MickMcGeough

I agree that the respect for the tenders has been disgusting, at least in game 5, but HOW can you just defend what McLennan did?? That was just disgusting. I hope after he returns from his suspension he never plays a game in a Flames uniform again.

Classy. Not sure how much a suspended goaltender would help the Wings cause though.

I agree that the officiating has not been good (just like all season) but it's going both ways. Poor calls and missed calls on both clubs. But I'm sorry, it's absolutely insane to think that the refs react to appease the home crowd. I believe there is some level of bias to individual players though. Maybe bias isn't the right word. For example, Hasek's got a reputation as one who likes to draw penalties, so I've got no doubt that some refs keep an eye on him to make sure a play isn't being embellished.

Sickens me to say it but Bert was one of the better players on the ice last night. He moved the puck well, very strong in the corners, etc. The Flames need to pay much more attention to him game 5.

I don't know that any luck was involved in getting the 5 on 3s last night... I'll hold my thanks to the maker and thank Hasek intead for costing the Wings another goal in a tight game with his flopping around. Otherwise though I thought Hasek played well enough to win last night. The difference was how much better the Flames PK was than the Wings PP, and the defensive play from Calgary's forwards in the last 20. Detroit really turned up the heat in the third but the Flames forced almost all the shooters to the outside and let Kipper see everything.

From the wrong angle a lot of hits could look dirty. Datsyuk is positioned lower than Phaneuf and the point of contact is close to the elbow. The key is that he's got the elbow tucked when contact happens, so its clean. Yeah the CBC guys are pretty simple. It's infuriating to watch sometimes with how many plays they completely mis-call. Plus Calgary's games are called by the worst of them because Ottawa and Vancouver are taking precedence this season.

I'm going to have to ask you to put the pipe down, son. I think perhaps some people are a bit confused about what constitutes an elbow. The elbow needs to be raised from the body, if it's tucked in and you hit a guy while he's crouched (like the Cleary hit) it is not an elbow, even if the elbow is technically where the point of contact is. On both hits, Phaneuf and Cleary leave the ice slightly as the impact happens and the arms come out. This happens all the time and for some reason the flying arms after a hit make people think it's dirty. Both hits were completely clean. I don't have a good angle of the Cleary hit but from where I was sitting it was pretty obvious he just caught Dion with his head down. Much better angle of the hit on Datsyuk. I really can't understand how so many people are convinced that this is an elbow: That said, both hits probably demand retribution. Dion was clearly trying to crush Datsyuk with that hit and he got what was coming in game 3. Phaneuf is one of the Flames most important players and Cleary should keep his head up game 4

Hahahahaha... so YOU guys are the reason we had to endure that horrible, horrible idea. I always wondered... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAqfSBEwJgE Seriously though, it looks ridiculous and I have never found it all that difficult to follow the play. I think people lose the puck a lot less watching in HD as well so I seriously doubt we'll ever see anything like this again.

Why worry about it? Just have a laugh and enjoy the ride. I thought the brokeback one was kinda funny...

You must not have read the post I was responding to. Wings_Dynasty is pretty sure he's a bigger impact player than any Flame besides Kipper & Iggy. I would tend to disagree. I'm sure Bert will make some noise at some point in this series. Just not as much noise as the dome will every time he's near the puck

I think that's even bolder. The Flames have played against Bertuzzi many, many times. From 03 on, I can't think of a time he was ever the deciding factor in any game. Honestly I'm quite surprised at all the Bertuzzi love here after 8 games. I'd say with 4 pts in 8 games the jury is still out.

Dave Moss will be the guy Hasek is constantly trying to see past. And if Lidstrom is spending his time worrying about Moss then this will be a very short series

Meh... who cares if Hasek was touched or not in that game. Even if it was just a slight embellishment; it was timed badly enough to give the Flames the win. We don't have Niemenen to run goaltenders anymore so I doubt we'll see him get run over but I'd be shocked if we didn't see Hasek try to draw at least a penalty or two this series. We may not like it, but it's part of the game. Watch Huselius, he'll do the same. I gotta disagree with JR about how easy it is to knock Hasek off his game. I think it can be done but Hasek isn't as easily rattled as he was early in his career. I'll be interested to see how he handles Moss in his face on the PP.

Francis actually wrote something that didn't make me want to vomit. Will wonders never cease...

Flames start slow but squeak out a close win to split the first two. Decisive Flames win game 3, followed by a decisive Wings win game 4. Bertuzzi heckling in game 4 so intense that he benches himself. Hasek loses game 5 for the wings while lying sprawled in the crease still trying to draw penalties. Flames in 6.