WingFanInStarLand

Keep Holding on Boys...they are coming hard, Dom has been HUGE.... LETS PLAY IN THEIR ZONE

Awful call on Lang...AWFUL...he shouldnt catch s*** for a random collision...

Here are some of my thoughts going into the series.. 1. Big, Fast, 4 lines etc. etc....no one is talking about how good our D core has been on the STICKS of the opposing players. While SJ's brute size is intimidating, if we can be smart with our sticks defensively, it will neutralize alot of their skill. SJ fans please spare us the "we're gonna wear down Lidstrom with our hits" stuff...every playoff opponent for 12 years has said that. He avoids hits better than most...I trust that Lids and Markov will be just fine at the end of this series. 2. As ridiculous as it seems....Andreas Lilja is gonna have to be big in this series. We know that at times Schneider and pre-Moen fight Lilja gave the puck away like it was their job. Outside of Schneids' patented interference move, both were pretty solid in the last series. If they can still make the simple plays with the puck under pressure, I really think we'll win the series. Our forwards are so well positioned in the defensive zone that if the Dmen make high percentage plays we'll be able to break out more often than not and eliminate sustained pressure. 3. Neutral Zone turnovers cannot be a common occurance in this series. Giving SJ speed and numbers on the counter-attack is dangerous and catches our D out of position, neutralizing our biggest advantage against SJ forwards. Penalites and PPG will ensue...if we are responsible, cut down turnovers at both bluelines and make them attack with our D in position, we can limit chances. 4. Keep crashing the net, keep crashing the net, keep crashing the net...Nabokov let up some rebounds against Nashville that we need to capitalize on. Kiprusoff did a very good job of swallowing up most of the shots, but I think if we continue to attack the net with reckless abandon, we will find more success than we did in the last series. 5. The battle of the 4th lines...San Jose has a great core of top-end scorers and quality grinders who can play alot of minutes. Our guys have to continue to chip in on the 4th line and play the kind of defensive game that would cause Babcock to use them in OT... 6. Faceoffs...Often overlooked as a key to any game....we want the puck all the time. How can we get it? How can we short circuit SJ's cycling game? How can we generate sustained puck control that will inevitably lead to a scoring chance? Continue to win lots and lots of faceoffs. 7. I think Carle and Vlasic are good, solid D-men...but the more we move the puck around in the offensive zone...the more likely Dats or Z will make that game breaking play 8. Our Legion of Doom-Bring the physicality, and goal scoring and wear on San Jose's defenders....if their emphasis isn't on being hard on our sticks, than maybe we can wear down their guys. Hannan is quite good, but I've heard rumblings that he has declined from his 04 form...Craig Rivet is not a number 1 dman period. 9. Hasek-just do what you did in Games 5-6 of the Calgary series. You are going to see more shots and more chances, and you are still going to give up some goals that will make us cringe...but make those 2-3 huge saves like Phaneuf's one timer late in Game 6 and we'll be fine... Wings utilize home-ice and defensively responsible stickworth to win a close Game 7

I like Ron Wilson alot...that being said, lets hope his post-season streak against the Wings continues... I know he was behind the bench for the 98 Capitals (he gives that dont be afraid to lose speech at the beginning of Game 2 of the SCF, they show it in Return To Hockeytown....always makes me crack a smile) wasn't he the 97 Ducks coach too.... what's that 0-8 come playoff time? Don't bother jumping on this one Sharks fans...just having a little fun (I know it means little)

You can definitely make a strong case for Luongo being better than Kipper....but Turco?? I obviously dont love the Flames but...no way is Turco better than Kiprusoff.

I've watched Turco for years, and yes he is having a nice playoffs... I've watched Captain Inflate-o-Pads (Giguere) at his best too. There are few certain things in an uncertain world...but here's one....The Wings will not face a goalie equal to Mikka Kiprusoff for the rest of the playoffs. Bank on it.

