Chunkylover

The "Ozzie" chant in their building during a playoff game! Even though Getzlaf has a huge head, Perry looks like a punk, and Ryan has been judged by the Internet as a dud, they are all great players. I'd take any one of them on the Wings. Mostly I'm glad we actually have a playoff rival. Hopefully the Wings can ensure the rivalry extends both ways by finishing them off.

Wasn't Wisniewski cross-checking Holmstrom at the side of the net when he got hit? But whatever, of course Ducks fans are biased, I don't blame them for that, everyone has an inherent bias.

I think the Wings have really pushed the envelope on the physical play, and for the most part the Ducks have just been taking it. I didn't see anything from the Ducks in the OTs that merited a penalty. The Wings last two overtime playoff games (the only two I think matter because they best represent the current state of the team: the Wings were a very different team in the Nashville series) showed a Detroit team incapable of connecting on a pass, clearing the defensive zone or negating any offensive attack through the first sixty minutes. Then the team focused and dominated for over eighty minutes of overtime only to see Osgood beat over the glove. I don't blame Osgood, I blame the team for waiting until it's too late to try and win. See also: 2007 WCF Game 6.

The real problem with the Wings yesterday was that they waited until the overtime to start pressuring. They seemed to be running around more focused on making the Ducks pay the price for possessing the puck: a complete one-eighty from two years ago. I also think that, while the Wings definitely played well in the overtime, they are too comfortable and confident in their system and abilities. They'd be just as happy ending it in the first minute of the first overtime as they would ending it in the last minute of the fifth overtime. I guess the opposite of that would be panic so I'm happy with how the game turned out. They proved they were capable of dominating, but left it with a bad taste in their mouth and plenty of defensive lapses for Babs to beat out of them. I'm looking for a big game three, I just hope the refs stay the heck out. Those overtime periods were awesome.

Agreed. The message was sent in the game to keep it clean. For the sake of the Wings playoff aspirations I hope the message was received.

It's very difficult to tell whether Brown's hands make the initial contact or whether it was part of the follow through. And I think a three second interval is being very generous to Hudler and the refs. It seems like little more than one second to me. The puck was however near the Ducks' line and Huds was near the Wings' line, so there was plenty of separation from the puck. I don't think Huds was dumb for missing the hit, I mean he did see him at the last minute. Brown came from the wrong end of the ice because Hudler was already looking to get back in the play, and because of that I think it was a fair interference penalty.

I think the worst part about the hit is that Brown's hands made contact with Hudler's face, and in fairness Hudler's head was up; no one expects a hit coming from their own zone. Huds was looking to get back into the play as he had clearly no possession of the puck. If Brown had kept his hands down I say it's a completely clean hit. He could have done a true shoulder-to-shoulder check but he didn't: he led with his hands. I think it's a fair interference call because Hudler was in the opposite end of the neutral zone from the puck and was impeded from entering play, and it's fair to call it a head shot due to the hands being high. Again without the high-hands it's a clean hit and as it stands I don't believe it's worthy of suspension. However the precedent has been set so one may be forthcoming.

Hradek and Melrose comments on the Wings/Ducks series from ESPN. Fairly straight forward stuff. The interesting part is that San Jose is now the team that plays best in the regular season and Detroit plays their best in the playoffs according to Melrose.

Agreed. I'd love to see the Wings take every trophy they are capable of earning: Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Hart, Norris, Selke, Byng, Masterton... any others?

Good point. No one can question his dedication to the sport. Not only did he have to fight to return from an injury, but he fight against age, a deep roster, lots of collateral responsibilities.... Zednik's injury was graphic and recent and may stick in most voters' minds. Sullivan's injury was probably the toughest to return from. I don't agree with this logic. Leetch got the Norris instead of Konstantinov because he was near the end of his career and Vladdy would have plenty of other opportunities to be nominated.

That's interesting, but is it really based on career success? I think Sullivan should get it because the time off was greater than Zednik yet he contributed immensely when he returned.

Sign Scott Clemmensen to push Nabokov. Sign Scott Niedermayer to teach Marleau and Thornton about playoff leadership. I'd keep Clowe because he's a good player, but let some of their other depth free agents walk. That is, if they still have any organizational depth. Steve Yzerman needed to be taught how to win and it took a winner (Scotty Bowman) to teach him. Marleau and Thornton have never had that. As heralded as the McClellan signing was, he really is an unknown commodity: some minor league success, won a Cup as the offensive coach for Detroit (although after he leaves the team the offense played better). I'm not sold that he can really motivate them up that hill.

