Opie

I just don't see how it will work, but I also never saw Hossa in the winged wheel to begin with. I have no problems with one season and done, NONE, zero, zilc, nada. Marian Hossa was exactly as advertised for this one year! If Holland and Hossa and Rich Winter get this done it would be an amazing feat and Hossa should get many many props for not taking the money and valuing winning and happiness over money. Having said that, he would basically have to come out and say, I loved winning the cup/western conf with this team so much I will sign for a 3 mil cap hit. Other than that I really don't see Holland sacrificing depth for talent, especially the way this team finds diamonds in the rough. But never rule anything out with Holland and Illitches at the forefront. Best Org in the world since the 1980's easily, Most winning team since the 80's, org closest to a family in I don't know how long. Hossa seems to like those facts, can he live with 3-4 mil is the question

This year seems to me to be the worst year for officiating in a long long time, every series I have watched has had horribly botched calls followed by even worse make up calls. In general the NHL playoffs have been horribly officiated for all, not just the Wings, for all teams. C-Bus, ANA, CHI have all gotten screwed by calls in the same games that helped them, and in games that they couldn't buy a call. Officiating is now one end to another, as in you have no idea what you are going to get from one end to another. The league needs to do something, implement a rating/scoring system, more thorough review of what they expect from a call, and most importantly the league needs to make it clear what is and what is not a penalty!

Worst call in the postseason is now definitely Kronwall's interference on Havlat, especially after Pahlsson "Roughing" call on Flip. Q should open his eyes and realize what is killing his team is his inability to control the players even after the Refs have made a blatant attempt to stop the bulls***! If Kronner's hit on Havlat is 5 and a game Pahlsson's hit of Flip should have been 5 and a game with a suspenion, because it was far and a way more of what the league is trying to cut down on. -Hit to the head - Blatant interference as in the puck was at least 15 feet away and no where near flip 2 minutes, yet the puck between Havlat's skates and his eyes in the same place was 5 and a game. BAD refereeing in general, not for the Wings not for the Hawks, just bad in general.

NFM, My first comment was not aimed at you and if you took it that way I am sorry, but that is the one you quoted, after I made my (albeit generic and non -poster specific) comment. So I thought you were questioning my point, therefore I replied. No disrespect you are one of the few good posters around here that I respect. EDIT: I agree, firing on all cylinders would be the best case scenario, however currently that is not what is being asked of them. First priority for every forward on this team is D. They are, that makes me happy, they are not firing on all cylinders but neither were they all season, defense was the problem while Dats and Hossa carried the team, now they are probably a little tired, and the D is caring them. Karma baby, karma!

Wait didn't our apples just play those oranges and our apples won? Plus if it is apples and oranges why was the Getzlaf etc.. scoring comment made? EDIT: I would also compare the minutes (5v5, pk, pp) of Oranges players to Apples players, might be a slight difference My point is their big guns that were referred to by others (See the I would like to see our big guns put up numbers the way Getzlaf, etc.. comment) are no longer (other than Crosby) in the playoffs. You can not ride a one line team to the cup, why because eventually some one will figure you out. Here comes the kicker ready, The Ducks (oranges) NEED, have to have, can not live without, their top line scoring, the Wings (Apples, and supposedly most people on here favorite team, supposedly before the s*** storm ensues, not you NFM) do not need Hossa and Dats to score, would it make it easier to take and would I feel more confident, sure!. But the Oranges need the top 3 scoring, the Apples would like the top 3 scoring but the system the Apples use focuses on D first then O. Say what you want about Hossa, but is he out there floating around, he is being beat to pucks, is he not using position to control the puck? Or is this a case of My team is winning (Cake) and I want it the way I want it (eat it too). Apples and Oranges to you, to me Cake and eat it too! Difference of opinions.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAA Not only could you not because no one would put you on their roster to begin with, you would have also had to make the defensive play. I love it, not only do we have Keyboard tough guys, keyboard GMs, keyboard Coaches, now through wonders of your keyboard you could have scored that goal. Simply BEEEE-YOU-TEEE-FULL. So go ahead lay out all of the other HORRIBLE turnovers he had this game, they are so frequent and so many that you must have enough to go on for hours, all I am asking for is 3 from last night. Go ahead, I will give you the goal, that is one come up with 2 more. NOTE TO WINGS FANS: The whole goddamn team is turning over the puck, from Lids to Abdelkader back up to Ralf back down to Ozzie. THE WHOLE TEAM! Now I know why we as Wings fans get ripped so much for being spoiled, because at least half of the fan base is!! They may be winning but: Hossa isn't scoring, they don't fight, they are too euro, they aren't all perfect players, everyone doesn't score everynight, now it is I could score those goals. I have an idea instead of trying to find the team goat/ whipping boy enjoy watching the best org since the 80's. My god am I the only person that watches the game without watching for numbers or names on Jerseys to yell at and hate?

