Nightfall

As a true hockey fan, I have to agree with you. Too many members here give a free pass to a lazy Wings team and prefer to blame conspiracy theories, the refs, the league, and dirty players on the other end. When the Wings lose, they don't see how the Wings didn't respond, they like to make convenient excuses. Time to hold the team accountable.

This is my main complaint. We didn't show up until near the end of the 2nd period. The Wings effort really disgusted me tonight. Three shots in the first period? Thats just sickening. At one point in time in the 2nd period it was 17-6 in shots. I mean come on, its just disgusting. Mark my words, Game 7 is not going to be a cake walk. The Pens are outhustling the Wings and they want this series. Its going to be up to Detroit to deliver or watch the Pens skate around the Joe with the cup. The LGW forum members and the fans should be pissed at the Wings. Not at the reffing, not at the league, not at one specific player or another, and not at the Pens. Remember these stats? 41 of 44 teams who take game 1 and 2 win the Stanley Cup Finals. Over 80% of teams who win game 5 when the series is tied win the series. Lastly, there have been 14 game 7s played in the finals, and the home team has won 12 of them. History has been on the Wings side. Is desire on their side though? Not from what I saw in game 6. I will tell you that I am a concerned Wings fan. They slacked against the Ducks in game 6 and game 7 was tied up until a few minutes to go in the game. They slacked in game 6 here tonight. It just seems to me that the Wings are shaking their genitals openly at fate, and I am afraid that fate is going to kick them square in the balls. Fate being the Pens. Do not be surprised to see the Pens skating around the Joe with the cup. A lucky bounce here, and a lucky bounce there and the cup could be theirs. The Wings better come out and play the best game of their lives on Saturday.

From a rec league standpoint, it sucks too. I remember about 7 years ago I played in a weekend tournament. I played the best 5 games of my life in net and we lost in the finals 2-1. I was awarded the MVP of the tournament, and I was pretty jaded because the other team was skating around with the trophy I wanted. I really couldn't stomach looking at that MVP trophy until about 6 months later.

A bunch of rabid biased fans would be rage-spitting furious? I am sure the league is quaking in their boots. Its obvious that we both have different lines of thinking here. At least you believe that Giguere deserved the Conn Smythe. I believed that as well. His play in every series was the reason the Ducks made it as far as they did. There was no close call to be honest. Giguere had a sparkling .945 save percentage and a 1.62 GAA. That was better than any goalie in the playoffs. From a pure stats standpoint, its hard to argue against Malkin getting the MVP of the playoffs. As I said before, 35 points is hard to argue against. He is the first 30+ point performer in the playoffs in over 10 years. If Malkin gets the award, I won't be surprised thats for sure. Wings fans shouldn't be surprised either. They can be pissed, but the shouldn't be surprised.

Its more based on overall performance. So if there are 2 key players, and the team shuts down one of them, the one that rampages or finds ways around the defense to score is going to win the award. That being said, Crosby has also been good, but I don't see him winning the Conn Smyth over Malkin. Malkin has had too good of a postseason run to be denied. The only reason the Wings fans are pissed off about Malkin winning it is because the award will go to a Pens player in a losing cause. Malkin has deserved it. I am a Wings fan, but I am also a hockey fan and have seen his play. He has played the most complete games and has been the MVP for the playoffs thats for sure.

Hockey this morning on XM was talking about this. They think Sutter is going to go coach in Calgary. He wanted to be closer to his family and the Calgary job would be good for him. Plus, Daryl Sutter is the GM in Calgary so Brent may be a shoo in for the job.

Malkins 14 goals and 21 assists are the best in the last 10 years. In fact, no one has topped 30 points in the last 10 years. Malkin has made his case for the Conn Smyth and I certainly wouldn't complain if he won it.

I hope Thorne comes back. I have always liked Clement and Thorne as a tandem for calling the NHL games. I hope he does it again for Versus or NBC or both for that matter.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/06/07/satur...rime-time/20226 Before anyone says it, I know the NHL went up against a very weak field. Still, I guess a lot of Pens/Wings fans tuned in and thats good news for the NHL I suppose.

I got to thinking about the parade to the penalty box by the Pens today, as well as the game 6 aftermath in Anaheim. I will say that Crosby and Malkin are incredibly gifted and talented, but the NHL really is putting these guys up on a pedestal. You would think if the league were going to put their star players on a pedestal, they would be players like Mike Modano, Nick Lidstrom, or maybe even Jonathan Towes and Patrick Kane. Instead, they stand behind Crosby as the big star, which is ok.... However, is he setting a good example? I watch Malkin take a bunch of goonish penalties tonight. Crosby follows with a slash or two. Other penguins players slashing at the foot of Dats or high sticking like Kunitz (I love Kunitz, but he gooned it up tonight). You don't see classy players taking slashes at other players or going headhunting when their team is down. I know the NHL made its bed now it has to sleep in it. They won't back down from hyping Crosby and Malkin. I just think there are other star players in this league that should get more publicity.

