Jedi

Oh Sammy... What are you doing man?

Horrible period there. Gotta hope the 3rd is better.

Wow, this game feels way too much like game 3 for my liking...

CLANK. If Z had just one timed that, instead of holding back for the shot, he could have buried that one.

PP chance here. Can get right back in it now.

That was inevitable with the parade of players to the box... Time to respond boys.

Oh great, another delay of game penalty...

Good job by Cleary and Zetterberg to eat up the last of the period. The play started out somewhat even, but Anaheim took control as the period wore on. Lets get back on track in the 2nd, starting with the kill.

Players losing an edge all over the place. Ice has gotta be just turning to slush as the period wears on...

Hmm. Bad time for a delay of game penalty... Big kill.

Elimination games are always a gut wrencher. Always feels like it's the same game plan. Survive the first 10 minutes, take what chances you can get, and don't take any penalties. Sick pass by Raffy. First PP goes to Detroit. Convert and quiet the building boys!

I'd rather focus on the next game personally. Let's worry about the next round when we're guaranteed that we're going to be playing in that round...

Best first period by the Wings all series thus far. Just wish that one (or both) of those posts had gone in. But I'm liking the fact that we've played well and carried the play to the Ducks so far. Keep it up boys. Skate hard, tape to tape on the passes, and we can bury them.

The most recent update I've heard is here... And a bit more telling an update was sent out prior to game 4... I'm honestly not holding my breath for him being back at all for this series.

Indeed you guys did. Easily heard the Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie chants!!

Yes, but the PK got better as the year went on. It didn't come anywhere near matching the levels of success we've had in years past, but it did get better. And being short of the services of our #2 and #5 Defensemen (ESPECIALLY Lilja, with his shotblocking skill) as well as our #1 faceoff winner certainly isnt helping either... I think the PK was also more a symptom of an underlying cause for this team, one that struck them night in and night out, and that was not playing a full 60 minutes with the intensity that this team can play with. Not playing with full effort caused the PK to slip. It caused defensive breakdowns, which lead to easy goals. It caused odd man rushes. It caused the PP to decline as the year went on. If I had to pick only one thing that I could say was a problem all year long for us, that would be it. And it was that exact problem which caused us to lose the two we have lost this series. Of course I'm not happy that we gave up the goal on the penalty, but with the way that play was set up, I don't think we would have had much a chance at it even on PK's of years past.

The Wings PK was out on the ice for less than a full minute all tallied tonight. That's hardly what I would call kinda bad. The one goal they did allow was on a play that was bang-bang-in the net, and came not long after a faceoff, so I can't lay a whole lot of blame on them. The Ducks had already started to carry the play to us by that point, and then drawing the penalty at a time when they're starting to get the crowd back into the game... Just be happy that the score wasn't reversed, will ya?

Vs. Fail.

OZZIE! OZZIE! OZZIE! Love it!!!

Z!!! As relieved as I've ever been after an Empty Netter!!!

Empty net already. Wow...

Octopus on the ice, and look who touches it for the curse, it's PRONGER!!!

Good job clearing the zone after the icing. Let's get some pressure in their end. But above all, be smart. With passes, with hits, everything.

Great heads up defensive play by Helm.

Still like to see us carry the play more. Win the battles for the puck, don't take any penalties, and keep driving the play.