RockyMountainWingGal

Did Markov ink a deal with somone else yet? i thought that was just a rumor. Plus, what makes us think the Wings won't make a similar offer. I do think we need another depth D-man. Lidstrom, Schneids, and Cheli are all getting old (OK Cheli IS old). There's no guarantee Kronwall can make it through a season, etc etc. Fischer is pretty much done. In fact, is his contract officially up this summer?? Should be a good topic for disc this summer - we'll see what happens...

All this just makes me appreciate that much more our captain and top defensive player. The worst thing Lidstrom ever does is occasionally take a hooking call - and that's very rare.... Go Nick - take home the Norris!

Yup - put a hold on this until about mid-July....and if one gets started, it needs something more substantial than "I miss you".

Actually I read the entire Toronto globe sports section today - and Campbell pretty much said since he has a previous offense in these playoffs, that factored in for the second one. Also, the GMs just happened to meet in Ottawa this week - and the big topic was head hits - many want stiffer penalties for violaters. if Pronger hadn't hit Homer, then I don't believe he gets ousted for the second hit. I just think the number of games should go up w each infraction - in fact, if you get three suspendable head hits'injuries in one playoffs - your ass should be sent golfing early...OJ would be a good partner...

This is discussed alot on NHL talk shows and Detroit sports stations - especially this year because 1) the excessive travel with three far away series (2 west coast) and 2) the playoff games started at 10pm eastern - then went to 9pm. WXYT (Det sports station) had Bettman on about 3 weeks ago and asked him point blank why Detroit wasn't in the East. He skated around it, but basically they want 1-2 orginal 6 teams in the West. The Wings are a huge draw and all the west teams' owners campaign for them to stay. Everththing logically points to the Wings moving East - but it will never happen. So there are 2 questions then. Who would you rather play? ANd who you dislike more? Obviously, the Wings series in retrospect was the most competitive and exciting of the Ducks series (unless a miracle happens in Ottawa). I'm seeing some seriously bad blood here between Sens-Ducks - imo alot more than the Wings-Ducks, Pronger hit aside (Homer shook his hand in the end).

That's exactly how I feel. Although, now that he's been booted twice from the playoffs - I think even the Ducks themselves can see what a disgrace he is - and they can win just as well w/o him. Too bad the NHL didn't have the balls to toss him for 2 games - then the Ducks could hoist the Cup w/o him....

I didn't see most of the game - just heard the 3rd period on the radio. So I'll have to Youtube the Alfredsson incident. Ironically, flying in from Canada tonight, the airplane did not have tv OR radio connections - so no game for me. Dirty hit by the Captain? At least our Caption would never do such a thing. This brings up an interesting question to Ducks fan about which team they disliked playing more - the Sens or Wings?

Yup there are probably alot of guys names on the Cup that are A-holes too. Lemieux being one of them. Actually that mght be a good topic in a few days (biggest a-hole on the Cup). But I think we know who would get the most votes right now. I really think Pronger should have gotten 2 games for being a repeat offender - the NHL is very lame in that regard - they justified it by saying it was the SFC. Anyhow, he doesn't deserve to be on the ice when the DUcks win. The rest of the DUcks deserve the Cup more than him imo since they had to summon up two wins w/o his lame ass. Wings are a better team than the Sens - that's obviously clear. This puts us a the #2 team for the season imo - since the West is clearly better. Better than the DUcks? I know your arguments from the other threads - but they were unfortunately slightly better - oportunistic than us. That's OK - they'll get their Cup, dump Pronger, and they won't be as hungry next year - when the Wings take it all.

Colossal disappointment. Although I have to say the thought of getting trounced by SA makes it bearable to get beat in the ECF.... Give the Cavs some credit - they played the kind of series they needed to to win. I really thought it would still be a few years yet - sadly I underestimated them. But who were those guys wearing the Pistons' uniforms? I am completely baffled at how this team could look like they did a few weeks ago (vs Orlando and the first 3 games vs Chicago) and then look like they did the last 4 games???? Last year we knew what was wrong - the whole Ben Wallace discontent thing - plus losing to the Heat wasn't a big upset. This year I just don't know. Well I do know this team has never fared well as the favorites. Flip? Nice guy, but I just don't see it. This team hasn't played D since he arrived... The Pistons have turned into the Red WIngs of the past several years: (top seed favorites, underacheivers in the POs, beat by Cinderellas) while the Red Wings have taken on the Pistons role (underdogs even if a top seed, overacheivers (I think), resilient). Interesting.....

