RoninJai

The look on Ozzie's face here always makes me laugh. Looks like he's about to Force choke someone. (Probably Pat Caputo.) (Does anyone have the source image from this?)

Hell, if that was a drinking game, we wouldn't make it past the first 5-on-3 the Pens were awarded.

Anyone, other than the NHL and the city of Pittsburgh, who wants the Pens to win the Cup this year better be careful what they wish for. Look how insufferable the Pens-jerkoff-media bombing has been so far this year. That's gonna be 1000x worse if they actually do win it. Fans of ANY other team might as well just forget hearing anything about their team, because it's gonna be ALL-SID, ALL THE TIME, pretty much like it is now. I used to like the Pens. I went to school there, and I used to sit on the glass for $5 on student rush days, back when the team sucked. But this constant over-glamorizing has made me hate them.

I've always been a Lebda fan...glad to see he's getting some time to shine, and making the most of it.

This is the fifth time we've beaten him in the playoffs. 1997 1998 2002 2008 I like the way this is going...

The problem, is it's not so much the bad officiating when it comes to stuff like phantom hooks or interference. I understand it's a fast game, and you're not gonna catch all that stuff. It's the BIG stuff that seems to be just WAY too obvious. Scoring a goal after it bounces off the net. Blowing the whistle when the puck is CLEARLY loose, but swallowing it on the other end. Kronner's game misconduct WAY WAY after the fact. This is the kind of stuff that lends some weight to the Wings conspiracists, because they almost always go in the other team's favor. Its that kind of stuff that there needs to be some serious changes to, either in the way of a limited number of coach challenges or something else. Making ANYTHING potentially game changing non-reviewable in this day and age is asinine.

The addition of Rafalski to this club made the Wings infinitely better, I really believe that. I didn't think he'd have as much of an impact as he did, but there it is. The fact that we can put both Lidstrom and Rafalski on the ice, separately or together, to run this system, should make other teams openly weep at their misfortune.

Agreed. IIRC, the 'stache doesn't like a lot of that after-the-whistle cheap shot stuff. I'm sure he's been "instructed" to give the Hawks the benefit of the doubt if at all possible, but I don't think it's going to be out of control. Lets just hope the Wings score first, because it'll make all the difference in the world.

LOL at all this. I would add... Ozzie cements his status as a God of Hockeytown (and downriver). Conks gets a proper Red Wing goalie baptism. (You ain't played G in Motown til you've thrown down at center ice.) Q's head actually explodes on the bench, Scanners-style. Al walks over, picks up pulpy remains, and swings them around over head in triumph.

Yeah, he said it, but my take on it was that he was acknowledging that there are grey areas in the interference rules, where you can get away with stuff that, while not being a penalizing offense, still succeeds in interfering with the opposing player, and that the Wings by far are the best at using those grey areas to their advantage.

My biggest fear in facing Pittsburgh is the officiating. Nothing against Pens fans, you guys should root for your team...but I think everyone who isn't a Pitt fan knows the Pens are gonna get the benefit of the doubt, if you can call it that, 110% of the time. I think if we get decent, unbiased, reffing crews, that call the game like they should, we could have an EPIC series. I still like the Wings because of their depth, but I think it would go 6 or 7. That being said, I fully expect O'Halloran to be working at least 4 of the 7 games. This IS Bettman's NHL.

I thought that immediately. I was ALMOST thinking that's why Lids wasn't out there...but that was a little too far for even me to reach.

I think he was pulled for exactly that reason. Wings were way up, Chicago was sucking and self destructing, and things were getting frosty. As an added bonus, Ty gets some playoff time in in a game thats already decided in our favor.

The constant stick slashing by Chicago is getting a little irritating. I don't really want to see bunch of PPs, because it's kind of chincy, but, on the other hand, one or two wouldn't be uncalled for just to get the Hawks to cut it out.

That's all that needed to be said right there.

Dear Mike Milbury, We have been saying that for years now. Sincerely, The Detroit Red Wings Fanbase.

Speaking of bad officiating and/or conspiracy, is it just me, or is it weird that Nick Lidstrom had as many PIMs last game than the entire Penguins team had in their last two? Weird, right?

IMO...I'll take the people of Detroit over the people of Chicago any day. I've yet to meet or come across one person from Chicago that was anything less than an utter a-hole. I blame it on their NYC-envy/inferiority complex.

Yeah. I mean I'm as pissed as the next Wings fan that we seem to get the short end of the stick more than often, but as a HOCKEY fan, I'm appalled by what goes on. And believe me, I know the difference between reg. season hockey and "playoff hockey" The problem is, as an earlier poster stated...it's not CONSISTENT. Why was it okay for Pronger to bodyslam Hossa to the ground away from the play, while Stuart gets two minutes for what was pretty clear was a clean hit? If it was vice versa, no, I wouldn't be AS mad, but mainly because I hate the Ducks and how they exploit the current system of inconsistency. I firmly admit to that hypocrasy. But, in the greater scheme of things, a penalty should be a penalty, period.

Perry and Marchant both picked up 10 min. misconducts, not that it matters much.

Ice looks like garbage. That can't be helping.

Anyone on this board honestly think the Ducks can go a period and a half and only give up a really really blatant too many men? If so, I've got some swamp land I need to sell.

NO kidding. In the Wings/Ducks series, I really feel our guys will win unless something completely bat s*** crazy happens and goes Anaheim's way. In these others series' though, it seems like anything at anytime could be a game deciding goal. It seems like each one is GOAL-TIE-GOAL-TIE-GOAL-TIE.....OT.

Cause they suck. They're still on this kick they they are OWED the Cup. In other news...anyone listening to the Hawks radio feed? Their color guy just yelled "HA HA!"

The suggestion was made today on the Ticket that Draper has a concussion, which is why he's skating with the team but doesn't have clearance to play.