Jake Ryan

I hope Datsyuk comes back soon.

I don't have to. The coach is doing that for me. I told everyone about Holmstrom's decline after I noticed everyone going after Hossa and Datsyuk early in the Ducks series. I knew something was off way back then, so I started watching more closely. It was crystal clear after that - Ninety-SUX can't play 5 on 5 anymore. Everybody disagreed at the start, of course, because of their intense loyalty to "Homer". That condition is now known as the Holmstrom Hard-On (HHO). Now that Babcock has figured it out and has stopped playing him with our front 6, a lot of people on here are starting to realize Holmstrom's lack of ability to compete 5 on 5, as well. That's why I'm not the only one ranting anymore about good ol' Ninety-SUX. The stats I've posted back up everything I've said, so there's really no reason to continue arguing against this. "But Homer takes a beating out there, and we all love to see our Homer cross-checked in the back and pushed around in front of the net." Well, some of us like it. I don't. I'd rather have speed players pressing the other team's defense and crashing the net for good scoring chances.

Crosby has way more points than Getzlaf.

The bouncing boards is a stupid argument. The boards bounce at BOTH ends, so why is that an advantage for the Wings? It would be an advantage if the boards were only bouncy at the side the Wings got to attack for 2 periods, but that's not the way the Joe is. The boards behave crazily at BOTH ends of the ice. So who gives a rats ass?

So far the best argument given for Ninety-SUX being in there during 5 on 5 play is that nobody gets their ass handed to them like Holmstrom does. Can you see why I'm calling for him to only be played during the power play?

Seeing Crosby with an eye-patch makes me laugh! ARggggghhhhhhhhhhh

If I have a choice between Crosby, Malkin, or Getzlaf in the draft, I take Crosby 100% of the time and twice on Sundays. The guy is a little ***** right now, but he has MASSIVE SKILL. Getzlaf and Malkin are great, but are a tier below Sidney. There's a reason Zetterberg is shadowing Crosby.

Pavs probably has a broken foot. Same injury Yzerman got 7 or 8 years ago. I'd like to know how it happened, though.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=84607...season=20082009 13 games, 1 point, -1. What is his "role" again? I'd rather him NOT "take a beating every game and then some" if this is the kind of play we're going to get. You know where we'd be if the 11 other forwards on the team had this kind of production?

In the third, he had a few good shifts. I saw this too. But in the first two periods, especially the 2nd where the Pens carried the play for the first 10 minutes, Ninety-SUX was up to his usual garbage. PLEASE just watch game 2 and notice one thing: When the Wings are chasing the play as the Penguins cycle down in the Wings' zone, notice how many times each player on the Wings is involved in that. Holmstrom is a defensive liability and doesn't contribute much to the offense 5 on 5 either. He's good for a small hit along the offensive boards once in a while, but he doesn't have enough value to keep him out there. He's basically just tiring himself, his linemates, and the team when he's out there 5 on 5. I'm glad a lot of people on here have lost their HHO over the last 5-6 games. It's not rocket science. Holmstrom's value was limited to begin with. We all love him for what he can do, but we shouldn't make believe that he can do the things that Red Wings forwards are asked to do 5 on 5 in the playoffs. He can't.

Zetterberg - C Datsyuk - A Helm - A The fans LOVE this guy. The officials even love this guy. They never call a penalty on the kid. Give him the "A".

That Hal Gil play was a SLASH too. Why do the announcers say "And Hal Gil comes up with a defensive gem. Watch him disrupt Darren Helm with a good stick"? It's a SLASH!!!!

That was a good goal because if Fleury didn't knock it in, Cleary would have. He was in PRIME position to stuff that thing in if it got by Fleury's leg.

Minus the miss call on Malkin tripping Kronwall, I think the officials did a pretty sweet job tonight. 2 pps for the pens, 1 for the wings. I can deal with that.

Crosby is the WRONG guy to be posterboy of the NHL.

What's wrong with NOW?

I hope the Wings always have a Red Wings only player as their captain. That would be a cool tradition.

Yah, take out the goals Fleury scored, and we're watching OT at this moment. Pittsburgh's goal came off a stupid ass play by Osgood, so I don't feel bad. We got the only legit goal of the game.

Did you notice Mike Milbury say that Zetterberg isn't a great skater tonight during intermission? HA HA HA HA HA The guy is one of the best freaking skaters in the league. The Wings have 2 guys in Zetterberg and Hossa that are almost impossible to get off the puck. They are like magnets to pucks. It's fun to watch Z and Hoss play d superbly and then turn on a dime and start weaving in the offensive zone. Clearly different mold of player than Crosbitch and Malkin.

Come on Wings. Spend the night in the hyper-baric chamber and get rested.

Couldn't agree more. Osgood is punching his ticket into the hockey hall of fame. The engraver for the Conn Smythe might as well put "Chris Osgood" on there right now.

Maltby. But if Datsyuk comes back, then we gotta take someone really valueable out.

There are two things I don't want to be: 1) A Pittsburgh fan in a couple weeks, and 2) The Mule's Mouthguard. Could someone please hook that guy up with a dentist? Jesus.

I'll be blaming everyone and their uncle if the Wings don't win.

Datsyuk will be out there. You can bet your ass he'll be out there.