Opie

I could not agree more, but I will say, as some one who could care about authentic (not a shot at you, as I re-read it sounded that way) my litb jerseys are fine, I have 9 from them and a friend of mine bought two as well. There appears to be a bit of a size issue, as no matter what size I order they are all the same size. They no longer sell jerseys so this diatribe is pointless other than to say: If you just want a Jersey to wear around and are not concerned with the authenticity of your Jersey, these sites (or site now) is for you. The Jerseys, to the untrained eye, look legit, they have fight straps, they are stitched and not ironed on. Not to mention they are about 1/3 of the price of an NHL.com or any pro shop. And those prices are for Replica from NHL.com My Dats Jersey (xmas gift from the parents) Cost 150 (with the A patch) I believe, well for 150 I bought 4 Jerseys (LITB) and had them shipped to NH for less than 150. Again: If authenticity is not what you are looking for this is a very cheap alternative to NHL.com or a pro shop.

Wait, do you mean we love them all, or the ones who scored, or who stopped the puck the way we want, or the ones who fight the way we want, stickhandle, skate, Better thought you should define the WE! LOL just being a wise ass!

Years, please do explain that?

All of the Howard haters, any of you remember MAF's first couple of games in the NHL, the guy has what, maybe 20 NHL games under his belt if that. The guy is struggling with rebound control, yeah no young goaltender in the NHL has that problem.

I would say last night was a case of everyone pitching in on D, and Ozzie playing really really really really well! The whole team seemed to get a new focus, I attribute it more to Flip going down, now this team is a two line (offensively) team and everyone is going to need to chip in as much as possible from Abbie to Z back to Maltby. Bert especially is going to need to stop hunting for Iron Ore and start looking to hit the twine. The guy is playing well in his own zone and is really creating in the O zone, but he needs less Iron more twine!

Count me as one who would still follow. Probably more now than I would have in the 90's when the were steamrolling, due to the internet. When the Wings were the Red Machine I was held hostage by TV. I barely ever got to watch them unless it was on the French Channels in Maine (Meaning they were playing the Nords or Habs, as those were the affiliate's we got then), now I can watch almost every game (free) on the Web. But the fact the question had to be even asked show the state of Fandom in sports today! Hell I am a Red Sox fan and all that used to be was getting your hopes up all year, having the team live up to them until the all star break and then s***ting their collective pants. If I can be a Red Sox fan, or a C's fan during a 18 win season, rooting for the wings is like riding a bike, they may fall of the seat this year or hit a snag and lose grip of the handle bars. But trust me this is old hat and they will be winning again, SOON!!

WOW! After reading the articles (Which most only mentioned Jimmy getting beat by O'Sully( good for the former Manch Monarch, but s***ty it was against the Wings)) I didn't have a good feel for his game, no one posted in this thread, which to me said he did neither really good nor really bad. Plus the fact he made it to the SO, I wasn't too worried, but I am pulling hard for this kid and trying to be objective at the same time! Thanks for the info!

Due to plans last night I missed the game, was his play as bad as the 5-1 second period score I saw?

the thing that I find ok about his rebounds (note I didn't say reassuring) is that they are sort of in the right direction it looks like he is trying to kick them wide but they all seem to end up somewhere near a dot! Not good!

I think the team got a HUGE helping hand from J-ho's little toe.

Could not have written this better if I had tried

Any new thoughts after last night? Some incredible saves at the end.

I find it hilarious that Murph just said the opposite of all of you naysayers. AHAHAHHA that is funny!

You are right and Ericsson turning over the puck was just a rookie mistake while J-ho should know better and make the play. BLAME THE GOALIE!!!!!!!

But SWF he is small, and euro and did I mention small and euro. Oh yeah and he screwed over the Wings in the process too. Top 3 statements to end a hockey argument on LGW: Small, Euro, Greedy!

Yes Eva if the play happened in as long as you took to type that post and analyze the play, then yes even I could make that play. What happened was a busted play in which Ericsson had the puck in his hand went to drop it to his stick and shoot it around the boards, in an instant he whiffed, Stewart passed it to Giliardi whom was on the door step. But yes if Howard was able to analyze the play in video he would tell you why he should have made that play. The problem here is that Howard is not the only player in the Red Wings zone responsible for the puck. So when Ericsson and Ralf turn the puck over inside the dots, I have a hard time scrutinizing the play of the goaltender down to the minuscule and letting the D slide.

How quickly we forget. Hudler said when he left he only wanted to play for the Wings in the NHL, if they could not afford him he was going to the KHL. And long before he went to arbitration he made that statement, he never hid his intentions from the Wings, he made them clear. I don't get this "He abandoned the Wings" and most of the people stating that are people who wanted him off of the Wings long before he hit RFA status. He didn't burn a bridge, and I do believe ( I may be wrong) Holland stated Hudler was welcomed we his contract was up. There was little to no chance the Wings could pay Hudler and still fill out the roster, as it was Huds was going to cost as much as Bert and Williams together.