Didn't ANA's big line come up with 2-3 goals a game, hmmm, too bad they didn't have more depth!

Whilst yes Sammy did turn the puck over, but that turnover was way less dangerous than the one Z handed over at the blueline with no one but Ozzie behind him. My point is that goal should not have gone in, sure Sammy turned it over, but the pass hit Ericsson in the skate and went in, it is not like he turned it over while his team was in a line change and he was the only one back. The Wings should have cleared the zone (Sammy) mistake 1, Ericsson should have cleared the net, mistake 2. Was it a bad turnover, well yeah any turnover is a bad one. But if the Wings lost that game it surely wouldn't have been because of Sammy's Turnover, it wasn't like it was in the final seconds either (reference the Lilja Ducks turnover). Did you want to kill Z, until Ozzie made the save? How about Ericsson losing the puck over a stick? He didn't score the game winner after, did you still want to kill him? If not then you are just another Sammy basher and wanted to deflate the thread. Good job though!

Chicago Sun Times I like to read what the other team's reporters are writing, especially after a game like last nights. It is always good to find a reporter who writes not only an accurate piece but also does it with some panache so as to make it a fun read. Telander isn't the best but I thought this was a decent article. Plus the recap is surprisingly good as well! Recap I have to tell you I am really happy not to read a bunch of BS about reffing and calls and all that other s***. SO far this has been an awesome series to watch! I really like the Hawks style of play, as far as watching hockey goes. I wouldn't want my team to play so back and forth and with only one D-man back most of the time. If they can find a way to work puck support into the run and gun style (I guess that would be a change in style though wouldn't it) they would be a formidable opponent. Too many turnovers though. Enjoy the reads!

No he signed in Detroit because it gave him the best chance to win a cup, I don't care what he does in the post season, as long as the team is winning, he and Dats both are playing hard, that is what I ask. Now if Det were losing I would look to blame the high paid players because they are supposed to supply the Offense. But since it is coming from so many different places, I just want everyone skating and playing hard. Half the time I read this board I have to go back to the recap afterward to make sure the Wings still won the game!

From the Yahoo recap: Go Lids!!

I was just about to post this article! Great read, for once a writer did his homework, holy s***! Liked this quote: How many post season goals in the last two seasons have come from that "4th Line"!

Watching the post game it was refreshing not hearing the opposing coach whine about penalties but the tone of Quenville's voice and the way he talked about the Wings he sounded defeated! If I am in his locker room I already feel beat, as a 'C' I would have a players only meeting, show that tape and say we are doing this for us! He sounded so dejected and defeated that has got to spread to the locker room! CHI fans is that the way he always sounds after a game? or am I sensing defeat from him? NOT SAYING THE SERIES IS OVER AFTER ONE GAME, Just saying his tone of voice and answers to his questions had the tone of they are better, we need to hope for wins! Any thoughts? http://redwings.nhl.tv/team/console

Supertrack: thanks for the other side's view! I was curious, with the youth of that team I really think he could be the wrong coach for them, at least when facing the wings. He seems to be quite the pessimist from what I am reading. I really think if they had Torterella or some one like that, there things would be 100% different and I would be scared of them a lot more. But as Wings we went through the Dave Lewis era so, it is not always greener on the otherside!

This is my thought as well, if playing the ducks stifles your O and it carries over to the next round, if things go this way all series by game 5 (if necessary) the wings will be firing on all offensive and Defensive cylinders (the D can not take a nap against Chi or they will score 8 goals in 10 minutes)!

Ha, was going to type the same thing!!!!

You are 100% correct, my memory failed me!!!!!!!!

