UP Wings Fan

I think that the power play differential will always be in the Sharks favor. +4 at least. I'll be shocked if it is much different. The only time it will reverse is if the Blackhawks open a can of whoop-ass and the Sharks get stupid like they always do!

Excellent information! I agree whole heartedly that Howard deserves way more respect than he has been given by many of the posters to this forum! The safe assumption is that Howard has learned a tremendous amount during his first NHL playoff experience. And with that experience should come an increase in confidence, and a goalie to build and reshape this team with. He's earned the starting position next season, and it will be up to someone else to perform and knock him out of it. Good Luck to them. GO WINGS!

This series came down to who wanted it more, and unfortunately, the Wings didn't have the desire or the heart to outwork the Sharks!

Well we haven't really played for the first 40 minutes, so let's hope that we come out and play an all out last 20! GO WINGS!

Great Game for the Wings! It's only one game though, let's roll into game 5 with momementum and keep it going! GO WINGS!

Instigator after the whistle? Should be!

Thornton's a classless cheap *****!

Congrats Habs! Keep up the hard work!

I think that it is time for Babcock to make a change to the system and style that the Wings play. All the other teams have developed systems targeted to beat the Wings, and the Wings have stood still. The coaching staff needs to step up their effort and come up with a way for this team to continue to excel!

I don't think that it can hurt to put Ozzie in! The team obviously doesn't have much confidence in Howard right now, and maybe this could be a spark for improved play. Knowing that Ozzie is rusty and needs help may motivate the defense to play aggressive and take care of the puck. Who knows, just a thought.

The definitiion of being "involved" in the play or not is not part of the NHL Too Many Men on the Ice Rule. And yes, in this playoff year I have seen this whistled under similar conditions. Here's the rule: Rule 74 - Too Many Men on the Ice 74.1 Too Many Men on the Ice - Players and goalkeepers may be changed at any time during the play from the players’ bench provided that the player or players leaving the ice shall be within five feet (5') of his players’ bench and out of the play before the change is made. Within 5 feet of the bench is the requirement in the NHL, not involvement in the play. Youth hockey requires involvement in the play. Typically this is not called this way in the NHL. The play by Ericcson caused the odd man rush, stupid! The play by Rafalski allowed the pass acrossed, stupid! Rafalski should of had his stick in the passing lane!

Based on your definition here, Homers goal shouldn't have been allowed. It went off of his toe, almost directly straight in the direction his foot was pointing, over Nabakov's arm and into the net. No, Holmstrom did not have a kicking motion, but neither did Z. They were both skating trying to make a play! Z was trying to make a hockey play by deflecting the puck to his stick to put it in the net. This type of deflection happens all of the time during a game, pass in the skates and a good hockey player puts it to his stick with his skate. The hook by the Sharks player prevented Z from getting his stick on the ice and scoring. Should have been penalized by the back official! The fact the off ice officials in Toronto couldn't recognize a good hockey play like that is terrible for this game!

Get lost puck ass!

I don't disagree with you for the most part. The Wings have taken bad and untimely penalties, but any true hockey fan can see that the refs have turned a blind eye on many of the things that the Sharks are doing, ie obstruction and diving are huge issues! The Wings need to make some changes in the off season, not sure what will do it, but for the most part, I don't see the same heart and dedication to perfection that the Wings have historically had!

I would go with that. Can't be any worse than a loss, which is what we are doing anyway. I'm sure Ozzie is rusty, but miracles can happen! an dthat's what this team needs now!

The Sharks Powerplays in Series 22 The Wings Powerplays in Series 11 Seems odd that there is such a large disparity, I believe all the other series are pretty much even, ±2 maybe. I am not a conspiracy believer, but I do believe that the refs are looking the other way to what San Jose is doing! I find it very frustrating as a hockey fan to watch these games and to watch supposed professional referees tip the ice in favor of one team!

Yeah I hear you, they have lost heart. Perhaps it is those long term contracts Holland is signing these guys to! They've won the cup, they have all the money they need, nothing left to play for! Good luck in your final year at Tech!

MTU_Huskies963 Are you an MTU alumni? I'm from 1997! The Wings continue to try and hold a goal or two lead, they just don't have it defensively. They need to play aggressively!

Besides the fact the refs seem to let San Jose get away with obstruction/holding all over the ice, the Wings do not have a team that can play to protect a lead! Babcock needs to continue pushing, get out of this crap of trying to play a defensive period and walk away with the win. Wings of old could do it, this can NOT! Now we need to press and get the OT goal and move on!

All I've got to say is that the Sharks have perfected the dive, and the officials taken it hook line and sinker! Wings are in trouble! On a level sheet of ice, we have a different game! This league is pathetic and I'm not sure why I continue to be a fan!!!

Wings Win 3-0, GO WINGS!

I'm a bit frustrated that he left the team, but......I don't know anyone that would chose differently than what he chose given the offer! Money talks! I would change companies in a heart beat if someone offered me better money to do the same thing!

Heres a line that I think would be very effective when the Wings are 5 on 5 and need a goal like at the end of game 1 Dats-Z-Franzen Frazen's willingness to go to the net and his playmaking ability away from the net, matched with Datsyuk's pure puck skills and scoring touch, along with Z's shear determination and playmaking anticipation. In my opinion would make this line un-stoppable!

Seems odd to me that the Eagles would sing all day long?! Must be one helluva concert!

I agree that there are plenty of phantom calls going on, and that is something that the league really should look at and spend time educating their referees in better observation skills. They obviously get caught up looking at other things and then make calls based on an aftermath rather than actual events. Any call around the net that results in a referee calling off a goal should be reviewable, if there is obviously no contact, or minor contact that doesn't impede the ability to make a save, the goal should be allowed. This crap of guys like Watson calling off goals when they are out of position needs to end. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the interference picks that teams run, the Sharks did it all over the ice last night. The Penquins do it all over the ice! Most teams do it to some extent. It kills many scoring opportunities before they even get to develop. Obviously diving also needs to be eliminated, though I don't have any recommendation at to how to do that. Perhaps 5 former players, 5 AP writers, and 5 former officials on a panel that reviews games from the previous night and hands out game suspensions for diving. Who knows, but Setoguchi seems to have perfected the art. GO WINGS! WINGS IN 6