offensive zone penalty??? whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Ok...I've cooled down a little bit. Well...I called it in the GDT...its so common for one of our playoff games....Wings down by 1 in the 3rd throw a bunch of stuff at the net, get shut down by desperate defensive team and great goaltending. Whoever said that Kiprusoff has been average on beatable has impossibly high goaltending standards...if Kipper has been beatable, does that make Dom downright awful?? No blame for Hasek on the 5 on 3 goals, altho some of you may argue that Hasek losing his temper caused the 5 on3, and I won't argue. Whatever. Let's be realistic. We aren't going to score 4 goals on Kiprusoff more often than not. Period. Giving up 3 was a recipe for disaster. Hasek has to know this. I dont care about his saves at the end, and yes he's made good saves...Kiprusoff has made more. Giving up 3 is a receipe for a loss. Period. Dom better figure that out and play better, or this won't matter. Kiprusoff stops the Conroy goal, cuz his body is in position to deal with violent deflections. For Hasek to be the differencemaker we all know and want him to be...he has to make that save. If he makes those saves and only gives up point blank 5 on 3 goals, we'll be ok. Give up 3 from here on out...and I think we lose. The puck pressure from the Flames has been ridiculously improved over the last 2 games...speed, sticks in the passing lanes and physicality has all improved on the PK. We stand around...pass it into the corner, get immediately pressured and either turnover the puck or throw it back to the point for an unscreened wrist-shot. Pathetic. Winning battles and moving people around is critical. To get space, you have to earn it on the PP. Win a physical battle, make a pass to someone who has shifted and is free, and get the PK'ers running around and wait for the cross ice pass into the slot. We haven't done it, and the Flames tenacity is eating us alive. Honestly, I know that the PK has been bad, but our tenacity 5 on 4 hasn't been that bad...but 5 on 3 they get that time and space...and they capitalize. Now...I want someone to look at the 5 on 3 PKs that CGY had so many of in Games 1 and 2 compared to our PKs in Games 3 and 4...our PP goals are point blasts...perfect shots. Their PPG are point black shots right infront of Hasek with players left alone...well gee...why is that? lets fix it. I love Franzen...Flip needs more TOI and even though Datsyuk and Zetterberg haven't done much recently they've competed...but Z just isn't there healthwise. Lids...my hero...awful tonight...can't sugarcoat it. lets hope tonight is going to be the low point of the playoffs... Im pessimistic...but I still have some faith...

We're gonna lose this game...even if we come out smoking in the 3rd, Kiprusoff will be the wall....and we will lose 3-2. I really do hope I'm wrong....***** about the refs all you want, but our players know what they've been calling all year...that stick, in Calgary on Iginla...gets called Lidstrom. You should know that. Hasek had no chance on the 3rd goal but he hasn't saved his team yet either. Goaltending advantage for CGY will be evident in the 3rd... ALSO... I love Dom, I know he's a legend and an all time great, but watch how Kiprusoff gets his big body in position to deal with deflections by coming out more. If he can do that, why can't Dom do that on an deflection just inside the blueline. Yes, I guess he was screened, but so is Kipper on every play...just one more thing to deal with.... This could go two ways...04 Nashville or 04 Cgy/06 EDM...I hope it's the latter, but right now I have little doubt we return home 2-2 s***ty birthday.

Yes, it appears there was a deflection, which sucks for Hasek...still...Kiprusoff probably has his big body infront of that one. Like it or not, that's the 2nd of out CGY's last 3 goals that have been from pretty far out...Dom's fault, not Dom's fault irrelevent. The reality is we can't give up those goals and expect to come back and beat Kipper. Period. We've already surrendered 2. I don't see us scoring 5...this is where Hasek should and will be judged...if he bounces back and slams the door like the Hasek of old...all will be forgiven...if not...well....

Ok VS....this is terrible...Im here at Wake Forest in North Carolina, and VS. shifts to an infomercial at 3 am...no explanation. so now i have to watch it on the computer. For a network that talks about using the NHL as a centerpiece, bumping a playoff OT game for an info-mercial is LAME.

Does anybody else find it funny that Tanguay is mocking Hasek based on a series where Dom shutout Alex's team in the last two games of the series?? Seriously... If Hasek's play in that series constituted "flopping" , and he repeats that performance in this series, Alex and Crew will have a nice laugh about Dom's antics on the 1st Green

hahaha...leave it to "Billion Dollar Eddie" to stir up some comic relief come playoff time... here's the local news report http://www1.wsvn.com/news/articles/sports/MI43998/ I've also heard reports that he had to be tasered....hahaha. I can't believe i lived 2 streets over from this guy in Dallas...he's a first rate ass-hat.

