VM1138

That's true. So far every other pattern has upheld this series. Hoss will have a huge game in Game 4.

They n eed to win in Game 5, because I'll get to watch it. After that, I am really bummed that I'll probably miss them win the Cup because I'll have to be staring at a ceiling at work.

It was a game 3, we all knew the refs would blow it and try to extend the series. It's happened three other times in the Wings run. But the WIngs HAVE to be better in the Pens zone. They have to shoot the damn puck and be smarter about throwing the puck away.

I only got to see the 3rd period, but no way in hell did the Wings outplay the Pens in the third. They never kept the puck in the Pens zone, and the times they came in they tried to eb too fancy and lost it trying to walk through four defensemen.

Wow, this sucks. One TV, my fiancee is watching Tori and Dean. Wow. And all the streams keep stopping and buffering every 10 seconds. Damnit!

They must not watch much hockey. Games 1 and 2 were among the fastest paced, up-and-down hockey games I've ever seen. I see no significant obstruction by either team. I think it's funny that all non-Wings fans suddenly decide the Wings cheat every time they're on the ice, but this complaint only emerges when we're in the Finals. I know occasionally a coach will ***** earlier in the playoffs, but it's never consistent. Only when we're int he Finals does everyone start calling the Wings out for doing everything illegally.

The only thing that makes me reluctant to move out of Michigan is the fact that I will be surrounded by bozos like these that call in to these shwos.

I guess by default Chara should get it. Iginla is a ****** who leads his team in last minute desperation attacks and Crosby has no leadership skills whatsoever.

Yeah, I think it's the only explanation for the drop in viewers. The Red Wings (and I'm assuming the PEnguins) routinely draw huge ratings (relative to hockey games, anyway). There has to be a reason for the drop, and it seems that assuming it's over is enough to drop the ratings.

Oh, God. I would love to see Zetterberg have Crosby down on the ice,c rying, and then look up to the boxes where Yzerman, Lindsay, and Howe slowly extend their thumbs up in approval. Zetterberg then finishes Crosby off, stealing the puck and scoring a shorthanded goal.....backwards. Crosby retires immediately.

The "breaks" would only make things interesting. There is nothing that says they would be winnign if they had "gotten lucky." It's not like these were one goal games.

Hey, Finals are a stressful time. I agree with some of your points. It wasn't exactly like the Wings were dominating. A lot can change with last change and a home crowd. But remember, this Wings team has consistently defied the odds and managed to control every situation thrown at them. They don't need to dominate Pittsburgh to beat them.

I'm worried, too. Despite winning 3-1 both times, the games were closer than the score indicates. I don't think we got lucky, we earned all our goals, but Pittsburgh was denied (a few posts, etc.) I'm worried about the next two games because of last change going to the Pens. Then again, every time I worry the WIngs bounce back even bigger. But remember what happens in Game 3's, guys. The league wants this to go the distance. Plus, Pittsburgh IS a good team. THey'll come out flying. The key is to ride out the early storm and frustrate them. Once the WIngs get a lead the Pens seem to lose complete confidence in themselves and get rattled really easily. But yeah, this series is far from over. I'm hoping it doesn't go 7 games, because that'll be too stressful after Anaheim. I think the rest will do us good, especially if Datsyuk comes back, but we've got to crash the net more. We're looking good out there, but so are they. THe difference is, we have another level we can reach, I don't think they do.

Yeah, it's really not fair. Anyone who wins all the time or is good at what they do should are simply selfish.

My fiancee just bought me a white T-shirt that says "Beat Pittsburgh...again" with a big Wings logo. Love it. EDIT: From a Meijers up near the Saginaw Valley, so I'm sure they're everywhere. Usually WIngs playoff stuff is at the entrances at Meijers, either right in front or a little back in the main aisles.

As an historian, I have to call this one out. Common misconception. History in fact, only has superficial similarities. Now, I think we all believe the Wings will win and help carry out this pattern, but I'm not counting on them winning because of history.

Ozzie sucks and is the weakest link. Worst goalie to ever be great. Or something like that. Ozzie has to be a lock for the hall of fame after this playoff run. It's funny, years from now everyone will be talking about how quietly Ozzie dominated these past few years. One of the greatest.

I'm not one of those fans who rants and raves about bias. I mean, yeah, clearly they push Crosby and the Pens a little too hard. But it's beyond debatable the ignorance on NBC. I mean, in general their hockey coverage sucks, but I've had it with them not necessarily because it was pro-Penguins but just plain wrong and ignorant. All the time.

This sucks. NBC is horrible. I know it's been said before, but let's just list a efw of the crap: 1) The Wings "more often than not" resort to interference, which (this is inferred) is why they win all the time. 2) The Pens are just tired, that's the only reason the Wings won. Nevermind that the Wings were the "old" team who was supposed to be tired and be hurt by these back-to-backs. 3) The Pens just didn't get lucky like the Wings did. 4) The Pens were "tired" on the...second goal. The one right off a faceoff. That play developed so fast a fully rested team wouldn't have had time to react enough to stop that goal. Tired had nothing to do with it. 5) This one is a doozy. Being down 2-0, the Pens are NOT in any trouble. NBC made sure to repeat this, despite that record of teams who win th efirst two in the finals winning 38 series, losing only one series. That's right. Only one team has ever won a series after being down 2-0, but the Pens aren't in trouble until they lose on home ice. Gag me. I think I'm going to switch to CBC, despite it being a little blurrier on my TV.

Well, it was also punching with a ******* stick to the head and a bunch of other b.s. Maybe it got lost in the chaos, but Malkin very clearly holds onto his stick, slams it into Z's head and then wraps it around Zetterberg. Hopefully Malkin doesn't rile the Wings up. Let the Pens panic.

It's like seven minutes people. You didn't think Pittsburgh was just going to roll over, did you? Wait, I bet a few out there did think that. Detroit thrives off this situation. Hank has been great, but needs to actually get some offense going. Hossa needs to stop trying to be so fancy. And they need to start passing harder and shooting every chance they get closer than the blue line.

I'm not blaming the refs on that one. Pittsburgh has taken over. Wings will still pull out the win, though. Here's what I noticed: 1) Wings need to stop the soft passing. A gentle tap to push it ahead to where there is no Wings player is not going to help you keep possession. 2) Shoot the damn puck.

With all the Helm man-love going on around here, and the fact that each game he gets better and better, I thought it was time to ask this question: Just how good will Helm be? Right now he's looking an awful lot like Datsyuk and Zetterberg's early years. He's what, 21 right now? Earlier it's always seemed that his potential was to be a good fourth or third liner, but I think he's clearly demonstrating some early skills. I'm not sold he'll be a 1st liner, but with his consistency it's entirely possible in my mind. What sort of player do we see Helm as being four years from now?

I think the back to back may help us. Pittsburgh is frustrated, they'll come out hard, but the WIngs don't appear to be tired or slowing down. They should come out dominating, on a roll from last night, and jump to an early lead. Then hopefully Pittsburgh will self destruct, we go to the Igloo up 2-0 and keep up the pressure. I hope we go up 3-0, then lose a close game, just so we can win it at home. Winnign last year in Pittsburgh was a little bit of a let down, I want to see screaming crowds and fans!

Ozzie is the only man that has made an impact in every single game. They're all playing well, but we never would have made it past Anaheim without Ozzie, which in my book makes him MVP. If we win, that is.