Zion

Whining, in my opinion.

Exactly.

Are you serious? This is the stupidest post I've read all day. Thank you.

Did you mean INVISIBLE? I believe you have failed.

Amen. I'm really disappointed that these two had to meet now vice the WCF. I love the Red Wings, but have followed the Sharks all year (thanks to my wife) and have really been impressed with them. Great team, and this is turning into the terrific series we all knew it would. I still root for the Wings, but hope that if the Sharks win that they take it all, because f*** Anaheim and Ottawa and their s***ty fans and punk players. That, my friends, is a hockey player. Way to suck it up, Billy. Now get back out there.

Keep us posted.

Maybe the Maltby from 1996-2002. We need to get younger, and while he's been one of my favorite players, it is time to start thinking younger.

Amen, brother. Series is getting very good.

Look, this is nothing new: We've complained about him all year, but we said that he's been our most consistent playoff performer. After a bad start, he's been playing a little better, and now has two CLUTCH goals for us. Hopefully he'll return to playoff form and earn that last few million in this playoffs before taking a paycut somewhere else. You know the name, you know the number: Bob Lang - #20

My sentiments exactly. Granted, having watched many Sharks games all year, it's also pretty cool to see the coach get excited with the team. But, you're right, Babcock knows there is still a lot of work ahead, and that this is now a Best-of-3 series.

Good call. Pretty ridiculous, if you ask me, and I like the Sharks. Not to derail, but MAN was it great to see Homer back! Hope he's okay...

Not much, I'm guessing.

Happy Birthday, Captain.

San Jose put the clamp on. Boring, yes, but it worked. The difference is, they can strike on offense quickly and effectively, much like last night. Detroit skated well, but didn't play their game and was kept to the outside. Nabby is a great goalie, but is smaller and has to play angles, so Detroit is going to have to try get behind him with some passes or bankshots off of the backboards.

Hesitation leads to masturbation.

San Jose is good, and strong defense is the Wings' bread-and-butter. To change the system means changing players and a LOT of them. I love how our forwards play smart defensively (most of them) and we don't have the Griers, the Getzlafs and the Perrys to compete in the corners on the dump-and-chase system. That said, if we can mix lines, one line playing puck-posession, one line playing corners and dump-and-chase, one line with speed and sniping, I think it's a better mix.

Fair enough. I concur.

Wings fans are spoiled. I am not impressed at all with Detroit fans, and to hear that the Lions are tops on the list is really saying something. In fairness, with as bad as the economy is, the ticket prices are a little ridiculous, and with the salary cap in place, Mike Illitch is doing just fine with the Wings. No need to bleed the fans that WANT to go to the games.

Yeah, resting with "the flu".

No, but misspelling "bannable" is.

Guts and smarts. With the exception of Cheechoo and Bernier, both of whom should be pretty close to 100%, the Sharks are in great health, and that's always a problem for the smaller team. Not a good scenario heading into game 1.

No flu.

I've never liked predicting scores. I've liked predicting the scorers even less. Too many injuries in this one. And to those who think the Wings will outplay the Sharks physically are just nuts. I just hope it doesn't look like last night's Ducks/Canucks game. What a joke. Wings need to get healthy fast and play SMART hockey. Then they definitely stand a chance. Tonight's game is going to be extremely challenging.

Good post. I have really enjoyed watching the Sharks this year, and my wife is in love with Jonathan Cheechoo. They're a great team, and I was hoping we would be meeting in the WCF, not now, because the thought of Anaheim winning it all makes me absolutely SICK. The Sharks should win this series with their depth, but if Detroit can get healthy (and in a hurry), this will be a very competitive series.

Excellent. I have to see the Sharks page and see what they have on us. Apparently nothing. Hmm...