Nightfall

He should stand by his officials. Any organization or rink that doesn't stand by the refs they employ has a serious problem on their hands. IMHO, the NHL has the best officials of all the major sports. For the speed of the game, and so much happening out there, I have to say they do a great job. I know there are calls we all agree and disagree with. Holmstrom in the blue paint with the deflection that counted as a goal. Morrow with the back foot "kick in" goal that didn't count. This latest no goal call because of interference by Holmstrom. Those are just to name a few. Then you have all the minor penalties that are called or missed in the course of the game. I ref ice hockey and rollerhockey games at the rec league level and I can say that its all based on perception. Some calls are clear cut and easy to make. Others you see something and your first inclination is to call it, but doubt creeps into your mind afterwards or even after you put your hand up. Its not an easy job, and as a ref you want to make every call 100% correct. I review the tapes of any game that is recorded by fans or friends if I am reffing. While watching my own tapes there are times I may doubt myself. However, I can say that a vast majority of what I call is correct, which is the key thing. These NHL refs review tapes as well. They are reviewed by the league and discuss the calls with their peers. Adjustments and lessons are learned. In the end however, they are human. Also, its amazing how the consensus of a game has to do so much with the reffing. If your team wins, then the reffing for the most part was good. If your team loses, the reffing was horrible. Either that or it was the one call that caused your team to lose. Or the one goal that was disallowed. Very very few people see a middle ground. They don't remember the "missed" calls if your team wins 5-2. Just an observation.

Like in 1997 I suppose. Remember when he said Philadelphia was going to beat the Wings in 5 games? Remember when the Flyers went down 0-2 in the series and he said that they would rally and win 4 straight? After the Flyers lost game 3, he showed up on ESPN with a huge red and white hat that looked like something out of the Dr. Seuss book The Cat In the Hat and was proclaiming the Wings would win it all. What a prognosticator.

Well, I am excited to see the Wings play well. I was excited last season, but after being beaten in Anaheim, there is only one end result that would make me happy. Its the cup or nothing. Especially when you finish first in the NHL. When my rec league team finishes 1st in the division, its championship or bust. Anything less is a disappointment.

Try puting the butt end of your stick out in someones face as they skate by and see what they do. I know it would have felt worse than tape burn. Not enough to knock a tooth out, but it would have felt uncomfortable. That slash wasn't hard either. Osgood tried to sell it but to be honest, it was laughable. As a goalie, I took that as an insult because if someone did that to me, I wouldn't have done the dying cockroach on the ice. I probably would have gotten in the player's face. Ah well....I stand by the NHL's decision even though the blind Wings fan doesn't.

First, as a goalie, shoving the butt end of your stick up into the face of someone skating by you is going to cause more damage than someone 2 hand slashing you in the chest. I know this because I know what goalies wear. I wear the same thing and have been hit in the chest with harder slashes than that. Just watching the replay, its quite apparent that Osgood meant to use the butt end of his stick on Ribero's face. He deserved the fine. Ribero two hand slashed Osgood in the chest, and just from the replays, I didn't see a hard impact. Therefore, he deserved a fine. Suspensions? If you suspend one, you should suspend the other. Secondly, if you can't tell the difference between Ribero's slash and McClennan's, there is a problem.

Most accurate analysis ever. Coming from a wings fan = 5 bonus points.

My bet is he won't get any because Osgood hit Ribero in the face with the butt end of his stick. Now there is a chance he will get 1 game, but I just don't think it will happen. Suspend him for the remainder playoffs? Please......

Holy crap what a poke check by Turco.

Yea, cause we all know that one game is the measure of a team's season or playoff run. The Stars didn't get here by playing midget AA teams. I say that both teams are pretty even on paper. The Red Wings just outworked them the first game. I mentioned that both teams missed close chances in my first post. Read the last 3 sentences, especially the last one. Most of the calls were decent. There were a couple weak ones, but I have reffed games before so I know its all based on perception so I really can't blame them too badly. I just know in game 3 or 4, the Stars are going to get a 5 on 3 off a cheap call. Just the way it works out I guess.

In the Salary Cap era, they won't be haters if the Wings keep winning and playing they way they have the last month. I don't see how the haters can debunk the Wings if they win the cup this year.

