NeverForgetMac25

QFT....especially given the new assignment E would have to take up. There's no way he wouldn't practice alongside Lids to work out the way they'll try to match-up and change lines given their assignment of the Crosby line.

What a massive boost this would be for game 4, especially after the solid game the Wings played last night (well, first 2 periods) only to end up on the short end.

I wouldn't even make an "argument" over that. I'd state it was a fact.

I agree completely. The bigger the game, the bigger Oz has always been known to step up. It'll be a massive boost (if even just mentally) if Dats is able to go tomorrow, but either way I see the boys playing with the effort they throughout the first two period minus the gaffs.

Verbal Warnings have been issued, so lets get this thread back on topic. The discussion is regarding Ozzie's play and whether he might start playing less stellar than he has up until last night. Solid (even rough) debate back and forth is more than fine, but Flame-baiting will be dealt with swiftly.

Actually, I thought it was a great post. Welcome and please stick around.

Then say that in your initial post so it doesn't come off as baiting. Thanks for clarifying.

Classic! Well Done.

Why "shouldn't" the Wings be able to win this one? Unless this is a flame-baiting post, explain to me why the Wings shouldn't be able to win this one?

When actually compared to Gretzky at the time, they really weren't "that good". That's very much a relative term because Gretzky (especially scoring-wise) was leaps and bounds better than not only anyone on every other NHL team, but his Oilers as well. I don't believe the gap between Malkin, Ovechkin and Datsyuk and their respective other top teammates was as great as Gretzky and his teammates. That's not a shot on Messier and Co., rather a compliment on Gretzky's scoring prowess and ability to read the play.

Actually, the Penguins are clearly the ones that "needed breaks" but couldn't get them. By the time the Wings got their leads, they played solid defensively because there was no more need to push. Who's to say they wouldn't have gotten other goals had Abdelkader not scored either of those early third period goals. Any team that wins the Stanley Cup has had breaks. You don't win it without them. That doesn't make it any less of an accomplishment.

Actually, in a sense....it does. Having good teammates allows the coach to run 4 lines more consistently taking ice-time away from guys like Dats. Put Dats on a team that would ice him 23 minutes a night and his numbers likely are right up there with Malkin and Ovechkin's, and his defense is still far superior to those two combined. That being said, the Norris certainly proves your point.

Speaking of goal scoring songs (and not worthy of its own thread), does anyone know what happened to "I Can See Clearly Now" when #11 finds the back of the net? I haven't heard it since well before the playoffs began and was wondering if there was something I missed. That was hilarious....right up there with "He's So Fine" whenever Lang scored.

Technically, it is the "Final" series, so it makes sense that its written that way.

Wow...I can't even begin to fathom how much that must've hurt. Are we correct to assume this took place during practice the day before Game 4?

I don't think any hockey fan believes there isn't favoritism in favor of the league's best players. The problem is, the league has repeatedly showed they're going to look away rather than force a "face" of the game to miss any action. Penguins with Malkin gives them a better chance of extending the series and in the leagues' mind promoting the sport on a national and worldwide level. As long as the league doesn't want to follow the rules *they've* set this stuff is going to continue to happen, and sadly further make the NHL look pathetic.

No one is trying to be inconsistent. You don't know what all goes on behind the scenes when members are warned for breaking the rules. As for why mindfly is posting when you seem to think members have been punished for far less, perhaps you don't know what all led up to the suspension. Back on topic. If you want to discuss this further, PM me. It really wouldn't be constructive for Mods to "x" out any member.

The media was touting him before the series began as simply a great character guy that you can't help but root for. What I find great, is that the two coaches leading their team to the finals both have that same characteristic. Hmm...who would've thought. Humble, hard-working guys not finishing last.

I'm not gonna get into a pissing match with you regarding my feelings toward certain members of this site. If you haven't witnessed my tone with mindfly during any of our debates then you aren't paying attention. There's plenty of borderline comments and posts that go without punishment....some members more than others push that number. We can't see them all, and we try to be as fair. God forbid we don't please everyone 100% at all times.

His comment was one of ignorance, not of baiting. If you have a problem with the mod staff, take it to the PM's. When/if mindfly breaks the rules, just like anyone else it'll be dealt with.

Unfortunately, being constantly negative and annoying isn't a bannable offense. Neither is stupidity.

