talex

I love the wings, but if the refs swing another game the nhl can kiss my ass and the money I spend on nhl network, center ice, thn mag, jerseys, trips to games etc goodbye. It is one thing to loose and still feel good about it because of a real battle and another to loose and know it was tilted on purpose or not, 2 games this series have had that happen already, I won't be able to tolerate a third. Fair officiating Wings Win - 85% Biased, timley calls for drama - 50%

So far I have not seen the desperation out of him you would expect from any player going for the cup, let alone one is his unique situation. Hossa has not been the same since he was taken off the ice on the stretcher. I think he may be playing hurt. Same thing could be said for Homer. That said if he is, let Abby back in at least and move Sammy up to his line for game 7... Either get out of the way or go out on your shield.

The game is becoming a joke, scripted like wrestling anymore, but the scripting is by officials. The nhl may be getting ratings, good for them. Personally I am so disguisted with officiating in this series next year I most likely will just stick to baseball when it is on, at least the rules are consistent and games / outcomes not influenced by officiating. I wish there was a way to get this point across to the NHL but it seems they will not listen. I do not care if mistakes are made, but consistency is out the window and the games seem more and more scripted with an almost certaintly anyone who watched enough games can pull out their crystal ball and predict when a call will be made or when you know the whistles will be swallowed, if I can predict these things 80 to 90% of the time I am sure others can as well and it shows it is starting to get out of hand. Anyways. All that said, Gooooo Wings!

Game 5 was no wash...

Hi, I thought you might find it interesting what a popular talk show host in a non NHL market city had to say about the NHL today. The comments came from Mark Belling on WISN 1130 - Milwaukee, WI - the most popular and listen to guy in the market. He rarely talks about Hockey probably because of no pro team here, but did talk alot about the Wings last seasons finals and occasionally talks about the Admirals (Nashville's minor team). His comments were basically that the series is excellent, but that the NHL was stupid for not having game 6 on Today or Weds because of the NBA playoffs, that with the NHL wanting a greater tv market that their scheduling made no sense at all, especially for Monday night (tonight) which would have almost no competition at all, he made some other great points on how the NHL shot itself in the foot with this because it makes it that much harder to reach non nhl city markets. Just thought you guys here might find this tidbit intersting.

Well being in a non nhl market, I can tell you there are plenty of sports fans that might watch a playoff or finals game, but most casual sports fans are more likely to watch an NBA playoff game if forced to choose between the 2. There are plenty of people here in the Milwaukee area for example that might skip watching a Brewers game for a finals game of the NHL, but not against the NBA. This may be because Milwaukee has an NBA team, but you would think while the NHL is trying to build a larger fan base the competition for TV time chosen wisely. Also you will not get new hockey people if they are watching something else.

Malkin wins it and the blind sided head slash to Hank at the end of game 2 should be the commerical, or maybe his elbow to Franzen. When the Pens get behind he starts acting like a 5 year old throwing temper tantrums in a Walmart toy section. Sorry Makin... no toy for you.

Although the series is not over, I think it is ok to ask who thinks the Wings MVP has been so far? I know the media will probably favor Ozzie, but I say Z all the way, he played great in both loses and has been a rock all series. For Pitt it is obviously the newly discovered Goon Malkin. No matter how the series ends up, so far total series I still say Z has been the most solid consistent player for either team. Thought I would throw this out because they announce it so fast after the series ends and it could end on Tuesday in Pitt just like last year. On a side note, it would really suck to be a Pitt fan and have Hossa finally break out Tuesday and ends up with a nice Skate with the cup in the Igloo...

1 question for the O.P. after the Pens temprament in this spanklng.... Are they gonna change Bylsma's title from Head Coach to day care operator?

On this team Dats is important, but one player on this team does not make or brake the series unlike the Pens who I do not think could win even 1 game w/o either 87 or 71. They won 2 w/o him and closed out the Hawks w/o him. We have a couple no-shows that need to show up, Hossa and Franzen - these are our 2 big name goal scorers w/o Dats and they are not getting it done. The Wings passing is pathetic and it seams more often than not they are passing it right to the pens, how many shots this series have been hastily shot directly into a Pens D-Man? I cannot believe how many shots were absolutely lame shots that were easy to block or shot directly into a D-man right in front of the shooter. Hudler has been invisible, Leino has been nothing more than a clock killer while he skates all over before loosing the puck which Hossa is parroting. Homer has not been camping in front of the net, although yesterday he started to which I take as a positive. All players need to get back to fundementals and start passing the puck cleanly. If I could only give 1 line of advise it would be Shoot the puck already... On a side note, Z has been the best player for either team and will win the MVP if the Wings Win. He should even if they don't but one of the golden boys probably will. We can win w/o Dats... would be easier with but these guys just need to play the game they are capable of and we win.

