Hank

I'm of the belief that the Pens are more relieved than riding an emotional high. You can see by the way some of the players are looking. Like they want this to be over. They know they dodged a bullet and Detroit will take away more positives from this loss than the Pens will with the win.

What on earth could possibly wake this tool up now? He's already made excuses about his legs being tired. He has been a complete non-factor from the tight-checking Detroit brings every night. And suddenly, after a 3OT game he's going to find the energy to bring his game up 4 notches? Give me whatever you're smoking. And don't think for a second that anyone in that city would have given two-craps and a piss about the Penguins if Crosby wasn't there. The fact that you had to have a pathetic rally to keep your team speaks volumes.

I really don't think that's the case. The Pens players know full well that they were dominated completely in the 2nd half of that game. They knew full well that they were never, ever gonig to score 5-on-5 against us. And they also know that not even lottery winners were as lucky as they were last night. Right now they're all thinking "OMG! We couldn't even come close to skating with them. If Fleury isn't having the game of his life we will lose each and every time against that team. They are owning us in all aspects of this series". And that's the truth. One man won that game for them last night. Their forwards were transparent. Hudlers' carelessness with his stick gave them the only chance they had in winning that game. And good for them that they used it. Because if that penalty doesn't happen this series is already done. Only Crosby and Hossa can do anything even strength. Malkin looks like he wishes he and his hippo-jaw were safe at home, at ground ZERO of Chernobyl.

Not one bit. While the Wings got stronger and stronger through OT, the Pens looked like they were about to keel over. I can count on one hand how many quality chances Pitt had in the last 60 minutes of that game. They were outright pathetic in OT. Yup, the won. They got an earned PP and capitilized. But the way they look, you would think it was PIttsburgh with a group of 40-year-olds skating around. Heck Roberts is 42 and he has far more jump than Malkin who's only 21. He's completely disappeared because he doesn't have the mental fortitude to compete at this high level. He's a scared little ***** and he's about to be put to sleep for another 3 months tomorrow night. Enjoy the win while you can. P.S. It's nice to see that Pittsburgh has regained some fair-weather fans. Weren't you guy days away from being the Kansas City Scouts? They probably would be right now if Anaheim had won the Crosby lotterly. "Doo bee doo bee doo" - translation "FORE!"

Me too! I'm tired as hell! It took me to nearly 1:30 am to fall asleep and then I had to get up at 5:00 am for work. I feel hung-over and I didn't even drink! I might as well get the fun of booze if I'm going to feel similar symptoms of drinking! I just wish Franzen had ripped that clearing attempt down the ice. Who cares if it's icing? If the guys were tired, Babs could have called a timeout. Two years in a row that guy has muffed a clearing attempt with an empty net and a series on the line. But I still have confidence. Here will be the goal scorers for Game 6: Franzen, Zetterberg, Kronwall, Maltby and Samuelsson. For Pittsburgh - Roberts.

Take solice in the fact at how well the Wings played through 3 OT's. They got STRONGER as the game progressed. Each line was tenacious as hell in all 3 zones. Pittsburgh looked like they were skating in mud. I have never, ever 'guarenteed' victory on this board or anywhere else. In fact, I've probably written the opposite more times than I should. But I have a feeling about tomorrow. The Wings are angry and bitter about that loss. They know they deserved better. In years past that might have sunk them. But this team is as determined as any team I've seen. They will dictate the pace. They will out-hussle, out-chance, out-hit and and out-score Pittsburgh tomorrow night. We will see a 60 minute effort of epic proportions and Detroit will walk away with the Cup. Bank on it.

The difference between Game 5 from last years WCF and last nights game is that the game was far closer than last nights game. It wasn't an exhibition of dominance. Seriously, how many chances did the Pens have in the last 4 periods? I can count on one hand. All they could do was dump and wait for our onslaught. Fleury was the ONLY reason they won. Two different teams. Two different ways of approaching game 6.

Hahaha. I think I can be the most pesimistic person when it comes to the Wings, but I'm telling you, the Wings win in Game 6 and it's not even close. Last night, from the 3rd period on, it looked like the Wings were scrimmaging against a high school team from Grand Rapids. Malkin is completely done. He has been all series long. Keep Crosby in check and we'll win handily.

