SouthernWingsFan

All right, what's up with Scooter from the Muppet Show? Anybody else notice that his eyes are "in" his glasses, instead of on his face like where they should be? On a side note Kermit's nephew Robin kicks a**.

Why waste time worrying about what other sports "experts" or "journalists" think about the Red Wings? If they don't want to include current playoff performers that have been doing well such as Zetterberg or Franzen in there, that's fine. Doesn't change the fact they they've been main cogs contributing, regardless of what they think or don't think. Don't even worry about them.

Touche.

Well I was going to be a not-funny smart-allec and say because they've eaten too much Wheaties for breakfast lately, but since that wasn't one of the choices, I'd take the easy route and say a combo. (1) More of the contributing combo is offense I think. The top line is doing their thing, and everybody's worries about "secondary scoring" have been answered so far. Franzen has taken a leap to be a primary scorer I think, his current second line with Filppula and Samuelsson has been rivaling the top line with being the best of recent games, and the team has gotten important offensive contributions from Flipper, Hudler, Samuelsson, Draper etc. through different parts of the first two rounds. (2) Goaltending - Not as important as the first I think but Osgood has gotten the job done this winning streak. Not really having to steal games or face too much action (although game 1 VS Colorado he was probably the most important guy on the ice to preserve the victory, "stealing" a game in some type of fashion), but making big important saves when he's had to help preserve a lead. (3) Surprisingly to me, the least important of this combination. It obviously hasn't been terrible, but there have been breakdowns after scoring or giving up the quick goal so far these playoffs, in both series. That being said, the defense has had it's bright moments though during the 6-game winning streak, playing well in "shutdown" mode for the final game of the Nashville series, and games 2 and 4 of this past round.

No, because everybody is doing good in the current roster right now, even Samuelsson. The Flipper-Mule-Sammy line has been probably the best line out there and, as hard as it is to fathom for many who have weird dreams ripping on their favorite whipping boys, Samuelsson is out-producing "secondary scorers" in Filppula and Cleary, and even a "top-line scorer" in Holmstrom. 7 points in 10 games from a "secondary scorer" in the playoffs where the games count most important is getting the job done pretty good. It shouldn't matter how he gets those goals or points. A point is a point is a point, and if people counter to me that he's getting his points off long shots for rebounds or whatever else, you are seriously reaching way too deep in the cookie jar for excuses to dislike the guy. He's not my favorite but the point you'd be missing is that he's creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates, even though Franzen largely been a one-man wrecking crew out there, others have contributed as well. Unless somebody gets injured and as much as I like Maltby and some people in here hate Samuelsson, you don't change what has been working during a 6 game winning streak, with 2 of those games where you just completely take your opponents to school on the offensive aspect of the game.

I think he was joking there, lighten up for a change.

Well if we're doing it that way, Joel Q in my opinion is #1 by a landslide. Seriously though, Franzen without question or hesitation.

What's to stop Chris Chelios from parting the Red Sea?

I can't breathe in this thing!

Herbie Hancock - Palm Grease

That's a shame in all those scenarios. I don't mind a little ribbing here and there but examples like those are exactly why I rarely have more than one drink at a sporting event, or "tailgate" getting drunk before a sports event. It's just not worth the time getting into trouble with obnoxious fans (who probably don't act this way most the time) when you are being courteous/respectful and minding your own business. If I get stuff thrown at me that could set me off eventually. But even if people would just rant and curse at me if I was a fan of the opposing team, I'd just laugh it off at how obnoxious and stupid they sound. I went to a few Wings-Stars games over the years when I was in college in the Dallas area and I rarely had problems with Stars fans whenever I wore Wings apparel. I never provoked or anything like that which helped, but they never did either in the games I went to. I went to see the Wings play the Stars this year in January actually in Dallas, zero problems at all. Only bad time was a Wings loss by a goal there in 2002 I think where it was late in the game and they were pressing and I thought a Wings breakaway was going to happen, so I got out of my chair excitedly and people yelled at me to sit down pretty rudely, but even then that's a stretch of "jerk" fans. I had this one instance though at a sporting event (not a Wings game) where this one fan was just acting over-the-top obnoxious in 2001. My college was playing a football game at the time on the road actually in the area where I'm from. The school they were playing generally wasn't that good, but they had a rare good game and were beating the snot out of my school, up by 20, 25 most of the game. The game wasn't crowded, plenty of room to sit, and me and my family were just waiting for the game to end and I was just enjoying visiting them and the fans of the home team were all cool where we sat. This one fan though just kept bitching and ranting and yelling at his team every 5 seconds to the point where he was driving everybody nuts, even his home team fans, and I literally told him more/less, "Could you please stop, your team is actually doing good and is going to win this game, settle down." I am generally not a rah-rah-sisk-boom-bah cheerleader type of person and also will never really engage in "trash talking". I either just mind my own business or try to strike up a normal get-to-know-you conversation with the people I sit around. I obviously understand the need to make noise or support your team, but people like that, who just cannot shut up beyond the point of being ridiculous, really annoy me.

