NeverForgetMac25

QFT. It's always nice to win it in front of the home fans, but not at the expense of chancing losing the Cup all together.

Pictures from Game 5. We left Green Bay Friday night and didn't get home until 5:45 last night. NFM, waiting for the Game to start: Mr. & Mrs. NFM enjoying the 5-0 Score: NFM and Pavel Trusting their eyes to Dr. Rahmani: The beautiful Scoreboard after 2: Mr. & Mrs. NFM posing with 'the Man': Mrs. NFM outside JLA: After the game, Ozzie stopped his car and signed a couple autographs. He signed our Towel from the game:

That has nothing to do with it. The fact of the matter is that the Wings lost, the series is now square and you post a short reply to your own thread that you knew would come off as baiting. You know full well your post wasn't about logic.

No one ever said you couldn't. Just stop baiting. That, you didn't. I have no problem with you discussing the fact that the series would look different from last years (it certainly has), but your post was short and seemed to be cocky given the Wings loss last night. That's what I'm referring to when I talk about baiting.

My 2 cents: The reason the Wings are losing is simple. On top of the atrocious penalty kill, the Wings are simply making bad turnovers too frequently as a result of (IMO) being tired along with the Penguins doing a great job of clogging the passing lanes. On top of that, the Wings are playing too much dump without any chase. The Wings have had plenty of success carrying the zone these past four games, so I'm not sure the reason why they're dumping in so softly and getting no pressure. Game 3 was a different story due to Babs constantly trying to get Z out against Crosby, thus the dump-and-chase without the strong forecheck due to making line changes, but yesterday it got frustrating to watch. The Wings have had plenty of luck carrying into the zone. What they need to do to win is Forecheck, Forecheck, FORECHECK! Continue to press in O-zone with atleast 2 guys. The off Wing can cover if its get turned over, but they need to sustain pressure more frequently then they have. You can tell the magic they have when they're holding the zone, now they just need to forecheck relentlessly to create more chances, which is what they need to be successful. That, eliminating turnovers and a better first pass out of the zone are the keys.

I never said you notched the Cup for the Pens. I simply said there's a lot of hockey left to be played. Funny how quickly you assume I was insinuating that you were giving the series win to Pittsburgh. Don't pretend like your comment was innocent. You know exactly the type of responses you were looking to (or would likely) get with that comment on a Wings forum. I'm telling you nicely to knock it off. The next warning will not be nice (for you atleast).

The series score for the first time is different than last year, but we're nowhere near the Cup being awarded to either team. Don't be so quick to be cocky....the Wings could win it in the same amount of games as last year, again in your barn. Sidenote: Stop baiting, the leash is short.

I don't care what you're talking about now. I'm talking about what you said earlier in this thread, which was something you tried to pawn off as a fact when it in fact has been proven false. Now that being said, I completely agree with this assessment.

I know this wasn't directed to me, but what you said about Dupuis stick breaking was wrong. He broke it himself on Hossa's skate.

Then state it that way initially! Once again mindfly, the way your initial post reads it comes off as flame-baiting when you basically say the Wings won't win without Dats without giving any reasoning to back it up. This is the stuff that's getting you in trouble. It comes off as baiting.

If you eliminate all other areas of play and *just focus on QB'ing the PP*, Gonchar is very good.

Obviously, the "sexy" choices are Crosby and Malkin, but I have to agree that Gonchar on the PP point makes me nervous as hell. It's no different than the bombs Pronger unleashed on Dom that killed us in the 06/07 playoff run. Yes, the Wings' blueline was beyond banged up but that guy picked his spots so well and executed. Gonchar (while no where near the talent level of Lidstrom on defense) has a knack for the net. It's no wonder people call him an offenseman playing defense because while his defense leaves a lot to be desired, he's always a threat when the Penguins are sustaining pressure in the O-zone. Crosby doesn't worry me as much because I know Z can shut him down. The same goes for Pav on Malkin.

