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This probably doesn't mean anything to 95% of the people on this thread, but I'd liken Hasek's play tonight to Al Montoya's play back against Colorado College in the NCAA Regional a couple years ago. You can't really "fault" him for any of the goals, and he didn't play bad per se, but you'd like to see him make a save or two on the pucks that went in. Those goals would've all been really tough to stop. The first one was a blast from probably 30 feet away (plus he was probably shocked that Perry actually put one on net!). The second one he was BADLY screened on. The third one it looked like Selanne almost golfed at...I don't even think HE knew where that one was going. And the fourth one he was screened on as well. He typically plays better than that. The puck wasn't going our way tonight though. Even in our losses, we haven't had too much trouble scoring goals, and Hasek usually won't let this many go in. Two more efforts like tonight will win us this series. And I've got every confidence that Hasek will be better for the rest of the series. -Tim

I could be wrong about this, but when a team usually has two great defensemen, and then tonight they've only got one: Does it make MORE sense to leave Datsyuk and Zetterberg split up? I mean, Anaheim had last change tonight. If you put Dats and Z together, then Niedermayer can be matched up with them whenever that line is on the ice. WIth them split up, at least theoretically, one of them should be on the ice without Niedermayer every shift. Now, if Pronger was suspended for Game 5, I would absolutely 100% agree with you. Put Dats and Z back together and put them out there every time Niedermayer isn't. I think the strategy tonight was sound, though. I mean hell, we outshot them pretty handily and it wasn't like against Calgary where we were outshooting them, but 75% of the shots were from the perimeter. We had some GREAT chances tonight. Just didn't bury em, and in doing so, we let the Ducks off the hook. Babs wasn't the one turning the puck over all the damn time or not finding a way to make sure our goalie can see the puck....Hell, if Flip gets the puck up on his breakaway, we probably win going away tonight. -Tim

Oh, one thing that we need to get fixed: Stop taking too many men on the ice penalties. That HAS to be like 6 in the playoffs. There's no reason for it. You're a pro team. Get your line changes straight. These games are too big to have bench minors every other game. -Tim

That's the way it should be, but in reality, you knew that we weren't getting another PP after that long 5 on 3 to start the third, and you knew they were getting the next call (or calls, if there was more than one). At least that call on Cleary was legit. They aren't going to gift you that many chances, especially on the road. Gotta take advantage when you have the opportunity. We didn't tonight, and it cost us the game. If we make it 4-3, the game is over. The crowd would've been out of it, the Ducks would've been down after giving up 3 straight goals. We let them off the hook in this game, make no mistake about it. And as I said earlier, if we lose this series, point to tonight as the reason why. Because this was the chance to step on their throat and we didn't take it. But I still really like us in a best of 3 series against Anaheim at this point, especially with two at the Joe and a goalie who has the tendancy to come up huge after a bad game (and a tendancy to come up huge in elimination games). It's going to be tough, but after Game 2, I would've been thrilled with a split in Anaheim. Now I'm pissed that's all we've got. That change in attitude is a good thing, however, because it means that we REALLY swung the play in our favor. This team can't beat us if Hasek is on his game. And we have every reason to believe that he will be in the games coming up. -Tim

Reply from last thread: When you've got 2 long 5 on 3s, you can't complain about the refs too much. They interfere a lot. I thought they were supposed to get that out of the game, but I guess not. Fight through it. We're still getting more chances, our goalie is still better, we've got a better offense, and we've swung the tide 5 on 5. Plus Babcock can get the matchups he wants now for 2 of the next 3 (if we need it). And Dom is money when it counts. Oh, and I don't think there's too much momentum carrying over. Especially after a 2 day break. Now the major question is this: I typically wear my Holmstrom jersey for home games, the Doug Brown jersey for road games, and the Lidstrom Sweden jersey for "must-wins" or when we need a little more luck. I wore it for games 4, 5, 6 against SJ (mainly because I was afraid of them and I wanted that series closed out as quick as possible). Does game 5 qualify as a "must win" or a "need some extra luck" game, or should I just stick with the Homer jersey (which has also been VERY solid in the playoffs). -Tim