Welcome to Round 4 of the 2009 Playoff Picks Game. Keep in mind that the correct series winner prediction is worth 16 points this round rather than 12. Feel free to post any questions, and remember that your picks must be in *before* the first puck drops Saturday at 8:00 PM ET. Here is the Matchup based on their respective ranks: Stanley Cup Finals: (2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins NOTE: Please copy and paste the following template when making your picks. Bold the team you're picking to win, and then write the series score directly after in this manner: DET/PIT: 4-3 Round 3 Template: DET/PIT: This truly cuts down on the time it requires to tally up scores and I greatly appreciate it. Best of luck to everyone! Round 3 Final Standings: Rank, Player, Current Score 1 Chunkylover 114 2 ARice89 104 3 -=Red_Force=- 102 4 wmubronco420 94 4 CrossCheck24 94 6 12Newf 93 6 NeverForgetMac25 93 8 The Nephilim 92 9 I Red Wings I 91 9 CanadaBoy 91 11 Hockey13Playa 90 11 Firehawk 90 13 aflac9262 89 13 tweekvp 89 13 Shaman464 89 16 KillerB14 88 16 Mike 88 18 sibiriak 87 18 Zetterling 87 20 UKWING 86 21 Reds4Life 85 21 Electrophile 85 21 Breadgy 85 24 The Edge 84 25 anthonyn66 83 25 kugz 83 25 Aussie_Wing 83 28 pavyaz19 82 29 Ruys92 81 30 Gordie Howe hat trick 80 30 Frozen-Man 80 30 FinRedWing 80 33 3chrisosgood0 78 34 vOrophin 77 34 Echolalia 77 34 GoWings1905 77 37 ilmickeyli 76 38 zata20 75 38 Dominator2005 75 40 brownie 74 40 Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 74 42 wings_fan94 73 42 timothy1997 73 44 Shoreline 71 45 zetterisbetter 70 46 McCartyFanForLife 68 46 wings1wings1 68 48 dat's sick 67 48 DatsyukianDeak 67 48 russianswede919293 67 51 Vladifan 66 51 frederick9125 66 51 #19=Legend 65 51 55fan 65 55 Dano33 64 55 scotvm 64 57 revnic 63 57 Jersey Wing 63 57 cirov19 63 60 P. Marlowe 62 60 hak 62 62 Detroit # 1 Fan 61 62 marcaractac 61 64 wingsgirl001 59 65 HockeyCrazy3033 58 66 detroitsportsman05 57 67 RedWingAbner 55 68 WingsRJ91 54 69 GOWINGSGO5131419 53 70 lets go pavel 52 70 T-Ruff 52 70 naranja 52 73 edicius 51 73 bkeck 51 73 redwings2002 51 73 Yzersyukstromberg 51 77 Ontario Wingsfan 50 77 Batigol2k 50 79 shannyfan1414 47 80 Kwame_Kilpatrick 46 81 Wildwings44 45 82 kylee 44 83 WhiteLightning91 42 84 KrazyGangsta 41 85 Vladimir316 40 85 Doggy 40 87 evilmrt 39 87 MotorCityMadness 39 89 stactum 38 89 dangledangle 38 89 Swayze 38 92 servo 37 93 Carl Atkins 35 93 IUWingsFan 35 93 grwingfan 35 93 hockeysattva 35 97 alienanxiety 34 97 interminded 34 97 SoDakWing 34 100 hoogs 33 100 jollymania 33 102 MSUDoubleJ19 32 102 clutchngrab 32 102 RedWingedKitten 32 102 kook_10 32 102 TRD604 32 102 rick zombo 32 108 Superman54 31 108 bellarina 31 110 shadow47 30 111 xBrave_Heartx 29 112 StevieY'sguy 28 112 stevkrause 28 112 Skiminok 28 112 talex 28 116 FinWing 27 116 RedWings 27 116 Octopus 27 116 CrimsonFlame 27 120 FLWINGSFAN4013 26 121 TheCaptain19 25 121 johnnyoski 25 123 F.Michael 23 123 ander2ta 23 123 creedie 23 126 redwinger4747 22 127 dats13owns 21 127 WalleyeHockey09 21 129 Z and D for the C 20 129 b.shanafan14 20 131 Pletzke26 18 132 zackisonfire 15 132 tdinc 15 134 wingfan4ever 14 134 deltawing 14 134 HereComeTheHawks 14 137 ToMaToToWnWinGsFaN_24 13 138 bobbyryan 10

No he should not. Dats is an incredible defensive player, right up there with Z...but Hank should definitely draw Crosby. While Dats was great last year against Sid, Z really was the guy who shut him down. Z vs. Crosby Dats vs. Malkin

I'm assuming you meant the start of free agency, rather than the trade deadline. That would a hell of a lay-off.

Before I forget, thanks to all of you who participated. We had our biggest year yet, with 138 participants.