Theophany

We might win game four. We won't win any more than that.

This.

Oh I know. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it. I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy in saying that Pavelski and Setoguchi dive and that makes them the cheapest team in the NHL.

You literally said that the Sharks are the cheapest team in the NHL, though. That's some pretty huge hyperbole when you're pointing out stuff that the Wings do as well (diving).

What a brutal call to end the game. Hate to see playoff games decided by a ref's whistle.

True. So by my math, that means that each team is even, ergo it's all about effort and luck.

Good point. For those that want to be intelligent about this, here's the list: Datsyuk vs Heatley: Detroit Zetterberg vs Thornton: Detroit Franzen vs Marleau: San Jose Filppula vs Pavelski: San Jose Hudler vs Clowe: San Jose Cleary vs Setoguchi: San Jose Bertuzzi vs Mitchell: Detroit Holmstrom vs Couture: San Jose Modano vs Eager: San Jose Draper vs Ferrerio: Detroit Helm vs Nichol: Detroit Abdelkader vs Wellwood: San Jose Eaves vs Mayers: Detroit Miller vs Desjardins: Detroit Lidstrom vs Boyle: Detroit Rafalski vs Vlasic: Detroit Stuart vs White: San Jose Kronwall vs Wallin: Detroit Salei vs Murray: San Jose Ericsson vs Huskins: San Jose Kindl vs Demers: San Jose Osgood vs Niemi: San Jose Howard vs Niittymaki: Detroit San Jose comes out ahead by one, by my reckoning.

Why in God's name is a second line player being compared to Datsyuk? Should be Heatley, Marleau, or Thornton compared to Datsyuk, and Pavelski should be compared to a guy like Filppula (which he would win every time and it's not even close).

Yeah, I know. I read the stats. He hasn't been as good as Filppula or Datsyuk, but to indicate that he's been bad is kind of laughable.

I completely agree. People aren't looking in the right direction when they think Filppula is a problem; he's cimply not. His faceoff win percentage could be higher, but other than that, you can't complain about a guy that in six games has 1 G, 4 A, and is +5 (tied for second on the team in points). How about the guy that's -3, has no points, 12 PIM, and is playing third line center?

Uh, Fil is tied with Homer for second most points on the team in the playoffs, bro. You might want to pick on someone that's actually sucking, like Franzen or Abdelkader (who's -3). Some people...

He's actually right, to be honest. Look at the stat sheet.

I believe... ...that this team is lazy and unmotivated.

I only watched the first period today (had a pick-up lacrosse game to go play in), but I'm assuming based on posts in this thread that Abdelkader was again awful? Hey, some people were talking about sitting him for this game, wonder if they might have been right.

Bolts or Caps, I like both teams and how they play.

Let's lay off the homophobic slurs, k?

Except that most of the people that are pretty well-known for not being outrageous homers agree with GMR in this case; that the Wings didn't play very well outside of brief moments. The shots on goal really drives that point home. Go watch the game again and time how long each team was in their own zone, and pay attention to the Wings' breakout attempts. That said, it's not the end of the world. It's game one, and I fully expect Babcock to have the boys ready to play tomorrow.

Uh, no it wasn't. It wasn't even above Howard's chin when he was down, so there's no way it was even close to high sticking. Datsyuk got a goal earlier this year that was at almost the exact same height.

Yeah, getting pinned in your own end, finally clearing, dumping the puck and getting very little in the way of forechecking pressure doesn't exactly make for a great offensive game. The first line was getting chances all night and Helm was creating out there for the fourth line, but otherwise it was a rough game most of the night.

Yeah, I can see where you're coming from, I just think that at this point, Helm works better as a grinder with Eaves and Draper as opposed to fitting in with a better line like Cleary and Mo. Honestly, I'd just like to see Abdelkader sitting and Bert getting a chance on the second line, I don't much care who sits or who comes in for them. Exactly. I'm not saying he's not injured, it's just that Franzen wasn't typical playoff-Franzen. He was more regular season-Franzen, and while you notice him every once in a while, playoff-Franzen gets noticed on every shift, it feels like. I also noticed Bert a lot tonight, which is why I think he should get time on the second line.

A pylon would have been better than Franzen tonight. At least we'd see it and it couldn't give the puck away trying stupid passes in the offensive zone. Modano would be playing third line minutes as well, allowing Bertuzzi to play second line minutes with Filppula and Hudler, who both looked great tonight despite how unnoticeable Franzen was.

I'd pretty much roll: ZDH Bert/Fil/Hudler Cleary/Mo/Miller Draper/Helm/Eaves Frankly I like rewarding effort and smart play, and Franzen and Abdelkader didn't show me crap tonight.

Uh, because the Sharks—as we saw tonight—are not the Winnipeg Jetyotes? Seriously, this takes the cake for "dumb posts made after a loss."

Good post. Unfortunately, Ericsson, Kronwall, and Salei preferred to take tickets and act as turnstiles to actually moving their feet and using actual good position. If that kind of crap keeps up, not even Howard/Datsyuk coming up clutch as hell can win us the series.

Wait, Franzen played tonight?