haroldsnepsts

But did I mention clutch?

Seems these days refs rarely have the balls to call diving without calling a penalty to cancel it out. The Sedin play should've been diving on him and nothing else. That wasn't even a crosscheck and is something that happens just about every time the players gather around the goalie.

Did he adjust the penalty calls for the Canucks gooning it up in games 4 and 5 when they were getting blown out?

Sadly he's looked very old and slow this season.

Congrats to the Preds on winning a playoff series. but man Teemu is a beast. He basically tried to carry the Ducks to the next round on his back. 6 goals in 6 games, most of them clutch. Not bad for an old man.

That's part of why I think the 97 lineup was the most dominant of the Wings Cup-winning teams. Talented, tough, and they were on an absolute mission.

Love the highlight of Gregory Campbell losing his stick, so he grabs Halpern's and holds onto it. Blatantly! Halpern's stick is pointing straight up in the air as he tries to hold onto it with one hand, until Campbell pulls it right out of his hand and tosses it aside. Ahh, it must be nice to be Colin's son.

Niemi continues to be garbage. Enjoy that 4 year extension! Thornton was actually noticeable on the ice tonight. Heatley wasn't. It's like only one of their $7 million dollar men can show up at a time in a playoff game. That being said, I still can't believe how soft on the puck a guy as big as Thornton is. Great hands, unbelievable vision, but doesn't seem like he wants to battle for a puck. Great game by Quick. Gutsy performance by the Kings. Without Kopitar I didn't even think they'd be in this series. It's too bad that they've let a couple of the great chances they had go by. This could easily be a tied series instead of another win or go home by the Kings.

It's pretty amazing to think the Ducks are even in a playoff series and have a chance to win considering how they started this season.

It's the Legace factor. This forum tends to take in wayward backups like puppydogs.

Agreed. He's not an elite goaltender, but is a great goaltender for the money. Quick hasn't been the problem nearly as much as the Kings getting flustered and running around in their own end. When they get a couple goals against them in succession, they're prone to collapse.

Here's Ruutu's hit on Erat. Looks like pretty much nothing and is a little surprising Erat went down. While I don't really mind Ruutu getting suspended because I'm sure he's done something to deserve it this year, getting it for this hit is a joke. As a reminder, in Colin Campbell's eyes, Ruutu's hit warrants the same suspension as this: Keep spinning the wheel Collie!

No kidding. Miller was phenomenal last game. He's had two amazing games, and two mostly solid ones. For the stat watchers, his SV % is now .937 with two shutouts. But if you watch the games, as you said he's the only reason they have a shot in this series.

No kidding. When he was a kid with the Ducks I thought he was going to be a beast. Turns out the fat and lazy label was true. The Kings have a lot of potential, but they keep making moves like this that keep them from taking the next step. They should've had a better handle on who Penner was. And they needed a sniper with speed, not Bertuzzi lite. I don't know the details of why they didn't get Cammalleri re-signed a couple seasons ago, but he's exactly the kind of player they need now. I think the Kings would at least have one more win. He's their leading scorer, is becoming a solid two-way player, and is one of the only guys on the team that can carry the puck through the middle of the offensive zone. His ankle injury on that freak play was devastating to the King's postseason.

I'm guessing you meant Erat. I know what you're saying, but I really don't think this is the same as what Cooke did to Savard. And they definitely need to try and limit concussions, it's just that they're such an unpredictable thing, I don't think you can punish guys because a hit results in a head injury. There's plenty of squeaky clean hits that could cause concussions. You can however limit the kind of headshot hits that often lead to concussions and are more about trying to brain a guy than separating him from the puck, I just don't think this hit qualifies.

They both should've gotten more. Heatley was a bad precedent used for Kunitz's elbow. It's a total non-hockey play and should be suspended severely.

Good call. Refs are nothing if not predictable when it comes to evening out penalties as much as possible.

