55fan

For sentimenatal reasons, I'd like it to be Drake and Mac. For contribution in the playoffs, Mule. Zata, Dats and Drapes get my vote for their added responsibilities. In reality, I'll be happy as long as the Wings are the ones holding it.

I've been wondering that myself; and I'm still torn on what to do. I think I may make the last one and wear them for a day or a week or some set time. Heck, maybe until the awards or until June 30. What are you humans doing?

I finally got to my parents so my mom could take a pic of my bracelets. Go Wings!

Maybe they just want them more accessible to the media, so they have someone to talk to when Crosby goes down for his nap. Actually, I'm really surprised that there is any league mandate on that. You'd think the coaches/GM/owners would have the say in where their team goes on off days. I could see them mandating that the team be in town X number of hours before the game in case of travel delays that could effect the start of the game. This would be more of a concern in cases where travel time by road would be out of the question. Maybe that's the reason. Do we really want to see a Cup game forfeited because the plane wasn't cleared for takeoff due to weather? Maybe the rule was set up for situations where the 2 teams involved were from greater distances.

I'd like to know that too. Why not give them out at the ceremony with the rest of the awards? Granted, we already know who has won them, unlike the ones that are more arbitrary in nature, but why not do them at the same time as the others so all the guys can be there? I'd love to see Domnozzie up at a podium grinning and giving a little speech. Maybe they could alternate words- in true tandem style. (That was a joke, but it would seriously be funny to listen to if the speech was very short.)

"Team effort". "Team trophy". I love those guys. This is what happens when it's all about WE. Congrats to our wonderful goalies.

Before the next game, I will shoot off my mouth about how bad Hudler and Flip are. I was over at a friend's house tonight for the game since she has cable, and I was telling her about the players and went on and on about how I love Sammy, but it's kind of the feel sorry for love, like you feel for the retarded kid no one wants to play with. Then I went on to tell her about all his flaws and how he can't hit the net to save his life. Not 5 minutes later, he scored. I told her how shocking this was and why it would never happen again in the playoffs, and ...you know the rest of the story. Sammy, I love you, but tonight, I also respect you.

Rocking! What a great night for you!

Very cool. I wish you luck. Just a word of advice: Leave your octopus with another friend just in case this is one of Bettman's evil minnions stalking fish places in an ambush attempt. I put nothing past that man. On the up side, maybe having a reporter with you will help you get in unhindered. Press pass and all.

NNNNo, nnnnnnot nnnnnervous at aaaaaaall. <clenches teeth to calm down> I don't think we'd see any of this until later in the series, if it happens at all. I think the Wings are the superior team, but that's no slight against the Pens. Kind of like pointing out that the Pacific is bigger than the Atlantic when comparing all 30 bodies of water. If this happens, and that's a big if, it will be deciding games later in the series. It's not a knock on our team, thinking they can't win; it's distrust of Bettman, the evil anti-octopus matter leprechaun. <unclenches teeth to sing "happy birthday to you">

OK, NOW I am excited. I called my friend who is a Tigers fan since she is from Mich. She doesn't really follow hockey, but knows enough about it to watch. They just moved into a house a couple of weeks ago and when I called to see if she wanted to go to a sports bar with me to see the game, she called me back and told me that her hubby said they have VS!!!!!!! And they have one of those really big TV sets that's bigger than your head! I get to see the game! My stomach is churning, my hands are shaking, and I keep having to backspace because I'm typing so fast. OK, now for the exageration: I'm so excited that my hair just fell out.

I'm so excited that I have been writing with crayons all week: No pens in this house. Not even pencils. Nor have I been using Marc-ers. I got rid of my Bing Crosby tapes, got rid of La Rock garden and replaced it with dirt, and transplanted lungs into the fish. I am so ready. I am so excited. Now if I only had cable........

Technically, the quote is "the love of money is the root of all evil". It's one of those quotes that has gotten shortened and misquoted over time until the original is forgotten. But, yeah, you are right on that greed is the evil. As far as the Toast of Hockeytown, doesn't that still benefit Vladdie and Sergei and their families? I think it is for a number of things, including that and the children's hospital. Their care costs must be astronomical. Great that the Wings take care of their own, not only financially, but also the way they have treated Vladdie as a friend and a person. I seem to remember that the Ford company (not the dealer) did come to some sort of settlement where they paid something, but I can't find that anywhere. Does anyone else remember seeing anything about that? I believe it was relatively close to the time of the accident.

