Barrie

I'm getting sick of how different the game is played when it's the regular season and the playoffs. The NHL playoffs favor the boring 5-8 seeds that put you to sleep. The President Trophy race is more exciting than the Stanley Cup. This season Buffalo, Detroit, Nashville, Anahiem, etc. were fighting for it. The Stanley Cup will probably come down to two boring defensive teams riding a hot goalie, like it always does. And the NHL wonders why their ratings are low. I'm almost starting to think that the Stanley Cup is overrated. I'm not saying that because of our recent playoff struggles. Even when we won the cup we were playing boring teams like Washington and Carolina. Playoff hockey is . Even division titles/races are getting more exciting. Those were against teams like Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, etc.. Man I wish they would go with the top 4 teams from each Conference, like Baseball does, eliminate an entire round, and get rid of the bottom teams. I wanna see Detroit-Vancouver, Anaheim-Nashville, Buffalo-Atlanta, and NJ-Ottawa. Last year it would have been Detroit-Calgary, Dallas-Nashville, Ottawa-NJ, Carolina-Buffalo. We're getting Detroit-Calgary now, but atleast Calgary last year won their division and wouldn't have had to face Anaheim.

I'm going to be in Windsor on the weekend. I'm not going for the game, I'm going to visit family, but I'll be in the area.

I like the Saturday afternoon games. You can watch Hockey 3:00-5:30, then go out Saturday night. It's the best of both worlds!

I'm not for the shootout in the playoffs, but I think he makes some good points about it. Early in a series it's almost pointless to wear the players out and have them play 7 periods of hockey. They'll have nothing left if the series goes 6 or 7 games. Plus, there's the next round to think about. He said though a Game 7 shouldn't have a shootout. I'll do him one better and say any possible clinching games shouldn't be a shootout. Like I said, I'm not for it in the playoffs, but it's an interesting debate.

I'm still very positive. I figured Calgary was going to win Game 3. They were at home and desperate for a win. I thought we played well, but a couple breaks didn't go our way. We could have used a few more shots, but we can work on that for Game 4. Calgary's an excellent team, anyone who thought we'd sweep was dreaming.

Right, couldn't have said it better myself.

I think it more has to do with how good the Red Wings are playing. Calgary can't generate anything because the Wings are all over them.

I'm wondering if this series is going to be like 1995 vs. San Jose?

I figured someone would say something like this after Game 1. It's not like people weren't cheering for him, we were just getting tired of him not producing in the playoffs. If he was going to continue to not produce, then it would have been better if he moved on. I'm glad he's playing well, because we're a better team when he's scoring goals. I hope it continues.

If Bert's ready, play him!!

I think the Wings really surprised Calgary with their physical play and speed last night, they sure surprised me! Looking at the Calgary players faces they almost looked a little scared, intimidated, and lost. I'm sure they were expecting the same old puck pocession fancy style from the Wings, instead the Wings came right at them, pounded them, and peppered Kipper with shots. I'm expecting the same intensity by the Wings on Sunday, and a different game plan from Calgary. Calgary didn't control the physical play like they did in 2004, which is a huge disadvantage for them. The Flames are going to HAVE to generate more offence or the series will be over fast. 20 shots on Hasek will get them no where, because this isn't CuJo or Legace, it's "The Dominator". I think the Wings are trying to embarrass Calgary the same way they embarrassed San Jose back in 1995. Bab's has the boys fired up and ready! More PP chances

Since I live outside Toronto, I get this question all the time. I give my parents credit for me being a Detroit fan: -My Dad became a Tigers fan in the late 1960's. -My Mom grew up in Windsor and most of her family still lives there. I'm usually in the Detroit area every 2 or 3 months visiting relatives. -I lived in Windsor for 3 years. -My Dad took me to my first Tigers game in 1983, when I was 7. With all that connection to the Detroit area, I naturally because a Wings fan when I got into Hockey, which was in the late 1980's.

Cleary had 7 shots tonight http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/gameTrax?gameId=2007041205 It'll be Hudler.

Yeah both Maltby and Cleary played well. Cleary was flying out there! If it was up to me, I'd sit Sammy, but I think it's going to be Hudler.

Wow, what a start! We're really sticking it to Calgary. 20 more minutes to go. I hope we continue with the pressure. Datsyuk FINALLY scored!!

Here's what I'm doing about it all..... Just wait until game time and see who's in and who's out. There's still 22 hours before the puck drops, if Bert is day to day, there's probably a chance he COULD go tomorrow, same with Regehr. I know people want to know, but we really won't know until Thursday at 7:05. It's the playoffs, people play through injuries all the time, i.e. Shanahan in 1998 and Yzerman in 2002.

Isn't 30 hours before the game a little to soon to say if someone is playing or not? Sounds a little strange to be giving out this kind of news before game day.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You really can't compare Canadian cities to cities like Detroit who have 4 major sports teams. In American cities there's the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, in Canadian cities other than Toronto it's just the NHL. It's a very unfair comparison, and by no means questions how passionate Hockey fans in the USA are. I live in Canada, here it's hockey 24/7. MLB, NBA, and NFL are way behind. The Raptors and Blue Jays have many different promos to sell tickets. Some Raptors tickets are under $10, and the Blue Jays have $2 Tuesdays to try and fill seats. I don't see the lack of playoff tickets sales as a bad thing. All the Wings have to do is lower prices and they'll be sold. More average fans can go then and the place will be louder.

I don't think showing Crosby on Saturday afternoon is a bad idea, it's a great way to sell the game. CBC should be more upset Toronto or Montreal didn't take the 8th spot.

I think we should put Bertuzzi on the same line as Datsyuk. Where's Holmstrom?

People are forgetting that Calgary went out 1st round last year too. Funny how we are considered the ones who choke.

I say Wings in 5. We're ready for the playoffs this year, and Calgary isn't going to surprise us this time around.

I agree eva. The Wings this year know they have to work hard to get the victory. I think the 2004 team, after all the success, just figured the Cup would be handed to them. Plus teams have been taking Calgary seriously since 2004. Edit: Funny how the media isn't talking about how the Flames last year went out in the 1st round as well. Also, it's funny how the Flames are considered the better playoff team because they went to the finals in 2004, forgetting the fact that we, not only went to the finals in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2002, but won 3 of them.

and the Wings will probably play their own style of the trap as well.

Haha, great minds think alike.