Nev

BTW, did you see Datsyuk at the ref waiving it off "BULLs***!!" I've never seen Pav mad like that.

Well, on the plus side there were 3 golden chances to score in that period (puck through the crease, Cleary on post, Flip 1on1), plus the one we got taken away. Wings are gunna bring it ALL in the 3rd.

Expect to see someone from Detroit in the 2nd intermission - that's usually how it works, and its sorted out before the game.

Stars best period of the series, shots are only 9-5 and score is (mercifully) 0-0. Someone other than Osgood and Zetterberg needs to turn up in the 2nd for the Wings.

good grief, couldn't they get someone who could actually sing to do the national anthem?

lesse, I'm in England, 5 hours ahead of you (its 1am here), I work shifts (just finished an afternoon shift, afternoons again tomorrow then quick-turnaround onto days = no time to rest), and I have a 4 month old girl and a 3 year old boy (= no lie-ins). Bottom line, I am gunna fracked for the next few days.

Against my better judgement I have decide to stay up and watch this game...."just the first period mind" Please no overtime! Live stream is here for those who want it http://www.justin.tv/richsports

Just wanted to add a couple more advantages that Detroit have (apart from the D-corps, face-offs, experience and Team Defence) 1) Home-ice. First 2 games at home, potential game 7 at home.....that's why you want the Presidents Trophy - for a time like this 2) Coaching. I would take Mike Babcock over absolutely ANYONE in the NHL. His intensity, his focus, his calmness, his knowledge of the game. The guy is a winner pure and simple. It is largely his doing that the Wings have been transformed the last 2 playoffs.

Are you pro or Anti Laaksonen? Someone is using a bit of artistic license, its actually PAUL Dickoff. He's a bit of a nutter too. Not much talent, but runs around like crazy and gets right under the oppositions skin.

That's sensible.

Face-offs. Pittsburgh suck at face-offs, Detroit pwns the entire league in them. But yeah, should be a great series, too close to call on paper.

That guys a nutter - he was once sent off for starting an argument with a corner flag Oh, and your list is out of date, he plays for Hull City now

Add me to the list of LGWers suffering with stomach ailments.....but still have to go to work this afternoon. Finish at midnight local, game starts at 0100 local.... Question: When it says 8pm face-off, will they be dropping the puck then? Because often 8pm face-off means 8:30pm face-off. If it starts at 8pm sharp, I might stay up and watch a period or 3, otherwise I'm off to bed.

Agreed. Crosby missed half the season and the Pens still only just missed out on 1st in the East. We coasted to 1st in the West despite having half the roster out and not winning a game for a month. Basically, we are the class of each conference, and now that mugging is no longer allowed and the Refs aren't so afraid to call obvious (and not so obvious ) penalties in the playoffs, our class is allowed to shine.

Good article in todays Freep http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...399/1048/sports Yep, it has been a wonderful journey watching his rookie season, from the rookie with the dazzling stick-handling, to becoming the DOMINANT 2-way player he is today. BTW, I think Babcock deserves a lot of credit - he's clearly pushed/cajoled/encouraged/coached Datsyuk beyond the player he was, into the force he is. For all Ozzies wins and Franzens goals, Pav is still my MVP so far simply because of his all around play, every time he is on the ice.

Inspired by a comment in the "Franzen to miss game 4" thread..

Welcome, and great first post. Like a lot of the other Wings fans I agree with things like our D being far superior to yours, and Datsyuk/Zetterberg will come as a real shock to Crosby with their superior defensive play. That top line usually plays with Lidstrom/Rafalski against the opponents top line, power on power - and shut them down. Where I think Pittsburgh have a real advantage is the 2nd line. Malkin/Sykora/Malone is much better than our 2nd line, even if Franzen comes back. Either way, it should be a great series and I can see it going 6 or 7 games.

Congrats Ozzie!

Certainly wasn't why this thread was started

Wow, maybe I should have got up to watch this I get back from work midnight on Wednesday, game starts at about 0130 local, to stay up or not to stay up........

Look, I love VLaddy as much as then next man, but to say he was the best player in the world - or even the best defencemen ever is just dumb. A good physical, defenceman, capable of huge hits, with offensive upside - yes. But any more than that is just hyperbole.

I wasn't too sorry to see Shanny go - he had become little more than a sniper, no more the power forward of the 90s. I remember his last season, someone described it as "the quietest 40 goal season ever". And his goalscoring in the playoffs has tailed right off. Good luck to him, and thanks for all the memories, but it was time for us to part.

I'm gunna miss this one and I'm p*ssed about it. Monday night is "live NHL" on British television - except tonight! Tonight we get to watch yesterdays Penguins-Flyers game...... I *could* get up and watch it, but I've just done 3 straight night shifts (4 if you include Game 1 on Thursday ) and I have really bad stomach ache. I desperately need a full nights sleep. Nevertheless, I smell OT in this game....and then its a toss of a coin.

Ah, very good. Sadly we all know who had the last word in that little spat.....