Nope. From what I heard from Pierre McGuire and a few other analysts that went into the dressing room the team looked exhausted - Fleury in particular. Trust me, I truly, truly believe the Pens are finished. They'll come out hard in the first 5-8 minutes and that will be it.

Yes, they won. They were able to win by playing 20 solid minutes and getting a PP in the 3rd OT. If that's all the Pens have, I'm not worried. They are mentally and physically exhausted. And look at the brightside. At least Pens fans will get the chance to see the Cup raised in their building again.

I'm really not worried at all. Like I said, I truly, truly believe the Wings are far more angry than dejected or depressed. They know they were the better team (BY FAR) in the 3rd period and the OT's. It wasn't even close. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse. They know they blew a great opportunity and it won't happen again. They'll put in a full 60 minute effort and outside of the Crosby-Hossa line, the Pens won't get anything from anyone else. Malkin's finished. Sykora's finished. That team put everything on the line last night. They have nothing left. And think about it, the Pens had their backs against the wall and in OT and how did they respond? By getting *****-slapped for nearly 3 OT's. They had no answer for Detroits tenacity. If we get more shots on net instead of getting too cute or missing the net, we'd all be talking about a repeat for next season instead of game 6 tomorrow night. Trust me, this series is already over and the Pens know it. And so do the Wings.

Both teams were getting away with a lot out there. The fact is, the Wings lost because they failed to show up until the 3rd period. How many times do we have to see them get a team against the ropes and then take the next game off? It'll end in game 6. Guarenteed.

And not to be a dink, but it was Franze, once again, who failed to clear the puck along the wall. This game should have been over 2 hours ago with all of us watching Nick hold the Cup over his head at the Joe. I really, really hope this doesn't turn out to be the incident that turned everything around.

Despite looking shaky in the 3rd and 3OT's Ozzie wasn't bad. I'm just so sick and tired of losing to goalies - not the 18 skaters on the ice - which looked like an amateur team against the Wings. And am I the only one that's sick and tired of watching goalies simply flop into the butterlfy and let their giant upperbody pads make saves for them. Fleury isn't the only one, I'm just tired of watching Heaton's pads decide more games than actual reflexes.

Despite dominating this game Detroit made some really bad decisions. Everyone knows that OT hockey translates into an ugly GWG. Why on earth are the Wings still looking to ticky-tack their way to victory. JUST SHOOT IT. Oh, that's right, Sammy can't hit the freakin' net!

F**K OFF! The Pens had absolutely no business winning that game! Once again we can all say if we swapped goalies we would have won by 10 goals.

Man do I want to kill this DJ. He's lazy and he sucks.

Thanks Opie. No, I don't have proof other than what my family member and the 4 people he was with claimed. Nightfall, McCarty's always been a tremendous public figure. He's always stopped to sign autographs or get himself involved in the community. It doesn't mean he's not battling demons. Probie did a lot of charity work too and continues to do so, but we all know the issue's he's had. Heck, even Mike Tyson has given a considerable amount of his fortune away to charity and he's no saint (I remember reading one story where he used to drive by his old haunts in Brownsville and pick inner city kids up to get them new shoes. One of Tyson's limo drivers said he once got limo's for a dozen kids and drove them to a shoe store to get them brand new sneakers for basketball and school). McCarty has a heart, but he's also a flawed human being like the rest of us. Only his demons could cost him his career all over again - IF this sighting is true about him gambling again.

Take this for what it's worth but a relative of mine saw McCarty gambling at the Windsor Casino about 6 weeks ago. If it's true that's not good news for someone who's a recovery alcoholic and lost almost everything to gambling. And if I were in Ken Holland's shoes and he was still doing stuff like this, I wouldn't have him back. It shows that he's still not committed to fighting demons that helped put him down in the past. We can get a lot of other kids to do more than what he's doing. I'd rather see Helm or Abeldaker get the nod over him next season.

