styles of play or the coaching connection, but because more than any other team the Wings have schooled the Sharks. When the Wings win against the Sharks, it's usually with a simple game played perfectly. It's usually clear and undeniable, with only a few exceptions where one could whine if so inclined. And the Sharks are smart enough to go back to the drawing board and get ready to try again. It's pretty clear that if the Sharks want to be the best, they have to beat Detroit. Getting lucky isn't going to be enough, and a hot goalie won't pull them through a mediocre game, they all need to rise up and play their best game in order to have a 50/50 chance. That's pretty cool. I'm sure I don't speak for all Sharks fans - there are plenty of people who just want the cup, no questions asked - but to the ones I know, the Wings are the best team in the league.

I always thought it would be better if 1-8 from the east played 8-1 from the west in the first round. There wouldn't be a conference champion, but the cup would mean a lot more. And for the foreseeable future, the cup would come west every year. The last 10-or-so years, the Western has been significantly better. I think the only reason the Wings didn't hoist the cup last year is because they played so many tough games just to make it to the finals. On the plus side, most series out west are incredible hockey - much better than the SCF. Last year, the Wings had to be on for every single game to win it all, and I'm sure that will be true for this year's Western Conference Champs.

Sadly, ESPN really did run that picture with that quote underneath it.

I'm pretty sure you don't speak for everyone here, and the PbP guys called it a high stick. The replay which I just rewatched shows Filppula's stick hitting him in the face. Either way, it's a penalty. Both were penalties, not pure acting - unlike, say, Draper's ballet move when Boyle tapped him as they both went for the puck. You're upset because the Sharks managed to capitalize on their chances. But here's the thing: when the Wings get a lucky call, or one of them dives and they get an undeserved power play because of it, you're not going to be too upset. You're going to be glad they got away with one. Maybe you'll think it's smart play, or maybe you'll think it's some sort of payback for Setoguchi's behavior, maybe you won't even admit it's a dive in public - whatever, you'll be happy about it. And I won't complain about it. Like with Draper's dive. Hockey, like most sports, doesn't have absolute rules. It doesn't. It has the rules as called on the ice. The fallibility of the refs is part of the game, and if they miss something, that doesn't null their call. Players (and coaches) do what they can to game that. And while it's probably cold comfort right now, the truth is that these things really do even out in a statistically measurable way. Maybe not in an individual game or even in a series, but they do. And usually it works itself out pretty quickly. I guarantee you that Holmer is going to do something that could reasonably be called as goalie interference, and he's going to get away with it. I'm okay with that, and I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you are, too. But if you really see this as a one-sided thing, you might want to take a step back.

Avs>Yotes. Done in 6 > done in 7.

Setoguchi got hit in the face before he went down. Point being?

The Sharks needed to take advantage of the tired Wings and they did. Every little edge in a series matters, and thanks to the Avs and the Eagles concert, they got this one. Even tired, though, the Wings are one of the most opportunistic teams, and always a threat. This win doesn't mean much because the series will be close every game through to the end. If it keeps going like this, this could well be the best series of the whole playoffs.

Sorry, but have you watched the Wings for more than the last couple games? Dominik Hasek put together his reel for Hollywood in your nets. Like any team in the NHL, players embellish penalties because they are worried the ref will miss them. I'm going to guess there are a dozen embellishments either way in this series, and if stop being such homers you'll see that for what it is. There are also going to be pick plays and interference (a line both teams push very well, with the Wings having the edge) and all kinds of clutching and grabbing. Holmer will be in the blue paint more than once and get away with it as often as not. It's all part of the game.

Yeah, that is pretty funny when 2 guys from the same team run into each other. I had a good laugh at Cleary while he was down on the ice, clutching his head... He's so stupid! Seriously, though. Come one. Sucks for whomever it happens to, and it even happens to the Wings.

Meh - them's the breaks. I think the Wings outplayed the Sharks for a lot of the game, but the Sharks played a solid road game - especially considering it was the second in a row. A goal that shouldn't have been allowed was. It happens. Regardless, it was a fun game to watch. I imagine the rest of the games in the season series will be prettier, but that one was good all the way around. I think Nabby's a better goalie than Ozzie, but he needs to be. The Wings play a solid defensive game, and it's hard to get a shot through. In a funny way, I think this might even make Ozzie look bad sometimes, when he's not quite in the game because he hasn't had anything to do for long stretches. And every time I watch a game at the Joe on the TV, it's painful to see all of the empty seats. Not because it takes anything away from the team at all, but because I can't imagine people missing out on seeing this team. Detroit is still the team for the Sharks to measure themselves against.