It's only been one day, will-power! Here's some things you can do to pass the time by... Get your teeth drilled Read a book Shampoo the rug Clean your belly button Edge the garden Toilet paper the house Wrap your home office in saran wrap Make the most annoying sound in the world Any questions?

I don't want a piece of you, I want the whole thing!

Before the playoffs, San Jose was the clear cut choice, and they still do concern me. Dallas has obviously come out of nowhere after struggling late in the season. Funny how the roles can be reversed. San Jose just dominating late in the reg. season and struggling a bit in the playoffs, and vice versa for Dallas. With all that being said, the Wings have played good against both teams this year. Not much sense in losing too much sleep over worrying who they play from a matchup standpoint I think because of this. San Jose is the more "physical" team but the Wings have shown last playoff season and this season that they are more than capable of matching up to this type of game. Dallas I think has a bit more skill, plus the Wings play fairly well against Turco for the most part. I highly doubt it'll be a walk in the park though like this past series vs. Colorado. I selfishly want to play Dallas from a travel standpoint though. Earlier start times, and if scheduling works out and it isn't TOO expensive, it's only a managable 8 hour drive from where I live to downtown Dallas, I might make it to a game there over the weekend assuming Dallas advances and they play each other on Saturday/Sunday. I flew up to the Detroit area for game 2 of the Avs series though which cost me a fair chunk of cash, so I don't know of the possiblity/probability of a 3rd round spur-of-the-moment trip.

So wait, we now have "secondary scoring" issues again? NOOOOOOOOOOO! I'M FREAKING OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE'S THE SECONDARY SCORING????? WE ARE SO DEAD!!!

Your momma's so old, when she was in school they didn't have history. *shrugs*

Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man Great funky/jazzy tune from the early 70s.

Which butt whipping was the most impressive? 7-0 in 2002, or 8-2 this evening. Nothing against the Avalanche of current, but I'll go with the 7-0 affair as it was against a lineup (I am assuming) that was pretty much healthy. While I think tonight the Red Wings showed their skill more than the other game, in some instances in an extremely sick/ridiculous manner, it wasn't against the Avs 100% healthy team. Press the issue!

I will repeat... It was going to happen, you could see it coming from miles away. Who cares what they think? Getting worked up on sports reports and analysts is one of the biggest wastes of time. It does not change the fact that the Wings advanced. I don't care how they did it or what benefits they had to do it, they advanced. Does it make their series victory tainted? No. The Ducks had the benefit of Wings injuries last year. Does that make their series win or championship tainted? No. San Antonio Spurs in the NBA were fortunate not to play #1 seed Dallas (60+ wins last year) who got upset in the first round en route to the NBA Championship last year. Does that make their championship tainted? No. You can put this scenario in pretty much any NHL or NBA playoff series. They advanced which is most important. Quit worrying about what these sports "analysts" or "experts" think, let them have their opinion, and enjoy the fact that the Wings have made a 2nd consecutive deep run into the postseason.

In most scenarios, Maltby would easily be in over Helm or McCarty. The Wings however have won 6 in a row with pretty much the same lineup in since game 5 of Nashville, and dominated 2 of those wins. There is no need to drastically change anything if they are currently playing like they are and are healthy.

Not so much, and when it got to be 6-1 I really didn't think the Avs were going to do much in the way of cheap shotting. Unless the Wings defense had a catastrophic meltdown, the game was all but done for. It really would've done no good for the Avs to goon it up. The game was pretty much settled. Avs were facing elimination and the series was going to be done for. Just glad the 3rd period ended pretty quick for both teams.

While I'm definitely glad the Wings put this series away early, it's unfortunate that your team could never really be at full strength health wise and Theodore just went down south this series for too many stretches. I hope to see Sakic return as well. Hopefully you'll stick around here in the forums some as well.

LMAO poor Sammy. Anyways, never really was on any bandwagon of his, but never a part of the obsessive over-the-top ripping on him either. Pretty much a neutral party/fan in terms of regarding him. He's sometimes a struggle to watch, but I don't act all shocked whenever he nets a goal or gets a good assist like hell is going to freeze over.

Brian Setzer Orchestra - Jump Jive An' Wail

I thought that any nat'l broadcasts in the playoffs still canceled out anything to be on NHL Center Ice in the past. Worst mistake I think was last season's playoffs. One game went into OT on NBC but they couldn't show the game on NBC due to the Kentucky Derby. It switched to VS but that's just not a good deal. I understand the discontent but the same thing happened last year, multi-games on one night and VS eventually got to the Wings-Flames game about 2 minutes into it. Under the current setup it's just something I understand/am willing to deal with.