Outsider

You're dead wrong. Wang is a terrible owner. He only bought the Team in order to get his greasy, theiving paws on the billion dollar swath of land surrounding NVMC. He figured once he owned the Team, how could they deny him? The man is a scumbag. A lying, theiving, cheating, backstabbing, scumbag. Plain and simple. I hope the Town of Hempstead continues to block him until he has no choice but to sell. Until then, he'll hold the Isles for ransom, and manipulate their fans with emotional blackmail, until he weasels his way into yet another shady deal wherein he makes a fortune at the cost the general public. The man is evil..

Early game tomorrow. No sign of the "500 Posts..." thread?

Uh huh.... The games actually matter now.

Utterly and completely impenetrable! Scary, as a matter of fact...

Ayup..... Legendary.

Brick wall....

With all due respect, you didn't ask "How is that not a penalty?" What you asked was "How is that not goalie interference...?" I never inferred that there was no justification for calling a penalty. Only that there are absolutely no grounds for calling it "goalie interference", simply because you can't interfere with a player when the puck is dead. It would be the equivalent of calling an interference penalty on a player who obstructs a guy on his way to the circle to line up for a face off.

The play is whistled dead after a goal. How can you interfere with a player when the puck is not in play? Roughing? Maybe. But then again, the Ducks spent the entire game crashing into Ozzie, and nothing was called.

Welp.... They didn't look great for the majority of the night. (I hope we can chalk that up to nothing more than a bit of rust.) But.... They did what Championship caliber Teams do. They found a way to Win. Oh.....and for those in the Press who are putting Pronger in Lidstrom's class? Pfffft. Nick doesn't have any classmates. He's peerless. Great night for the smooth Swede. Good Win.

LOL....thank you. I was wondering when that might appear....

<sigh> From an Orange County resident, my sincere apologies. I'd like to say that we're not all like that but, (unfortunately), the majority of OC residents are well represented by the tripe espoused in that piece of trash, written by that piece of trash. Of course, few who have this "superiority complex" remember the days when it was "ghetto" to live "behind the Orange curtain", and folks only migrated to Orange County because they couldn't afford to live in Los Angeles. Few who have this "superiority complex" can harken back to the days when "the OC" used to be what Riverside is today. Anyone from SoCal knows what I'm talking about. We have good weather, true. We also have despoiled, RUINED beaches and PUD's instead of neighborhoods. We have no space. As a community, (not necessarily as individuals....but as a County), we're cramped, crowded, over-commercialized, self-entitled, shallow, materialistic, and so afraid that someone might one day take the time to actually look closely at us, and realize that all we are is plastic, silicone, collagen, designer labels, and spray tans, and that our "superiority complex" is nothing more than a defense mechanism, like the bully who acts tough because he's so afraid. We're spoiled. We have everything. Well.....almost everything.... Suffering builds character. That? We don't have. Chin up, Detroit. Your city, and cities like yours, are the backbone of this nation. The heart and soul of the American middle class. You bear the brunt of it when things go south, when things turn sour and ugly. It's a good thing, too. Because you're strong enough to take it where other cities, cities with less heart, less determination, less PRIDE, couldn't. Kinda like that once golden mecca of affluence and shining dreams, Los Angeles, who failed the test, and has become largely a slum as a result. There are a few of us, a FEW, who still remember the who/what/where/why/when and how of what made this nation a great nation, and who recognize what it is which is causing it to rot from the inside out. We could all stand a little more RED BLOOD, and a LOT LESS Prozac, pumping through our veins. Detroit will rise again. And when it does, it will be better, and stronger, than ever. Because it will have passed through the worst of the fire just to stay alive.

Devs/Canes game was brutal if you're a Devs fan/supporter. I hope there were a good number of Detroit Red Wings players watching that Game 7. I hope it gave them that hollowed out metallic feeling in the head, right behind the eyes, and that acid taste in the back of their throats. I hope it put the fear of God into them.