I am a Wings fan, but the Stars got beat by a couple fortunate calls and bounces. Stars missed on their chances, like Hagman missing on that 2 on 1 in the first period when he had an open net to shoot at and just missed the pass from Ribero. The penalty to bring the Stars down 5 on 3 in the first period was weak. As a hockey fan, there is no way I could call that a penalty, but as a Wings fan I will take it. Now I wait for the Stars to get a call like that in game 3 in front of their fans and the Wings to be in the same spot. Not trying to put down what the Wings did because they played very well. They also missed some close chances like the Zet wrap around opportunity and great save by Turco. I just don't agree that the Wings are a "better" team. Both of these teams are pretty darn even. The Wings just have more going for them right now. Oh, and the Stars being tired? Please. If the Wings lost, they would have been "rusty" and had too much time off. The announcers are like a broken record when it comes to this time of year in the playoffs. I have heard it all.

Yea, I meant Monday. Sorry, its been a long day today. On a side note, Dallas got 3 days off which is pretty darn nice. I was expecting the first game to be played tomorrow so I don't know how they lucked out.

I know I am not the first to say it, but this series will be all about goaltending. If Osgood can match Turco, the Wings win in 6 games. If Turco outplays Osgood, it will go 7 games and be a tossup. If Osgood outplays Turco, then the Wings will sweep or win in 5 games. It will be very interesting to see how the Wings come out in this series. Will they be dominant like they were last series? Will Dallas outplay and outwork them? Will there be rust from sitting so long? Will Dallas be tired and battered after finishing on Tuesday morning? Lots of questions to be answered. We will start getting those answers on Thursday at 7:30.

I also agree. I know last year for the NCAA championships, they both did the frozen four and that was so much fun listening to them call the game. They also still do NHL 2008 and they worked for a week on NHL 2009 together. I know a lot of people don't like them as a tandem, but I did.

Yea, its all coming to pass alright. Turco has been playing out of his mind in this series. It will be a very good series, but its not like Dallas will be a better team for us to face. I guess we will see what happens and what the Wings are made of for that matter.

Not this time. 1-1 tie.

True story. I think they key to that stat is that one team sits back once they get the lead, opening the door for the other team to win the game. Stats are just stats though. I guess we will see how this game turns out. If SJ comes back to win and then win game 7 the same way, that will be the stat of the series.

Yup, and the team that has scored first in every game in this series has lost. Scary stat I know, but it does carry some weight.

On the flip side, I am sure we will hear that the longer the wings sit, the rustier they will be. Especially if the Wings lose in the next round. Course, if the Wings win, then the commentators will say that Dallas/SJ was tired.

I know, now I have to wait until tomorrow (later today actually) for the Canadians game. Nice goal by the Sharks. Game 6 here we come. The thing that surprises me, the team that scores first in every game in this series has lost the game. Crazy.

They are answering the call from the way it looks.

Bad goal for Nabokov to give up IMO.

Thats a tough call. I thought it could have been called either way. I really can't say it was a clear cut goal or no goal. I guess the office in Toronto saw it as a no goal.

If this was rec league hockey and an elite player was looking to break into the beginner division, score 5 goals a game, and have 100+ goals in 20 games or so, then it might matter. The reason I mention this is the top team in my beginner/intermediate ice hockey division has 2 players that used to play D1 ice hockey. They went undefeated last season and lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs. I just found out today that they added another player that used to play in the AHL. I love it. Anyway, this is the NHL where you are looking for a job in a sense. You are coveted by many workplaces (teams) and some of them are going to make you an offer. You will want to work (play hockey) at a place that is enjoyable. So do you go after the big paycheck or do you take a discount to play for a chance at a cup? Thats what I think Bruunstrom is going to need to decide.

This team will be graded on this board by if they win the cup or not. To say that 90% of the fanbase here expects a cup or its a failed season is probably underestimating it. That being said, did Detroit make the right move? I believe they did. By not messing with the chemistry, they really did a better job than trading people away. Case in point, people calling for Hudler to be traded. He has 2 goals and 9 points so far in 10 games. Who would have thought Franzen would have been such a beast this playoff season. I know I didn't see that coming. Holland will be judged when the season is over. If a cup isn't in Detroit, people here will have plenty to say. I think it was the right call though.