Nightfall

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/story/13832479/kariya-to-miss-season-with-concussion-syndrome Kinda sad to be honest. Kariya is a good player and I was hoping to see him playing with Selanne in Anaheim. They were magic when they were with the ducks back in the day.

Its on Youtube. Do a search. Its easy to find.

I do agree with you somewhat. The term "getting your nose dirty" is more of a get in the corners and battle it out instead of a goon mentality or a fighting mentality. Personally, I like the skill aspect of the game. Sure, I like big hits and some fighting every now and again. At the same time though, the players that really appeal to me are the Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Crosby, and Sedin twins style of hockey. They are very skilled and very enjoyable to watch. Are the players more under the microsope now than they were 20 years ago? Absolutely. Especially due to expanded TV rights where more people are watching. I absolutely agree with you that they should get rid of the instigator penalty. At the same time though, the penalties for players being sent out to hurt others with the game 5 minutes from being over is something I approve of. Too many times have we seen a goon go out and hurt another player when they are down by 3 goals in the last minute. As you said, the blind side hits are also something they should be watching for. It was an awesome time to be a fan of the Red Wings during that rivalry. At the same time though, as I said, rivalries come and go. Everyone remembers the hey days of that rivalry, but the games that have been played since 2003 people don't remember anymore. Why? The rivalry is pretty much gone because the PLAYERS have moved on to other teams or retired. These rivalries are still alive with some teams. The Wings will have another rivalry in the next 4-5 years, count on it. I just don't subscribe to the fact that the NHL governing body regulates the rivalries. The players have and always will.

Actually, the rivalries are still alive. The thing is that the players make the rivalry. The NHL doesn't stop or regulate the rivalries at all. Look at the Matt Cooke hit for instance. In the next Pittsburgh/Boston game, it wasn't called any different. Matt Cooke got beat up a bit. The Pens won the game. If the NHL was sick of that kind of thing, they would have really locked the game down. Detroit Colorado rivalry got started in the playoffs back in 1996 when Draper got hurt. No one remembers the days of the "rivalry" before that because they were just games played. I think the rivalry was over with they year the Wings won the cup in 2002. Lemieux was gone, and Roy retired a couple years after that. Detroit and Chicago had a heck of a rivalry back in the day as well, but today its just games played for the most part. Just further proof that "rivalries" are born through the players actions and the players themselves. The league can't regulate that.

Actually, the players have changed their style of play since the lockout. The penalties are going down because the players are keeping their sticks down and not hooking and interfering. I see pre-lockout style hockey every now and then on the NHL network, and then watch a game or two from last season and you see a clear night and day difference. The referees are doing the right thing by enforcing the rules. Could things be locked down even further? I think so, at the same time though, they have to find the right balance between playing the game and being too stringent. Time heals all wounds. Was it accidental? All I can tell you is that hockey is played at a blistering pace. In over 10 years of playing the sport, I have seen accidents happen, and sometimes some idiot does something on purpose that results in an injury. I am not saying to give Claude the benefit of the doubt, but I am saying to at least let that be a factor in your decision. Regardless, if he was really sorry, what he should have done is just tell Draper and the Wings that he was, which he never did to my recollection. That is a black mark right there.

The last good playoff goalie, and we are talking exceptional, was Osgood back in 2008. He posted a 1.55 GAA with a .930 Save percentage in 19 games. In fact, just looking at the cup winning goalies since the lockout, I believe he had the best stats in the last 8 years in the playoffs.

Meh, Fleury did worse that he did the previous season and won the cup.

It really is too bad. Here is a guy that just backstopped Chicago to a Stanley Cup, and should have gotten a raise and a contract extension. Instead, he is having problems finding a job. I am sure he will find a job eventually. I would find it a little sad as well if I just won the championship, and then now can't find a job. Shouldn't a Stanley Cup on a resume mean that you are a little more valuable? Apparently not.

I guess I have to ask you the same question. Name me a number 1 goalie that you would choose that would fit the mold of that kind of goalie who has... 1. Almost perfect rebound control 2. Hardly ever caught out of position 3. Covers the 5 hole almost perfectly I think your expectations are a little unrealistic. I think you will find that 90% of the elite NHL goalies out there are in fact the best in the world and pretty even when it comes to skill level. Brodeur and Roy were the best in their prime thats for sure and those are in the top 10% echelon. You have to figure that those players are rare and thats why they stick around for many years with their respective teams. Their teams know how valuable they are and pay them accordingly. The Wings have no such player in their system, and in fact, I don't see any goalie that has had that kind of consistency that is currently in the NHL. Brodeur hasn't won a playoff series in 4 years and is past his prime. Most of the good goalies you are hearing about now are one year wonders. I am just pointing out that most hockey fans have these lavish unrealistic expectations of their team's goalies. If every hockey fan had their wish, the goalie would be a literal God in net and they would make a save on everything. The simple fact of the matter is that goalies are human, and humans make mistakes. The good goalies rebound from those mistakes and play better the next night. Howard has shown signs of that last season, and will be a better player this year.