Hiller played well enough, but he certainly wasn't anywhere near as good as the knob-slobberers are making him out to be. Like the Wings did in 03, the Sharks fired harmless shot after harmless shot from the point, with no traffic in front. Babcock states of Hiller that "We watched him lots." I hope he means that earnestly. If they truly HAVE been watching, they'll note that: 1. The guy's like a Pez dispenser when it comes to rebounds. Lots of goalies give up tons of rebounds, but most can put them where they want them. Hiller has little, to no, rebound control. Beat the Duckies to those rebounds, and it's a whole different game. The Sharks weren't willing to do that. Will the Wings be willing to? 2. High. Shoot high. Glove side....blocker side....doesn't matter. His own Teammates pump goal after goal by him in practice AND warm-ups because they ALL SHOOT HIGH on him. 3. Traffic. He's scrambly in traffic. How many times during Round 1 was he literally, and I do mean literally, crawling around on his hands and knees like a 6 month old? He saw nearly EVERY SHOT the Sharks fired on him. This Series worries me only because I know very well the Duckies penchant for attempting to advance through the Play Offs by injuring/intimidating their opponents into defeat.

Wow. Must be nice to have an "elite" goaltender like Nabokov, eh?

Jebus, evul.... Couldn't even hold your water for a full day, eh?

Good on ya, Oz. Keep it up.

Go get 'em, Oz! Go Wings, Go!!!!!

Jebus.... Alright. Done, and done. Now let's just hope the guys don't have the same "We'd much rather face the BJ's than the Ducks. We should be able to beat a 1st time Play Off Team 4 out of 7 with one hand tied behind our backs." Go Wings!

Crappy Regular Season... <grumblegrumble> Flip, and Oz showed up today. That's about it. Cheli looked pretty good, too. Other than that? Not much good to take outta this one. I hope that Lilja comes back before too long, (hey.....Franzenstein did it.....maybe Lils can, too), because while Ericsson is a big body, and definitely looks like the future... The future is not here. Not yet. The kid looks lost out there at times, and he's not quite familiar with either his Teammates OR the System just yet. His (poor) communication has led to some real interesting moments these past few games, and not in a "good" way, either. Bring on the Play Offs. Go, Wings! GO!

I think the Wings are in for a tough row to hoe this Post Season, as I've seen alot of calls like that go against them this Season. That call on the PS tonight was so bad it was, quite literally, jaw dropping. Look for more of the same in the Play Offs. That's not to say that the Wings didn't have plenty of terrible calls against them last Spring. Difference is, last year they were able to overcome them. This year? I'm not sure, but I'm leaning toward "not".

From the article: "I'm not kidding myself, I haven't played well this year," Osgood said. "This is one of those years where things haven't gone right... Waaaaaait a minute.... Are you telling me that Osgood is NOT walking around, head in the clouds, thinking what a fine Season he's had? You mean to tell me that he's aware that he hasn't played well, but has chosen to keep a positive attitude regardless, rather than allow himself to be dragged down into the morass of negativity, recrimination and self-doubt created by the fans and Media in this town? Why.....That would almost mean that while the majority of fans and Media types have been excoriating him all Season, looking for an apology..... Oz has been looking for something else? He's been looking inside himself....for answers....for solutions.....for the light at the end of the tunnel? He's been "digging deep" and "working", rather than flagellating himself in the Press in order to appease the fanbase? You mean to tell me that while everyone else has been looking at this game, that game, the other game, the season, the stats, this soft goal, that terrible rebound, the misplay of the puck..... Chris Osgood has been looking forward, eyes fixed on the horizon, focused NOT on what he's done..... But on what he needs to do? What the F#(K is wrong with this guy? You'd think he'd realize that if he just came clean, admitted that he sucks, that he's a terrible goalie, that the fans and Media just might cut him some slack. Jeez! It's almost as if the guy's not interested in any slack. It's almost as if he's not interested in what anyone has to say about him. It's almost as if he's got other things, more important things, on his mind. What the Hell could he be thinking?

