Dynheart

I cannot remember the exact numbers, but during the WIngs/Ducks series the announcers said the Red Wings haven't lost more than 2 in a row in the play offs since 2001 or something like that. I'm probablky a little off on the year, but I'm sure this will pump the boys up along with Datsyuk coming back.

I think that was the point of the statistic, since it was against the ducks when they pointed it out. And since this isn't the ducks, that's a statistic in our favor! /shrug Just trying to stay positive.

We played pretty solid...but all it took was a 5min and 30sec brain fart from our defense. Now granted the short handed goal was all Ozzie, but the last two? Our defense hung him out to dry with two 3 on 1s. Oh well, best of three now and heading to the Joe. At any rate, I'm going to avoid all hockey forums till after next game...the pens fans are going to be absolutley homerific.

It's obvious that the NHL and the media want the Penguins to be the next dominate hockey club. Good thing we have Holland setting us up for another 10 years. lol After tonight, we'll see who needs rescuing *coughpenscough*

Ozzie put on a solid performance last night, our team did not. Saying that, even though he has stolen quite a few games for us this play-off run, gotta remember he's human. The team played down right awful last night (except period 2). People tend to forget that no matter how good of a goal tender you are, if your defense isn't even clicking just a little bit, not even the best goalie in the world can help. Look at Ward, excellent goalie, his defense left him out to dry...numbers speak for themselves. Same with the devils, they hung Broduer out to dry, and even the great Broduer couldn't do anything about it. All goal tenders are at the mercy of their defense...and the wings defense was reeeeeaaaaalllllyyyy bad last night. On a side note, I do believe Ozzie ROBBED several of the penguins players last night, so he didn't play bad. But as the saying goes, "history repeats itself", it's very true with Osgood. Prolly one of the few goalies to shake it off, get mad in a good way, and put up a lights out performance the game after. BTW, he's not melting down. Lastly, the whole Ossssssgggooooooooddd sarcasm chant doesn't phase Ozzie in the least, all it will do is make him play better. So keep heckling him, your doing the Wings and Osgood a favor.

Eh, Ozzie played solid tonight, though he wasn't exactly the wizard either. Our defense played way to loose. The penguins were actually cycling the puck and had us running around. Eventually, the goalie is going to slide out of postion due to the frequent passing. With that said, 2 goals were from the PP...and our PK has been beyond brutal these play offs.

You really can't expect to win every game, seriously; the Pens are a good team. Calls or no calls, The wings sat back in the third...and worse yet, during the penatly kill........All 4 guys just sat there watching them cycle the puck. When they did this ALL 4 Red Wings Plus 2 Penguins ended up screening Osgood. I give Ozzie props for even coming close to reading the shot. All in all, a pretty Blah effort. Can't complain toooo much, though, because I want the wings to win at home.

Decent period. Slow.slllooooowwww...start, but what can you do. OZ has been pretty sharp, first goal I cannot fault him for. Our D hung him out to dry. Second one is questionable. I do believe he was screened, though. Anyway, if this is any indication of how the game i gonna flow, I can see a very high scoring affair. Also, if Ozzie is having an off day (he's allowed to with his stellar play these 2 play-offs run), this team neesd to win this game for him. We all know who's saved our bacon countless times this play-offs run...time to help him out.

I'm not worried. Why? Osgood, that's why. This man is on a mission is all I can say. Osgood is just plain weird for a goaltender. He either plays really bad or elite level. We all know what he's capable of, and in this play-off run...he's showing that he's once again "the man". I say the wings split at the igloo. Which game I'm not to sure. BUt the game we do lose I can garantee that it will be a low scoring affair...and by one goal. Something like 1-2 lol

I've watched so many pre-game/post-game vids from diffrent teams over the years, and this guy never ceases to amaze me. You get the media asking players a variety of questions about the team they are playing, and you can tell that 99% of the players are just blowing smoke up the media's butt. "Oh they have great players, such a great team"...this is almost like a canned phrase from players, and you can hear the obvious sarcasm...or better yet...the cringe when they say it. I've always like Bill Guerin, real classy player IMO. He plays hard, isn't dirty...doesn't goon it up. And most of all, is pre-game/post-game interviews seem so honest. Give props to the opponent without sounding sarcastic. Like he actually means it. Anyhoo. The point of this thread was to give mad props to a great player who deserves a chance at the cup, even though it's not with us. A respecable guy. Cheers!

But we had last change to our line up. For these two teams, match ups are HUGE. With the Penguins having their way with match ups due to home ice, I believe they will take advantage. Malkin/Crosby cannot be contained forever. Hate them if you want, but they still are a massive threat. I'm still pullin' for a Wings win, but not going to be upset if we don't. Sweeping the Pens is gonna take more luck than what we've seen so far hehe.