Yup, I thought he played just fine. He made as many mistakes as other goalies have in the past. Look at every stanley cup winning team. Every goalie has had their fair share of mistakes. To say that Howard was the make or break of the team winning/losing is pretty disingenuous if you ask me. I could point out many instances, but look at Niemi last season. Against Vancouver, he played pretty badly with over a 3.00GAA. He did not play very well and made his share of mistakes. Still, the team in front of him pulled together and won the series. How about in 1998 with Osgood when he was letting in horrible goals at inopportune times. If the wings lost out that year, Osgood would have been thrown under the bus. As it turns out, they won the cup that year and Osgood was the man. I am just saying that a lot of casual armchair hockey fans really have unrealistic expectations of what their goalie should do for them.

The unfortunate part is that most wings fans really don't know what it is to be a goaltender. Save the must-save shots? To Wings fans, that means no mistakes. Every goalie makes them. Control rebounds? To Wings fans, that means no rebounds. Every goalie gives up rebounds. Play a solid all around game? To Wings fans, this means play solid and no mistakes. Every goalie makes mistakes. Lets cut through things here shall we? The Wings did not lose in the postseason last season because of goaltending. The Wings team as a whole did not deserve to beat San Jose who came much more prepared than the Wings did. The Wings goaltending situation is just fine. The Wings team is just fine. If the offense and defense in front of Howard/Osgood stays healthy and consistent, the wings will have a 50 win season. Name me a Number 1 goalie who swallows pucks more effectively and consistently than Howard.

I agree. Meech is a final pairing Dman at best. He doesn't have the offensive skills to break into a 3rd-4th line defenseman on a stanley cup caliber team.

Hey, they are thinking outside the box here and that is what this summit is all about after all. The ideas proposed are smart to some people, and dumb to others. The key is to just discuss them and see what comes about. I agree that we probably won't see 2 on 2 hockey. At the same time though, I like the 2nd ref off the ice surface idea.

I have watched both games and they have both been entertaining. I am rooting for both teams in a sense. Would be great to see Chicago win it because Hossa would get a cup, and odds are I would see the cup on one of my trips down there this year. Would be great to see Philly win it because of the underdog factor, and the fact that I like the story around Leighton in net. Those things being said, Niemi stole game 2. He played very well and deserved the win. The Hawks as a team played much better in game 2 than they did in game 1. Philly has to win game 3 and 4 or this series is over. Yes, they came back from 3-0 to win this year, but I don't think they have it in them twice in the same playoff year. Yup, I agree. I am not a Pronger fan, but I respect him thats for sure. He plays a style of hockey that has brought him a long list of accolades. You have to at least respect him for that.

When the Wings have a few difficult seasons, I bet you will see the fan population drop off significantly as well. I have a friend who goes to 20+ Tampa Bay Lightning games per year. He has told me being a fan of the team is much more enjoyable today now that they have been out of the playoff picture. All the bandwagoners are gone and the arena is only half full at best, but the fans that go to the games down there are not only Lightning fans, but true hockey fans. I really hope Detroit can stay near the top of the league for a long time to come, but if there is a silver lining to the Wings having a couple bad seasons, its losing the bandwagon fans.

Anyone is allowed to run around with their hair on fire and say anything that want. Hell, it happens a lot here. I have just as much of a right to say that you are full of crap and talking out your ass as you have to say what you want. Quite frankly, when I read your post, I thought it was one of the dumbest things I have read in a while. No GM in the history of the league would do what you are guessing would happen. The sky is not falling, Chicken Little.

I bolded the important part of this post. Nuff said. Move along.

As a hockey fan, I enjoy the sport. Detroit is the only team I really root for and is a favorite. All others, I watch on NHL Center Ice on occasion and enjoy the sport. That being said, with Yzerman in the front office there, I will enjoy watching the Lightning play more often than I have in the past. Just as I enjoy watching Chris Kunitz play (as I am a Ferris State Alumni and watched him play a lot up there) even though he is on the Pens and I don't like the Pens very much. I don't think its bad that people like to root on other teams. Hell, people who love hockey can do that. It like enjoying football and watching the Sunday night/monday night contests and enjoying the game.

Since my scores are horrible, I am going for the upset. CHI/PHI: 3-4

You mean "Chicago will not be pulling a Boston". I agree with that. We won't see another comeback from a 3-0 deficit this year. Hawks in 4.

Quoted for truth. It was quite apparent that the Sharks were the hungrier team in the previous series. This series, the Hawks are the hungrier team thats for sure. Niemi is doing his part to get his team to the cup finals. I thought that Chicago was going to have a hard time in the playoffs, but Niemi is erasing all doubts.

Just something I want to point out... Osgood is a 3 time cup winner, and still some LGW fans say he sucks. Hasek came to Detroit and won a cup in 2002, and still some LGW fans say he sucks. Vernon backstopped Detroit to their first championship in decades in 1997, and some LGW fans say he sucks. We could probably have God in net stopping everything, and some LGW fans would say he sucks because he gives rebounds up. The bar for goaltending in Detroit has been set so high I don't think any mortal has a possibility of reaching it. That being said, I think Howard is going to be just fine next season. We shall see how he does.

Its great to see Leino do well in Philly. Its just further proof that there are a few players that when faced with a change of scenery, they do well. Is it the coach? Is it the environment? Who knows. All I do know is that he deserved the success he has had so far. Wings fans shouldn't feel slighted at all as this does happen from time to time.

SJS/CHI: 4-3 PHI/MTL: 3-4

OMG that would be awesome. I would cheer for Hossa.