Boston plays tough, back-checks, has a size advantage over most of the remaining teams and a Vezina-candidate goalie, but I still rank them below Pittsburgh as far as a threat in the East. Pittsburgh has everything the Bruins have, and then they have the experience which puts them over the top. Should Boston face Washington in the Conference Final they'll have a cake walk to the Cup Final. However I don't see the Caps having any success against the Pens. In a Boston/Pittsburgh matchup Kunitz, Talbot, and Cooke will make Lucic, Chara, and Thomas liabilities and Crosby, Gonchar, and Malkin will bury them in power-play goals.

Carolina has some established, pure goal-scorers in Whitney and Staal. Boston has a tough defense and solid goaltending but they won't be able to stop everything. Carolina actually has big-game experience, Boston is over-achieving right now: how many of their players can be described as having "break-out seasons"? This series will be similar to the Wings/Ducks of '07. The Bruins are an aggressive, physical team but the Hurricanes can match that and are opportunistic. Ward and Thomas won't be their teams' achilles heel. I prefer experience over exceeded expectations. Carolina in seven games.

Round 2 Predictions: DET/ANA 4-1 VAN/CHI 4-2 BOS/CAR 4-3 WSH/PIT 4-1 Prince of Wales: PIT Campbell: DET Stanley Cup: DET

'Cause he's awesome.

I predicted Carolina in seven, and Washington in five, so I have a lot of points on the line in the playoff picks game. From the onset I thought the 3-6 matchup in the East was the most difficult to predict because neither team is absolutely complete, but are very competitive with each other (obviously). That matchup has lived up to that expectation: New Jersey wins a shutdown 1-0 game five getting contributions from a grinder, then Carolina lights up the offense and the big stars shellack Brodeur. I say Carolina carries the momentum into a game seven win. Likewise, momentum aids the Caps, while the Rangers carry on with no clue as to what's going on. It'll be a sloppy game, lots of scraps, Rangers play aggressive, take penalties, and neglect defensive responsibilities. Caps blow 'em out.

The problem is you keep turning on ESPN. Versus is doing a good job in the post-season and actually treat the game with lots of respect. Support Versus and their advertisers and you will do a great service to hockey and force ESPN to pay the sport some respect.

How many of those stick penalties will be make up calls...? I think penalties will be a large factor, and the Wings power play will not be as effective as it was against the Jackets.

During the Nashville round last year I made a similar comment to a friend. Specifically I was disappointed at how Pavel had so many missed shots early in that series. He ended up with some good point totals so maybe he's just a slow starter. And by slow I mean that he's not overwhelming everyone else yet. People were loving him during both home games. Constant Ozzie chants; he was the #1 star in Game 1 and had a big ovation as well.

Who do you think is the round 1 MVP? Franzen was definitely a key goal scorer and played well opposite Nash; Lidstrom also deserves some credit for his shutdown, but for me the MVP was Osgood. He really stepped up and played great in the first game, he was a completely different player. What are some of your best memories from this series? I got to go to games 1 & 2 so that was pretty awesome. First playoff games I attended since the '02 second round against St. Louis, which were also two wins. Anything you are suprised over? Disappointed in anything? I was surprised at the Wings ability to actually play defense and Osgood's ability to play goal. I always believed they could flip the switch, but at times feared I might be wrong. I was disappointed they let up in game four. I was hoping for the shutout, then hoping they'd keep the GA tidy, instead they made it an entertaining game. Best goal in the series? I loved that Zetterberg goal in game three because it shows what a good, smart hit can do to the opponent. Stuart lays out a good hit, Commodore tries to lead his team and responds with a near miss on Cleary, then plays Don Cherry hockey and gets scored on.

Too bad about Lilja. He's had a good season and would be fit well beside Ericsson. Especially against either possible second round opponent. Glad to see Ozzie isn't too terribly injured. He looked bad in the second but it looked like he did some stretching or something in the intermission. Maybe a shot of cortizone. Guess he needs to adopt Hasek's pregame stretching routine. Drapes has played wing at various times this season hasn't he? If necessary put him on Helm's wing that way you have two good face-off guys. Rotate Malts and Kopy.

The only way I'd see Crosby really working in our system is if he began his career in '06 with us instead of Pittsburgh. Imagine him learning from Yzerman and Babcock instead of Lemeiux/Olczyk/Therrien. He'd still be a great player, but more well-rounded and devoted I think. Plus he never would have had to defend his whining coach in the '08 post-season.

As goofy as those guys can be I think they treat the playoffs with a lot of respect and energy. I know they aren't the originators of those "Great Moments in Hockey" videos, but the fact that they are not just showing Crosby highlights should earn them some respect.

Hm. I did not know that. So my point was more correct than even I knew: Versteeg was overshadowed by Stamkos and Turris.