Realistically, the wings will most likely lose this one. Most players/coaches have to feel out what the other coach is cooking up for them. Usually a good coach matches them correctly, and the home team gets the win. Game 4 on the other hand...Babcock will mostly likely read Bylsma and his intentions with the line up, to get the correct lines out there. That's when we'll win!!! I hope for a 4-2 win. But I'm gonna go for a 3-2 loss for us. Go wings!!!

I know this. But it's always nice to see classy players, who work so hard over the years, get a chance at the cup. I'm a huge Red Wings fan, but I love hockey as well. Always nice to see a guy like Guerin get a shot at the cup. That's why I love hockey so much.

I understand what you are saying, the penguins could have won if it wasn't for some luck. The thing is, and I think this is what people are trying to say, they didn't. Sure the wings were a bit lucky the first two games, but you gotta be damn good to get lucky in pro sports to begin with. In the play-offs, the pretty stuff doesn't cut it. Tic tac passing, picture perfect plays do NOT get it done. You have two damn good teams here. Common sense here should tell you that the skill levels between the two teams will cancel each other out. All that's left is which team works the hardest to get the lucky bounces. Because as I have stated above, the pretty stuff doesn't cut it...and if it's working...the team that's letting that happen doesn't deserve to win. And IMO, it's been about even. Sure the penguins are out shooting the wings, but you have to take into account that the wings play tight tight defense the 3rd...not really trying to shoot at all. Just playing defense. With all that said, I believe the penguins are a better team than last year, and this series should heat up even more tomorrow. I say the wings in 6.

I've been thinking, Ozzie reinvents himself...same season, puts up the best numbers of his career. He had a shakey regular season, but openly admitted that he wasn't ready, and didn't want to be. He was still enjoying being a champion. Since his break, he's been a totally diffrent goalie. With the exception of letting in 7 against nashville (thatnks to our D playing worse than PeeWee's) I believe, he was light years better. Now look at him, putting up an other elite performance. Ozzie was a stand up goalie through and through, but now he has an quite a unique style. It's not quite hybrid, but not quite stand-up. I think that's whats been the 180 in his game. Anyhoo, 2 more games, and I strongly believe that what we see is what we are going to get for the remainder of the season, weather it be 2 games or 5. Con Smythe for sure.

My take on the game is pretty much like yesterdays. Pretty even. Wings out played the Pens the first ten mins and were outplayed the last 10 mins in both the 1st and 2nd periods. 3rd period, Wings went into defensive mode. Many fans confuse this with their team dominating the play because they are shooting more. But it's the Wings being the Wings...get the lead, then protect it in the 3rd. For the record, I HATE IT when they do that. I has come around and bit in the butt on a few occasions... For me, The MVP is Ozzie once again. Sure, he was lucky on a few shots but you know what? He's been rock solid this play-off run, and he 100% deserved for lady luck to be on his side. IMO he's been one of, if not, the most hard working player on the team atm...Helm sure is working his ass off, though. Ozzie stole game 1 in my opinion and was pretty shakey. He looked to be much better today. Rebound control was in check, positioning was 99% spot on. Sure he got lucky on a few well placed rockets, but that's not his fault. He cannot do this on his own, although he's been doing just that so far this series. Our D needs to step it up and minimize the quality scoring chances. 1.4 million cap hit? Best goalie in the league imo when you take money VS performance into account. I know people are gonna tear me to shreds for that statement, but we are still here, in the play-offs, because of that 1.4 million a year goaltender. Anyhoo, the series is pretty even so far. Pens fans needs to understand that tic tac passes and pretty plays are NOT how you win championships. It's the ugly, LUCKY bounces that get the job done. Oh, by the way, in order to be lucky you have to be good. You have to be good to create your own luck. End of story. Look at how the cups are won in the last 10 years. 95% of the time is from dirty gritty goals. Driving the paint, crashing the net, whacking at the goaltenders pads; you name it! At the end of the day, the Wings capitalized on their "luck" more often than not, and IMO, that's been the diffrence in the series. That and Osgoods stellar play.

Look on the bright side of things. For a good portion of the period we controlled the play...we started to lose it a couple of minutes before the Kronwall penalty...So I know they have the want. Also, Ozzie has been awesome so far. Blocked a couple nice point blank wristers, and also he fought off 3 or 4 shots before stuart decided that the pens needed a head start... I still like our chances.

I'll never understand people sometimes...Kudos.

Point taken.

