Frozen-Man

You sir are ignorant. How can a comment about the French (a nationality not a race) be racist? See your second comment is about race (black people) rather than nationality (french). In case you didn't know a comment about not liking grilled chicken is not racist either because grilled chicken is not a race. Even though it wasn't if you want to act indignant and offended at least falsely accuse people of the right thing. A negative comment regarding someone's nationality is xenophobia not racism. Since you were not offended in the first place and faked indignation I don't figure you really care but you feigned outrage will be much better next time if you at least know what the fake outrage should be about.

Oh I'm not complaining or saying that it isn't fair because we have an older team, I'm just saying that it will affect the Wings more. Also, the break was very different for the two teams even though it was just one day difference, three days instead of two is 50% more time and a big help, I mean the back to back games is bad but if they scheduled it normally there would just be one day but it is an important day.

I thought the same thing. He says normally he goes up against guys who are better defensively and not as good offensively BUT he says Z is the complete package. He was complimenting him, saying he does the defensive job of most guys that play him AND ADDITIONALLY has impressive offensive skills as well (that is why they included this statement "who broke a Red Wings' playoff record with 24 points last year"). It was a compliment not a slight.

I don't think the schedule does effect both teams the same way because of all of our current injuries.

Oh that wasn't directed at you it was directed at RedWings because of his comment about Ericcson. I enjoyed your post and agree, there are circumstances and injuries and refs and all the rest but may the best team win.

Ummmm yeah we did start the playoffs with him, he played the last 19 games of the regular season and he played in every playoff game this year except the very last one. He has played 15 playoff games this year and only had one minus game. He was a big part of the Defense that helped us get past the Ducks. He has 5 points in 15 games and is a +8 which is tied for first among Detroit Dmen. He is averaging 19:58 of TOI per game and getting good PK minutes. He beat the crap out of Perry which is a big plus for the Wings. AND your missing one really big point he became such an important player because Lilja is out (as was Raffy for a while). The fact that Lils was out FORCED him to become an important player. Our bottom 3 Dmen are Cheli, Meech, and Lebda which makes Ericcson a very important part of the Wings D.

However, the converse is also true. Hossa and the Wings will be fighting hard to make sure that they prove he made the right decision. While winning the Cup provides more than enough motivation and glory to put it all on the line to win, the same pride that will have the Pens wanting to prove Hossa wrong will have the Wings wanting to prove him right. None of them want to have to constantly read and hear about how he made the wrong decision because he shouldn't have gone to the Wings. That will add fuel for the team in general and especially for Hossa.

I love how it is that the Wings had a "2 game head start on the series[,]" when it was nothing of the sort. It was a pummeling that the Wings gave as part of the entire 6 game series, you could just as easily say the Wings spotted Pittsburgh games 3 and 5.

I enjoyed you post and appreciate the opportunity to have rational discussions with other fans. I gotta agree, the experience will pull them through is vastly overrated however, you are also correct that the experience of playing in the finals will benefit them as will the veteran trades they made. I think it may be a little surprising to some how much more calm and collected the Pens come out this year after having gotten the shock and awe of last year out of the way.

It could be Crosby's water breaking!

I was interested in trying to see how good Pits defense is (statistically speaking which doensn't always quite match reality) by comparing teams that they had played in the playoffs with how those teams did against other teams (i.e. only teams that they played in the 2nd or 3rd round so I could compare them to the teams they played in earlier rounds). Carolina: First Round - Against New Jersey the Hurricanes averaged 2.48 goals per game. Second Round - Against Boston the Hurricanes averaged 2.28 goals per game. Third Round - Against Pittsburgh the Hurricanes averaged 2.25 goals per game. So defensively speaking the Penguins held the Canes to 0.03 fewer goals per game than Boston did, 0.23 fewer goals per game than New Jersey did, and 0.13 goals per game less than the average of all other opponents Carolina played in the playoffs. This is not bad considering they held them to almost a quarter less goals per game than New Jersey did and they are always above average defensively and one of the best goalies of all time. Washington: First Round - Against NY Rangers the Capitals averaged 2.71 goals per game. Second Round - Against Pittsburgh the Capitals averaged 3.14 goals per game. So defensively speaking the Penguins allowed the Capitals to score 0.43 goals per game more than the New York Rangers did. This is not good for the Pens considering that they allowed the Caps to score almost half a point more per game than the Rangers did. If you total all three series that means that Pit gave up an average of 0.06 goals per game more to their opponents than did the other teams that played those same opponents this not much but it doesn't show them to be that great defensively either. Compare that with how the Red Wings matched up against their opponents Chicago: First Round - Against Calgary the Hawks averaged 3.50 goals per game. Second Round - Against Vancouver the Hawks averaged 3.83 goals per game. Third Round - Against Detroit the Hawks averaged 2.00 goals per game. So defensively speaking the Wings held the Hawks to 1.50 fewer goals per game than Calgary did, 1.83 fewer goals per game than Vancouver did, and 1.67 goals per game less than the average of all other opponents the Hawks played in the playoffs. This is incredible especially considering they held the Hawks to well over a goal and a half less per game than two well above average defensive teams. *This should also say something to all those always whining about Ozzy or not spending cash on a high priced goalie - Kipper and Bobby Lou didn't get the job done. Anaheim: First Round - Against San Jose the Ducks averaged 3.00 goals per game. Second Round - Against Detroit the Ducks averaged 2.42 goals per game. So defensively speaking the Wings held the Ducks to 0.58 fewer goals per game than San Jose did. This also is a very good feat. The Wings held the Ducks to well over half a point per game fewer than the Sharks did. If you total all three series that means that the Wings on average allowed 1.30 goals per game LESS to their opponents (-0.03, -0.23, +0.43 = +0.17) than did the other teams that played those same opponents. That number is huge and shows the great defensive prowess of this team (remember Pit actually allowed more goals per game (.06) than their opponents did, which give Detroit a differential of 1.36 goals per game over Pit). One team is great defensively and it sure isn't the Penguins.