When you've got 2 long 5 on 3s, you can't complain about the refs too much. They interfere a lot. I thought they were supposed to get that out of the game, but I guess not. Fight through it. We're still getting more chances, our goalie is still better, we've got a better offense, and we've swung the tide 5 on 5. Plus Babcock can get the matchups he wants now for 2 of the next 3 (if we need it). And Dom is money when it counts. -Tim

I still love our chances in a best of 3 with this team. If we lose the series, definitely point to tonight as the reason why though. Outshot them big-time, had 2 lonnnnnng 5 on 3s that we didn't capitalize on, and there's probably a couple Hasek would like to have back. Fortunately, it means that Dom will more than likely have a great game on Sunday. And he's money in elimination games (either way). I still love our chances. -Tim

I think they gotta go with Giguere still. He's the one that got em there, and it was pretty clear they weren't blaming him for the last game...just trying to swing the momentum with the goalie change (which didn't work since it took like 15 seconds to score again! ) Gotta believe they'll come back with Giggy again. Doesn't matter to me one bit. I have faith in this team no matter who they're playing against--especially because our guy is better! -Tim

Such a big game. We've got the momentum on our side. Some doubt has to be creeping into the minds of the Ducks after that last game. I'm sure they'll come back with Giguere but even he has to be shaken a little bit. Now we get a chance to step on their throats and take a stranglehold on this series in a game where Anaheim is missing their best (and dirtiest) player. Here's hoping the Wings see the opportunity that's in front of them and take full advantage. This isn't the Saddledome or anything.....they can be had in that arena. Not to mention the fact that we've got the best goalie in the world (and in history) on our side. GO WINGS!!!!! -Tim

I got mine from The Goalie's Den in Troy. I bought it during that 98 Cup run, right when he switched to #96. I had to sweat it out that he wouldn't switch back, after Mironov left in the offseason. Also had to sweat out the Ray Bourque trade deadline rumors, since I want to say he was one of the guys rumored to be headed to Boston. It's EXTREMELY satisfying to see Homer get the recognition he deserves now. He's gotta be in the top 4 or 5 most important players on this team.....amazing to see him develop into a 30 goal scorer. Talk about specializing in something and working to make yourself the best at what you do. Homer is incredible. -Tim

Nope! I don't usually make light of someone getting hurt, but that douchebag got exactly what he deserved when he tried to run Stevie Y. -Tim

I can't imagine that this hearing is actually face to face with him being in Anaheim and the league office being in Toronto. If it is, then I frankly don't care if he gets suspended or not. A flight to Toronto and back to Anaheim on his day off might eff with him enough anyway. -Tim

Pronger's punishment: He has to try and check Yzerman again. -Tim

Hard to believe that they would have a hearing if they aren't going to suspend him. I'll still believe it when I see it. After the way the league botched the Flames Game 5 Meltdown, I'm skeptical that they'll get it right. -Tim

I'm not so sure we would've made a move for Chelios if Vladdy hadn't gotten hurt. But yes, if we had Vladdy, Cheli, and Fisch the defense would be absolutely ridiculous. But Hasek would be bored -Tim

I like DMFH personally....doesn't have quite the same ring to it as JMFJ, but it's fitting. -Tim

I thought you were going to say "we have a goalie" -Tim

BTW, if the thing about the reporter is true, does anyone else think it's funny that he got moved to Los Angeles, home of about 9 bagillion reporters? Wouldn't that be like trading Randy Moss to Colombia or something? -Tim

Hahahaha! DENNY CRANE! Love that show. Gotta watch it on the DVR once post-game is over. -Tim

How the hell does a team that lost 5-0 get a star? And how does Hasek not get one? He was magnificent in the first period and he had a few huge ones late.... -Tim

I really want to get my signed Holmstrom jersey framed, but it's going to be so hard to stop wearing the thing if he keeps playing like this!! -Tim

We should hit him hard enough that Kariya will feel it. -Tim

He gives our team the swagger that they've been missing since 2002. I swear to God they play so much more loose in front of him because they know that if they eff up, he'll be there to bail them out. It's so nice to have the "hot goalie" on our team instead of the guy that we play against. We wouldn't have gotten this far with Legace in net. -Tim

This team is just amazing.... Flip Saunders should really show some flim of the Wings to his boys, so they can see what a team with HEART looks like. Hasek is amazing. I swear to God this entire run is because of the confidence our team has playing in front of him. -Tim

Signed the Pistons and Tracy McGrady. -Tim