It was a little late, maybe, but hardly "well after the pass." Guys over on hfboards (and Bob McKenzie) have timed it out saying it was about .8 seconds after he makes the pass. The NHL standard is apparently half a second. He got two for interference, that was enough. I think Ruutu is a gutless puke, but I don't see any evidence in that replay how that's targeting the head. As for your sarcastic comment about the objectivity of the title, this is an internet fan forum, not a newspaper. We're all stating our opinions here. I stated mine in the title.

He didn't come back for the rest of the game, so the injury was apparently real. I can't really tell what from though, other than one of those fluky hits. Personally I don't even know that it warranted the interference penalty. It was maybe a little late? But seems like within reason and the kind of hit that happens a lot in any given game.

I've always thought Johnson was overrated. Great offensive skills, not so into playing defense. After watching him this season, I still wouldn't want the Wings to deal for him, but he's improved in the defense department. He's physical, blocks a ton of shots, and obviously has a very good offensive skillset. At 24 years old, there's still hope for him to turn into a great offensive defenseman who's not a total liability in his own end. Of anyonone on the Kings I'd want in Detroit, it'd be Matt Greene, but they have him locked up long term. I mean, sure, I'd want Doughty, but I don't see LA parting with him ever. Martinez is an interesting young defenseman for the kings and is an RFA this season.

I'm far from salivating over the idea of playing SJ. Mainly just saying to those Wings fans who haven't watched the Shark-Kings series, the Sharks have some weaknesses for sure. I'd definitely add Clowe and Murray to that list. I just think Couture, Pavelski and Setoguchi have been unbelievable. As for Thornton, honestly if in a series against the Wings all I notice is his backchecking and Marleau is quietly effective, I'd be more than happy with that. Because they should be the two guys dominating. I know bashing Thornton has become sport, but for whatever reason I actually like the guy. But at $7.2 mill he's consistently disappointing in the postseason, and should be doing much more than backchecking. I may regret saying this if the Wings end up playing the Sharks, but in terms of the goalies out there, Niemmi doesn't scare me much. He didn't impress me that much last playoffs, especially in the finals. One of the things that scares me about the Sharks is how damn fast they are. Our forwards are okay, but the Wings blueline is not particularly quick footed.

That is a little strange. I ended up watching a lot of the postgame interviews with the Yotes players. Aside from the disappointment of losing the game, it was also really clear how screwed up it must have been to try to play for this team with all the drama that's going on off the ice. If the team is moving, ownership problems, etc. I know we give the Phoenix fans a hard time, but it really must suck for the fans there who do root for that team and want them to stay. Also, I know I'd probably love him if he were a Wing, but Doan has always pissed me off. But hearing him in the post game interview, he seems like a pretty class act off the ice.

Agreed. They've given up 10 goals in 3 games to a team that struggles offensively and is missing their best player. The first couple goals Niemmi let in last night were absolute garbage. It's hard to believe the Hawks won a Cup with this guy in net. They were fortunate to play a team with equally shoddy goaltending in Boucher and Leighton.

Mercifully, I missed the second half of the game though I was afraid that would happen. When I left it was 5-3 still. The Kings had a tendency to collapse like that during the regular season sometimes too. A team would get a couple goals, like the Sharks did because of the power plays, and then they just lose their composure and start running around. I don't know if it's because of their youth or weak coaching or what, but it's painful to watch. I honestly was afraid it would happen in game two. They have a lot of trouble closing out games. The upside for the Wings is that if they beat the Coyotes and end up playing the Sharks, San Jose looks very beatable. Shaky goaltending, Thornton is once again invisible. Their best players by far are Setoguchi, Couture and Pavelski. Watching Thornton play, I can't believe how soft on the puck a guy that's 6'4" and 230 lbs is. It looks like Hudler could knock him off it.

Their PP was embarrassingly awful all season, but it looks like they're getting it together here a bit in the playoffs. Willie Mitchell now has more goals this playoffs than Joe Thornton, with 1.