Wingman

Yay for multinationality! :beerbuddy: :usaflag:

Also, remember this: It's all about the money. All about the money. No one with financial interests in the sport gives a damn about hocket itself, what it is or were it came from. If it'd raise ratings by replacing the goalies with monkeys and dress the players in latex underwear they'd do it. It's the sad truth.

Yeah...it's not too often defensive plays give me chills...but this one did. Perfect read, perfect timing, perfect execution. Epic maneuver. Just wanna agree to this regarding Z & D...I've never understood why one would try to somehow pick on over the other. They're team/linemates on the same mission, we don't NEED to pick. Just be glad we got both of them. Here's one for Z and one for D.

Are refs explicitly instructed to favour certain teams? Most likely no. It would be a tremendous risk for the league, and probably illegal too. Do refs occasionally feel an implicit pressure, from the league, media etc to favour certain teams? More likely, but I think this wind can blow both either way during series and even games. As fans I think we often way overestimate the actual motivation behind calls we see as unfavourable to our team. We simply make biased judgments. Quoted for truth. If there's been any "shot" at us this far I actually believe it's more likely we will be favoured from now on. Let's hope the refs think "ok, I gave those spoiled Pens a couple of breaks and they still couldn't utilize, now they're on their own..."

Yeah that comment didn't come out well for Sid. Anyone knows they hate each other during these series, but a good player and LEADER always find himself to the high road. I'm not even sure what a "man-love" is but what the heck, I'm having one

HEARTATTACK!

Wow, what a mental victory killing that 5-3

Ohhh Zetts, good play on Malkin please.....kill this, then win it

Oh the irony, this is EXACTLY the kind of goal I expected us the get AGAINST us sooner or later...

Yessss what an important goal!

We found some harmony in the 2nd, but still too many turnovers and the offence is depressing. I don't know what it is but something's up with Z & D.

Our D worries me...their confidence seemed to have dropped significantly since game 2. The play never generate the speed in the defensive zone it used to, as a result the offence gets stalled or pushed to the outside.

I predict/hope: Two games of silk-smooth, adversity-free games made us lower our guard going into #3, now the urgency is back. Pens ran on airplane kerosine in game 3 and the Wings almost crashed them anyway, now we'll know what to do from the start. Our impact players will make some noise. I see a Penguin hit the Kron-Wall early. D/Z will finally get some offensive luck, with help from Homer. Franzen will be a beast.

I'm so nervous it's not even funny.... :colorbounce:

He sure has the tools of a top notch hitter. Hard and clean except for an occasional takeoff, but no elbows, sticks or anything. Someone said he's 90% the hitter Phaneuf is and maybe that's a fair description.

Now that's a lineup the marketing strategists would like!

What a tragedy...

Yeah, but Sidney isn't the only product. He's the main product that makes people get to "the store", but they won't make any profit unless people "buy" other stuff aswell. Getting people to watch and keeping them to watch is different phases of promotion. Call it marketing 102 if you like. The first one should involve Crosby, Ovechkin or anyone that possess promotable attributes eg youth, looks and talent. But once people watch, a more balanced promotion that include other players, the team-aspects and so on seem more reasonable. Homer might not be a poster-boy but who doesn't appreciate his gritty, self-sacrificing play? Also, I don't see why you can't be fair and balanced, and promotional at the same time. Fans aren't as stupid and simple-minded as the NHL PR-division might think, they know when credit's due or not.

Big props for the Pens, they stepped up in a big way. The Wings however, adapted badly, got caught by surprise when there souldn't really be any. Not all happy by their effort tonight. Z & D tried but got kept outside the perimeter, they got shut down pretty well. Homer had a post and fought well. 3:rd and 4:th line came nowhere. 2:nd line did well, Franzen is so strong. On defence neither Rafalski, Lilja or Stuart looked in synch. There's definitely some things to think about 'till saturday.

We're beginning to get into the game, we can do it.

Momentum shift the latest couple of minutes, lets keep going

YYYYEEEAAAHH!!!

No one's freaking out, but I'll give the Pens credit for putting alot more pressure on our defencemen. Did you see that Marines commercial with alternating clips of Wings highlights and combat traning...sorry gyus but it just bothers me like hell. Exploiting the competitive emotions people (and in this case; young guys) are experiencing during games like this.

The Pens shift their forechcheck and overall feistiness into a higher gear, and suddenly the Detroit players look lost. I don't know, they seem to respond badly to fast, irrational play by the opponents.

What a dice by Malkin. Great start by the Pens. Keep calm...keep calm...