VM1138

I won't wash my jersey if they won, and I will wear said jersey next game. In this particular series I was confident about the WIngs and they went down 0-3. As soon as I got frustrated and felt like no matter what they did San Jose would win, the Wings started winning. So whether or not I believe it, I feel like I have to continue to be cynical going into Game 6, haha.

Me, neither. He has been the best player this series. I think he's earning a reputation as a guy who steps up in huge games. And we need him to continue for at least two more games!

Oh, I agree absolutely. I'm still really nervous because San Jose HAS dominated so often this series. But then the Wings seem to manage to find a way. And looking back, Game 1 could easily have been a Wings win and Game 3 certainly should have been. So they got some lucky breaks, the Wings are getting some...I just hope that the crazy bad luck of the first three games doesn't come back at any point. Howard will continue to be key, because the Sharks aren't just going to roll over. As much as I want a blow-out win, I think these games are going to be one goal, down to the wire, and so the Wings need to play with intensity and give themselves a cushion to work with instead of playing catchup.

Holmstrom, yeah. He hasn't been totally effective but he hasn't been bad and never really deserved to be ridden. Ericsson, however, was on the ice for a couple of the goals, as usual, wasn't he? Regardless, whatever my feelings on Ericsson we should never talk bad about a guy who scored in such a tight game!

The thing that makes me happiest about this is that the Wings have made their mark. At 3-0, it looked to be a disaster of epic proportions and everyone was talking about how the Sharks were just so much better than the Wings. But the Wings are slowly returning to form (especially Zetterberg, Helm, etc.) and that talk has to subside now, at least a little.

Yeah, clearly 5-2 in favor of the Sharks (or whatever it was) was handing the Wings the game. Ridiculous. That Thornton dive was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen an adult do. Man, the excitement and pressure is building. I nearly died this game, Game 6 is going to be a freaking nightmare on my nerves.

I don't want to jinx anything, but I've had this feeling too, that the Wings are looking more like the Wings teams of the past who would step up for huge games and then just hammer their opponent. San Jose is playing really well, too, but I don't know...I just have this feeling that the Wings might be starting to get into San Jose's head a bit.

Wow, this game was....oh my God. I really thought they were goners. San Jose dominated for a while, and the constant ridiculous diving...it had a definite deja vu feel to it. But then that comeback...if they can come back under those conditions in this game...well...I won't say it. Thank you Howard for consistently being the best player on the ice for either team. Please don't stop. Thank you Kronwall and Stuart for excellent defense, hitting and smart plays. Thank you Cleary for stepping up when Franzen went out, Datsyuk, a god among men as always, and Playoff-Level Zetterberg, you too are immortal and unstoppable. Sweet Jesus my heart is still going! haha.

Well, I guess Modano has to come in now, eh?

What is with the Modano love around here? The guy has done nothing and has admitted he doesn't have the energy or fire to play in the playoffs. And in a crucial, must-win game in which the series has been nearly dead even and VERY intense, requiring battles for each puck, you want a floater put in just because he scored a lot of goals years ago? He is not Dallas Drake. He is not going to inspire this team to do anything. He will just be a hinderance. Miller will hustle, fight for the puck, and like someone said, he scores after every game he sits. No brainer, this decision.

Exactly. I went into the last game hoping they'd win but not really expecting anything. I will be doing this again. Controlling my emotions and hope. The way this series has gone is unebelievably frustrating, and I'm just hoping they can bring their A game and catch some puck luck.

Wow, only 28 responses? We need to get this puppy going. Are other posters not nearly as superstitious as the rest of us?

This is the critical juncture of this series. If they can win Game 5 they can carry some serious momentum back to the Joe. But because I'm superstitious, I have to keep my skepticism alive because it worked last game. No prediction of Wings victory, because San Jose is going to get a ton of lucky breaks and the Wings are going to have to work twice as hard. At any rate, let's go Wings!

I disagree. Hudler was making things happen. I get really nervous about putting in Modano, who said he doesn't have the fire for a playoff run, in crucial must-win games like this. The Sharks have such pressure that one lazy move or lost race to the puck could cost a game.

I was thinking this, too. This was a good grind-out win that was probably better for the team than a blowout victory. This will make hem feel vindicated, since they felt they should have won Game 3 and probably Game 1, so now they know that CAN win.

Rooting for Tampa, but I don't know, Boston has been pretty good. But then again, like someone mentioned, it appears that Tampa might be the "underdog that goes to the Finals" that happens nearly every year.

Actually, I think there's a very, very good chance that a empirical study of when penalties are called and to which team would show that within the 3rd period way more are called against the winning team. This would prove the "catch-up" rule.

4No effing way. No lineup changes from here on out. We finally won a game (should have won at least two) and you don't change a winning lineup. Which means from here on out, as long as the Wings are still alive in this series, the lineup won't change. Besides, after watching how hard-fought each faceoff was, how can someone possibly want Modano in there? We can't afford to have a floater at the crucial center position.

I agree that if Detroit can win Game 5, they might get in San Jose's head a bit. Then again, San Jose has been in that position before and probably won't panic until a Game 7 is forced, if then.

Not to rip on Salei or Ericsson, but I see them out there way more than someone like Lidstrom, Rafalski, or Stuart. I think he was paired with Kronwall, but I can't recall. Doesn't make sense to me.

I noticed, too. The environment was definitely friendly to the Wings. They better be ready because it won't be that way for three more straight games.

At least we can take consolation that this year wasn't worse than last year, officially. If the Wings can win Game 5, it'll officially be a slight more successful year than last year!

That's summed up his playoff run, and this series especially. Which is why I have to still not get my hopes up. The Wings played good for 50% of this game, and got lucky by hardly taking any penalties. The refs were lenient (surprising considering who they were) but probably because they were facing elimination. If they win Game 5 it's going to go back to tons of penalty kills, and trying to run uphill again. But hey, I can't be unhappy with a win, even if it was almost blown. And before I get criticized, I have to be negative for the rest of this series. For the first game I really doubted them beforehand, and they win. The superstitious side of me now thinks I have to keep my expectations low, oddly enough. One game at a time.

Got a bad feeling about tonight for the first time all series, so does this mean they'll finally win? At any rate, I'm tired of being disappointed repeatedly, so I'm not expecting them to win. But I'll be watching til the final horn and will be ecstatic if they do. Diehard fan all the way, one game at a time.

Gee, then maybe he shouldn't have admitted he doesn't have the fire for a playoff run before the first round even began.