BlueMonk

Doesn't bother me at all. I've given up letting this type of thing get to me. First of all, nobody's ever happy with the officiating; it's either too much obstruction or ticky-tack penalties for phantom hooks. Whatever the officials do, a huge group of people complains. I know this board isn't a representative sample, but to judge by the majority of posters here, officiating is responsible for every loss the Red Wings have suffered this season. This is just the way it goes in sports, griping about the way they call games. I love hockey whether it's being called like this or like it was last year.

I'm with you about Giggy, HC. Also, there's this stuff he's dealing with with his newborn son during the playoffs this year.

Hell of a finish, the action was furious.

Pahlsson is an amazing player. Great shot.

Great action. Great game. I'm enjoying it!

Scott Oake and Snoop Dogg! Inspired!

There was a movie with a quote that talked about Spezza, Heatley, Alfredsson and Fisher scoring goals in the 3rd period of a hockey game? Cool!

As little as a year ago, I would have made the joke that the Red Wings wouldn't sign Chris Neil unless he changed his name to Christian Neilstrom. But they backed off their aversion to Canadian hockey players a bit this year, so the joke's not as funny. Kenny's ruining my material.

GO DUCKS!

I'm definitely in favor of having an enforcer. But everyone knows that already.

Pretty much the game I expected. Gonna be very, very tough for the Sens in this series. Very tough.

Is it being blown out of proportion? Sure. The same thing happened in the Anaheim-Minny series. Boogaard didn't join the handshake line. Some speculated it was because Lemaire kept him out. Lemaire doesn't always shake hands with the other team's coaching staff after a series, either. It's not like it never happened before. That being said, I'm a little disappointed. It's a great tradition in hockey, I think. I love Chelios. The way he plays. So much heart, such a warrior. Every year, we talk about how they're going to play him less to keep him fresh. And every year, all these young defensemen go down and the 40 something Cheli is the one who manages to pull himself up and onto the ice all season long. He had a great playoff season. But yeah, I would have liked to see him shake hands. In hockey, like boxing, you beat the crap out of each other until the final bell (or horn) and then shake hands and say "good luck" afterwards, whether you win or lose.

Ducks all the way. Love their style of play, would love to see Giguere hoist the Cup.

Congrats to the Ducks and their fans. And enough of this crap about how dirty they are. Come on, people. This series doesn't even move the needle on the dirty meter. Outside of the Pronger-Homer thing, this was a remarkably clean series.

It was a hell of a comeback effort. I'm proud of how this team played. They were comeback kids all playoffs. For those down on the team for losing: Don't be. The Ducks were favorites in this series. Hell, they've been favorites since the beginning of the season. The Wings played a great series. Things turn on little bounces. That goal doesn't happen with 47 seconds left in game 5, this is a whole different series. Just like the Lang goal in the Sharks series. That's playoff hockey. Always has been, always will be. I'll be looking forward to a great Stanley Cup Finals between two great teams. Ducks and Senators will be excellent.

Giguere >>>>> Emery

Wings are totally carrying the play now. Ducks aren't sure what to do, tightening up a bit.

One goal isn't that big of a deal (as we learned in game 5). But I'd like to see the Wings try to get the Ducks off their game. Start running the Ducks star players, maybe get them thinking about taking dumb retribution penalties. Pronger used to be really susceptible to that stuff, although not so much last season with Edmonton.

Hey, whatever works!

Only for you, HC. Only for you. OK! Done!

