Rice

I see you joined during the previous series between our two teams. Hopefully the outcome is different this time! You're right, should be an excellent series.

I call it "Bertuzzi's Footsteps".

Their guys have to travel here too.

Everyone's scared of Calgary. f*** it. The Wings are a damn good team and no one thinks they're going to do anything because of the last three early exits. Bring it on Calgary. It's not like the Wings reputation is on the line.

Ottawa-Pittsburgh and San Jose-Nashville are going to be great series'.

Can't wait for the playoffs. It's the best time of year.

Right, because seven years is so comparable to fifteen.

Can you just post it in here?

That was good.

Hmm....maybe they're announcing the Red Wings are changing their name to the Blue Wings before the playoffs start! This PC is obviously about Datsyuk signing an extension.

Bruce Macleod at RWC says the press conference is at 1 p.m. Good to see Datsyuk is locked up.

I might be going to the WC's. I'm pumped.

It's getting old. It was fine to boo him for the first few games against us, IMO. Now what's done is done.

Ted Kulfan: He's going to play, whether he's 100% or not. Datsyuk wasn't even skating prior to the playoffs last year. Zetterberg has been skating for a while now.

I'd trust the local media before ESPN. Everything I've heard has Zetterberg returning for Game 1 of the playoffs -- if not the last game of the season in Chicago.

Does anyone have a video of his hit last night? I only caught the end of the third period but my friends told me about it.

Great news. The Joe is a dump.

The Wings did a great job of making Giguere and Roloson look like all-stars. Kiprusoff is an all star. The Wings took soft perimeter shots instead of going hard to the net like Babcock has been talking about all year since then. Sure Shanahan scored 40 goals during the regular season, but teams can neutralize guys like him because in this stage of his career he takes soft perimeter shots. A guy like Bertuzzi on the other hand, who is still willing to drive to the net, can have a huge impact on the Wings offense. They have lacked these type of guys (Calder, Bertuzzi, Franzen) for a while now. They will each play a big part in the Wings success next week. Lang will be key too. He has to skate and use his size to drive to the net and dish to Bertuzzi. Hopefully he will; he is in a contract year.

I'm just hoping he turns it on in the playoffs.

I agree, but who's to say the Wings can't do the same thing? They have shown they can dump and chase when they need to. They're not as effective but they definitely can do it, especially with Bertuzzi and Calder in the mix. They've stood up pretty well to physical play too -- but the playoffs are indeed a totally different game. Anaheim (and any other team) is going to be as physical as they possibly can against the Wings. What it will come down to is who wants it the most. Eleven of our eighteen have not won a Cup. I like that. Plus, we have Datsyuk, Lang, Calder, Bertuzzi, Maltby, Schneider, Hasek, Chelios and Markov playing for contracts next year (whether it be with us or another team).

Bruce Macleod at RWC said Zetterberg and Datsyuk will be on the same line in the playoffs. That will really help Zetterberg considering the type of chemistry they have is so natural. I think our team this year is much better prepared for the playoffs than last year. We're younger and more dynamic.

What a weird move to make right before the playoffs.

I really don't care. The Wings have nothing to lose. There are obviously some teams you'd prefer over others but if you're good enough to win it all then you're good enough to beat anyone.

I doubt they pick up a center with that freed up salary space. Some will go to Datsyuk and the rest will be used on wingers or the defense. Either Zetterberg and Datsyuk are split up or Filppula is given more time. If we're talking about free agents, I'd love to see Handzus here -- which could be a possibility anyway since he can play center or wing. I think Chicago will re-sign him though.

Nice save Hasek.