1st congrats to the Pens for tying up the series, they took advantage opportunities and walked away with a win against a horrible RedWing performance on D tonight. 2nd I am sure there have been threads on this before, so apologies and feel free to move along if you are not interested. During tonights game I had several freinds over who are casual wings fans because I got them into it and the second they showed the offsides on the 1st goal they all pretty much said, he lets go see that Wolverine movie, the wings are going to loose, I asked what was up and they said between the Malkin non call and the 6 man thing that the games were a joke, I did not feel so strongly and wanting to root my team on I choose to stay and watch, they went to a movie... nice. That said, I do not know how much longer I can keep watching NHL games any more, especially in the playoffs... it has become a joke. I counted a ton of no call's tonight, several on the Wings and about 8 on the Pens before I stopped counting in the 2nd period, this is not why the Pens won, so I am not crying about the loss but the rules are so willy nilly anymore it is nearly impossible to stay vested. The no goal call in the Ducks series, the to many men on the ice, no Wings PP instead Pens get a power play score the winning goal, tonight 1st goal scored on an offsides play, that goal never goes in who knows where momentum carries the game (although with as crappy as they playes in the 2nd I think outcome is the same). Many of these calls/no calls are costing important games. We also have the Pens fans screaming a storm up about call's, this is not just this game or that game... this is the norm in this league now. Many people are making fun of the fact that VS has the Stanely Cup Finals during the week and not a more major network such as ESPN or NBC etc, the NHL is right where it belongs right now, it is a joke, getting harder to take seriously simular to the WWF except in this case it because officiating is playing a far larger role in the games than it should be. I am a longtime fan of Hockey and the Wings, but to loose a game in the playoffs and then another in the finals in the same year due to officiating is asking alot of fans to overcome and take the game seriously and stay vested in the sport, this applies to fans of all teams. When the announcers are constantly on this as well it points to a serious issue which is not being addressed. Each game it is getting a little harder to vest and take seriously, exciting yes but like my friends decided... so is a movie. Something needs to be done, what I do not know. I thought giving a coach the ability to challenge might be a possible way to aid the situation but I am not even sure if that will solve this. Anyways, my rant but I feel pretty strongly about it.

I agree, Refalski should have bowled Staal over and took the penalty, what a better time for a "smart defensemen" to take a penalty then on a PP, it just goes to 4 on 4, could not believe he did not do what it took to stop that one.

The positives... tonights game?? cannot think of alot other than Helm and Z. I guess 1 positive would be if they keep playing the way they did tonight is thay will be in all the NHL commercials next year scoring on the Pens every 3 seconds, maybe Z will get some commercials too... Wait, that will never happen. Here is a positive, the Wings MUST win this series because the Crosby/Malkin commercial swooning, love fest saturation would reach a critical level causing peoples heads to explode and small children will have nightmares, seriously I do not think I would pay for NHL Network if the Pens win because it is already Crosby TV and it makes me sick and he has not won anything. Best positve I can think of for the series right now is a good rest, some refocus and the return of Dats. Also if Hossa is going to show to not look a fool, well the plate has been dusted, the pitchers is on the mound...time to step up to the plate.

nice way to blast a fellow wings fan, I did not realize your opinion was the only one allowed, but now I realize it is because I can see the high horse your sitting on.

I think I would prefer put him in for Sammy or Leino, although Homer has not been the same since he came back from the injury, he is not parked in front of the net and has little impact in comparrison to what we are used to seeing from him, I do not think he is 100%.

The sad thing is as so many go back on forth with this topic is that I do not know many that would deny that many times things are called to make the game more exiting, to level the playing field... not for pure competition, how many last minute goals or 2 have you seen on pp called late in a game? How many series have we seen stretched out by officiating? The NHL loves drama because it keeps casual fans involved and is highly hype-able. I have said this before and will say it again, the best way to equalize this is to allow the coach to challenge a call or no call. I am all in favor of the drama of a coach challenging a call and if he looses the opposing team gets a power play, he wins the call overturned or made and he keep his challenge count. I would allow a challenge on any call made or at a stoppage in play and every goal if a coach wishes. This would keep the game moving because a coach could not have play stopped to challenge. This would put the onus back on the Coach/Team and take alot of this crap out of the game and to me would add another level of stradegy to the game. I believe it would offer a new level of Drama the NHL loves and a suitable solution that will keep casual fans while maintaining the core game for the more loyal hockey fans.

w/o Hossa and his 2 game 4's... we would not be in the finals.

Not trying to pick on you here, but he has outplayed Dats when both were in before Dats got hurt. He was also top goal scorer during reg season and does play against the other teams top lines, not like Z has scored alot more either. I think we just have to trust in what Holland comes up with, we do not know if Huds is considering going for a larger chunk, or Sammy or what the other players are thinking. Lets win this Cup and see what Holland comes up with, he has given us a team worthy of Kings for 10+ years, I think we can place a little faith in him.

