egroen

I didn't have that much of a problem with it being allowed, but damn I get piping when Holmstrom gets called for far less than that. Reffing was definitely one-sided tonight, and it was great to see the Wings overcome it! Need to get the PP going though.

I think the voters just feel the highest point earner automatically gets a Top 3 vote... despite the fact that if they made a direct comparison they would agree Lidstrom was the better "all-around" defenseman this year ("but Green did score a lot of points"). Sure, Lidstrom may have lost a step (and it is only a step), but that is down from one of the greatest defensive defenseman of all-time. Give Lidstrom a defensive-primary partner, put him on the Capitals this year instead of Green, and that team is even better... everyone knows it. His level of defensive play is still leap years better than "he's really not that bad... I'd say better than average".

I guarantee you Pronger and still Lidstrom would be the first two on every GM's wish list going into the playoffs. The idea Green was a 'better' all around defenseman than Lidstrom, this year or last year is a farce, and even the voters know it.

Are you guys actually suggesting he purposefully took that shot to the face? Come on. Props for sacrificing the body to block a shot, but yes - only an idiot is going to block an ice level shot from the point with his face. It was just rotten luck he took it there; sheesh, that could have ended his career.

I'm curious if there is a single GM in the NHL who would have preferred Green on his team this year over Lidstrom... even knowing their point totals ahead of time.

Oh wow, the #1, #2 and #3 point-getters... how shocking!

Considering the voters love affair with the Games Played and Shut Outs stats for goalies, he could continue to pull in Vezina nominations for the next 5 years... with 5 more first-round exits.

It just flat-out is not working. When was the last time Brodeur has had a good tournament? He gets yanked from the Olympics, 3 1st round exits in a row (all to lower seeds) -- you have to go back to the '05 World Cup and the '03 playoffs to find a Series where he really excelled.

Does anyone else think playing Brodeur 75+ games a year might not be the best strategy going into the playoffs? Especially when their backups have been having equal or better stats the past couple years. Is the guy just padding his stats at this point?

Chelios and Ray Bourque were runner-ups for the Norris at the age of 40. Gordie Howe scored over 100 pts at the age of 40. Hopefully Holland runs him out of town! Lidstrom will get one-year deals from here on out, and quite frankly he deserves whatever he gets, though I am confident he gives Holland a nice deal (which is anything less than $7m).

Yeah, a premier shutdown defenseman still putting up 50 points -- I'd say he should make less than Brad Stuart.

3rd straight 1st round exit for the Devils. I think Philly owned them in the regular season, and their fans were praying for this matchup... still impressive nonetheless. I just hope it's not Philly the Wings meet in the Finals (if) -- be nice to play a postseason for once without facing Pronger and his elbows.

Yeah, he deserves no more than Jeff Finger.

So if Ilitch owns 1/29th of the team, he should be able to demand one player sits. I say Bryzgalov.

I think that was actually Price.

Oops, confused Draper and Helm.

In '08 Hudler turned a line with Darren McCarty and Kris Draper into a scoring line. Hudler has scored at a .50 PPG pace in the regular season and a .55 PPG pace in the playoffs... where scoring is down approximately 20%. That is the exact opposite of someone "disappearing in the playoffs".

Flip has been playing with a ton more confidence ever since coming back from his injury. That confidence results in him looking to shoot first more often, and not flubbing a shot because he was hoping to pass it away. He looks great, keep it rolling! I like Bert and Z on his line, because those two create a lot of space for Filpulla to maneuver and get under-the-radar chances b/c of his speed.

That "Kronwalled" defintion on the inspirationl poster w/ the pic of Kronwall destroying Havlat was emailed all over the place. Can't remember if that one originated on this board.

I think it is harmless, hilarious fun.

Agreed... except about the "he never should have had his number retired in the first place". I've read about Larry Aurie quite a bit - and the best way I can describe him is a heart and soul player and leader, who gave 110% effort each and every night, on both ends of the ice. Think of Kris Draper - and what he has meant to the team, only much better offensively. If Draper had won the Rocket Richard, led the team in points in the playoffs and finished Top 4 in points in the league twice -- you better believe a lot of folks would believe he deserved to go up to the rafters. Heck, many think he deserves it already. When a young Gordie Howe joined the Red Wings, Jack Adams was often asked if he would be the "next Larry Aurie". He actually was a player/coach in 1937. Injured for the playoffs, but was behind the bench.

Agreed - Ericsson is much more suited to the PP, and this team obviously needs fresh legs for its PKers.

Of course, there is no debate. Red Wings have been more successful in the playoffs over the past three years than the Pens, trounced them in the 08 playoffs and the healthy Pens could barely beat an injury-decimated Wings' team in '09. Even with all the injury problems this regular season, the Wings still managed to out-point the Pens, despite being in the tougher West.

Wow, all Wings fans in agreement?