gcom007

This is going to be a hard-fought series without a doubt. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see it go to 7 games and I honestly think it's a tossup right now given our injury situations. I could see it going either way, but I feel like neither time is going to go home feeling like it wasn't a great series on every level. This is going to take the best effort from both teams and I have little doubt that they'll bring it. This may become the best finals in years. I'm pumped. Scary thing for Wings: injuries, Malkin and Crosby are only better this year, Pittsburgh's going to be even hungrier, they're a more balanced and experienced team this year Scary thing for Pens: Hossa seems to just be finding his game, if Dats and Lids return and are even close to 100% we're a superior team, Osgood's the best goalie in the playoffs and is playing perhaps the best hockey of his career, our depth guys continue to find ways to contribute Again, I'm thinking 7 games, and I can't make a call now. I'll know better after game 2.

This is going to be an interesting finals.....

If we win, it's a tossup between Osgood and Franzen. My money's on Osgood. Lidstrom most certainly is 3rd. I don't think Z has a chance in hell. Half his goals are empty netters. Crosby or Malkin will get it before him even if we win.

If not for Zetterbergs great playoffs, Osgood would've gotten it last year. He's not having a playoffs like that and Franzen is not putting up as complete of a game as Z did. Plus, Osgood's come up bigger for the team this year I think on his own. We've had a lot of games where the team's looked flat and he's stolen periods and even games. Individually, he's been rock solid. Again, only Franzen's playing the kind of individual hockey to compete and unfortunately, I think it's just a bit too one dimensional and simply not quite dominating enough to overtake Osgood if he keeps it up and we win.

If we win the Cup, the Conn Smythe race is between two players alone: Ozzie and Franzen. I think Ozzie gets it if it comes down to that. He's yet again a feel good story and getting his due all across the media and he flatout deserves it the way he's played. Again, only Franzen can really compete for this and my gut tells me he's going to get more than a couple more chances at his.

I think there's a lot more going on with Datsyuk and Hossa than we know. I'm betting on injuries. And hell, Hossa has taken more than a few rough, rough hits where he's immediately had to hobble off the ice. There were a couple hits last series that I was shocked he got up from at all. If we win this series, doing it in 5 would be great. We could use a break before the finals like nobody's business...

So when are we going to get our next penalty and who will it be on??? We're due...

f*** THIS s***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"They ought to put O'Halloran and Jackson on a bus tomorrow morning. Get them out of the playoffs. ... The referees don't have their hand up. ... This is not a penalty. Shoulder, bang, check with a guys head down. This is a thing of beauty. If you don't like it change the channel." "I agree, I don't get this anymore. When did it turn that all of sudden, whenever a guy lays on the ice now it's a penalty or other people are looking for suspensions. That's just a great hockey hit. For years and years and years we celebrated those types of plays and those guys were nothing more than good, rugged hockey players. We feel badly that Havlat was injured on the play, but none the less, that's just a great hockey play." -CBC...they don't like the Wings.

"They ought to put O'Halloran and Jackson on a bus tomorrow morning. Get them out of the playoffs. ... The referees don't have their hand up. ... This is not a penalty. Shoulder, bang, check with a guys head down. This is a thing of beauty. If you don't like it change the channel." "I agree, I don't get this anymore. When did it turn that all of sudden, whenever a guy lays on the ice now it's a penalty or other people are looking for suspensions. That's just a great hockey hit. For years and years and years we celebrated those types of plays and those guys were nothing more than good, rugged hockey players. We feel badly that Havlat was injured on the play, but none the less, that's just a great hockey play." -CBC BULLs***!!!!!!

Even if it's true, JR's still a tool and I trust that Babcock knows what he's doing. There was this other coach...I think his name was Scotty Bowman...he used to bust his players chops too. Sometimes that's what it takes and players that win Cups and like to play on winning teams understand that, hence why they typically don't run their mouth. They know the score. Chelios certainly does. JR has no clue.

I think this thread is a joke gone horribly wrong.

Luongo's going to get smoked going out giving up 7 goals. I'm imagining a goal against for every million earned comments. It's going to be real ugly.

That's my only fear. I kinda want the Penguins to win now just to give the Finals some controversy.

Even if Osgood is more expensive and even if you can throw the "he played on great teams" argument around, one thing has been true throughout his career: the guy really knows how to win. I don't think Luongo is a big-game goalie. He'll probably find his way to a Cup sooner or later (maybe...), but he won't go down with the true greats. Meanwhile, Osgood has humbly and quietly continued to get the job done year after year, always giving his team a chance to win and coming up with huge games when it counts. He's a playoff goalie. I don't think Luongo has what it takes. Even with a rough D, if he was as good as he's built up to be, he wouldn't struggle this much. I hope he's never a Wing.

Love it. Truly love it. Just gotta love when another original six team advances. I like them. I like a lot of their guys. It's a good thing. I think Sundin's lame. I think Luongo is profoundly overrated. I don't really like the Canucks in general. Makes my night. I love the fact that Hockey's got Chicago fired up again. It's been like a second home to me at times so it's good to see. This team will be a great team for awhile. I don't think this is their year. They have lessons to learn this year. But they're on their way. And I've met some hardcore Hawks fans saying the same thing. Super happy for their team but they know they've got to get an ass-whooping from Detroit to learn what it takes to be champions. I was shocked but really impressed multiple times.

Man, I hope we wrap Anaheim up tomorrow. I'm beyond excited about a Detroit-Chicago Western Finals...you have no idea...well, you probably do, but I think it has the makings of a great series. I like this Chicago team, but I'm ready to HATE THEM!!!!!!! WAR!!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't accusing. Just curious. Don't take it the wrong. I just enjoy this time of year as all year people ride hype trains that push Luongo up and tear Osgood down and all season I say, "Wait for when it counts. Osgood will be the man. I wouldn't take Luongo over him even if he wasn't $8 million. Quote me in June..." And as we're seeing here...............

And I really like this Hawks team. I think they've got a Cup in their future in the next five years. AND 7-5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LUONGO CRUMBLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $8 million what!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?

Did you hate Osgood all year too?

I think this is why we don't pay and probably won't be paying $8 million for goaltending anymore. I mean, hell, I've been fine with Osgood all year. I knew it'd work out like this when it counted. Luongo at $8 million...Osgood at $1 millionish... Easy answer for me.

I'm sorry to anyone this offends, but I continue to not be near as impressed with Luongo as many are. No denying he's a great goalie, but he's not even close to the greatness of the Hasek's and Roy's. ...and 6-5. Once again. Something about this guy doen't connect. Some sort of fire's not there.

There it is! Tie game!

That was fast, I'm hoping Chicago has another last minute come-back in them to finish this one off.

Dear Game 4, I love you. Sincerely, Elliot