Go LANG! Hoping that helps, BlueMonk

Ducks 17, Red Wings 1 Playing with a scant, 7 man roster by the second period, the depleted Red Wings fall to the Ducks as Anaheim advances to the Stanley Cup Finals. After a quick start, the Wings lost momentum quickly as they suffered a staggering array of injuries just seconds apart during a stretch of the first period. Goalie Dominik Hasek was the first to go down, injuring both groins and both thighs as he went down to make a save on a shot by Ducks forward Teemu Selanne. Hasek reported hearing, "four, distinct snapping sounds" after attempting the kick save. 11 broken hands, herniated discs and concussions later, the Wings were left with only 7 skaters. The Ducks showed much more discipline than the Red Wings, who committed 35 penalties. The Ducks were not penalized during the game. Although Detroit coach Mike Babcock complained about the officiating throughout the game, referee Don Koharski rejected any idea of favoritism. "I call 'em like I see 'em," Koharski was heard saying to Babcock. "OK, I hate Swedes, but other than that, I have no problem with your team. Well, OK, I hate the Red Wings, but that's not why I'm calling penalties on you guys. I mean, it might have had something to do with a few of them. But not all of them. OK, I hate you and everyone on your team, but at least 3 of those were legit penalties, so STOP COMPLAINING, please." Mike Babcock appeared at the podium during the postgame press conference looking so out of sorts that at first he was questioned by VS network executives what he was doing behind the mic. Some time during the course of the game, Babcock had lost most of his hair and grown a dated looking mustache. He was unable to explain the change in appearance, nor the disaster his team had endured on the ice. "Tonight, we didn't do the things you need to do to win a hockey game. When your best players go down with injuries, you're not putting yourself in position to win a game of hockey. Tonight, we lost 11 players to injuries in gruesome fashion in a span of about 4 minutes. When your goalie snaps all of the connective tissue in the lower half of his body making a save, you're not giving yourself much of a chance to win a hockey game. Our entire roster collapsed in a heap of injuries resembling a M*A*S*H unit and we lost a game of hockey." Reports that Babcock then stumbled around aimlessly asking, "Where's Chara?" could not be confirmed. Sights and sounds from the game: - Ducks GM Brian Burke was seen watching the game from his suite with several guests. The guests were reportedly all wearing Grand Rapids Griffins jerseys, the Red Wings' AHL affiliate, bearing the number 52. Each guest held up a sign reading, "BURK RULZ HOLLAND SUX!1! HAHAHAH HEY HOLLEND PARROS PWNS U SOFT EUROS!!11! U SUCK!!1 HAHAHA" - Before the game, Ken Holland was asked what he liked best about forward Henrik Zetterberg. "Hank? Oh, that's easy. His eyes [swoon]." - Asked what he though the Red Wings need to do in the upcoming season to reach their goal of winning a Stanley Cup, center Robert Lang offered a candid view. "I think, first of all, we need to not work as hard. I mean, why do we skate 45 second shifts? This is much too long, I feel. I would prefer to just skate out when I feel rested and then not have to skate too fast. This is very tiring, you see. And also, I think less defense. Backchecking makes me exhausted! And what do we have to show for it? I would prefer to see me in more of a 'floating' role. I'm at my best when I'm well rested. Also, what about a TV and some comfortable chairs for the bench? When we're not on the ice, why not enjoy a good movie? And what about some snacks? I like those little cocktail weiners and there's NOTHING like a good artichoke dip. I just think there's a lot of room for improvement." - Reports that Jiri Hudler approached coach Mike Babcock during the 2nd period and asked him, "Is it my turn? YET?!" could not be confirmed.

Well, that was a tough loss. The Wings played great hockey for the most part, but they made a couple key mistakes that turned out to be decisive. The power play is not getting it done. I see the talent on the ice, and I see the effort and will from the players, but the puck isn't going in. I'd like to say Schneider's absence is part of it, but the PP has sucked all year, even when everyone was healthy. Credit to Anaheim, though. They did a great job killing penalties and Giguere was a wall. The Wings have to win one game now. I think they'll give a great effort in game six.

I had some conversations with hockey fans of other teams after the playoff elimination to Edmonton last year. We talked about the possibility that some of the veteran leaders on the Wings were actually holding the young players back. One friend of mine felt that the departure of players like Yzerman and Shanahan could have a positive effect on the team as a whole. He even guessed that Shanny would flourish given a new start on a new team. Soon after, Yzerman announced retirement and Shanahan departed for New York. Well, here we are in the Western Conference Finals and Scott Burnside writes a piece that echoes that conversation from May of 2006 almost exactly. It's a good read, and he makes a lot of salient points, I think.