Weather or not it was a missed call, it was the right thing to do. You can't say that Crosby wouldn't have done the same thing, because he would. It's part of hockey...shiz happens. Good teams always find a win.../shrug With that said, good luck, but not toooooo much luck. GO WINGS

Just an observation, but does it seem that Ozzie is a much better goaltender after he reinvented himself? Yea, he had a bad regular season, but he admitted that he wasn't ready to play. He wanted to enjoy the win more. Before he reinvented himself, he was pretty old school. Butterfly what? This guy was a stand-up goalie through and through. Now he's more of a hybrid goalie, but with his own style. Although his rebound control was shakey last night, I don't think he was as bad as people say it was. If there is one thing he retained after reinventing himself, it was that he deflects the shot instead of swallowing it up. Old fashion goal tending right there. And if you ask me, that takes more effort and skill than to just swallow it up and stop the play. He's been awesome this play-off run, and if he puts up numbers like this in the regular season, and god willing, an ther play-off run...that will only solidify my observation.

I'm not understanding this luck thing. People here, mainly pens fans, throwing the word luck around like it's a bad thing. There's a saying: "It's better to be lucky than good", and it's true. But there's also another saying: "In order to be lucky, you have to be good". These 2 teams are crazy skilled. I'ms sorry, but if your expecting tape to tape tic-tac passes and to the back of the net against the wings/pens then your going to be disappointed. It's gonna be all about luck, and that's what wins though games. Pretty plays aren't going to dictate this series, luck is. And to be lucky you have to good enough to create that luck, end of story. About Crosby/Malkin...they are good. Very good. They were able to expose the defense, or lack thereof, against their first three opponents (look at the scores...high scoring games). But they are going against a much MUCH better defensive team. Not only that, but a team whos defense is more offensive (forwards that is) than half the league. If Crosby and Malkin are the star players that I think them to be, it's only a matter of time before they develop a 2-way game. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but when they do...the wings defense will have more than a hand full. Anyhoo, that's my take.

It's not the quantity, it's the quality. A good portion of the shots that get past Detriots defense are generally good scoring chances. Look at game 2 with the ducks...we shot like 60 times against hiller...all easy point shots. Same with game 3. Look at game 4 and 5, we got in close and got dirty goals. Look at the scores on those games...hiller wasn't the elite goalie people thought then. Ozzie has to face more dangerous shots than most goalies...and most of those are due to defense colapses/brain farts. Ozzie out played mason. Ozzie out play Hiller. Again, it's the quality of saves, not the quantity. It's amazing how people can messure a goalie and call them good by stoping 60 easy , unscreened point shots. EDIT: Detriot has been out shot how many times in 10 years? I bet the number isn't very high. It sucks that Ozzie get's no respect because of the way detriot plays...lets shoot at the goalie jsut because. Fact is, no goaltender will. And who ever the next red wings goaltender will be, I feel bad for him already. As far as sucking the regular season...it's like 2 or 3 seasons out of 15 years. Even the greats had offseasons. I guess your not aloud to be human and have an offseason as a red wings goalie or you will have hell to pay.

I often wonder what "good enough" means to people. So it's ozzies fault that detriots defense is so good that he can't show off his athletic prowess? People say luongo is better. Need I say that this better goalie let in 7 goals against the blackhawks? OF course his DEFENSE wan't there. That's right, his defense hung him out to dry. Even the great luongo coun't save the game with no defense. I don't care how good you are...2 on 0, 3 on 0, 5 on 0, you're gonna get scored on if the offense is clicking. Only so much the human body can do. Onto Ozzie, did people forget that he jumped across the crease and robbed a duckie in game seven, first period? Give the oppertunity, the man can do the ninja like move (which in most cases people base how good a goalie is by jumping across the crease like a nija to make a save) like the elite does. Now onto having to jump across the crease like that...why do you guys think that? 95% of the time is because the goalie is out of position. Ozzie doesn't need to make these "awesome saves" because he's in position (wasn't in game seven on that shot). the other 5% is either the goalie is lucky (yes those uber saves where the goalie fudges up and hits the puck mid air to make a save is luck) or their selling it. IMO Ozzie plays a very old school style goaltending. Kinda like Broduer, both are mostly stand up goalies, but can butterfly if need be. Look at Broduer, he doesn't look like a ninja in the crease because he's positionaly sound. Same with Ozzie. I feel bad for the guy because not matter what, it's always the defense, not him. Last I checked Ozzie was in the crease, Ozzie made 30 saves out of 32 shots the other night...not the defense. Whatever, I hope he get's into the HOF...good enough my ass

Ok ok, maybe I'm still in cloud 9, but this guy is clutch imo. He's been awesome this post season! Sure the he's flubbed a few times, but even the greats have their moments...they're human after all. IMO he may not be the most skill in the athletic dept (although I still think he has one of the fastest glove hands in todays NHL) as some of the future HOF goalies, but I think he's #1 in the most important aspeact of the game: the mental aspect of it. He also may not stop them all, but he stops 99% of all the key moments (if he was perfect we would have won how many cups in a row?), and he doesn't get rattled! Good bounce back from the regular season from our one and only Chris Osgood. I just wanted to give the underdog, the "weakest link", the "has been" a good ole OZZIE!!! He was one of the better players in this advancement game! GO WINGS!