It's been dealt with. We want fans of all teams to post here, but those that breaks the rules and purposefully troll and flame-bait will have an extremely short leash.

You might not want to read NHL.com (or LGW for that matter, with how bad some people obsess about him here) for the next 18 years. That name is going to pop up everywhere.

That's enough for me.

Nothing wrong with a little good-natured ribbing. If the Wings are fortunate enough to win the Cup I would think a nice picture of Hossa lifting the Cup might be in order for *all* of your coworkers.

For those interested in his total 2008 Playoff run numbers: DATE OPP G A PTS +/- 4/09 OTT 0 1 1 0 0 4/11 OTT 0 2 2 0 0 4/14 @OTT 1 1 2 2 4/16 @OTT 0 0 0 1 4/25 NYR 1 0 1 0 0 4/27 NYR 0 0 0 0 2 4/29 @NYR 1 1 2 0 5/01 @NYR 0 0 0 -1 5/04 NYR 2 0 2 1 0 5/09 PHI 0 2 2 2 0 5/11 PHI 1 0 1 0 2 5/13 @PHI 2 0 2 1 5/15 @PHI 0 0 0 -1 5/18 PHI 1 3 4 2 0 5/24 @DET 0 0 0 5/26 @DET 0 0 0 5/28 DET 0 2 2 1 5/31 DET 1 0 1 0 6/02 @DET 1 1 6/04 DET 1 1 2 0 Funny note: A google search actually found these stats on ESPN's website (which I never go to), and before I edited out the final score results for each game they marked the games as if Hossa was on the Wings (putting a "W" in front of games the Wings won and an "L" in front of games the Penguins lost). Silly ESPN.

Not well. 4/16/2008 Game 4 vs. OTT: 0 Pts. +1 5/1/2008 Game 4 vs. NYR: 0 Pts. -1 5/15/2008 Game 4 vs. PHI: 0 Pts. -1 5/31/2008 Game 4 vs. DET: 1G, 0A, 1 Pts., Even 2008 Game 4 Playoff Totals: 1G, 0A, 1 Pts, -1

I'll give you he was solid in Game 2, but we all can see something isn't right with him this playoff run. Yes, he's had a few plays here and there (I.E. Game 5 OT set-up to Helm) but if he's not going to be on the ice at the times he normally was (and was effective) the Wings aren't going to miss too much. I don't doubt his skill in front of the net, there's no one better in the NHL then he is...but something;s been off with him since midway through the regular season.

Per Bruce MacLeod - http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Huge! (That's what she said)

That's a whole other can of worms. I suppose it doesn't change the fact that the Wings have been thrown out of the face-off circle probably more times this postseason then they were all regular season combined.

I'm fairly confident Hitchcock was referring to the wingers though, not the centers.

I would agree with Mike having Abdelkader in rather than Leino would be the way to go given the face-off situation (especially given Bylsma has the last change). While Leino is far superior to holding onto the puck and setting up plays, Abdelkader is playing with a ton of confidence right now and having a fourth liner currently feeling like he can throw pucks at the net and get goals is a huge asset.

It doesn't have to be.....I'm not ripping the guy one bit. I'm simply stating that (regardless of injury) this hasn't been the most productive of postseasons for Homer. On top of that, if he is in fact injured (especially after the hit last night), that's all the more reason he shouldn't play. Healthy or not, everyone knows Homer is the worst skater on the team and against a Penguins team that thrives on speed through the neutral zone playing a guy like Homer in this current situation could be a major defensive liability.

Sidnote: Would anyone be that upset if they went with these lines regardless if Homer is healthy or not. He's been extremely ineffective these playoffs and against a puck-moving team like Pittsburgh, IMO it wouldn't be the worst thing to see him sit. The top three lines can all score as well as play great defense, while the bottom line has two solid defensive players with a guy that can create flashes of offense. I'll take it. Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary Filppula-Datsyuk-Hossa Hudler-Helm-Samuelsson Leino-Draper-Maltby