Heroes of Hockeytown

The only thing I want for my birthday is a broom.

What makes you so certain the Wings don't engage in this kind of trash talk? I'm sure Maltby's had some good ones.

Well, they didn't give the Hawks a power play, but they completely ignored a blatant trip on Iginla there in order to preserve the empty net advantage. No matter, he had another go at it, 6-4 and a tie series.

I assume the Hawks will get the customary last power play and chance to tie late.

Goal was scored after an uncalled hand pass, bad times.

Indeed. Versus is just such a high-quality, well-run network.

Iginla with the answer. They mentioned this in a roundabout way: Zetterberg has the most playoff goals in the NHL since 2004 (Iginla having the second highest).

f*** yeah VS picking up the TSN feed. How's it goin' Chris Cuthbert? Just being great, I hear.

And so the curse of the 2nd seed keeps on trucking, this year (thankfully) in the East.

Wherein John Tortorella regrets dressing Sean Avery.

Second time, actually. Here's a recap of their first playoff meeting:

What pressure by the Caps, and no goal to show for it. And now off to the box they go.

Finally, Ovechkin scores.

I don't understand why the Versus studio show just doesn't copy CBC's shamelessly, in an effort to not suck. They just regurgitate hockey headlines on VS; guess what guys, I already read about the big bad Hawks talking tough to Iginla, and I didn't care back then. Ron, Don, and Kelly Hrudey actually talk about the ******* game and break down plays and show cool little details that are happening all the time in games and get missed.

Lundqvist is so good right now. I've watched most of the games and he has been by far the best goalie in the playoffs thus far.

I don't know how Gary can reconcile this with his 12 year old daughter. I'm completely certain her world has been shattered by these lewd ogres.

There's nothing like the playoffs, is there? Let us reaffirm our solidarity as Michiganders by hating on that festering wound cut into the Earth's crust, through which Lucifer and his minions gain entry into the mortal world -- Ohio -- as much as possible.

If I recall correctly not only was the shot hitting the post and the goal line scare basically on back to back shots on the same PP (essentially making it one scoring chance, since the opportunity would have been lost for one goal if the other had been scored), but Umberger scored later on that very power play, making the entire point moot. They got the goal, it didn't change a thing.

Beauty of a hit. That whole minute and sequence of events leading up to Hank's goal was just unbelievable. I give mad props to Umberger though, he was a bit woozy but he got back in the game and scored. He's the only Jacket that's done anything of substance in this series.

Thanks to these brave heroes, soldiers behind enemy lines, and their boundless courage in completing that which is their solemn duty, the octopi's dominance over Nationwide Arena is a strong as ever. I salute each and every one of you.

More or less a repeat of the last game. On their heels a bit in the third, but no biggie. Stuart is basically my hero after flattening Umberger. I hereby absolve all past regular season offense from ye, Brad. From the Stuart hit to the Hank goal was basically the most awesome minute of hockey we've seen all year; I'm absolutely loving it. He got that post and then the puck sliding underneath him and staying out happen in quick succession, so that's basically combines for one good bounce. The goal against was a bad bounce, Nash's shot deflecting off Kronwall right to Umberger all alone in front. So, they cancel out in my mind. The succession on non-clears leading up to the goal was pretty bad, but that will happen now and again. Plus, there are no superlatives I could use to do justice to Ozzie's kick save on Huselius. The glove save on Torres later was also thoroughly outrageous. What magnificent goaltending. I love you, Ozzie.

Both. The whole team has been waiting for this time of year. I don't know that you give them a pass for being such slack-asses during the season -- people pay to see these games and they want to see their team play well and try to win -- but it is what it is, the Wings have collectively turned it around now.

Time to put the boot down and send these guys packing. Hitch might get to move Nash away from Hank, but all that means is he's stuck not scoring against Pavel and Flip. I expect Nick will get more minutes to create as many match up problems as possible. Let's go Red Wings!

Fisch would be making a good chunk of change right now if he were still in hockey, doubtful the Wings would have re-signed Stuart. EDIT: This being in the fantasy universe where he was just dropped on the '09 Wings, no telling how the team would have been different over the years if he'd been on it.

The story behind the slip up.