Ms_Hockey

Zetterberg: C. Datsyuk: A. Rafalski: A. I could see Cleary getting himself and A, too.

Ms_Hockey: Good questions, Darren! Let me start by saying that Crosby is an incredibly talented hockey player. He's fast, he's young, and he's skilled. He's also proving to be quite the leader for Pittsburgh. However, Detroit has such depth on their roster and such a wide range of abilities that I could easily see Crosby getting frustrated with how much he was being silenced by the Wings. Zetterberg is one of the best two-way forwards in the game.. and he was proving it with his skill and shutting Sidney down. The headshots were nothing more than pure frustration at not being able to play his own game. As far as Maltby is concerned, he's the type of player that likes to mix it up - and again, I think we saw Crosby's frustration showing through. He's only 21. I'll give him some time to figure out what an adult acts like before I judge him too harshly.

Ah, but you see, this way gives me room to say that they're all afraid of our superior hockey knowledge because they didn't join when we challenged them to. You see?! I got game.

Does anyone else find it insane that there's over 130 guests reading this thread right now? Dear Pittsburgh fans: Join or go away.

Crosby didn't whine. He kept himself in check for the most part. I was pleased.

The Pedro 'stash is what does it.

LOL. Ms_Hockey: Well, Darren, it's all in the name of winning. I find it's easier to awe the opposition when I disguise my responses. I force them to talk facts and logic and watch them spiral downwards from there. In the end, I win without ruining my angelic reputation and my team goes on to lift another Stanley Cup.

It's not Fr-ann-zen. It's Fr-AH-nzen. Yeesh.

Yep. Sexy, intelligent, and humble.

The Wings got the bounces. They also have the advantage of knowing how their boards work and use that. I'll admit that there was a certain bit of luck that went into the win tonight. There's always luck involved in hockey. However, for the first period and a portion of the third, Detroit just flat out outplayed Pittsburgh. There would've been no boards to read, no bounces to catch, and no ugly deflections to make if it wasn't so ridiculously easy to keep the puck in the Pens zone. That second period was almost all Pens, though. As I'm sure you know, momentum constantly switches from team to team in the game of hockey. While there's always luck involved, I honestly think the Wings just played better for most of the game.

He may say something about Zetterberg covering the puck on Ozzie's back with his glove - but that was legit. I was surprised Z got away with that.

Couple of notes. - First period goes to Detroit all the way. Pure domination on our part. - Second period... well, let's not let that happen again. Ever. But props to the Pens for clogging up the middle so well. - Hossa is smelling and seeing blood. It's almost as if he's saved up all of his energy for this series. - Helm's ability to hold every Penguins skater in their own zone when they have the puck amazes me. - Zetterberg is turning it up another notch and completely ousting Crosby. - Fleury's butt is now responsible for two of our goals. - Ozzie is exceptional at reading our boards.. though his puck movement seemed a bit iffy at times. Still love the guy, though - he showed up huge. (And hey, isn't that part of home ice advantage? Knowing your boards?) All in all, if we play the game the way we did in the first and third for the rest of this series, we have this in the bag. I'm incredibly confident in this team.. and they proved to me why tonight.

People buy the tickets. Whether or not they show up to the game is up to them. It's not a matter of the games being sold out. It's a matter of the season ticket holders not wanting/being able to go.

Actually, it's 20,066. But you made your point all the same.

Yes, and Homer's buttox cheats at goalie screening.

Actually, every playoff game thus far has been sold out. They announce it before each game. They also have to put folding chairs in the standing areas and temporary seating about 3/4 of the way down the aisle to fit everybody who buys tickets. Detroit experienced an 11-year sellout streak that ended in 2007.. and since then, we've never fallen below #7 on that list. So while you may see some empty seats, that's partially due to the fact that the Wings have one of the highest season ticket holder percentages. Whether or not people are in those seats - the tickets have been sold.

I really don't think Hossa leaving Pittsburgh had anything to do with the Pens being "ghetto". At the time he made his decision, it was the right decision to make. The Pens only kept one UFA - Orpik. The rest of them left. Hossa knew his lease was up and that his team was going to be disbanded. He's 30 years old without a Stanley Cup. His best bet at the time was to go play for the Wings for a year.. so he did it. I seriously doubt it had anything to do with the Pens organization and how "ghetto" they are.

You've made two grammar posts in less than thirty minutes. You're on a roll today.

LOL. Best. Thread. EVER.

Regular season - shmegular season.

Detroit. Before us, Pittsburgh.

I just went and bought mine about ten minutes ago. I could pick one up for you if you'd like. I live about five minutes from a Meijers that just got a fresh shipment.

Mindfly, I've actually enjoyed reading your posts as of late. This only leads me to one conclusion: Who are you and what closet did you lock the real mindfly in?

So is my pops.. and I'll still make fun of him for it. :P

Steve Yzerman is the Detroit Red Wings. He's the embodiment of what every player on our current roster should aspire to be. He was one of the most iconic players of the NHL, not just this organization. He stuck with this team through thick and thin. I have to yet to meet a single person, opposition fan or not, who doesn't have massive amounts of respect for the guy. Truly a hockey hero. Much love to Stevie Y.