Firehawk

Yeah the wings didn't look sharp and it's amazing we have the lead right now. Dallas looks alot better than in Game 1, and I think this is about the best Dallas can play, judging from previous games they've played in these playoffs. The wings are still up...great sign. I really hope we get Franzen back in Game 3.

There are empty seats because everyone's trying to use the bathrooms at the JOE!

I believe that the wings really are the better team, and a good case can be made that they are the best team remaining in the playoffs. I think Dallas is second best, followed by pitt, and shocked Philly is still in. I really don't know how people can say the Wings aren't the better team. If you go over to knowledgable Dallas forums right now, even the concensus there is that the Wings are the better team. If the wings continue to play like they've been, they are not going to lose another game. They're playing on all cylinders right now. Let's hope it keeps up.

Let's also keep in mind that the rest of North America wants to see the Wings lose, for the simple reason that the Wings have been so dominant the last 10-13 years.

Good point. Damn good point. You make your own bed...so lie in it. I still hold that the 4OT game was 3+ days prior to Round 3 Game 1. If you can't recover in 3 days, you need additional conditioning. The wings were just better, and made Dallas look bad in game 1. That's all there is to it. Yes there have been good breaks for the Wings, but we have not had those good breaks in alot of years now. It's about time they go our way.

I'd rather they continue to focus it on everyone else so the Wings can continue to fly under the radar. I think people are starting to really take notice though. But yes, it is annoying. You know, Osgood made a few big saves in that game, otherwise the game would have been much closer. About the Paint Call, I think if the league wants offense to increase, they need to make sure the goalie stays in the paint. I think Holmstrom was borderline there but he was outside of the crease while the shot was coming in, backing in somewhat, but Turco wasn't 'stopped' from making the save. Was he stopped from coming out further? yes. But that's what the league should want, MORE OFFENSE. Keep the goalie IN THE NET. But I may be bias, I'm all for taking runs at goalies who like to skate around behind the net. If you're not in your crease, you are fair game.

Here's my opinion on it: That 4OT game ended EARLY MONDAY MORNING! That was 3 days ago. If the stars really were still tired, they need to hire a new conditioning staff. That's no excuse. This is the 3rd round of the playoffs for crying out loud. With that said, I thought the penalty they took to put Dallas down 5 on 3 was a silly, cheap call. I think that the Wings are playing THAT DAMN good right now and it's going to take something drastic to knock the highly confident red wings off of this streak they're on. With that said, I predicted the score last night! na nana na doodoo. lol I don't care about respect, i hope that nobody continues to give the wings respect all the way to the Stanley cup presentation.

If the wings continue to play like they have in the last 6 games, they aren't going to lose too much. If the wings look as well as they have in the last 6 games, my prediction is Wings 4-1 tonight. If they come out sluggish and struggle to get it going, I think this game goes to OT tonight.

DET/DAL: 4-1 PIT/PHI: 4-1

All I'll say is I'd rather play Dallas becuase they're not as dirty of a team and we have Turco's number. SJ scares me. They are capable of more.

If malts were not to get into any game this year in the playoffs and the Wings won the cup, would he get his name on the cup or not? I can't remember the rules.

Did anyone predict a sweep in this series? I predicted Wings in 5 but I thought I was a little nuts at the time LOL.

I kind of feel bad for the Avs. They are getting thoroughly embarrassed. Do I want the wings to quit? No. It's fun watching them skate all over a team. But I still do have some compassion for the opponent. We haev lost in the playoffs many times in recent memory and I know how it feels to see your team go down. But this game is pathetic from the Av's standpoint. I'm sure the wings will go into a defensive mode for most of the 3rd.

I can't believe the wings are up by 2 in a game 3 where the avs are down 2-0 in the series. I am surprised, honestly. I am very pleased with the wings this series. They have been very consistent all through the last 5 games now, outworking their opponent.

I think this will be a really close game, probably an OVERTIME game even. It depends on if the Avs have anything left in their tank. Even with an injured Forsberg in the lineup, they're much more dangerous. I am going to say 3-2OT, not sure who wins it though. I have just got to expect the avs to make it a series at some point.

You know, as cold as it sounds, this is no time for sticking with a player based on allegiances or what have you. Just because Theodore got them to Round 2 doesn't mean if he goes cold or starts allowing bad goals that they should stick with him. The Avs should play the guys that give them the best chance to win. Maybe Q doesn't have much faith in Budaj. If that's the case, then I can see his thinking if he plays JT. But if Q is just going with JT based on the idea that since jT got them here, he has the right to play, that's flawed thinking if you are trying to win a cup. In my opinion it's too much work and too much effort to blow a series and get knocked out of the Cup race just because you feel bad about a decision you have to make. I think if Babcock didn't pull Hasek, we may not have made it to Round 2 sadly.

We do the same thing here, look back on the past when we don't have the same team as back then either. Can't blame them. They are gasping for air right now. I wouldn't doubt if JT has an injury and they're just saying he's sick. It's the playoffs, who knows. Do you really want to tell the opponent where your goalie is injured? I doubt it. I don't know why JT has so much respect to begin with though. They played Minnesota in the first round. Who is Minnesota? lol I knew the Wings would humble JT in this round anyways. Maybe not to this extent, but I knew they'd get to him alot more than the Wild did.

Lets keep in mind that by the time Budaj was put in, the Wings didn't need any more goals, so there was no need to press hard for another one. Did Budaj make some big saves at times? Yes. But I mean, he didn't feel anywhere near the pressure the Wings put on JT earlier in the games. And the game was already out of hand for the Avs, so the goalie came in feeling no pressure and just played. It's easier to feel no pressure and play goalie than to have the weight of the team sitting on your shoulders in a 0-0 game in tbe playoffs. Just my 2 cents. I think if the Avs played the same in front of Budaj as they have been with JT in net, the outcome would be similar. I do not see THIS Avs team (this is not 1999) coming back in this series. Detroit needs 1 of the next 2 and we'll end it in 5. I predicted Wings in 5 in the guessing game on LGW, thinking I was nuts. Turns out I could very well be correct! If they get back Forsberg, the Wings will have to adjust to that as just having Forsberg in the lineup is a major difference, whether he's somewhat of an offensive generator or not.

I fell asleep after the 1st period of the SJ/DAL game and was shocked to see the score this morning. Wow.

My prediction: 3-2 OT. Not sure who will win, but I have a fairly good feeling the Wings will. The Avs now know what to expect so they'll be tighter defensively I think. The wings need to come out hauling ass like last time.

I knew Theodore was going to get lit up and humbled in this round. Minnesota had no offensive abilities, nothing compared to what we have, and the entire press was bragging about Theodore being 'the hot goalie of 2008'. I knew we'd score at least 3 on him. I kind of hope they put him back in for game 2, but I have a feeling it will be their backup. Either way I'm not too worried about their goalies. I'm worried about Ozzie giving up soft goals and I'm worried about Forsberg. The wings need to respect the Avs and not get too big-headed in this round. I said Wings in 5 and I am sticking to it.

I love, THIS KIND of hockey. The brand we saw against a crap team like the Preds, that type of hockey sucks. The league needs to bring back this type of hockey more often.

In additon, I do not think the 3rd goal by the avs was soft. Nothing he could do there. That was the defense breaking down.

Yep. I expect the wings to take a lesson from last round and continue the pursuit like in period 1. Babcock should be screaming at him. And that second goal by Osgood was terrible.

The wings look incredible, running on all cylinders right now. I hope they keep it up and don't slack off like they did at times last series.