gcom007

I agree. I've got no hard feelings. We just had a lot going against us this year. Not saying it's right or that we couldn't have overcome it, but I think it's premature to get too up in arms about Hossa and the Red Wings. It was more than one guy and he's proven himself throughout his career to be a solid guy. If he comes back, he'll be a long time terror. I think he will. And I think it'll be on the cheap.

This is going to be a long off-season.................

Except Hossa wanted to come to Detroit all along. Before he was traded to Pittsburgh, they were working out an extension with Holland should they be able to complete a trade but the Thrashers wanted too much for Holland to bite.

This is correct.

THN reported this a while back and said it again today. They sum it up pretty well. There are a few teams in the east that could challenge but it's unlikely. The idea of teams in the west challenging Detroit was fairly laughable to them. They think next 2-3 years will be good bets for Detroit-Pittsburgh finals. I honestly can't say I disagree. Time will tell, but it's going to be tough for other teams to catch up real fast.

He's a good guy. He'll be a good coach in this league when he gets a team that has less whining children with entitlement issues.

I hear what you're saying and all, but I think we're forgetting how great Osgood was in games 1 and 2. Again, he got the 1st star both nights when the Penguins outplayed and out shot us and he stood on his head. Z following guys around isn't the only thing that gets in their heads. How do you think these guys felt about being held to 1 goal in games 1 and 2 when you outplayed and out shot the Wings? That's going to hang in Crosby's head too. The team in front of Osgood crumbled in game 4; there's little he could have done about that. Osgood looked pretty impressive in the 3rd in game 4 as well to give us a chance should our offense find a way to sneak one in. And again, it was all Wings tonight, but Osgood did get a shutout in the process and held the surging Penguins off early in the game for us to get the start in the scoring. And even that 3rd goal tonight which was the back-breaker for the Pens was setup by Osgood. Again, Hanks been great in the finals, but even given that, he was a much stronger player on both ends last year throughout the playoffs. This year, that consistent strong player has been Osgood and he's hardly been a slouch in the finals. I think it's going to Osgood.

I still think it goes to Osgood. Let's not forget who the 1st star of the game was in 1 and 2. Z has been great in the finals, but Osgood stood on his head over and over and made huge in games 1 and 2. Then the shutout tonight. Plus he got us here. We'll see how the next game or two go, but I think it'd be hard to not give it to Osgood. Zetterberg hasn't looked like the player he was last year even in this series.

If Pitts doesn't win it in 6, I think it'll take 7 for us to win. We need Dats to at least help on our end.

He's a Hart Candidate. Even when he's not scoring he's an incredibly important part of this team. We need him back in game 5 period. I'm pretty convinced that sans a Datsyuk return, Pittsburgh will win this in 6. All Dats has to do is help on D. I don't give a s*** if he scores but we need to shut them down.

I've got a ******* headache from this game. All I've got to say is they better ******* show up to play Saturday night. If they play half as bad as tonight and Pittsburgh plays half as well as they did, they'll win Game 5. So Saturday, show up. That includes Datsyuk...

I think people forget that Pittsburgh was always second fiddle to Detroit. I don't remember the article, but earlier this season Holland, Hossa and his agent (Winter I believe?) confirmed that Detroit was trying hard to work out a deal with Hossa before he was traded to Pittsburgh but Atlanta wanted more than Detroit was willing to give up. They were also negotiating a contract extension in the trade talks as well and apparently Hossa agreed to terms pending a trade going through. Hossa always wanted to be here. I'm sure he was happy with Pittsburgh being the next best thing last year as they were second best after all, but Detroit has been his destination for awhile. He wants to win and he was born to play Detroit's style of hockey. I don't know why this is so shocking. Even last year the day or day after we signed him Holland said this is a 1-year deal that gives them time to work out a multi-year deal. Hossa will retire a Wing.

I also predict that he'll be insane in next years playoffs. He's going to be pissed beyond measure the way this post-season has gone. He was strong on D and still an effective force, but the numbers don't show it and he's missed a lot now. He'll make up for it. I have no doubt.