This kind of attitude changes in time with maturity and becoming a veteran in the NHL. Youth and captaincy is a very dangerous combination. I was not a hockey fan back in Yzerman's youth, but I am curious what he was like back when he was captain of the team in his youth. With all of the media coverage today, its impossible to escape dumb statements or mistakes or frustration. Everything is overanalyzed in hockey with all the cameras and media coverage. It would be interesting to see how Yzerman would be covered today in his first years as captain. Crosby is an excellent player, but I still think the captaincy should have been handed to someone with a little more maturity like Bill Guerin or another veteran.

I know I don't like hearing "lower body injury" or "upper body injury". It certainly would be nice to hear what is really wrong with players when they get hurt. That being said, this incident should be a reason NOT to disclose those injuries. Some NHL players have no qualms about going after a player in a area he is hurt when they know where they are hurt. Its sickening.

Excellent list. I forgot Sakic.

If complaining to the refs is considered "crying" then every damn player does that. At least Kane doesn't go out slashing players when his team is down by 3 or 4 goals. Thats the difference.

I wasn't a hockey fan back in Yzerman's younger days, but I can't imagine he acted like this. I know the league was different and there weren't a lot of analysis done on the games back then. Still, I would not say that Crosby and Malkin are two ideal poster childs of the NHL. If the NHL is looking for role models, I wouldn't choose them. When kids are looking for sports stars to idolize, do you want your son or daughter idolizing a player who goes headhunting when his team is down? I certainly don't want that. I know there are players like this on every team and some more aggressive than others. Why not choose to put players in the spotlight that are not only fierce competitors and scoring leaders, but also not goons when their team is down. Good players: Mike Modano, Nick Lidstrom, Zets, Dats, Towes, Kane, Tim Thomas, Ovechkin maybe (I see a lot of his games and I don't see him goon it up when they are losing). Bad players: Ed Belfour, Malkin, Crosby just to name a few.

I fixed your post to reflect what Wings players were saying after games 3 and 4. Sound familiar?

Why are we even debating something that never happened? There was no instigator penalty. Therefore, we don't know what would have happened. If it makes you feel better.... I will tell you that the NHL would not have followed through if Malkin took out a gun and shot (insert Wings player here).

I am excited too. The Wings are 10-1 at home this postseason. Its my birthday on Saturday. Those reasons alone are enough for me to have faith in the Wings.

You aren't the only one. Facts: The Wings are 10-1 at home in the post season. The Wings play much better when they can match the lines the way they want. The Wings play much better at home in the playoffs this season than in prior seasons. The crowd gives them something to feed off of. Hopefully, Dats returns tomorrow and the Wings take game 5. GO WINGS!

If I want to get drunk the fastest, I take a drink everytime someone complains about the reffing in the game thread on these forums.

A majority of the posts on this forum are 85% idiocy and 15% good stuff on a regular basis, so I am impressed as well at the content of this thread. Maybe I severely underestimated the true Red Wings fans on this forum. That being said, I was not concerned either. It was a must win for the Pens and they got the job done again. When it has been a must win for the Wings, they got the job done this postseason. I have every confidence they will get it done on Saturday. Their 10-1 home post season record speaks for itself. At home they get the matchups they want and it shows in their record. They are professionals. They know what they need to do. They have the skill to execute it. Its just time to do that. Go Wings!

This is still the Wings series until they lose at home. Keep in mind Detroit is 10-1 in the postseason at home. They get the matchups they want and it they feed off the home crowd. Game 5 is crucial, but I just know the Wings are going to play their asses off in front of the Detroit faithful.

Well, after reading the first few posts in this thread, I thought I would add my own constructive comments. So far this series has lived up to its billing. Two wins for each team. The Pens played desperate in games 3 and 4. Game 5 will be the series now, and if there is anything I have learned about this team, its that they will play when their backs are against the wall. I think game 5 will be the most competitive game of the series. The Wings need to play better defensively. Their special teams also need to catch fire. Thats about all I can say. Go Wings!

Best post. I am signing off on this note.

Tough to answer. I just think it comes down to who wants it more. So far, the first two games the Wings wanted more. The last two games the Pens really wanted more. Game 5 is going to be epic. Either Epic Win or Epic fail.