Totally understand. I wish he'd give up a little more credit where it's due as well. Perhaps Crosby knows there's a good chance his Pens will be facing the Wings a few more times in the Finals in the coming years and he doesn't want to make the Wings out to be unbeatable? Or more than likely it's just his frustrations coming through. And I think Opie and Snepts made excellent points that his coach isn't exactly the classiest guy in the league. Before Crosby gets up there he has to hear his coach blame everyone but themselves for a loss or give credit to the team across the ice for utilizing a good strategy in their win. Like I mentioned in my post before this one, it's the personal attacks I don't understand (again, I'm not directing that claim at you in the least). I remember when Yzerman was rumored to be traded to Ottawa and he said that he would never play in Canada. As a Canadian I was very hurt by that statement and I didn't think it was an appropriate one for him to make considering his standing as a Captain or as one of the greatest Canadian born hockey players of all time. Afterall, there are/were a lot of kids looking up to him. But even though he said that, out of raw emotion at the thought of leaving Detroit, it still didn't make him classless or lacking of humility. He was a human being who expressed his emotions in an uncontrolled manor. Crosby's doing the same. Heck, I've gotten worked up when getting beaten in Monopoly where I don't want to give other players credit for playing a good game. I can only imagine how upset some of the Pens must be at this time. Crosby will learn how to handle himself and losses better as he matures. But just because he isn't toeing the line in regards to spewing out tired and old cliches, I don't think it makes him a bad person or egomaniac.

I agree and I can fully understand that view. I just don't understand the personal attacks on him (not saying you did any of that). He's only a kid and he hasn't learned how to 'speak' like a captain yet. It's the claims that he 'lacks humility' or he 'lacks class' that I feel are uncalled for. He's not an a**hole or self-centered simply because he hasn't learned the art of post-game interviews following Stanley Cup Finals losses.

Beleive it or not, I understand where people are coming from. I'm not saying I don't get annoyed that he can't say more positive things about a team that his down 3-1 in the finals. I just understand, as a 20-year-old, what he must be thinking. And yes, I do believe he's too young to be a captain and like Opie pointed out, it was more of a PR move. An older vet like Roberts or Gonchar should have gotten it. I'd just prefer to enjoy the games and what Crosby brings to them, and the fact we're 1 game away from another Cup than worry about what someone else says or doesn't say. In the end, I guess my point is, as good as Crosby has been, it's hard to expect him to act like a 10-year vet when he can't even legally drink in the US yet. Crosby is an ultimate compitotor and he hates losing. Sure, he needs to channel his emotions better after games, but that comes with getting older and experiencing losses. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Crosby will do nothing but heap praise on the Wings and Babcock after Detroit wins tonight. Most of what he is saying is just a ploy to rally his teammates. He's just not very versed in how that should be done properly.

Ugh. And how on earth do you know that? For 3 years this kid has shown nothing but class. He's been a Canadian superstar since he was 13 years old, with cameras in his face. Nobody has ever seen him act like a spoiled, entitled punk. He still lives in Lemeiux's basement for crying out loud! He's not some blinged-up idiot from the NBA. The thing that makes me so angry about this discussion is that those complaining about him, a great majority of you have never seen him or watched him until now. If it doesn't happen in the bubble of Detroit Red Wing hockey, it doesn't exist. Read some of the books about this kid. Read some articles that have been written about him before his NHL career and during. If anyone actually did their research instead of piping off because the kid didn't suck Lidstrom's or Zetterbergs ass after every post-game interview, you'd know what kind of man he is. How much work he does in hospitals with sick kids. How he forced his sponser, Reebok, to dress and equip an entire pee-wee team from his home town who couldn't afford socks or jerseys. Or how he'll sign every autograph for kids until they've all gotten one. Some times the bus drivers and his fellow teammates have to yell at him to get on the bus. Does that sound like a self-centered superstar that beleives he deserves everything? For all the fame and wealth he's seen, this kid is not self-centred or believes he's owed anything. Please try to do some reading on the subject before jumping to conclusions. Gretzky, Howe, Lemieux and even Yzerman have met Crosby and they have nothing but glowing things to say about him. I even spoke with Ted Lindsey last winter who remarked how he got a chance to sit down with Crosby. He said the level of maturity and humbleness this kid has is amazing. But he was still in his undressed when he was answering questions. You don't think emotions linger? How many people here defended Chelios for not shaking the hands of the Ducks after last years exit? And this is a 20-year vet in the league! Compared to what Crosby has done, Chelios's actions are 10000x worse! I didn't see 1/10 the outrage over those actions.

Do you really think it's in his nature to say 'no' to a challenge? He's never backed down before and in Sid's mind he's doing exactly what a Captain should. Do you think Yzerman would get up there and say "Man are we getting killed! We have no answer for them!". I'm sure that instills a lot of confidence in the other 17 players on the bench. People here are just looking to start fights about anything. Which I guess is exactly the point of message boards every where.