Hull had the quote of the day... referring to Quincey "He needs to work on his shot in practice, he's taken some today that could have been blocked without pads"

Anyone know if they are carrying this game tonight on sopcast? I know its not listed, but they list other NHL channels that sometimes pick up games. Here's hoping they do. Comcast and Yahoo are in love with the round-robin of mediocrity that is the Atlantic Division (take one of the Penguins, Islanders or Devils) and show them vs. the Flyers or Rangers... boo.

Modano was also distracted by some financial decisions that went bad...and he lost alot of money. I think the story goes that he trusted a close friend to manage his investments and was let down, but Idon't remember exactly. Regardless, while Modano IS the Stars' icon ( I live in Dallas when Im not in school) its no secret that he had his worst years in Dallas as the captain. He was awful in 03-04, totaling only 44 points while posting a -21, unheard of for someone who became incredibly responsible defensively under Hitchcock. (his 02-03 numbers: 85 points +34). Pretty big drop. He rebounded well last year, but many think Dallas' poor playoff performances the past two years stems from their noticeable lack of passion (and Marty Turco), and the management thought giving Morrow the C would help that. At least that's what I think.

I'm aware of that...it was a great sign, it just needs updating to meet with our current accomplishments

It only weighs 23 pounds...so how come 29 other teams couldn't lift it? (insert picture of the President's Trophy) * No, I dont actually know how much the President's Trophy weighs

Playoff Slogans I remember 1999-2000 Bring It' On Home 2000-2001 Get Your Red On 2001-2002 Let 'Em See Red 2002-2003 Red Storm Rising 2003-2004 .... 2005-2006 Turn on the Red Light

The nickname is catching on quickly....for those of you who have forgotten http://www.divealanche.com/1a_play_sisters.html

lets not hope for any injuries...even to someone as delicate and annoying as Princess Paul

I watched tonight's game from a bar...and I agree with most of what has been said here... I never did understand the Holmstrom interference call...?? ( among others) and, did anyone else notice that Osgood's puck handling skills really helped out our D tonight? He's known for it, and he was obviously great in net, but I thought he was excellent handling the puck and made good passing decisions that aided our breakout and limited our normally generous blueline core's turnovers. (With the one exception of his pass to Schneider when there was a Pred right on himj who smashed him into the boards)

I dont know what some of the other Texans on this forum think, but I happen to think Dallas' Ralph Strangis and Darryl Razor Reaugh are top-notch. They love the Stars no doubt, but they always tell it like it is. If the Stars make a mistake, Strangis will say so. Razor can be a bit over the top with his vocabulary and comparisons, but he adds alot of style to the broadcast. I loathe the Stars, but I think these guys are great... On the other hand, the Carolina Hurricanes announcers are the ABSOULTE WORST I've heard in sports... things I've heard them say before: "that the refs were biased towards montreal because of their great history in the playoffs" - last year's playoffs "the Canes have done a great job never giving up today" - down 5-1 to Atlanta in the 3rd "That shouldn't be a goal, as soon as the puck touches a goalie in a SO, its a save"- after Mike Modano's GW Shootout goal hit the knob of Martin Gerber's stick... and the obnoxious sayings...I dont want to hear "everybody loves raymond" or the "wizard does it again" everytime Ray Whitney scores....the wizard???? wtf. oh yeah...Hey Hey What Do You Say its _________________!!!!!!!!! (insert goal scorer here) absolute tools.

Norstrom is a great player, and any team *cough Red Wings* cough would be lucky to have him, so in that sense Dallas has a great top 3 on D. THAT BEING SAID, Defense wasn't really the problem in Dallas...they lack primary scorers...Modano and Lindros are shells of their formerselves and while Lehtinen and Morrow are good supplementary scorers, they aren't front liners like they are asked to be....Ladislav Nagy isn't either. At the end of the day Dallas just traded away more picks for something they are already good at...The Stars won't be going anywhere this post-season, Turco or Smith in net . Mark that one down .

Ok, Im pissed. Thornton, Cheechoo and Nabokov all lay eggs for my fantasy team against Freddy Norrena. Absolutely pathetic. Also, Chicago decides to start Lalime over Khabibulin.... but the Preds losing to StL makes me happy. *cough LETS GO BLUES cough*