With a 3rd line of Ferriero-Malhotra-Mitchell and a 4th of Staubitz-Shelly-Mcginn I think they're going to be okay. Mitchell's return to the ice is a big deal, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him and Clowe swapping lines. Staubitz churned Tootoo into butter, and for that alone pretty much everyone in the hockey world owes him. It's going to be an interesting year in San Jose.

Supposedly 3.5 per for 4 years, but it still isn't official.

The central is certainly shaping up to be the toughest division, but who knows. By all rights the pacific should have been the toughest last season, but Dallas flamed out and the Ducks didn't start playing until February, as is now their tradition. We'll see if Columbus and St Louis can continue to build on what they've got and not take a step backwards. If so, the Wings are in for a long season and I'm going to go out of my way to watch every central div game I can. I think the Preds will remain also-rans. Hard to say for sure with that team, but I just don't see them gelling for more than a 2-week spurt here or there. I don't know if it's a lack of morale or leadership or what, but they can't seem to string together a month's worth of solid effort. Which I'm fine with.

Not much of a defense there. Campbell got offered a lot of money and he took it. I don't think he handled his situation with the Sharks well (by many accounts he said he'd come back, but then his agent talked him into waiting for offers to come in), but in the end the Sharks got Boyle, so everything's fine. Campbell's game has been consistent, and I don't think he deserves any blame for others' expectations. The people who look like idiots out of the whole situation are the Hawks, who offered him an unrealistic amount money. That's when they started mortgaging their future - odd, since being bottom dwellers allowed them to develop a really good core of young players that they could have built something long term out of. Regardless, he's theirs for a long time because nobody is going to take that contract. As far as buying their way to a cup this year goes, that's their only chance now. The team Hossa just signed to is going to look very different in a couple years, and probably not for the better.

I hate Boy Scouts and I even like him.

Wait... You're saying this in defense of RyanK? Seriously? Whoa... So, your life is tough right now and you want a hockey team to take out your aggression on another team? You want them "bloodied and broken" because you got laid off? That's the very definition of impotent rage, and you might want to think about lightening up before it kills you, or you kill someone else. I'm sorry times are tough for you, but that has f*** all to do with hockey. Don't count on the Wings to get revenge on the world for you. Uh... have you read this thread? I know, I know, "They started it", but that doesn't really work now, just like it didn't when you were 5. This thread is all about hating Chicago. Not the Blackhawks - Chicago. I don't see that as being any different from them telling Wings fans to get a job. ... Campbell's continuing his mediocre year with a mediocre playoffs. Good guy to have out on the PP, not someone you want playing in his own end. I'm guessing the Wings will relish him being on the ice. I'd say Chicago's D is average, and that's what will do them in this series. They'll also probably score some damn pretty goals, too.

The Sharks seem to have some kind of old folks home program going.

I'm surprised that some people here think it wasn't interference. Cleary was in the crease, with his leg behind Hiller's, blocking him from moving. It doesn't matter if Hiller saw the shot or not, the act is what's illegal. Even if no shot is taken, you can't get on top of the goalie like that. Of course, technically it wasn't interference, since it wasn't called, and the rules are as called on the ice. I don't think the ref was trying to make up for other calls or anything like that, but it worked out about right. If I were the Ducks I'd be pissed too, but in the end they've earned a lot of non-calls. You want to play that way, you lump it.

So you're saying that it was an attempt to hit him in the knee at high speed, but without the intent to do any damage. Really? How does that work, exactly? Obviously you're just joking with me. I'm going to assume that you've never skated or played hockey, then, or learned how to use sarcasm effectively. There are classes for all of the above. "Intentionally" isn't what I said at all. He turned and tried to deliver a check. Gonchar moved and only partially got out of the way. Sucks all around, but there wasn't any intent to injure. A little bit of time on skates (or, you know, watching other people skate) would show you how that works. You've seen people try to hit someone on the boards and miss. Is that because they were trying to miss? Or is it because they guessed what the other person was going to do and got it wrong? Or does Ovechkin simply have better reaction time than anybody else? Ah, who am I kidding. You're going to see it your way, regardless, because you live in a world of attempt to injure without malice, where up is down and yes means no.

