BlueMonk

This is ice hockey, questionable hits are the calling card of physical teams. The Ducks are a good example. I'm not cheering for bad injuries, but if they're going to play on the edge, then the least my team can do is return the favor.

Hopefully just one of many more questionable hits to be doled out by the Red Wings.

Anyone who's prepared to rush your car, bust the windows open and assault you should be prepared to get shot. Cap 'em all. NO MERCY.

Well, at least we don't have to watch them lose in multiple OTs. I could really use some sleep tonight. The officiating sucked, but come on, the Wings played well for exactly one period again. You keep doing that, you're playing with fire. They need to come out on fire next game if they want to have any chance to win this series.

I don't necessarily agree with this. Finishing checks does not necessarily equal winning the physical battle. The Ducks are keeping the Red Wings away from the prime real estate areas of the ice. They're a big team and they're outworking the Wings. That's an area the Wings need to improve on. It's not all about hits and fights.

Only the Wings could turn great scoring chances like that into a PK. Um, when you get good chances, it's supposed to cause the other team to take penalties for chrissakes.

I thought game 3's winner would take the series in 2007, but didn't the Wings win game 3 and then lose the next game when Pronger was suspended? I think that's what happened. Regardless, yeah, the Wings need to win the next game.

Well that sucked.

The Ducks have been the better team. Both teams are obstructing but the whistles haven't reflected that, which is unfortunate. The Wings need to forecheck and put more pressure on the Ducks' D, like they did after the last Anaheim goal. The fact our guys are down by only one is probably something positive to take away from the first 40 minutes.

I do, too. It seems like it always results in a goal against the Wings, so I've just started associating it with watching the other team score.

The Ducks deserve the lead. They're playing better hockey right now. It's that simple.

An uninspired period of hockey by the Wings. Too many turnovers, first of all. And the disturbing trend of loose pucks in the slot always winding up on an Anaheim stick for a good scoring chance continues. Hossa needs to assert himself.

Quenneville teams are typically vulnerable with the lead. Interesting to see how they handle this.

Nice move!

Hawks have really picked it up. I love when games that look like they're going to be one sided suddenly get competitive again. I mean, except when they're games the Wings are winning.

Willie Mitchell should be the name of a toothless blues man from the Delta, not a hockey player.

Weak call.

That makes a spectacular stick save in each of the two games today.

I agree with the league's decision.

Good win. Did the Wings lose game one in 2007? Can't remember.

Most of the comments about how this series will be different than the one in 2007 are spot on. One I haven't seen mentioned yet: The Wings have taken a much easier road to this series than the Ducks have. In 2007, the Wings had played two grueling playoff rounds against tough Calgary and San Jose teams, with lots of travel, while the Ducks had a pretty cake ride to the WCF. This year, the Wings had a relatively easy round one with very little travel, while the Ducks just finished a battle with the top seeded Sharks.

This made me squeamish. The most amazing part is, the guy continued to play! What other sport has athletes like this? None of 'em.

From ESPN: So the New York Rangers coach threw a water bottle at a fan. If you knew what that fan was saying to Tortorella, you might not be so quick to come down on him. "Well, I tell ya, I know the heart of the guy and I know the thing that triggered him," Jim Schoenfeld, who replaced Tortorella as coach, said Sunday before Game 6. "It wasn't any sling they threw at him; and there were many. It's what [the fan] said about one of his players. "And you guys, it's easy to say you got to be in control, you got to keep in check, you got to turn the other way, there are rules; but there's a certain part of your being when you're a coach, and it's just like being a parent, and there's certain things you'll put up with when people slander your kids and there's a certain line that people cross. And that's what happened with John." My guess what the fan said: "Hey, Tortorella. Avery is undisciplined and hurting the team! You hear that?! I said he's UNDISCIPLINED! He doesn't even deserve to PLAY today! Haha!" And, well, Torts wasn't gonna stand for someone talking like that about one of his players.

The pouring of beer came later. He squirted water at a fan first, presumably in response to something the fan said to him.

I'd love to know what the fan said. Coaches and players get heckled all the time. These guys play 40+ road games a year in hostile environments. Either it was something especially juicy, or Torts was just pissed his team was getting railed and blew a gasket over nothing special. Either way, the irony is hilarious. The coach who benches a player for lack of discipline goes apesh** and tries to attack a fan with a hockey stick.