If he and Dats keep the other team off of the scoreboard like they are and score 0 more goals, fine by me. Remember all that matters is 16! Edit: that was not aimed at anyone that was just my thoughts. Hossa's defense right now and the energy that he and Dats are playing with give me faith. If they were constantly pinned in their own end and not getting any opportunities but constantly giving them up I would be worried. But this is what makes this team great, follow my logic for a second: Hossa, dats, Holmer garner the other teams best defensive corp. Z, Cleary, Franzen defend the other team's top line. Det 3 and 4 lines can just go out and play hockey! The 4th line isn't worried about shutting down the top line, they just have to play their game. But if Babs is stuck and this is not working he can easily go here: ZDH Hossa, Flip, Mule and then the first line either shuts down the top line for the other team while line 2 dominates or vice versa. Depth is the key here and Detroit is the deepest. I could give two s***s if it is Lebda scoring every goal the rest of the post season, as long as Det gets the W! Now would I feel better if every line was scoring? Sure, but I would also feel better if the team went 16-0!

Ozzie will at times(did it in the Ducks series I believe once or twice) makes a quick outlet pass, to the other teams blueline, where a wide open team mate is, but very rarely will he do it if it could in any way result in a turnover. As posted here by others, Babs has told Ozzie, stay in the paint and stop the puck, in fact Ozzie brought it up in the post game yesterday. What more would you like him to do? The team is winning, in the post season the only thing that matters is 16 Wins, doesn't matter if Ozzie scores all the goals and the Wings go 16-15 in 1-0 games. Doesn't matter if Dats scores 100 goals in 16 games, or 0 goals in 16 games. What matters is W's.

First goal scared me s***less, like oh no, not now, please don't start this series Brain dead! By that I meant the whole team, that seemed like it had "Forgot to set my alarm this morning, running late, still a little sleepy" look all over it!

I bit because I needed a way to work my last couple of comments, but needed a way to keep them on track!

Yes for two reasons: 1 He almost skated into the dreaded "No Pucky for Goalie" here zone. 2 He almost handed it to a Wing with NO ONE in net! OZZIE IS FINE! Sammy is fine! Lebda is Fine! Cleary is Super Fine! Relax, watch the games, root for all of the guys in the Winged wheel, have a beer, and ENJOY THE WINGS BEING THE BEST TEAM IN HOCKEY SINCE THE 80's!

I thought the Blackhawks chaotic and fast offense would give the wings fits after playing ANA (a pretty good possession team). I picked Det in 6, but after seeing how many times the Hawk defenders were leading the rush with 3 forwards thus leaving one man back, I say wings in 5, if not sweep! Chicago can not live with Khabi having to be the Bulin wall, as evident by yesterdays game. The Wings at times were undisciplined and trying to play the run and gun style of the Hawks, at that point it was a close game, the last 6-8 minutes of the second and the third was when Detroit played their game. Detroit can clean up the turnovers, as it is not usually a part of their game. IF Chi tries to stop rushing up with the D I think it hurts them more than the odd man rushes they give up. Campbell is not a stay at home defenseman, Keith is a beast, Seabrook will be awesome, but defensively their D, and team D is not strong enough to stop Detroit. Game one is a feeling out process. Both teams will get better from here, however Q very rarely makes changes, for some reason especially against the Wings, if he doesn't find a way to leave the zone with support behind the puck, CHI will be screwed. And seeing as he very rarely makes changes, I see Chi being screwed. Now to me this is like Pit last year, they are young, they are talented, but have 0 playoff experience relative to the Wings, and a mediocre coach at best! They may be deeper than 2.66 Lines (like the Ducks) but imo the ducks have the way more talented top lines, plus the size of Getzlaf gave the Wings fits, who does that for CHI? Ben Eager, really he is going to carry them? Buffy? Datsyuk seemed to take the puck off of anyone's stick the minute he wanted it. If Chi controls one game the way ANA did, I see Babs going to ZDH, Mule Hossa Flip, and then at that point NO LINE from Chi is stopping those two. Kane's line will get it going but not to the tune of 3 goals a night each night. I see babs going back to the lines above with Helm Draper Cleary (seeing ample time on line 1) third line and Hudler Abdelkader Sammy fourth, if the Wings get into any trouble. That said Wings in 5 Canes in 6 Cam Ward is hotter than HOT! Wings in 6 for the cup! (Yes I am both an Asshat and a Homer!)

To me it was his answers, his answers to me sounded more like he was hoping his team could pull it out, but it didn't seem like he was 100% sold his team could do it. But that is also why I asked the CHI fans, I have not listened to a lot of his press conference and his tone just seemed very down, not just we lost this game, but have no shot. However I could be wrong, it happens!

Apparently it comes from the top down. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_dadd...?urn=nhl,163813 http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Agda...p&type=lgns