Broken 16

I honestly can't believe that anyone is doubting this team at this point. Am I the only one that noticed that all the commentators were gushing over Helm more than Crosby? As far as I can tell, this team has it's fist in the air and it's finger in the face of the league. They have overcome some of the craziest s*** I have ever seen team go through and they are chugging along 2-0 over Pittsburgh. Win or lose, this team has bigger balls than any team I've ever seen.

If I hear one more Pens fan blame these so called hockey gods for their first two loses, I think I might hurl. There ARE hockey gods. They are called the Detroit Red Wings. And they are squarely in your face. Take a big whiff...

I always thought that Brad Stuart would be a good candidate for a letter. Not so sure about the C, but I wouldn't mind seeing him with the A.

I'm in... Bonecrushing blueliner. Of course.

We had a 7 game series in round 2 as well. I feel like the rushed schedule hurts the Wings a lot more, especially with the injury situation. I'm not prepared to use that as an excuse if we lose, but I feel like it was a golden opportunity for Pittsburgh to try and take advantage of. Nothing more.

I went to your boards and browsed around. It's hysterical that most of you guys are blaming "Hockey Gods" for both losses. As far as Datsyuk not being in the line-up... so what? Your team had a golden opportunity to, at the VERY least, send a message. The Wings got completely hosed on the SCF schedule and were completely exhausted... not to mention completely battered and your guys couldn't even manage to pull within a goal either game. But go ahead and blame the hockey gods... lol.

Exactly. I don't want to sound like too much of a homer, I try to be objective as possible. But the Ducks had me WAY, WAY, WAY more scared. Pittsburgh is hanging by a thread right now. The Malkin fight says it all. That wasn't a "I'm gonna pump my team up" fight... it was a total hissy fit because they know they are one game away from being completely owned. Good point on Getz too. Gimme that guy ANY DAY over Malkin or Crosby. M and C like to act like tough guys and they definately have skill, but Getz owns both of them.

That looks good on paper... but not every team can just decide, out of the blue, to change their style in order to beat the Wings. The Penguins don't have the roster to just up and decide to be the next Anaheim. The only chance your team has is to beat the Wings in a run and gun game and try to pin them in the offensive zone for huge stretches. Good luck. Everyone keeps saying, even Wings fans, that Pittsburgh outplayed the Wings. Why? Because they had a few scoring chances? I didn't see that at all. I saw Pittsburgh with a few good chances and a bunch low percentage chances. I saw Detroit basically entering the offensive zone like they were walking a dog. I'm sorry, but all this talk about how Pittsburgh "has learned what it takes" is just garbage. I saw a team that couldn't put away an exhausted, injury ridden team even after the league totally hosed the Wings by bumping the schedule back and putting in a back to back for the first two games. Penguins should have pounced and they choked instead and the so-called SUPERSTARS looked extremely normal. And Malkin... what the hell was that? He started throwing punches before he even dropped his stick! The was frustration personified.

Not having last change is not the end of the world. Worst case scenario... Helm is covering Crosby for a few seconds. I can live with that.

And I completely disagree with it. The NHL has made many, many blunders in the past, but this isn't one of them.

So THATS why they keep Cheli around. To trick other teams into thinking we are old. GENIUS!

No need. It was obviously a heat of the moment thing. No premeditation, no suspension. I don't think it has anything to do with league agenda at all. Just a no brainer. If the Pens were gonna send a message to the Wings... do you really think they would send in Malkin?

He's human. The Red Wings are easy to hate. Especially if you've had to play against them.

I agree... it's bedlam over there. It's like that movie 28 Days Later. They are just attacking everything in sight.

Do what s***? Get frustrated and show your temper? Suspending him would be the stupid call.

He also tends to give it away a little too often.

This is probably the best thing to happen to Leino, even though he probably wouldn't agree. This shows the Wings and, more importantly, himself that he's not quite ready when the s*** hits the fan. Hopefully he'll take a season or two in GR.

I can't see how anyone can complain about the officiating. Guys are getting away with s*** on both sides. This is the way it's supposed to be, imo. Two power plays through two periods sounds good to me. Nothing overly nasty is going on.

I'm hearing more love for the Red Wings than I am for the Pens from pretty much everyone.

I have no complaints with the officiating whatsoever. This game is a pleasure to watch.

That was one of the sweetest finesse shots I have ever seen. On the backhand even... wow.

That goal was amazing.

Panger had some cool insight on Osgood between periods.

Even if we don't win, it doesn't mean he made the wrong choice. Those guys are a bunch of dorks. I'd hate to be in the same locker room as them. Can you imagine? It's a locker room full of full blown, collar popped, moose in the hair ****** bags. Winning a Cup won't be enough to exorcise the doucheness that hangs on those walls like a bad stink. Hossa made the right choice no matter what the outcome.

What the 4th line managed to do in the third period is mind boggling. Scored a goal, seemed to be out there every other shift, and frustrated Crosby to the point of him starting s*** with Maltby. If the Wings can go on to win the Cup, I believe THAT period will be one of the key reasons. It was THAT huge.