NeverForgetMac25

Seconded.

Bulls*** This was your comment below: Just another one of your posts bitching about Hossa since the moment you started posting on these boards. The point is, its time to shut up about it. We get the point, you don't like Hossa. You're wrong in calling him a traitor, but you're just too blind and/or arrogant to see the truth...and that's that he owed Pittsburgh nothing. Again, get over it.

He should, but clearly isn't. Bottom line, Hossa was a rental and owed the Penguins absolutely nothing. After Friday, Hossa owes Detroit nothing and I won't hold it against him if he decides to move on. Again, get over it.

Get over it, Hossa owed you and Pittsburgh nothing. That SI writer is an idiot if he truly believes Hossa is a Benedict Arnold. Typical emotional bulls***.

This current thread aside....the Penguins deserved each and every one of those calls. They lost their composure, plain and simple. As for last night, calls were made and missed on both sides. I have no problem with it as long as there's consistency.

What's absolutely amazing about this is that both Detroit and Pittsburgh made it back. It's so hard for either team to make it to B2B Finals and whether Hossa admits it or not, I'm sure he would have preferred to play practically any other team in the East to eliminate the chance of possibly looking foolish.

I said why did you post in it, meaning *this thread*. No one had said anything about you in here. You just called attention to yourself.

Uh....then why did you post in it? No one *had* said a thing about you.

Have you forgiven Pavel for his failed clearing attempt?

How many seasons in a row of solid play does Lilja need to have for the masses to let these types of outdated comments go? He's been great the past two seasons, especially given his contract. Those that still find a need to make these comments are either trying keep the bandwagon of a couple seasons ago going or haven't watched the Wings the past two years.

I wasn't referring to *entering* the neutral zone, which I agree hasn't been Pittsburgh's strongest suit. I'm talking about play within the neutral zone, specifically when the Wings have possession.

The Red Wings are not the same as Washington. The Pens aren't exactly the biggest team in the league which will make getting and keeping guys in front of the net difficult. On top of that, Oz hasn't exactly been giving up many rebounds these days. That alone takes away 50% of the effectiveness of being in front of the net. While I completely agree the Pens *need* to make their forecheck effective, they also need tighten up their neutral zone play. They can create a lot of problems for the Wings if they can get those neutral zone turnovers and use their speed to enter the zone.

Wow....one win away from back-to-back cups and a thread gets started about the good ol' days? It's rough being a Red Wings fan.

Certain posts have been edited for profanity. Comments like those will lead to suspensions if they're kept up.

Obviously, you're referring to Game 5 since 6 is tonight but whether or not the Pens put one in early is moot. As much as people like to get into that dynamic the fact of the matter is Oz stood up to the test, and even had he let one in chances are it wasn't going to change much once the Wings started firing on all cylinders. Even if the its 1-1 heading into the locker room the Wings still had the PP to start the second, and absolutely regardless of how the game "might" have changed, the Pens were going to give up that second goal from Filppula regardless due to be being gassed and making that long second period line change. In your scenario, that play still puts the Wings ahead with all the momentum. As for creating activity early and punching one in, every team (especially ones playing at home) look to accomplish that. It'll be how the Pens handle it if they don't get one in the first 10-15. One great thing about Babs (and I'm fairly confident Bylsma is the same way) is that its all about staying poised and waiting for your chances if things don't go the way every team wants to start every game.

In regards to carrying the puck, Dats is without a doubt the Wings' best neutral zone player. Obviously having him up and forcing the Pens to cover Z on top of Dats is carrying th puck is a problem for almost any team. On top of that, if Lids and Raf have time to set up and make that streaking pass through the neutrual zone the Wings will be in great shape.

Fans will be fans. You know the Red Wings are too experienced and veteran of a team to think that way.

If they do, it'll be up to the Wings to recognize it and make sure they adjust accordingly before damage can be done. The Wings aren't a dump & chase team, but they'd need to press with two guys coming in strong if the Pens do resort to playing the trap. I don't see the Penguins doing it, but I do think they'll try to be stronger on the forecheck then they were in Games 3 & 4 combined. As you said, the extra man down low is going to be key to moving the puck out of the zone.

If you don't care for it, there's a simple solution...don't read it or post in it. I happen to very much enjoy this type of discussion and telling a fan of another team to "do it on a Penguins forum" is ridiculous. Great topic. I look forward to discussing it further.

Very true. However, I also think Babs addressed this with the team prior to Game 5. The Pens had a lot of success in Games 3 & 4 with their relentless forecheck but that won't help any team if the Wings execute on their first passes. While the last 40 minutes of Game 5 aren't a good sample, the first 20 were a perfect example of this. The Wings struggled with the Pens forecheck and gave the Pens some opportunities to get the games first goal. Once they started executing and making a better first pass, it was all down-hill for the Pens. I guess what I'm saying is that if the Pens are going to be effective tonight, they're going to have to do a better job of disrupting the Wings' first pass. If they can't do that, the Wings should generate enough quality scoring chances and then its just a matter of how well they finish their shots.

Why? That's what they used to be referred to as. Now, more people call them blockers but waffleboard has that old-school feel to it. Keep it.

Emery for Biron. Where the f*ck is the upgrade in that? Silly Philly.

That would be an NFM25 original. I designed it and had it made for her on Cafepress.

Not a fan of heritage? Waffleboard should *never* be banned.

McCarty in, McCarty Draws, McCarty SCORES! A Magnificent goal, Darren McCarty! My most memorable Thorne call. Any Wings fan should remember this one.