YoungGuns1340

Wings Win Wednesday ...sorry but thats just meant to be.

MALKIN SUCKS!!

Yeah thats kind of how I feel about it. Game 5, there was too much fanfare, planning for victory, etc, that they got ahead of themselves. It was too ideal a situation for the Wings to win the cup, IMO, so tonight they have a good challenge on their hands and will buckle down to win it.

But if you also take into account the American economy, particularly Californias real estate sector which has taken a huge hit, which thus brings up the issues of expendable income and also combine that with the likelihood that a California resident may only like hockey to 33% of the degree that Ontario residents do BUT would spend money on hockey a fourth of the amount Canadian hockey fans do, given that Hockey is Canada's #1 sport, but Americas #4 sport, then you are technically looking at a California population that should only have rougly 4/5 of a hockey team, and would only care about hockey 8% of the degree that Ontario residents do.

After tonight it will be one? Pray tell, how does a team win one game in a row?

I dont think thats necessarily true. I realize it is against the rules to move a franchise before you've made any initial investment into a franchise, but we're talking about one of the strongest - if not the strongest market - in the entire NHL. If a team wanted to move Ottawa to Kansas City, they'd likely have to find a way to prove that a Kansas City market could out-produce an Ottawa market - something thats damn near impossible. To say that a Hamilton team could out-produce the Atlanta or Florida franchise isnt off the mark at all. What my concern is, is that there are a lot of owners ready to give up their teams. Why? Because a lot of the owners underestimated the NHL and didnt expect its net income to skyrocket as much as it has. Initially, Im sure a lot of owners were loving the cap because it meant a better balance between the money that they have to put into their team, and the money that stays in their pocket. At this juncture, many of the Southern owners are NOT happy with Bettman. Why? Because X small-market teams owner is pissed that he now has to put AT LEAST some 45 million into his team. Pre-lockout, Nashville was spending 23 million dollars on that team. Now theyre gonna be forced to spend double that, in only 5 years time. Even with the redistribution of income, a hockey team cant recover from that sort of fluctuation. Hell, in 2000, there were 5 teams that had a payroll in the TEENS. Now, if somebody could make this clear to me, I would be appreciative, but if Balsillie did potentially move his team to Hamilton, it would have a positive effect on the net income of the NHL, but that would in turn cause the cap to rise, and ultimately the cap floor as well. If only ONE southern market owner can sell his team to Balsillie, and there are 5 or 6 more wanting to get out of their contracts but cant find a buyer, I cant imagine theyd put up with a relocation to Canada, which would require them to have to spend more on their team. And ultimately, its the owners that are keeping Bettmans butt in office. So does Bettman keep the owners happy by not allowing relocation and a subsequent sure-fire increase in the cap floor, or does he eventually approve a relocation, that nets his league more money?

Ill post this here too: I had a dream the Red Wings won the game tonight. Ive had two hockey dreams already. The first was before game 5 against Dallas, where I dreamt we lost. The second was before game 6 against Dallas, where I dreamt we won.

They also said on the hotstove that JERRY BRUCKHEIMER wants to get a team in Las Vegas. Not only does that guy have a ton of money, but his name carries a ton of weight, and that team would get a ton of press for the NHL. I can imagine it would have off and on celebrity attendance. Its an interesting thought. Also, if a team is to be moved, I wouldnt be surprised if its Atlanta. Of the southern teams that have a small fanbase and market, theyre the team that has done the least. One playoff serires in their history. The only team with less accolades is CBJ, and they have a decent fanbase.

POSITIVE ENERGY POSITIVE THINKING. THE SECRET.

Yeah, I dont really think Osgoods in the running anymore. In fact, I think its more clear cut than some of you think. Hank was stellar defensively in Game 4, and he brought the offense in game 5 with a pair of assists. If he has a good game in any aspect in Game 6 when we close this thing out, its his. He has 25 points so far, and has been a dominant defensive force. Basically, hes been doing his job damn well all over the ice, all playoffs long. Plus hes got an A on that sweater. Id say its his without a doubt at this point.

I'll definitely stand up here and say I bashed Hasek during the season. And why not? Lets face it, he played some TERRIBLE hockey this year at times, but he still deserves credit because he did win us a lot of games and he did get us a pair to start out the 2008 playoffs. And its great to see him not causing a ruckus over not being the starting goaltender still throughout the playoffs.

Jesus Im just bursting with energy right now. I could run a ******* marathon. I feel so good about this game. I was calm as a cucumber up until 8:15 yesterday, like nothing big was happening that night, but tonight, Im celebrating it. Im going all out. Im feeling it. Its a Wings win tonight. Im gonna guaranshee it.