So... it was an intentional attempt to hurt another player, but not with malice? It was like a mercy kneeing, because he could tell Gonchar wanted out of the series? I'm curious if you've ever skated before. Ovi bent his right knee to lean into a hit and, if Gonchar moved, go into a turn. His skates don't get any farther apart, he just shifts weight at the knees - unlike walking or running, that's where you shift your center of gravity from when you're on skates. That might be what you're seeing as him "widening his stance". I would guess that he assumed Gonchar was going to lean into him to take the hit, and he leaned accordingly. At that speed, to make the calculated move you're claiming he made would take superhuman reflexes. Both of them are making their play, not trying to respond the other. On the plus side for the Pens, Ovi was pretty much out of it for the rest of the game. He just ended his friend's season, and I don't care who you are that will affect you. Even worse because it was an accident.

I'd offer same, but I'm not a STH and can never buy a ticket for a Wings/Sharks game - it's always sold out on the first day because of all the Wings fans showing up. Luckily I know someone who's an Oiler's fan. You can walk right up and buy those.

Here's the thing, though: Dallas and the Sharks have very similar records. Since 2000, the Sharks have missed the playoffs once, the Stars twice. However, the stars have been to the SCF, while the Sharks have only made the conference finals. They're remarkably similar teams on paper. As far as the injuries, it was this bad for the Stars last year, when they made the conference finals. I like the Stars. I think they're as good as the Sharks on paper. My point isn't really about the stars at all, it's about why you "blow a team up". Based on records, you've got as good an argument to blow up the Stars, who perpetually under perform in the playoffs assuming that the only acceptable performance is to win the cup. That's the kicker for the Sharks. Every year people talk about them winning the Cup, then they start talking about winning the Cup, then everybody's talking about them finally winning the Cup, then they don't win the Cup. Every year it seems like there are 5 or so serious Cup contenders, and every year only 1 team gets it. The Sharks have been in that group for a while, but haven't managed to close the deal, so even though they have a very similar record to Dallas, one team is considered a flop and one isn't. Doesn't help with the GM saying the only acceptable outcome of this season is the Cup, because there are a lot of teams that are at least as good as the Sharks, and they all want the same thing. Nobody just decides to win the Cup. The reason people who've been all the way are worth extra $$$ to teams is because they know how hard they're going to have to work to get back there. And about that GM - That's a perfect description of both of us, though. I'm 100% dedicated to bringing the Cup to San Jose, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen. But the problem is I don't know what it takes, and neither does Wilson. Truth is there isn't one formula or magical ingredient, it's a lot of different things coming together. Like Mike Babcock said, it's like baking a cake: you add all of the ingredients, let it rest, put it in the oven at the right temp, and hope everything comes together and it turns out like the picture on the box. [this metaphor only works if it's a hockey coach trying to make the cake, not a chef, but still] I'm not saying Wilson should be fired (this team has a glut of young talent and doesn't need prospects at the moment, so giving them away hasn't destroyed their future or anything as silly as that), but it should be considered. He's an ingredient, not the whole cake. Just like the players, he's not blameless in this whole thing. But I will say that going around telling anyone who will listen that only the Cup will do is pretty well divorced from reality. You'll never ever hear anyone in the Wings organization say something like that because they know what's actually involved in getting there, and they know not to count their chickens.

... and yet last year was the first time Turco saw the second round. Very exciting for you. Sorry, but it's like getting razzed by a Thrashers fan. We agree that there's no use arguing with me, but for different reasons. But in fairness to the Stars, I like their team, and they'll be a serious contender next year. How it is that Turco never seems to play well in the playoffs I'll never understand, but I certainly wouldn't argue that the Stars need to be blown up because of their long history of failure. Not because it's to the Shark's advantage, but because there's clearly something there.

It does matter, because as bad as the Sharks may be, they're still better than Dallas. That's why you're so defensive about it.