betterREDthandead

No. Here's why: this might be the first playoffs for the Columbus Blue Jackets as an organization, but for most of their actual players, this ain't the first rodeo. Mike Peca's got almost 100 playoff games under his belt. Mike Commodore's got a Cup, as does Freddy Modin. Umberger, J-Willy, Tyutin, Vermette....these are all players with multiple playoff runs' worth of experience, with runs of at least two series several times. Peca's biggest contribution to the series is to make Darren Helm look like a highlight-reel hitter. Vermette's penalties have led to two power play goals, and he, along with equally-experienced Commodore were the ones losing their heads halfway through the third. Commodore is -3 on the series (worst on his team), and it'd be worse if so many of our goals weren't on the power play. Modin has been totally invisible, except for being one of the five on the ice for our one even-strength goal. No way the "young team in their first playoff run" theme should be an excuse, because there are many guys on that team with lots of playoff experience and they're the ones playing the worst.

Man, I feel like I've been staring at that "1" and "2" up at the top of the page forever. Isn't it time for Game 3 yet?

Why Robby Gordon is awesome, exhibit #2,056: "I'm really looking forward to a different driver in the 55 next year."

Just trying to calibrate his sarcasm detector. It needs a tuneup.

Hmm. Not that I'm counting my chickens, but this little factoid jumped out at me from the game recap: It's been seven years since a defending Cup winner made it to the second round?? That, I did not realize.

yeah, what was he thinking? giving the Wings too much credit is what I say. Jackets in a sweep, with Games 3 and 4 so tilted in Columbus' favor that the league retroactively awards them 1 and 2 as well.

I don't think the Wings really were especially dominant in any one facet of the game, except power plays. But they were clearly better in every facet - physicality, goaltending, puck possession, you name it - and complete and total dominance is what it added up to. As good as everything was in Game 1, it was better in Game 2. Even the crowd was louder.

Dear Chris Osgood, I can has cheezburger your babies plz?

They're not even doing that very well.....just ask the guy who operates the little red light.

I agree.....it's really frustrating that Verlander does this every so often. Filthy stuff last night, just filthy, he was making people look silly until the 5th when they jumped on everything he threw.

No, I read scouting reports, I just misinterpreted "moved from forward to defense" as "pretty oafish and useless on offense."

The NFL actually changed its logo just last year. It's less drastic than the NHL's change, but then again I don't think the NHL's change is terribly earthshaking either.

I've always been pretty excited about Ericsson as a big big defenseman who can really be a shut-down penalty killer. I'm pleasantly surprised at his offense. I had him figured for a slightly better all-around version of Lilja.

Precisely. His career of work has earned it. Like I said earlier: if you don't think by now he's earned the right to have the confidence of Wings fans, then you never had confidence in him to begin with. Unlike some, I don't root only for the players who are doing well and s*** on the ones who aren't.

Translation: I'll wait to bash Osgood until he has a bad game, because I'd get jumped on if I did it now.

Let the record show: no crow for me. If anyone thinks Ozzie hasn't proven himself or his loyalty to the Wings over the past decade or so, and earned our confidence even with a few stumbles here and there, then in your eyes he never, ever will.

What's wrong with one for four on the powerplay? If you score once out of every four PP opps you're the best in the league.

I think all the talk about the Jackets having the goaltending advantage with a green-ass rookie in net pissed Osgood off. Which is nice. Ozzie's always thrived on the taunts from fans on the road. Now he's mad and that's bad news for the Jackets.

Official three stars: #3 - Lidstrom #2 - Rex #1 - Ozzie

What, no love for Sexy Rexy? I think he, or at least someone on his line, deserves a star. He/Flip/Sammy were excellent. With deepest apologies to George Thoroughgood: One goal ain't enough, Jack, you better make it three I want one Czech, one Finn, and one Swede

We also trade away a lot of our picks. In the last 10 years we've had four first rounders because we peddled away all the others. And two of those first rounders were in the last two years when you can't expect those guys to be NHL-ready yet anyway.

Yeah....that's pretty much the boonies too. Out past Hall Road = exurbs.

C'mon man.....not to hijack this into a referendum on mass transit or anything.....but if a bus won't go to the boondocks where you live, and yes, Northville is the boondocks, what makes you think they're putting a rail station within walking distance of your place? Or even convenient driving distance?

That's when they're used to the season ending

There's buses, you know.