dat's sick

Getting one win away from back-to-back cups isn't good enough for you? We're all disappointed but get some perspective man.

I think the Wings showed a lot of effort. They started the game good, then Stuart f***ed things up and was directly responsible for 2 goals, it took them a while to recover but they were a crossbar and a huge save away from getting OT. Seriously, if Stuart had only played a DECENT game, we would atleast be watching OT right now. We can talk all we want about guys not stepping up, like Hossa, but what did Malkin (and Crosby but he was injured for most of this game) do tonight, or the last 2-3 games for that matter? This was a weird game, but I don't think the Wings played as bad some make it seem. As many predicted, the 1st goal was HUGE. Up until that point it was anybody's game.

...what did they do? Total non-factors. I don't have his stats, but Draper didn't even seem that good in the face-off circle since he got back from his injury.

This doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would. I knew we'd lose as soon as the first goal was scored. It was close in the end, but the Wings just didn't get enough quality scoring chances. Good defense by the Pens to keep them on the outside. Players that I'm proud of in the Wings this game: Z - as always he showed heart and kept fighting the whole game. Filppula - Great game by him, and a great playoffs. Ericsson - The guy I was afraid would fall apart in a pressure situation like this, stepped up and scored a goal and played solid, unlike STUART. Datsyuk - He tried. He wasn't 100%, but he did his best. If we had him for Game 3 and 4 I think we would have won this series. Cleary - Heart, heart, heart. The rest: a mix of awful (Stuart, Homer), invisible (Hossa, Franzen, Helm), meaningless (Sammy, Maltby, Draper), and simply not up to standard (Lids, Kronner). Ozzie wasn't bad. He couldn't outplay Fleury in these last 2 games, but the team owed it to him to bail him out in atleast one of them. He had a great run, sadly he couldn't finish it off with a cup and a Conn Smythe. Also, if there's one BIG coaching blunder Babs did in this series, it's benching Abdelkader. I know he didn't want him on the Wing, but when you have a hot player you don't sit him. Maltby and Draper did NOTHING. Will be interesting to see what happens with this team. Some changes needs to be made, but let's not forget how close we were. The real hunger and puck luck wasn't there this year. Not to mention things like the 1st goal should have been icing, we should have gotten a PP when Malkin hooked Filppula in the 1st period. And the schedule hurt us, injuries, the Anaheim series took it's toll.. in the end it was all a little bit too much. Shame, but we'll be back.

First goal killed the game. In these games, the first goal is everything. The Wings didn't play bad until that 1st goal. Stuart f***ed this team, sadly.

They gambled for the 1st goal and didn't get it. Had they gotten it, they would have gotten energy and would have been carried by the crowd to a win. I just think they don't have enough gas in the tank to play from behind.

The only good thing I take from the 2nd period: the Wings played the last 5 minutes almost like they normally play the last 5 minutes of the 3rd when they're down. If they keep up that desperation from the start of the 3rd, this MIGHT not be over. But scoring just one goal seems like a monumental task, let alone 2. Don't want to be pessimistic but I don't see us winning this. For some reason I feel less depressed about this than I thought I would. I guess it might be the fact that the Pens have outplayed us in this game. They deserve the win more than us right now. Shame.

The Wings aren't scoring in this game. It's just one of those games.

Stuart killed us in this game. And partly the refs for not calling icing on the 1st goal. But mostly Stuart. Still a period left, but I have to admit I don't have much hope. I see the Wings getting one back, but not two. Fleury is playing too good, and the Pens defense looks really solid. Wings not getting many quality chances.

I predicted that the team scoring first would win. God I hope I'm wrong, but I don't feel like I will be. They need to score on this PP, because 5-on-5 they're not getting much done.

One of the best 1st periods the Wings have played in this series. A bit too much time in the defensive end by the 3rd line especially, but we're creating some good chances offensively. Fleury seems to have woken up on right side though. Wings need to score on their chances. Filppula probably would have if not for that hook by Malkin. Thanks for that non-call btw refs.

Let's hope it's like in that South Park episode.. "Stanley's Cup".

That must have been one helluva blow that Sharp delivered. ...sorry.

Thank you Red Wings for a very frustrating but fun regular season, and an amazing playoff run.

Lebda or Homer.

...the tears of all the Penguin fans.

For some reason, these kinds of games are often decided by the players who don't usually score. I guess it's because everyone is so focused on shutting down the star players that they forget about the grinders. Would not be surprised at all if Maltby, Draper or someone like that gets the GWG.

Ain't that the truth. Anyone who thinks the Pens don't have any chance is delusional. I would want nothing more than for the Wings to have a 5 goal lead after the 1st, but it's likely that we're in for a real tight game. 2-2 in regulation I say. In OT anything can happen, so I can't make any predictions about that. And I agree that it would be nice if the game wasn't decided on random crap and bad calls.

The Pittsburgh crowd booed when Z got the Conn Smythe. And the arena got awfully empty awfully fast.

I'm hoping for a win tonight. This is probably one of the biggest games this season. (GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH I'M FREAKING OUT I'M SO NERVOUS!)

Doesn't sound good. Must be hell for him. Not only being unable to play, but living with headaches for months. And when it seems to be getting better, it suddenly gets worse again. Let's hope it gets better once the stress and excitement of the playoffs end. I want Ericsson/Lilja as our 3rd d-pair next season.

I'll survive. The Wings have done an amazing thing just getting this far. Before the playoffs I was just scared it would be 1st round exit. And getting past the Ducks felt like a Stanley Cup victory in itself. That said, I'll be extremely disappointed. The Wings have their destiny in their own hands. They can outplay their opponent when they want to. I just hope the game isn't decided in the Pens favor by either a bad/missed call or that the Wings hit 17 posts and the Pens score a fluke goal. I want a good game where you can say that the better team won in the end.

I don't think the worst case scenario involves us winnning the cup..

That's nice, but it's a Game 7. All bets are off, anything can happen. I'm liking the Wings chances, but I have a feeling the game is going to be a lot tougher than any of the prevous JLA games in the series.

I think there's been too little OT action and too many games decided by more than 1 goal for it to be a real classic, but it's been a great final. Fantastic hockey in most games. Now, if Game 7 would turn into a Triple OT affair or something like that, then the series could be catapulted into classic-status. But I think it will be a final that is remembered, due to it being a rematch of the previous year, the whole Hossa-thing, Crosby winning the cup for the first time or losing for the 2nd straight year etc. Lots of storylines. I can't remember many finals in the last decade that seem as memorable as this one.