Time will tell. I wouldn't be shocked to see him in a Game 5 at home. Hurt or not. A home clincher? Hurt or not, I think he'll find a way to get into that one to help insure we don't make the same mistake we did last year.

I figured we'd split the first two but said if we win them both, this one's over in 5. I'm standing by that. I honestly get what you're saying and think there's a bit more weight to it than some are suggesting, but I think at the end of the day, Detroit's an experienced, determined bunch that knows how to win. Our young guys shouldn't be so effective but they are. And of course, then there's Chris Osgood. We're up 2-0 and we get 5 games to win 2. 2 more games at home as well. I'm really going to be shocked if Pittsburgh can't get 1 win on their ice, but 2 or more? I'm thinking it's unlikely. Again, I'm thinking Wings in 5 at this point.

I don't remember a goalie having to play this well in any of our other Cup victories from this era. It's not like the rest of the team has played bad, but they haven't been their best and we're bogged down with injuries to big players. Osgood has been great though. He won both these games. 1st Star in both games. The media frenzy is pretty nutty as well, and it's not mistake. We're a far cry from winning "despite Osgood." It's quickly become closer to Osgood winning "despite Wings." Obviously an exaggeration, but he's been huge.

If we win, I think it's pretty safe to say he's a lock for it. Franzen's certainly number 2 followed by Lidstrom a bit in the distance. Z got it last year over Osgood because he had the points and he had outstanding defensive play. He was great all over the ice game in, game out. Franzen's scored some big goals for certain, but he hasn't had even close to a Z in '08 performance. That said, again, it's all Osgood this year if the Wings win.

I'm not convinced of anything until it's written in stone. Heaven knows with this team and Ken Holland. And I'm still not convinced that we won't have some guys retire after this season. Maybe Draper and/or Maltby will want to go out on top. Heaven knows. I don't. I trust Ken Holland.

Win or lose the Cup in the next couple of weeks, there's a lot worth saying about how well Osgood has played in these playoffs thus far all the while proving the doubters wrong and leading Detroit to the finals for the second year in a row. As I'm going to shamelessly note in a moment, I always had faith that he'd be fine, but I've gotta admit, even I'm surprised at just how well he's played as the post-season's gone on. This guy has been as big as our biggest stars have been for us this year if not bigger. While I've got high hopes for the finals, before any of that, it's a good time to recognize once again that in fact we are quite lucky to have a goalie as solid as Osgood. At the end of the day, year after year this guy knows how to deliver when it counts. I can't wait to get the finals rolling to see what this guy does. If we win the Cup, you can bet good money on Osgood landing the Conn Smythe. And now for shameless gloating... Taken from http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...f=1&t=56485 and also note: Another for good measure... http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...20june&st=0

I've always been an Osgood supporter/believer. I've never been a slappy. I think I might be becoming a slappy. Osgood for Conn Smythe. Honestly. Not to mention Hall of Fame... Love it.

Love it.

HA! I remember that. Good post.

I still can't underestimate the hunger that's probably going to be sweeping over that Pens room again. I don't care what stats or injuries either teams carrying into this series or how the stats compare to last year. All that matters is that last year we won and we beat them and now we're back for round 2. Heaven knows what kind of fire that's going to light under that team. Again, not saying at all that we won't have an answer for it and my gut tells me we're winning this series, but I really think it's going to be a lot tougher than some are making it out to be. I'd love for it to be over in 5 at home, but I think that's going to be real tough. I think we're splitting first 2 at home and second 2 on the road. Actually... Game 1 - Pens win Game 2 - Wings win Game 3 - Wings win Game 4 - Pens win Game 5 - Wings win Game 6 - Pens win Game 7 - Wings win That's my gut feeling right now. I very well might want to revise it after a couple games though.

I like this scenario on so many levels.

But we don't have Dats and Z playing as well as they did last year and even Hossa hasn't put up the numbers he was last year. While I think he looks poised to change that right now, Z and especially Dats now are another story. Meanwhile, they've got Malkin who was next to worthless last year scoring like a maniac along with Crosby. I'm not saying that we're still not the better team when you consider all factors, but I think it's going to be a much tougher win than last years. They're lucky it went to six last year. I'm going to be really surprised if either team runs away with this series.