VM1138

Sorry, but after Yzerman, Sakic, and Messier, everybody else is a pale comparison.

ESPN is running an article stating how Datsyuk and Z have disappeared and need to be as good as they say they are. But I'm confused. Doesn't Zetterberg have just as many points as Crosby in these Finals? I know Dats needs to get some points, but I don't think he's been "quiet." The bounces just didn't go the Wings way last night. They'll kick in sooner or later. Seriously, though, why is it that Crosby is "fully carrying the play" or whatever, yet Zetterberg, with the same amount of points and more chances, has disappeared?

Anyone else think the Wings are taking the loss a little too hard? They've had many worse losses thsi season and playoffs that didn't faze them, yet the team seems to be thinking they lost whatever they had going for them.

I am all for more Canadian teams, or at least northern US.

I'm not a b asketball fan, but I do find it a funny coincidence that all my friends who are have been bitching about how the Celtics paid off the refs to give them the win the last game. It gets stupid crazy sometimes this series, but no, there is no conspiracy. Just good hockey.

Give it one more game, then let Cheli back in. That way he'll have the home crowd, he'll by psyched, and we can have the line matching advantage.

And the awkward celebrating with half the Cup. "Woo!" So embarassing.

You know, I'm not so sure Crosby IS the future. At first I was, but the more I watch him, the more convinced I am that he's going the way of a Kovalchuk or a Lecavalier, both players meant to be "the next Great One" and who, while great amazing players, are not heads and shoulders above anyone else. I think Crosby falls in their category.

I wouldn't say this a primadonna move. Teams have been in the league long enough, and I don't see a reason for a new player to want to get stuck playing for an eternally suffering franchise if he has an opportunity to play with a winning team.

I think this season has made it abundantly clear that mid-upper 20 year old players with discipline and a good work ethic are in demand. If there's not speed, a guaranteed scoring touch, a cheap price tag, and smart defensive play there's no signing. But it would be smart to sign someone who has never won the cup. They tend to infect the locker room with the desire to win, which comes in handy in a season when a champion team might become complacent.

It's a risk. But it's either Chelios' lack of speed or Lilja's excessive colossal turnovers. I'm not the type to rag on any player excessively, but how many times can Lilja cost us a goal? He's made his reputation on it. Not on being a bad player, but just on that one specific action. It's crazy.

Oh, if I can get tickets I'm there.

I'm a polysci major, I can relate anything to politics. But it really does disgust me, this sense of entitlement the Pens seem to have.

Aside from a few bad turnovers, I didn't think the Wings played badly at all. When Pittsburgh did get something going it was broken up by a Wings player, and we had our fair share of chances. I was jumping up, celebrating Holmstrom's near-goal before I realized it wasn't a goal. Could've easily gone the other way so I'm not too concerned about it. The pessimism gets really old around here. I understand the panic the first few times, but this has happened every series so far (except for Colorado, but it was close at times there, too), we should've just expected a game like this. They will bounce back, they always do, and continue to play great.

I see your point, but it's overkill. No other league has ever pimped out a player this much. Besides, focusing on one player is bad marketing. People all over the world react the same way when something or someone is shoved in their face at all times: they start to dislike the person, even if there is not legit reason. Therefore it is always better to have a small core of players who symbolize the new league (i.e. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Crosby, Malkin), and focus on all of them. It makes people think there are more than one player in the league in case they come to hate the sickening devotion to said single player. So no, we don't have to accept the Crosby love, but we do understand why they are doing it: They are horrible at marketing.

Franzen hasn't missed a beat. Which makes me think he's truly become a legit scoring threat and will continue to be for the next few years, if not his whole career. I also liked how he scored. That's how the Wings can win this series, drive to the net, THROUGH the Pittsburgh players, use that pressure to throw them off and don't let anyone in your way stop you. I'm really thinking of getting a Franzen jersey for my next major purchase.

You guys....the Penguins gave it everything they have and they still barely got away with the win. Without that quick 2-0 start, the Pens lose this game. This wasn't even the worst loss the Wings have experienced. After that gruelling Dallas series, I have complete and total faith that the Wings will bounce back, they always have. They have always bounced back and gotten back into game form, usually with a dominating final score. We all expected Pittsburgh to take a game or two, and I'd rather have them win because of sloppy play by the Wings than have them beat a Wings team playing their best hockey. Deep down we all saw this coming, so let's just keep the wagon moving forward and get pumped for the next game.

The best explanation of the behavior of the Pens is socialism. They exhibit the symptoms of a society trained to believe they have a right to things that in reality they have to earn, and that anyone who has it (i.e. success, skill) is somehow cheating.

We've had a game like this every series. It's just one game. It's not like Pittsburgh dominated us. Without that rough start, Wings win this game. Next game the Wings know what to expect and can adapt accordingly and not have such a rough, surprise start. Wings still have this series under control.

Turnovers were ridiculous. Wings need to be smarter with the puck. But every single series this year we have a game like this. I'm not too concerned. We came on strong, and with a fresh start we can beat them again. And then win at home. I'm disappointed, and it sucks that I'll miss most of the next game at work, but I hope we win. Still think this broadcast was the most disgusting display of narrow mindedness EVER, but whatever, right?

It is. Worst called game of the season. I can't honestly believe that they'll be this bad for the rest of the series, it's gotta be impossible.

Can't wait for the 3rd Period. The Pens have lost some of the control they had, and the Wings are getting GOOD chances finally. They'll keep up the pressure and score some timely goals.

It's a shame Datsyuk and Zetterberg don't have back stories. Would've been nice to hear about them on the national stage. No wonder America can't get into hockey, they think there's only one player, with a bad stache.

No kidding. They're all giddy like school girls.

They improved at the end. I think the Pens are in for a surprise in the 3rd. The Wings feed off of this type of situation. Especially considering the TYPE of goal Franzen scored, I fully expect the Wings to be better with the puck going into Pittsburgh and crashing the net. That's when their best chances have come, I'm sure they noticed. Plus, that gives a better chance of Pittsburgh taking some bad penalties.