rick zombo

4 Vezina finalists?

At some point in this series Detroit has to win 2 straight. If the two teams keep playing "win tag", San Jose pulls it out in 7.

Osgood has been a great team player. I wouldn't mind seeing him platoon with Howard (he's ready!) next year. Or at least it's not a discouraging option.

unlike some Wings, I think Sammy has been playing as well as he can.

I'm finally getting the good vibes about this series.

Goonery. What friggin GM picked Weber for team Canada anyway? Whoever it is, the guy should be fired

Get in there, get a split, and get home ice advantage back.

3 plays that I think made a difference: 1.) Lilja's hit on Rissmiller 2.) Franzen's hit on Cheechoo 2.) When Bertuzzi drove Thorton into the post.

An offensive coach to work the god-like but otherwise sheathed offensive prowess of guys like Calder, Draper, Maltby, Franzen, Chelios, Lilja, Quincey, Markov, etc. Half the line-up. Playing a balanced system which stresses defence is the only way this team can win. The trap is hard to beat, but it can be beaten with size and speed up front. It's up to Holland and company to go out and get these players. Which isn't easy.

It looked like the 06 Edmonton series at times out there last night. All perimeter, blocked shots, mistakes that turned into goals. A very emotionless game too.

Big fast Sharks in 5 lol

selective sample group.

What a joke. Tampa has won cup. Anaheim and Florida have both made it to the finals. Ottawa have been one of the better teams in the league during this period. And you say San Jose are the "model" franchise.?

I'll feed the bear. Regardless of what happen in 94, Detroit have won 3 cups and have made 1 cup final appearence, 1 western final appearence, and have not missed the playoffs. And San Jose have done what? *waits patinetly for bear to eat and then say something stupid.

Exactly. It just so happens that San Jose, Anaheim, Vancouver, and Calgary all have good teams right now. In 97 Detroit played St.Louis, Anahem, and Colorado. In 98 it was Pheonix, St.Louis, and Dallas In 2002 it was Vancouver, St.Louis, and Colorado This year is crazy. But if Nashville or Minnesota had won, travel would have worked out differently. Who knows maybe in a few years the emergence of Chicago, Columbus, re-emergence of St. Louis, and further improvement of Nashiville may bring more geographical balance back to the Western Conference.

How has Howard played?

Detroit's lines might look something like this (at least while Homer's out) Datsyuk - Z - Franzen Calder - Lang - Bert Maltby - Draper - Cleary Hudler - Flip - Sammy

Nice one. It's "Hanta Yo". See my avatar and signature. "In Detroit, every day is a good day to win"

You are correct NFW25.

I think the NHL is basically an impossible league to officiate. It will only get worse.

con: Karen only sings one national anthem now.

Iginla's bump on Hasek was the exact same type of contact Calder got called for late in game 3. Calgary played well, Detroit didn't, Hasek shouldn't have dove on that play. BUT if Calder get's a penaly in Game 3, then Iginla should have gone to the box along with Hasek's unsportsmanlike. Then you have a 4-on-3, and most likely, no Calgary game winning goal.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. A little adversity goes a long way. Who thought it was going to be easy?

Atlanta are done. Nashville, pending a miracle, are done as well. Let's look at those trades they made: Keith Tkachuk - aquired from St. Louis for a 1st (2207) 2nd (2008) and 3rd (2007) round pick. Plus Glen Metropolit. Peter Forsberg - aquired for Ryan Parent (18th overall in 2005), Scottie Upshall (6th overall pick in 2002), and a 1st and 2nd round pick in 2007. Good deals?

Not lucky. Smart. He said all along that the prices for these guys were too high. He was right. Risk > Reward. Hard to blame the forwards when they had wet paper towels in net.