F2B&G

If this increase holds true, then I definitely wouldn't expect Holmstrom to resign for less than $2.5 mil or Lidstrom to return for less than $6 mil.

Either the 'Hawks are going to wipe the floor with the Flyers, OR it'll go to seven games, at which point it's either team's Cup.

I'm no Bucky fan, but I watched him play four times this year and I have to admit he's a natural at QBing the powerplay. A couple seasons in the AHL will hopefully polish up the rest of his game. Above all, I'm looking forward to following his progress with the Griffins this fall, instead of seeing him in a Wisconsin sweater again.

A guy I know who is a Sharks fan had the following thoughts: The Turco suggestions make me laugh - if the Sharks' management has any brains at all, they aren't going to ditch Nabokov for Turco. Marty Five Hole is usually an even bigger playoff headcase, and he's hardly any younger than Nabokov.

A brand new arena wouldn't necessarily have to have a "cookie cutter" look. The Wings have a ton of 'Original Six' tradition and a rich history that I'm certain would be reflected in the feel/decor of a new barn. When you consider everything that would have to be done to the Joe to bring it up to date and make it last another 30-40 years, not to mention likely having to figure out the logistics of moving the team to the Palace for a few seasons, I would presume that the costs of renovating JLA vs. building something new are going to be about the same, though I may be wrong.

I don't know about laying him out, but undressing him with a Datsyukian turnover or three? Bank on it.

Perhaps not a true Photoshop, but that's up to the mods to decide...

To be consistent? Yes. However, because it's the playoffs and Hossa's not a guy who usually does that kind of stuff, I really doubt they will.

Howard earned a spot in the final three, but based on age and who he plays for, I wouldn't be shocked if he finished third in the voting. Myers will probably win. All three are deserving though.

EDIT: NVM

1. Nucks in 6 (because the Sharks are chokers) 2. Hawks in 5 (ditto) 3 Hawks in 6 (because they have more depth than VAN) 4. Yotes in 6 (because Bryzgalov is more experienced than Quick) 5. Yotes in 7 (better coaching - Tippett has more playoff experience) 6. Pens in 7 (because until I see otherwise, Washington does not play the kind of defense that is necessary for a deep playoff run)

As a fan of both NCAA hockey and the Wings, I hope Elliott stones the Pens. ...realistically though, I'd say Pens in 6. Ottawa will steal a game or two because Fleury, Stanley Cup Champion goalie though he may be, is overrated.

There are hockey fans in WI (due mainly to the Badgers), but it's first and foremost a football state, so any interest in pro hockey seems to be covered by two existing franchises (CHI and MN). The only city in Wisconsin that could potentially support a team is Milwaukee, and it's close enough to Chicago that the 'Hawks would likely object and claim that they've got the southern WI market cornered. I would guess that the BJs probably aren't going anywhere, at least in the near future. If Bettman & Co. managed to pull enough strings to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, you can be damn sure they'll do it again if C-bus really is in trouble.

Johnson and his ego certainly haven't lived up to the hype, but Lombardi has zero business talking crap about Red Berenson.

With the nice roadtrip so far (other than the Anahack loss and lack of team effort against LA), this could be a 'trap' game for the Wings. They need to stick to their gameplan and Howard needs to keep up the good work. If they can play a sound road game, they should be alright. I'm not expecting a blowout unless Roloson has an off night, but 3-1 or 4-1 win should be in the cards.

Pearce had decent-to-good regular season numbers on a Notre Dame team that usually plays a sound defensive game, but he was simply not a "big game" goalie. I follow college hockey religiously (though Notre Dame is not my team), and I can think of one NCAA tournament game where he was any better than mediocre and didn't have to rely on the other team's goalie to out-sieve him. Case in point, the Irish were ranked among the Top 3 in the country for most of last season, and were expected to roll over a small, unranked school from northern Minnesota called Bemidji State in the first round of the tournament. Pearce gave up four goals in 18 shots and ND lost 5-1 as BSU's goalie put on a clinic all weekend and wound up making his underdog team the Cinderella story of the Frozen Four in Washington D.C. So overall, I can't say that I'm surprised to hear that he is struggling in pro hockey, as I had low expectations for him when I heard that the Wings signed him.