Heroes of Hockeytown

Dano tip it?

The Pens are going to be dragging ass from being at the tail of a back to back. If there was ever a time to pull off a big comeback...

Gotta start somewhere. Two minutes left in the second is better than never!

Well this is the second time this season the Wings have gotten their asses kicked by the Pens' B-team.

It was a tough break with the wrist injury, but it looks like a bust signing so far. Obviously there's no need to make a decision right now, but judging by his body of work so far I can't imagine he'd be re-signed.

Cleary and Rafalski getting beat on that one. Jimmy's having a tough day at the office...

Looks like a softie.

I thought it was funny that they've got Boston's guy doing the color so he made sure to let everyone know his opinion on the Chara hit, which is so relevant to a Wing/Pens game.

Grand Rapids/Wilkes-Barre about to drop the puck!

It's probably under what most UFA players would get for putting up Franzen's regular season numbers, nevermind his playoff scoring. Some of you guys are complaining about the length, which is certainly valid for its own reasons (lack of motivation primarily), but it's that length that keeps the cap hit down to begin with. It's not hard to "bite the bullet" on that $4M for a guy that has scored the second most playoff goals (behind Hank) since the lockout.

I was using goals per game instead of the cumulative total, but it hardly matters. The main point is that the Wings are good at scoring goals, and their recent season and playoff history suggests they will keep on being good at it.

Maybe nitpicking, but I think you're guilty here of attributing some pet theory to a playoff loss. There are too many factors that go into losing any one hockey game, let alone series, to be accounted for by just saying they were "lazy." In fact I would say that's a lazy attempt at an explanation. It's just too easy when they lose a series to say "See! They weren't X enough!" But actually it was probably a combination of Y and Z (and ABCD while we're at it). Anyways, if we're talking about offense, know this: not only are the Wings currently the league's 2nd most potent offense, but in each of the last three playoff years they've had the highest goals per game.

Well, the modern playoff format was introduced 1994. From then until 2007 a seventh seed (sometimes both) had knocked off a second seed every single year except once, in 1996. Then it took a break for a little while, but it happened again last year. I don't know if that's actually unusual relative to the other matchups, though.

I would have picked the breakaway relay he faced down in the first period.

And then didn't score again. They were the Minus Line. I agree with the general population here, Mike should reunite Hudler-Datsyuk-Cleary. I can't remember why he split them up in the first place.

Since the Wings are playing the Oilers that night I think the home crowd will probably want to be present. The next game (although a tail end of a back to back and third game in four nights) is against another cellar dweller in the Blues. That's four relatively easy points waiting to be plucked. I won't know what to say if they blow those ones.

Well, one bad goal can be the difference between winning and losing; or in tonight's case maybe getting at least a point. The offense obviously was also unable to get the job done, so there's plenty of blame to go around. Overall poor game for virtually everyone outside of Helm.

I wish the Wings could hold onto a three goal lead as well as LA held onto that one goal edge.

I agree, he's had no mojo at all tonight. Can't stickhandle past anyone, can't complete a pass, can't even hang onto the puck. Still a chance for some magic, Pavs...

Just about gave it away twice in ten seconds.

Oh man Bert really let him have it. Not sure that's a fair trade for the Lidstrom high-stick miss, especially if you're Drew Doughty.

Not sneaky enough, Brad. Teams have been able to cycle the puck endlessly in the Wings' zone recently, no one can get off.

Quick letting the Kings continue to hang around...

Alumnus of Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. His powers include scowling, mumbling, and coaching, just like actual bobcats(...?).

Much like the real life Red Wings, no one cares about late-season hockey. Where my playoffs at?!