A vdry nice post after reading for years - welcome. I'm not sure why some people still cannot accept we lost the series. But all the points you made are valid - I'm damn proud of this team - and yes it hurts that we were that close - and seemingly could have beaten the Sens easier than the Ducks. It's not like this is the first time the Wings have lost a series when they played great. Hell, it feels much better than the past several years where we lost the series but you had this ugly feeling in your stomach because you know they didn't play their best....Next year will be exciting for sure.

What does the NHL expect when the first two games of the SCF are on Versus? I still cannot believe that NBC didn't cover those games. Let's see what the game 3 ratings were when they actually got on a network.... Also, if Americans knew someone was going to get knocked out onto the ice bleeding, the ratings would surely rise....sad but true.

I hated watching the last two SCF. I actually find the Ducks alot more exciting than alot of teams.I do think that if they are going to take so many penalties, a team of equal talent should make them pay for that. Well that team was the Wings and we just couldn't swqing it. Sandman you're still bitter about the Wings losing - try to take the PRonger thing out of the WCF series - and you'll find that was a great, fun hockey series- and we didn't come up on the winning end. I don't hear people bashing the Sharks as much because we beat them....

You guys might actually play better without him - we'll see. I'm wondering if some of the guys in the lockerroom are getting a little tired of this too. Great Cup run - great hockey -real close - and all anyone can ever talk about or focus on is one guy's dirty hits. I still think the Ducks are going to win, but imagine if the Sens do what the Wings could not and turn the series around. I bet he'll get run out of Anaheim faster than a speeding bullet....

Yes should be the series - that's 2 intentional head injuries in the last few weeks. Disgrace. Sadly, he's may end someone's career with one of his cheapshots next time - hopefully his own. Maybe the Cup can conk him on the head and give him a taste of his own medicine....

Wow. I just got back to my hotel room and turned on tsn and saw that...(in Toronto). Personally i think since this is his second infraction of the playoffs it should be 2 games - or maybe the rest of the playoffs. I just think if you are going to repeatedly do that, there needs to be a stiffer penalty. Well, hopefully the Sens can take advantage like the Wings could not. I know alot of people here don't like the Ducks - but I kind of feel bad for them that this loser keeps doing this - it reflects on their organization. But then again, Burke doesn't care- that's his kind of player. Anyone know if McAmmond will play?

I think you're wrong. The fact that he just laid a guy out and got suspended for it several games ago - in a similar situation when his team was down - just makes a strong case against him. The NHL has a loose canon. Sure Bettman and the NHL have no balls - but they did come down on him last time - and they had an out in that Homer returned to the game. All signs point to McAmmond being out - I think that will factor into the decision. He cannot keep doing this and get away with it - I would say more than 1 game this time. I'll be disappinted if not, but I've been disappointed before.....

This was kind of an interesting game for me because I am a total homebody and watch all the games in my own family room. But I happen to be on business in Toronto - so i checked out a local bar to watch the game. Most people cheering for the Sens - but a fair number of cheers for the Duckies too (Leafs fans??). Anyhow I wore my wings shirt and got no comments. It also cracks me up that hockey coverage is pretty much on here 24-7. I need to go to sleep so I can get up for my meeting but I can't stop watching it! Maybe I should move here! lol

OK you put me in the awkward position of defending the Ducks. There's only one *goon* on the Ducks and we all know who that is. OK maybe Brad May falls into that category. But please tell me who the other goons are - and why they are so different than any other hockey player? The Ducks played two great hockey games - their village idiot lost it again in game 3 and now they are down 2-1. I don't see how the other guys outside of Pronger don't deserve some respect as hockey players. Pronger is just a disgrace - anyone can see that now. It;s gonna be hard even for the Ducks to keep supporting his actions. I do hope he gets suspended - especially if McAmmond is out with a concussion (he's no Homer!). I'd like nothing better than to get his ass canned so he's not on the ice if/when the Ducks win. Then they can trade him off to some dark hole like Columbus - and we can taunt him 8 times a season!