He was outplayed by Anderson last night, although I would have liked to see anyone beat Anderson last night. That kid was on fire!! J-ho looked decent, the first goal was completely the fault of the D not getting rid of the puck. Ericsson whiffed on the puck it ended up on Stewart's stick who fed a beauty to Giliardi who roofed a backhand that Howard would have had to been out of his mind to save. The second goal I don't think was as good of a shot as the Avs announcer did (Center Ice feed was Avs and he thought it was the best shot ever) I though J-Ho should have had it, but all in all good performance, This team should be able to score 2 goals. This loss is on the offense and to a larger degree Anderson.

I already stated I don't think Lids got ran, Downey did though, I don't! And Draper said he took issue with it, really when, I heard him say Lappy finished his check, exact words, he didn't say ran him, he didn't say elbowed him, he didn't say anything other than he finished his check which Draper found to be unnecessary. Unnecessary, not a very strong word. Where do I start, quite simply when someone breaks the rules and nails my teammate. Elbowing, butt ending, spearing, boarding, all things that are considered penalties, that is where I would start. So that I know you would rather have seen Markov attacked by the other team instead of Dats breaking in to score? You think in that instance Markov was in the wrong and should pay a price? Is you stance that hard, clean hits are something you want retribution for? But since I answered your question why don't you try answering mine, avoidance is akin to admitting defeat. And no it is no more an instigator penalty at the time or 2 periods later, or a game later, or a whole season later, or waiting until the playoffs that is the point most of us have made, there was no penalty on Chi for instigator, and they lost a break away. Clean play should not be followed by a stop in play because a teammate is unhappy with said clean play. What his teammates should say is "Hey kid, don't forget to look both ways before crossing the street! AHAHAHAHAHAH, keep your chin up son, this is a mans game!"

oops that is what happens when you assume, same point though.

Listen to Draper in the video you posted: (all paraphrased) I think it was unnecessary (talking about Lappy hitting Lids), all Nik was doing was trying to make a play at the puck, I don't think (Lappy) looked at the puck, he wanted to finish his check. Its unfortunate. Downs was great for us all game, it was unbelievable the way he stood up for his teammates. Did he say Downey needed to beat his ass because that was way out of line? No. Did he say anything about it being a dirty play? No, and you would think against Col if one guy was going to get fired up over a dirty hit it would be 33! Then at the very end, Downey says if you are going run our guy or go at him with your elbow.... Downs is talking like Lappy ran or elbowed Lids, which sets his definition of action, he then went out and acted after that play. The play in question with Toews was not dirty, and no one thinks the elbow was up, Toews himself says I had my head down my bad. Yet you still think some one should have jumped Willie for making a good clean hockey play. Again I ask does that mean if some one scores you can beat the crap out of them? No, then where is the line drawn, Just 'C', star players, anyone who has ever made an all star game, is an all star this year, has a shield, has an Easton, is at center ice, does not know the hit is coming, ? What are the boundaries for a completely legal and clean hit to be instantly retaliated for. Hey I am all for it going down right away if a guy spears someone or Drapers them, any of that crap instant revenge. But on a clean play the ref blew the play dead, potentially winning the game for CHI because Van needs to tie the game up and that 1-0 was looking good Sedin vs The Human Sieve, err umm Huet!

What else can teams decide they won't allow? Goals, if some one scores you kick their ass, sort of like beaning a guy in baseball you just hit a homer? Why wait until the next at bat, usually the ref throws another ball to the pitcher while the hitter is trotting. Bean him right then and then, why wait, that way if you hit him hard enough he can't score!

You know it the Hawks don't like their players getting hurt they could always join a Woman's league. Although, seriously I think Cammie can take Toews!

Probably, that looked like a pretty clean hit to me. However that was one time Lids put himself in an awkward spot and didn't get out in time. Lappy did not go in elbows up, off his skates, he just caught Lids in a bad spot. And the one thing all of these hits have in common is that if the hitter does not take the opportunity to hit a player he is hurting his own team, if Willie side steps him and if the Hawks score a goal on that play it is solely because Willie lets up! That is far worse than taking a hit a player with his head between his skates. Or simply the Nucks don't get the break away and a chance to tie the game because Willie didn't do his job. Oh wait the refs f***ed that up. I do not see how this is any different than the hit Markov laid out that led to the Dats goal. The only difference is where the D-man started his journey, one was on the ice, one came out of the PB! Jesus lets turn it into the NFL and say people wearing a "C' (as opposed to being the QB) can only be hit certain ways, certain times of year (by the way weakest argument I have ever heard, WEAK!). What next, he can't be hit against the boards, or unless some one is behind him to catch him, should the 'C' also get extra padding?

As one of the original Sammy defenders, I have to say that this is the same situation as Kyle Quincey. No way was Sammy going to get the minutes and opportunity in Det he is getting in Van. He is streaky, he has something to prove, streaky guys with something to prove usually start of like a house of fire. Then slow down. When Sedin is healthy again, Sammy's minutes and line mates will slow down a touch. Then his numbers will even out a little more.