The to many men on the ice was pretty bad, well in fact with 4 refs it was pathetic but what got to me was all the high hits being thrown, I hate complaining about refs and I do not mind watching a loosing effort, but if they are just gonna keep on not calling high hits, hits to the head then I am going to have to start agreeing that the NHL is becoming more and more a joke, I agree with let them play but come on already there must have been about15 high hits, 8 to 10 to the head about 5 by the Wings and 15 by the Pens several of which were definately penalties like the one on Franzen. I am not saying this would have made a difference in the game but I am getting sick of trying to explain rules to friends several of which lost interest immediatley after the Malkin debacle after last game, they said they might as well watch a soap opera or wrestling if there are sliding rules especially on one so obvious. Anyways, here's to a W in game 4, this series is playing out much like last year except it will be Hossa scoring 2 in this game 4.

Noone really knows what will happen, other than Sammy will almost certainly get an offer the Wings will not match, Hudler is very likely to get one as well. Cheli most likely goes elsewhere as he has said he does not feel he is done yet, I do not think he can accept a small enough contract to satisfy any reduction, perhaps Chicago? I recall reading an article where he said he would like to return there at some point, although they boo'd him there I was told because he closed his chili bar there? Anyways the rumors are all over the place on sport sites like SI, on radio shows and on TSN so there probably is some validity behind it and who knows what has happened behind closed doors. I say let us cheer on our team to Victory in the SCF and worry about this Hossa stuff once he has his cup firmly in hand.

Like Malkins on Kronwall? Or Sids head shot on Z? or the many such plays? I mean this talk of interferance is getting old, all teams do it and other things, the pens have gotten away with a ton of crap to, watch Abdelkaders 1st goal and look at the shot to the head that was attempted on him. I am fine by a evenly called game, however to try and say the calling has not been more or less even thus far would be a stretch at best.

Man, Gloom and Doom. The only way the Wings loose this series if the NHL is now the WWF with scripted outcomes flat out, no way unless it is rigged. We are up 2-0, which is the best you can be at this point. That's a 97% if you catch the stat in other posts, The Wings looked a little slow at times sure, but so did the Pens, the Wings are the Champs, they held regardless of being a little slow at times and as far as being out shot, it was not like it was a blow out and the Wings had some good opportunities that did not find the net either. We just got a day of rest and thus far the Pens clearly cannot handle our Black Aces and there is no sign of that slowing down at all and Ozzie is on fire... I am not saying the Pens are a bad team, but the Wings are to good to loose 4 of 5, hell our best players have not even started to light it up yet... I am very comfortable with the Wings in 5, but a sweep in not unlikely. For those of you that just cannot shake the feeling of Gloom and Doom... Zetterberg Franzen Hossa Cleary Flip Ozzie Lids Raf Stewie Kronner Sammy Huds Abby Helmer Homer Big E Lebda Waiting in the wings.... DATS, DRAPER BELIEVE!

What happened to the regular guy on NHL live?

Since people are going to have to be lost as noted by Holland several times, I think the prudent way to approach this off season is 1st, see who we will even be able to realistically keep and who will get offers that will not make sense to meet, Sammy and Hudler may get offers like this, other names always come up during this time of year as well, guys with NTC's as well in other talks as teams look to fill holes. As much as I would like to see a way to keep Hossa, I think the least he can do if he does want to stay is to see what the situation around Huds and Sammy etc (and any other working Holland may have in mind) pop up 1st. Secondly Ozzie is doing great now, will he be playoff Ozzie or Reg Season Ozzie next year? Should we let Conks walk if he will take an acceptable contract? What do we do after next year when Ozzie most likely retires? Having watched many Griffins games this past year, I am not a huge believer in Howard. Lastly and along the lines of Hossa wanting to remain a Wing, we have several guys who have contracts coming up and some may retire next year... if he really wants to stay, he could sign another 1 year deal and see what happens during that year. ...no way Homer goes anywhere, he retires a Wing. Also as this subject comes up ad-nauseum, the one question I always wonder about is if players can re-open their contracts and re-negotiate them? In other words (obviously hypothetical) could Raf or Lids or X player reopen their contract and renegotiate and a better cap hit to free up some space for Holland to work with?

Fact is noone knows, I would say if Babs expected him back for the last game of the WCF and then Game 1 that either it is worse than they are making it sound or he was somewhat ready for the last 2 games but with a solid performance out of the depth guys, further rest was deemed prudent. The fact that he has skated and Babs expected him back a couple games ago would point to something that is healing and with the importance of not taking your foot off the Pens neck (ie: allolw them to get any momentum at home in game 3) I would say he is in for game 3 and if he is not, I would not count on him returning to the finals, this game 3 is critical, would it be a boost to have Dats back for a game 4 if the Wings fall in game 3? Sure, but it would be alot better to get a W in game 3 and Babs is a keep your foot on their neck type of guy and anything and everything that would allow the Wings to win game 3 (a crushing blow to the Pens at home) should be implemented which is why if he is not in tomorrow I do not think he will be back.