What are you doing??? Terrible terrible energy youre sending out there in the universe. Have more faith than that!!! Rinse, wash, repeat! The Red Wings score goals in abundance. The Red Wings have an impenetrable defense. The Red Wings score goals in abundance. The Red Wings have an impenetrable defense.

For anyone whos still worried or doubful about the Wings chances in the game: "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." --Louis L'Amour I know I felt that way last night...

Wow. I am so sorry. Good luck to you, BELCO. The Wings will take of their end of the deal and on Wednesday night youll get the great news that your team is the Stanley Cup Champion team.

On Monday, I was kind of sleepwalking around. It just didnt feel like a day the Cup was going to be won. Well its only 1am on Wednesday, but it already feels like a day the cup is going to be won. Ive had a hockeytown poster on my wall for nearly two years now, with Nick, Draper, and Hank on it, and I just noticed the look on Lidstroms face on the poster today. Its creepy. It like hes looking right at me and thinking "were you seriously doubting us last night?". Ive got a gooodd feeling about this game tonight. Same feeling I had going into game 6 against Dallas. Its ours tonight.

The only time I can remember being this depressed/pissed off about a loss was in 2002. If memory serves, it was Game 6 against Colorado and Peter Forsberg had just scored a goal off a cute little intentional skate deflection that put the game out of reach for the Wings. At the time, being the overwhelmed pessimist that I was, I thought theyd get booted out in Game 7. Man, did they prove me wrong. I expect to see the same tonight. After that devestating loss, the Wings are going to come out with a convincing win, just for me!

I wouldnt be surprised to see him sign a significantly long-term contract - even longer than Datsyuks - and take something in the arena of 7-8M as an average cap hit. However, Im betting that his salary per year at the beginning of the contract will be in the neighbor of 9 or 10 million.

And that somehow changes the fact that they played well? They played great. Even CBC was giving compliments to Lebdas great performance through 6 periods of play. Chelios was absolutely brutal in his last game against Dallas, and Pittsburgh is a craftier, speedier team. Also, you contradict yourself here. IF putting in Chelios over Lilja and Lebda is because we want fresher players, then clearly thats pointless. As you pointed out, Lebda and Lilja didnt play huge minutes last night and wont be overly tired. As for the "our players will be tired" comments, two things. 1. The best the Pens can do is put in the depressed Letang (his best friend was Luc Bourdon) in exchange for Sydor, or Georges Laraque for Kennedy or Roberts. If they want to do that, more power to them, but it wouldnt be an advantage for them at all. 2. The Pens may be younger, but our puck possession game takes a lot of the dump and chase aspect away. Neither team is going to have a significant advantage over the other in terms of energy. The Wings will play for the Cup. The Pens will play for their lives.

TO ALL PENS FANS THAT KEEP BITCHING ABOUT HOW ALL HIGH STICKS THAT DRAW BLOOD ARE CALLED: GAME THREE NIKLAS LIDSTROM HIGHSTICK TO THE FACE BUSTED OPEN HIS LIP, STITCHES ENSUED NO PENALTY FOUR OR FIVE MINUTES RIGHTFULLY DUE TO THE RED WINGS NOT GIVEN COULD HAVE TURNED THIS SERIES INTO A SWEEP. Its about consistency. Or rather, inconsistency.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH OHHHHH AHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHA Like in Game 3 where Lidstrom's lip got busted open and he had to get stitches but no call was made?

It was also an obvious high stick in game three when Lidstrom had to get stitches for the careless high-stick by the pens that wouldve been a 4 minute penalty, maybe 5 with the way his lip was bleeding. But whos counting?

People need to step away from the crack. Maltby, Helm, Hudler, Lilja, and Lebda all played awesome last night. Our 4th line was better than our 3rd line was, and our 3rd pairing was better defensively than our 2nd. No Chelios, No Mac, No Downey. We played a great game last night, despite the outcome.

I loved that he changed up the lines. Its funny, cause he went back to Flip-Datsyuk-Homer, which he had used in the playoffs last year. Franzen - Hank - Sammy actually looked really good, with Cleary subbing in for both Sammy and Homer off and on. Good stuff.

Thats the funny thing. Im still so pissed that the Wings didnt win it in Game 5, but before this series started, I didnt even think we wouldve had the CHANCE to win it in game 5. I expected 6 at the beginning. Its funny how the emotion changes so much..