Nightfall

Well, I was at a wedding all day, but the bride and groom were such wings fans they had a TV on in another room and 1/2 the people there were watching. It was wild let me tell you that much. My thoughts on the game.... The wings responded after a bad game with a solid one. The pens didn't make mistakes. It was just a hard fought win with a lucky bounce for Hudlers goal that was the game winner. Thats an instance were a bounce won you the game. When both teams are just working their asses off and you get that pass that eludes 3 players, gets on the stick of Hudler, and a nice backhand where he had very little space to put it. It was a goal scorers goal.....or it was a lucky shot. Either way, its a win for the Wings. One thing that was concerning iwas our top line was getting chances but really not finishing. Tonight, they got their first goal since game 1. The good news is that our 2nd and 3rd lines are scoring. You hear it all the time from announcers talking about secondary scoring. Well, we are doing that now and its helped us to a 3-1 series lead. I thought the game was, once again, officiated well. I didn't read through every page, but there are some wings fans that think the refs were trying to give the pens the game. I did not get that impression. Every penalty that was called was a legit call. The 2 calls resulting on the 5 on 3 were totally legit. Heck, you know they were when 60 people watching the game with us didn't complain about the 2nd call at all and they were all Wings fans. Its just my personal belief that unless the calls are 20-5 in favor of the Wings, then its not good officiating in the eyes of the wings fans. But I digress.... Wings SHOULD put this away in game 5 and I am going to be a very happy camper thats for sure. Gotta give the Pens credit though. They worked their asses off and only lost by a bounce today. Not like game 3 where the Wings played flat. Both teams were at their peak in terms of performance tonight and it was a good game to have on in prime time. I called Wings in 7. If the Wings lose game 5, which is a possibility, there will be a 7th game. Mark my words now. However, if the Wings come out and dominate at home like they did the first two games, this game will be over very quickly. Osgood will win the Conn Smyth and the Wings will be celebrating. Lets hope for a strong effort on Monday.

Now, I don't mean to get all huffy here, but the attitude here after the game last night is just dumb. People throwing out half assed posts calling the players on our team (yes, the team we all love) goats and screwups. It just makes me shake my head in disgust. Lets break down game 3 shall we? Detroit played uninspired in the 1st and 2nd periods. The Wings didn't have the intensity they had the first two games. The Penguins capitalized on their chances in this game unlike the last two. When we missed passes or had turnovers in the defensive zone in games 1 and 2, they didn't capitalize on the chances. Lilja falling down resulting on that 2 on 0 chance on Ozzie. Rafalski's errant pass in game 1 that resulted in a wide open chance by Malkin. All these opportunities were wiffed on by the Penguins. In game 3, they didn't miss. Stuart's pass that hit Zets skate and comes right out to the Penguins. Then the pinball bounce off of a few people and Crosby's shot that beat Osgood. Tough luck on that one. What about the third goal from behind the net? Posters here bitching about Osgood screwing that one up. Blame blame blame being tossed around. I haven't seen a single poster come out and ask, "Where is the defense?" Still, another opportunity they capitalized on. Meantime, the Wings hit the post a few times. That wide open net that we missed in the 3rd period was crazy. How did we miss that one? It wasn't like the goalie or a defenseman was there to stop it. The Wings just clutched their sticks a little too tight. There were a TON of missed shots last night as well that didn't hit the target. Come on Wings, put the puck on net. Force Fleury to give up some rebounds and scoring chances. Point is that the Wings had their chances even though they had a bad 2 periods last night. So, why did the Wings lose? Everyone is being tossed around as to blame. The only players that aren't mentioned are Dats, Zets, and Lids. Even Babcock is getting grief for his decision to not roll the lines in a certain way. I don't know what is worse. These fairweather fans that only come in to enjoy the Wings when they are playing well or the supposed "die hard fans" who rip the players and the team they love when they make mistakes or the puck bounces against them. Instead of concentrating on Game 4, even this morning, the bitching continues. Calls for the heads of all the players except the franchise ones are loud and clear. Frankly, its disgusting. Lets get past this game guys and gals. Stop butchering your team and players.

I called Wings in 7, with home ice being the key to the Wings victory.

There is a big difference between panicing and ripping the team you love a new ******* and calling for their heads. Otherwise, I wholeheartedly agree with you.

I didn't even mention the officiating, which IMO, has been very good overall. A little more consistency in some situations, but I can't argue with the refs so far. I agree with your assessment of the game last night. Lets hope the Wings kick it in the ass on Saturday night.

Let me go a step further and ask the question... What Detroit defenseman played A+ hockey? Lids had less than a Norris Trophy kind of game. Rafalski didn't play too well. Kronwall had 1 hit in the game by my count. It was as if he was back on his heels all game. Stuart gets labeled a goat when his pass doesn't connect with Zets and results in the first goal. Lebda had a solid game by his standards. I won't mention Lilja because everyone hates him so bad. When will everyone realize that this is hockey. s*** happens in hockey. Bad bounces happen. Even if you have all Norris Trophy winning defensemen and all Hart trophy forwards, the bad bounces and missed passes happen. Its what being human is all about.

Detroit fans are spoiled. There are teams that are just clamoring for good defenseman, while Detroit has 3 awesome D in Lids, Kron, and Rafalski. I even consider Stuart and Lebda to be solid Dmen for the NHL. Wings fans won't be happy though unless all 6 players are elite defensemen that make no mistakes. Unless you want to spend 35 million on defensemen, that isn't going to happen.

This is the best post in this thread. Just took 3 pages for someone to come out and word it right. QFT

Ok, I am a Wings fan, and I didn't detect any bias coming from Versus or NBC through these playoffs. There are a lot of people on this forum that have selective hearing or something. Now I will say that whenever they talk about the Penguins, they are talking about Crosby. Crosby is the face of the Penguins and the poster boy for the NHL. The rest of the cast there really gets no recognition. On the Detroit side of things, they have Dats, Zets, Lindstrom, Osgood, Holmstrom, etc. Both sides are getting equal time for the most part. The real issue is that Detroit fans want to hear a Detroit feed. They don't want to hear about how the other team is doing. They want to hear only how their team is doing and what needs to be done to get back into the game or to seal the victory. They want Ken Kal and Paul Woods or Mickey and Ken Daniels. Just my observation.

You analysis was better than mine. QFT

I think this quote says it all. Wings came out flat in the 1st and 2nd periods. Penguins capitalized on their chances, Wings didn't. That simple. You have to hand it to the Penguins for coming out so hungry. They had to in order to stay in the series. Game 4 on Saturday.

2nd unit did better than the first.

Franzen with Zets and Pavel? Interesting.

Please Sammy....shoot more. 3-2

True story

Why can't they hit the net?

Bunch of whiners and wankers on this message board tonight too.

MULE SCORES! Post your Mule pictures dammit!

Did the Red Wings put black on today?

Yup, they are the reason why the Wings are playing horrible.

Good penalty, good goal. No complaints here and I am a Wings fan. On second thought, the only thing I can complain about is the undisciplined penalities.

Give the Penguins some credit. They came to play today. The wings look like they are stuck in neutral.

Welp...this says it all. 2-0 penguins

He's the only penguin that has a goal for f***s sake.

2nd PP unit looks better than the 1st.