Ms_Hockey

Agreed 100%.

I'll have to send her a message and ask her about some stuff. My biggest fear is infections. I clean my ear relentlessly. I'm keeping my hair up in a ponytail so I don't snag my hair on it. Hope it works. Why the week from hell?

I may be assassinated, but darnit - my dreams matter.

It's worked pretty well almost EVERY year, actually. The problem being that once there seems to be some rust on the defensive armor, the goalie's weaknesses begin to show. When defense gets better, the goalie's stats will get better. That's just the way the cookie crumbles.

He's got some tweaking to do with his game.. but the amount of potential he has to be a Datsyuk amazes me. Give him a couple more years and I think we're all going to be impressed.

Even as a 4th liner, he should be able to show some sort of talent while out on the ice. You can't attribute his play solely to the line he plays on. The only thing that remotely comes to mind is that he's best friends with Hossa and we're trying to butter him up for a big fat juicy contract. But that's just the conspiracy in me talking.

It means that he heard from a very "reliable" source that one player made a comment regarding his diminished ice team. Babcock then proceeding to pull out his whip and lash said player 30 times on the back, just to teach him a lesson. Afterwards, they hugged and drank beer, talking about the good ol' days. In seriousness: It means the person writing that has no idea what he's talking about.

He's old. He can't readily partake in every fight that's presented to him. Big whoop. And really, who on our team goes out and fights?

Anytime! I aim to please!

I'm far too wimpy for a tattoo. Plus, my dad would kill me. When he found out I did THIS, he came home and said "Let me see your body mutilation." And I think what you're talking about is a barbell piercing. My cousin has that. Along with her lip. And her tongue. And her belly button. And her nose. And her ears... many times.

I think it's more than a PK problem. It's a defensive unit problem. You can bet your bottom dollar these other team's coaches showed their team video of the way we play in the defensive zone and worked with it from there. I'm not sure if our ***** in the defensive armor is due to plain ol' not playing up to potential or having other teams begin to recognize our play and find ways around it through observation and practice.

Here we go. My ultimate contribution. (Which I stole from another board - but hey!) Gary Bettman & The Count:

I never realized how much a new piercing hurts until today. I got my cartilage pierced - near the upper part of my right ear. I was asleep this morning and when I woke up, I rolled over onto that side without thinking and the stud got caught on a thread from my pillow case. Boy oh boy, was that painful.

Because Malkin is an exceptional hockey player. Far better than he gets credit for, in my opinion.

I've got big dreams, okay?

Well, there you go. Now stop all this goalie madness.

Usually about three bottles.. not sure how many glasses that equates to. Either way, I'm sure I'm supposed to be drinking a lot more. TPBM owns a guitar that they can't actually play.

I'm not UNsatisfied with how I look today. I look very "I'm-about-to-go-work-out,back-off". TPBM sings in the shower.

I don't think they've been playing that way at all. Yeesh, you're awfully harsh. We're still a top contender. I see no reason to start trading people away willy-nilly. (I really just wanted to say willy-nilly).

Gordie Howe. Ted Lindsay. Steve Yzerman. Nicklas Lidstrom.

Forgive me.. I wasn't here during the regular season last year - I was in France.. so my dad would tell me the games rather than me watching them. I came home in March and watched the playoffs - which is when I became initially impressed with Flip to begin with. That's why I said it that way. I didn't mean anything else by it - I'm sorry.

The two best posts on that Pens forum. In reference to someone saying the Red Wings cup time has passed them by and they won't repeat: "I don't know about that one... chances are the wings are going to repeat." And in reply: "I'd be almost shocked if they didn't repeat."

You have a right to believe what you want.. but "it's obviously a lie" isn't really a good defense. We have no idea if it is or not.

I'll have to respectfully disagree on most of your post. You and I do part ways when it comes to why Flip is put on the ice. But, as I said, I'm not giving up on him. I'm rooting for a great playoff run from Flip - and hoping he's just saving up his energy. I will agree with this much, though - I have noticed that Flip's defensive skills are extremely consistent. You're absolutely right when you say that the score is going to remain 2-2 with Flip on the ice. I just really want him to tap into the offensive power that he showed in the playoffs last season as well.

I agree with you. Osgood isn't at Sawchuk's level - and the times are vastly different. But there's no denying that Osgood, under most circumstances, fits in perfectly with this team simply because we're built from the defense out. Osgood is not a great goalie by any stretch of the imagination - but until this season, has he really needed to be? I don't think he has. I don't blame Osgood for being average - as we've always known. Once the defense gets better, Osgood's stats will get better. That's how it's always been.