It was nice of they guy to compliment Detroit fans. Now will someone please get the image out of my head of a guy in a trench coat lurking around the parking lots saying "psst, hey, buddy, wanna buy an octopus"?

It's definately a mental factor for those guys. I don't know how much it will translate onto the ice. They are professionals who give it their best in these circumstances whether it is the "last" time or not. It may also motivate the younger set to play for the older ones, but again, they are professionals who are going to do what it takes anyway.

Octopi is correct. Are correct. Whatever.

It would be too little if he were suing the driver of the limo, but the company who sold the car is not at fault. I love Vladdy dearly and I wish there would be a way to end his and Sergei's pain and suffering, and return them to health, but this isn't it.

Welcome Pens fans! I admit to having had a wee crush on Mario, and if the NHL must have a "face", Sid is a good choice. He looks good, speaks well, and has great talent. Some say he's over-rated. I say he's over-marketed, but that is what the NHL wants. Just to give y'all a heads up. 1) If the Wings lose a game, panic will ensue amongst a certain set of the members here. Don't worry about it. In general, we're not crazy. We just aren't used to losing. 2) We will talk some trash. Please don't take it personally. It will not be directed at you. (I hope.) I'm sure there will be trash-talking on the Pens boards against us. This is to be expected during a fierce competition. 3) Some of us may not be as nice as others. Again, don't worry. We probably don't like those people either. Enjoy your stay, and please consider staying around after the series is done. We've found some friends that way from teams such as the Avs and Ducks who make our board a better place. Oh, and by the way.... Stevie is our patron saint. Any words against him will ensure your swift demise. Mwahahahaha.

A few gems re: Kronner. I have an interest in this topic as I was called out for saying he had "potential". There were so many to choose from.

DET/PIT: 4-2 May I also add: Thanks for doing this! It's been fun.

Good catch, Harold. I missed that one. So Sid, answer me this and I'll know if you are faking it: Are you an innie or an outie? ETA: A correct answer does not ascertain identity; an incorrect one busts you.

You took the words right out of my keyboard. If Johan isn't here, Drapes can put in a few. Huds, Flip, even Dallas scored against Dallas (I love that). DMac has scored, Helm, Sammy (although that was with the Mule). Then there's our D. Lids, Raf. Kronner has had 12 assists, so who knows? Maybe he's got a goal in him. Heck, even Ozzie has scored, although that was back in the day, so don't count on it happening again any time soon. We've got primary, secondary, tertiary and whatever fourth-ary is. (Is there a word for that?) I totally agree that this makes our team harder to defend against. Everyone is a potential threat, not just ZDH. They're just so darn good at it. We're in good shape.

I don't suppose he had a marker with him or he could have autographed it and handed it to Ott. That would have really gotten his goat. Seriously, yeah, if he's going for the game puck for the winning goalie, you have nothing to lose by letting him have it, as long as you say something like "give this to Marty since it's his last win of the season". He's used to trash talk. No use doing something like throwing it that will cause him to carry a grudge into the next game.

With all the negativity lately, and all the talk of changing things, I got to thinking "what would really mess with Dallas' heads?" This is not serious. We would not win doing this. It would be fun to watch. Imagine the following scenario from the perspective of the Dallas players and coaches. Starting lineup: Grind line Lids/Raf Hasek About 10 seconds into the first period, Mac comes out, Kronner comes in. The d-men play forward, and the forwards play D. (Positions assigned previously.) Switch players one at a time. Each player leaving the ice lets the oncoming player know which position he is playing. Switch the goalies at every opportunity. So, at any given moment, you could have something like: Helm/Cheli/Hank Cleary/Lebda Ozzie or perhaps: Stuie/Homer/Flip Mac/Drake Hasek If a guy ends up in his normal position, so be it. Then in the second period, start ZDH Lids/Raf Hasek Bring in players in their normal positions, but whenever the C or senior A on the ice yells "octopus!" the center stays in position, but the wings and d-men switch (or switch back). Keep switching goalies. Third period, start with a normal lineup and Ozzie in goal. Play like we have all season with no weird stuff at all. Like I said, this is not serious, but it could be fun to watch the Dallas bench.

Sounds like I'm with the majority here. Unless Ozzie is injured, in which case Hasek is a perfectly good replacement who has my vote of confidence, Ozzie will play. If you are going to do a shake-up to play mind games with the team, game 7 is not a good time to do it. January, maybe, but not now. They know what it takes to win. They know what they have to do. It's just a matter of getting them to get out there and do it. (See numerous other threads for details.)