The point I was trying to make is pretty clear-cut: Most fans have held to the (erroneus) belief that Osgood has been "in denial", or "delusional" about his play this Season. There are some fans who have stated that Osgood's assertions that he "feels fine" is an indication that he's blaming his Teammates for his sub-par play, becuase if HE feels that he's been "fine", then he must believe that the rest of the guys "suck". Still shaking my head on that leap in logic.... Furthermore, most fans have been angry with Osgood as much for his shoddy play this Season as for not coming out in the Press and "admitting" that he's been bad, stating that if he'd just "admit" that he was playing badly, maybe he could turn it around. The reality is that Osgood is neither "in denial", nor is he "delusional" about his play this Season. He's also never stated, (not once), that his GAME has been fine, only that he FELT fine. Subtle, but profound difference. Fact of the matter is that Osgood is well aware of the fact that his game is not where it needs to be, (a fact that some of us have asserted all year long). But rather than pulling a Manny Legace in the Press, he's decided to soldier through it, rather than "bow his head in shame", as you put it. Oh....and as for that..... You're right, alot of people haven't expected Osgood to "just bow his head in shame and never try to improve his play". What they've expected is that he be waived. Or traded. Or that he should just retire, already. Or failing any of those scenarios, that he should just sit quietly and politely while the Wings hand the reins of their Cup defense over to a career back up. After all, based on the play of both goaltenders over the past FORTY GAMES, that's obviously what each of them has "earned". At least according to some fans. And now, look..... Oz has picked up his Game heading into the most crucial point, (actually the ONLY point), of the year that matters. (Wow....who could have predicted that nearly impossible scenario?!?!) And suddenly everyone feels "more comfortable", or "much better" about the Wings Post Season chances. I can't speak for others but I, personally, get a kick outta watching the faint of heart hopping back and forth from foot to foot, leaping off and rejoining the bandwagon, then leaping off again, with every little shift in the wind. With that said; The SCPO's are a grueling war of attrition. There is a certain mindset, a palpable energy, a distinctive "feel" to the eventual Winner. There is a swagger involved, an almost arrogant "No worries.....we got this" type of attitude, when the game is on the line. The Wings had that last Season. In spades. When you watched them play, it was with an almost gleeful sense of how unfair it was to the opposing Team. While they're damned good this Season, I haven't seen that slow, deliberate lowering of skateblade to opponents throat that we all witnessed last year. That's to be expected. They had a helluva Spring and Summer, and not much time to recover, (both physically AND emotionally), from their dizzying climb to the summit. Couple that with the fact that every Team they now face comes at them knowing that their hockey lives hang in the balance with every shift against these guys..... And in THIS year's Play Offs, you'll have the hockey equivalent of mothers lifting cars off their trapped infants, nearly every game. I truly believe that Osgood will be very, very good this Post Season. I've believed that from the beginning, despite all of his struggles this year. But I acknowledge the FACT that while the focus has been on GOALTENDING as the reason for the Wings struggles with GA, PK and general Defense this year..... The Defense has been ATROCIOUS - Not even a shadow of what it was last year. It will take a LOT more than Osgood on top of HIS Game to make it back to the top of the mountain this year. It will take the REST of the Team being on top of THEIR Games, too. Something they HAVEN'T BEEN, all Season long. There's only so much a goaltender, ANY goaltender, can do. And we all know that while Ozzie is good, damned good, he's not going to drag the Wings kicking and screaming to the Cup. They are going to have to play Cup caliber hockey, too. ALL OF THEM. I'm hoping that they can get there. They're a veteran Team, and if anyone can, they can.

Not just the Media, Doc. Oh no.....not just the Media. After backstopping the Wings to the Cup last year, the guy spent the summer lugging the Mug around Detroit, taking it from place to place, and telling the fans, in HIS own words: "You're as big a part of this as I am. You earned it as much as I did, so we're gonna drink from it together." And then trudging back and forth, personally holding the Cup so that fans, lined up around the block, could drink from it, for hours at a time by some reports.... He's repaid with outright hatred and vitriol, with comments about what a "useless human being" he is, or by some fans wishing injury on him. And all this for having a sub-par Season.... While STILL WINNING Games. If I were Chris Osgood, I'd be working hard on my Game in order to turn it around, just so I could have the pleasure of spitting in the eye of anyone who came up to me in the streets to congratulate me, and calling them a f#(king frontrunner. Of course, that's just me. I'm sure Chris is a much nicer guy than that.

Wow.... Another one of those "nothing gets to him" goaltenders. You know, the type who's so laid back that his Coach mistook his relaxed attitude as "not trying" or lack of competitive fire? Apparently Holland sees these traits, (the low-key attitude and calmness, the refusal to "let anything effect him"), as positives. POSITIVES! Imagine that! Funny.... Most fans around here take it as a sign of "lack of heart" or "laziness". Silly Holland.

Ayup. And now he's a showboating, hot-dogging ******-bag. Just what the NHL needs. <sigh>