Or each of them for $2M then we could go after Bouwmeester and have cap room to spare.

DET/PIT: 4-2

They really don't play defense and they sure don't excel at it. That is why Crosby only has 3:13 shorthanded TOI for the entire playoffs but has 98:40 power play TOI (Malkin has less with 1:21 shorthanded TOI for the playoffs and 101:58 power play TOI). Those guys are not out when the team is shorthanded except by accident. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Flip all average more shorthanded time per game than Malkin has had the entire playoffs (and he has played more games than any of those guys). If their D was anything to brag about . . . at all . . . they would play on the PK some. As for the belief that they are living off the power play depending on what you mean it is true. They are not scoring exclusively on the power play but they are not really scoring much more than a lot of other guys even strength. Here are some even strength stats: 1 Sidney Crosby 19 (17 games played) 2 Evgeni Malkin 16 (17 games played) 3 Dan Cleary 14 (16 games played) 4 Henrik Zetterberg 13 (16 games played) 5 Alex Ovechkin 13 (14 games played) 6 Johan Franzen 13 (16 games played) BUT when you look at PP points Malkin is #1 with 12 and Crosby is tied for #3-5 with 9 yet Cleary Z and Mule aren't even in the top 10 Mule comes the closest tied at #8-18 (averaged at #13.5) with 6 PP points. Malkin and Crosby are feasting on PP points compared to any of the top Wings point players. Consider that 4 of the top 5 power play TOI per game are Penguins players (with Malkin and Crosby at #3 and #4 respectively) - NONE of the Wings players even crack the top 30 (the highest is Lids at #33). Furthermore, total PP TOI Malkin is #1 with 101:58 and Crosby is #2 with 98:40. The highest Wings player is almost half that, Mule has 55:55. You're not going to convince me that they are not feasting on PP time/opportunities/points. Malkin plays roughly 7,200% more on the power play than on the penalty kill, Crosby is not quite as bad at 3,163% more time on the power play than on the penalty kill. Yeah, they are monsters on defense and have not had their stats padded at all by the PP time.

I appreciate the fact that you say that it comes down to the fact that you like to watch fights in a hockey game, and can do it without ripping/dumping on all the players on the roster. I love to watch hockey fights and wish there was a guy like Shanny on the team (I loved the Irish jig after he pummeled someone) but enjoy the skill/passion/intensity that the current Wings play with as well, until they happen to land another guy like Shanny I will just thuroughly enjoy watching all the skill that this team possesses and then flip over to a Flyer's or Duck's game (or Youtube it later) to enjoy seeing a less skilled team drop the gloves.

GREATEST POST EVER! :caution: If the players on this team are that sort of people (which they aren't except in your warped view) and you have no use for that sort of person . . . then find another team with the sort of people you do like. Don't come here whining nonstop about how you don't like the Red Wings players and have no use for them but then act as if you like them anyway. - OK now come back with your typical response and tell me how much money you make (P.S. if you do make that much money how about becoming a booster on this site and help pay the expenses, $50 shouldn't really shouldn't cut into your millions that much.)

Double post!

QFT - Excellent post!

The transcript of the press conference can be found here.

Kane had a great attitude about the incident: Nice that the kid had a good sense of humor about the whole thing. I like him more all the time. Oh and priceless that Mule actually did that.

Ribeiro is quite the master name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>&"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" />

I just spit Sprite all over my desk. That is one of the funniest (and probably most accurate) things that I have ever read.

I would appreciate the code as well. Thanks in advance!