Matt

A "reality check" would require you to put away your regular season perceptions -- but it seems you only do that when it can be twisted to support your argument. Hell, if we based everything off the regular season, the Ducks would be playing San Jose right now because we would've gotten *****-slapped in Round 2 and the Sharks' power play would be clicking along at 62%.... Right?

Frankly, the Red Wings weren't all that impressive in the first three games of the San Jose series, either... and we know how that turned out. It's a long series, let's not make final assumptions on whether or not the Red Wings can "handle 'X' 5-on-5" after just two games.

Let's not play the inane "if" game here... I could just as easily say that "if Moen's goal didn't count" or "if Datsyuk's shot doesn't go wide" or "if Franzen gets his rebound chance 6 inches higher" the *Ducks* could be staring at an 0-2 series hole. So call a spade a spade -- this series is ridiculously close and that either club could say they had a legit shot at having a 2-0 lead.

No, he had it on his body. Not under it, not in his glove, not in his blocker hand -- it was sitting on top of him. That is not a frozen puck. Hasek may as well have been lying on his stomach with the puck laying on his back between the 3 and the 9 -- it's the same thing. The puck isn't automatically frozen when it's sitting on Hasek's body. Was it a goal? I don't know. Hasek's momentum was heading back into the net and Rob Niedermayer helped him out with a well-placed jab with his stick. I didn't rewind the TiVo to check (was there a whistle?), but that'd be my only gripe. Be more frustrated with the softy rather than going on a referee witch hunt.

That's friggin' hilarious!

At this point it's better to scratch Calder and play Hudler. There's not much sense in shortening your bench and Hudler has shown he can make the most of the minutes he *does* get. The playoffs are a different animal, sure, but I don't see where Calder's helping the team at all at this point.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&am...&gameType=3

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No rational, objective Red Wings fan would make that claim unless it was made in jest or as a silly retaliatory jab at Ducks fans that predicted a sweep the other way.

Please continue the discussion in the Post-GAME 1 thread at the following link: http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=43109

Notice the patches on the Wings' sweaters. (The photo is from January 2nd.)

QFT. We were sitting in the 7th row and the 6 seats in the row in front of us (all suits) got up and left as soon as they started packing up the dias on the ice.

Quoted for truth. It isn't that hard to eliminate the rest of the word.

Good. Take pictures and share them with us, I'm intrigued.

At first I thought you were just, well, dumb... But no one is that dumb... ... So I guess we'll have to chalk you up to a regular, run-of-the-mill troll. And not even a *good* one, at that.

Looking back at how this season has went to this point, it's hard to imagine a tougher road than what the Red Wings have taken to advance to the WCF... I know this goes back to A LOT of members here -- myself included -- that didn't think the club could be successful in the playoffs. Heck, prior to the start of the season I deemed this year a "transition" one where I'd be satisfied with just winning the first round. Oh, how wrong I've been. If someone told me in January that this team would physically handle Calgary and San Jose, I would've laughed at you. If there were three teams I would've preferred the Red Wings avoid in the postseason, they would've been Calgary, San Jose and Anaheim. Yet here we are, on the cusp of the improbable, fans of a team that I think even the Barnes Brothers could love. Consider me a believer. Go Wings!

Better check the Sarcasm Meter there -- yours apparently isn't working.

Honestly, if (*knock on wood*) the Red Wings complete the improbable and win the Stanley Cup it'll feel like the most rewarding one since 1997. The 2002 team was *expected* to win the Stanley Cup and would've been a monstrous failure if it didn't. This year, this team -- all expectations have been left at the door... And oh, what memories from the first two rounds! Cleary pancaking Phaneuf and setting up a goal, the "never say die" attitude of the San Jose series, Lidstrom's diving stick save, Lilja playing out of his gord, the youngsters making an impact, Datsyuk proving the past is just that... I could go on and on.

Ugh... Yeah, I noticed that this morning. That's what I get for trying to squeeze this in last night before passing out on the keyboard. Consider it updated! Yzermania -- The font is called "Scriptina".

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http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&am...&gameType=3

So who's going to make a "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, CHRIS #25" for Sunday's game?

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