I feel bad for you Duck fans. I still think Anaheim will win this in 5 or 6, but Pronger just puts has put a cloud over two great series imo. I thought the Wings-Ducks was an awesome series - one tainted by the one dirty hit. The Ducks are up 2 games to none in the SCF - I fully expected the Sens to win one at home - so he loses his cool again? wtf? I'm in Toronto on business so I get TSN 24-7 hockey of course. One guy was just trying to justify that he's 6'6" and it's not his fault. BS! The best thing that could happen is for him to get canned for the rest of the SCF - have the Ducks win - then sure he'lll get his name on it - but he wouldn't have been part of the last games of his own doing - somewhat tainting his Cup run. Let guys like Selanne and Giguere get their name on fairly - while Pronger is sitting in the stands. Ducks don't need him to win anyways.

Agreed with the officiating being just inconsistent in general. I can't find a reason to blame it for winning or losing. In fact if you want to talk about the Wings specifically, we had several 5 on 3s that we botched - you're not going to get too many of those - but we got them and didn't convert. What I don't like is when it seems like an entire game is being played on special teams. Are they calling too much - or are today's players committing more infractions? I would be curious to know how many pps/game were given in what some are calling "old school" hockey? I couldn't find it myself, but my guess is they just let them play more. I also agree that the only way to get rid of this is to open up the ice. I'm all in favor of 4 on 4 in OT - I cannot figure why some don't want it. "tradition" isn't going to get fans back to the game right now - more open ice is.. Also, I take this thread is about officiating/clutch&grab in general - not just singling out the Ducks. The Ducks are playing withing the system and are being called for alot of penalties. Most teams would lose doing this - but they've got enough talented players to make it work for them. Please stop with the asterisks for Cup winners - if the Ducks win they didn't "cheat". Ditto for the Duck fan lamenting the Wings 02 Cup. Every team had an equal shot at FAs then - no cap. If an owner was too cheap to pay - too bad for them. Plus the only FA we aquired were an aged Brett Hull and Luc Robataille - noone else wanted them. Hardly cheating.

True. Cavs = one man show plus a bunch of journeymen. Pistons are at home at they cannot even beat them. Time to rebuild this team imo. Oh, and Flip is terrible - I haven't jumped on the guy until now. I gave him last year's loss to Miami. OK regular season coach - bad playoff coach. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted (they could still pull this out - but no way vs the Spurs). Better to go out now imo than get smoked by SA - that would suck.

I usually don't watch the French - well I can't even because of the time zone here. I heard Roddick lost on the radio and I didn't even know the tourney had begun. I mean, he should just skip the French every year. Obviously not a clay player. Have fun watching - i'll check back in at Wimbledon - I can see a fair number of those matches - and i sometimes track them on my computer at work. Go anyone vs. Federer (Nadal?).

Agreed. This team actually has the talent to win. I think Flip is a decent regular season coach - HORRIBLE playoff coach. He got outcoached tonight by a guy who shouldn't outcoach anyone. Cleveland has ONE player - the Pistons play absolutely no defense - they should be able to limit one guy. What an embarassment. If they had got/get to the finals and get beaten by the Spurs, that's one thing because there's a championship team. But to play lackluster against a team with one very young superstar and a crew of journeymen is just insulting. I'm actually insulted as a fan (and angry obviously). If they lose this series, I say yes make major changes. New coach, some new players, everything....

I can't find the stats, but the Ducks have been called more for penalties in each of their series. Therefore, the way to beat them is to SCORE on you pps, which the Red Wings fell a little short on....The Sens have been awful - potent pp my a$$. Personally, I don't like the clutching/grabbing teams, but I have to disagree that the Ducks are the worst offenders. Ever see the Wild play? The Ducks at least have a roster of talented highly skilled players. I just don't like Burke's style of rough and tumble - who cares if we take penalties. I actually don't think the Ducks need that to win. But it's working for them....and they'll be lifting the Cup soon.

Most of us are giving the Ducks full credit for their two excellent games. Denial? Maybe a few - but most of us never were. Sure it was upsetting when your team had a good edge in a series against a great team and blew it - but the Ducks get credit there too for sticking around in games and winning the last three. From what it's looking like right now, the Ducks-Wings was the real SCF series - as it should be, the West is best. Like I said above, the only reason the East won the last two is because we sent our cinderella's to the finals. Now you're seeing what happens when we send our top teams....