b.shanafan14

The chances are better they play either LA or Pheonix, but it doesn't really matter at this point. The way they have been playing, I have my doubts this team could beat anyone in a 7 game series, especially without home ice. Its sad, but true.

At this point, who the Wings play is the least of their worries. Can't score. Defensive lapses are one thing, but with zero goal support, its all irrelevant. Today the Wings have spent WAY too much time on the PK to expect them to have allowed less than the 2 goals they have. But when play selection consists of pass, pass, pass, pass, shot from the outside, from the goal line, high, wide, or shinpad, how many the other team scores isn't our biggest problem.

*sigh*... (and by sigh, I mean red-faced, eye-bulging frustration)

Holy s***... that has been the Wings luck today.

God.... perfect example of wasted 3-on-2 scoring chance by Franzen taking the pass from Pavel then skating it to the goal line before shooting...*sigh* Had a professor with named Amber MacCracken. Her husband's name: Phil

There you go. Because most shots are harmless from the outside and when scoring chances do emerge they result in an extra pass or Samuelsson-esque shot selection (shinpads or logos).

Flop = called Trip on Abdelkader = notta

What a flop!!

Henna tattoos applied by Pierre on the Blackhawks trainer's table.

Tell the Hawks' team dentist that Sheahan was "not even trying" on that Chiclets wrecking backcheck

Hahahahaha gold.

My thoughts through the first 6 minutes. Then the goal and a bit of let down. Wings need to get their offense going against a crap goalie. Playing Rinne is going to be tough enough without averaging only 1 GFA going in. Of course, if they plan on losing, it won't really matter

Yeah, Edzo never takes off his homer hat. And Pierre never takes off his "I love Edzo" hat.

"Franzen fooled and then quits on the play". Great. Hate watching Detroit-Chicago games with Edzo and Pierre. There might as well not be another team, since 90% of the conversation is whether Chicago is doing something great or something not so great.

Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass.... pass, pass.... PASS. And Filppula hurt. s***.

Good PK then noticeable let down before ending up in our net... again. Keep the foot on the gas, damnit. I gotta think this team has started a game trailing a goal or two in 90% of games the past 2 months. Now get one back on the powerplay.

It does suck that someone who is more or less loved and respected by fans like Shanahan was given such an unenviable position. Someone is always going to disagree with your verdict, and its only a matter of time before you've disappointed the fans of all 30 teams at some point. I do appreciate the explanation though, being that the GM's decided where the line was drawn and held their ground. I think the process is MUCH more involved and objective than in was with Campbell, but its hard for the average fan to appreciate. Keep on keepin' on, Brendan; its the most thankless job in the league. The fine to Tortorella does more to inflame the situation than resolve it, and coupled with the lack of suspension to Orpik, the optics are not good. To most, the results were 180 degrees from where they should be.

4th seed > 6th seed >> 5th seed WIN and DOMINATE!... then we'll have to root for an inferior Avalanche team to beat the Preds in regulation If we plan to lose, hope we lose in regulation, then we'll have to root for the "superior" Coyotes to beat the Wild. ....god, I hate relying on stars to align... but first and foremost the Wings need to get their ducks in a row... WIN and DOMINATE!

And yet then-Penguins coach Michel Therrien went on a huge rant during the finals about all of the obstruction that the obstructing Red Wings were obstructing upon the obstructed Penguins stars, which obstructed their offense. Conveniently, no consistently there. Same thing a year later when Malkin jumped Z, a stick flailing assault, glove-fisted fracas in the last minute or so of the game that resulted, rightfully so, with Malkin receiving the instigator, along with a one-game automatic suspension... that is until the league decided that it wasn't "in the spirit of the rule" to suspend players venting their frustrations by jumping other players in the waning minutes, even though that was the EXACT spirit of the rule, and if that had been someone like Franzen doing the same to Malkin or Crosby, we all know how that would have gone down. This league is a joke, and continues to validate every complaint with double-standards for the anointed and knee-jerk fines for the dissenters.

This, more than anything, blows my mind. Its like the league conveniently used the discipline of Tortorella as a smoke-screen to distract from their leniency with Pittsburgh yet again. The league really seems concerned with player safety; I guess Cindy and Maria's feelings are a bigger concern than Stephan's knee. What is this, Orpik's third or fourth reckless knee-on-knee hit? And yet nothing. I can't recall, but in the league's eyes is he a repeat offender, or is one of these magically few players who are as dirty as the next, but lack the record of suspensions "miraculously"? Either way, this is a joke. In the spirit of the can't-unhear-it strategy, I wish the media would bait players and coaches around the league to discuss the Penguins and Crosby/Malkin as well as the fine to Torts and, with everyone having tongue firmly in cheek about the threat of being fined, each person asked throws on a big grin and says "no comment". Remember during the 2008 cup run, when the refs were calling phantom interference on Holmstrom left right and center, and the media in a post-game press conference tried to bait Babcock? Another coach was fined earlier those playoffs for complaints, and Babcock said a whole lot by saying as little as possible:

Obviously their salaries are much more than the average guy, but coaches aren't paid multi-millions like some superstar. $20K is still $20K, and for what? For telling the truth? Honestly, what is the official reason? "Poor sportsmanship"? This league is a joke. Continue to coddle them, they'll never learn...

Or what about Michel Therrien and the infamous "obstruction" tirade. Not only whining incessantly, but calling out the opposition's players and the NHL referees. Double standard much? I still laugh to myself every time I see Crosby drawing the second penalty for the epic 2008 5-on-3 kill; basically tried to jumped on Lilja's back and it worked. This first penalty was also dive-tastic: It'll basically be synchronized swimming, with complaints instead of music.

Honestly? Yes we all predicted it, but come on. Is there any way Torts could dispute this? Telling the truth is forbade. My head is about to shake itself clear off my shoulders...

100x This. Just watched the highlights and Torts post-game on TSN, and that first line of yours was my EXACT thought. Milbury called it like he saw it, and one of the few times I actually side with the guy he is forced to apologize. Love that Torts and Berube have both called out the Pens for what they are in the same week. Shows just how little those actually associated with the game appreciate the NHL's annointed "dynasty". For those who haven't been blessed to see it yet, LINK: http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=392373

On top of that, the 3rd line at the time with Abdelkader, Miller, and Helm was one of, if not our best line. They were really grinding the opposition defense, providing a lot of garbage and chaos in front of the crease, and even putting the puck in the net at a decent clip (considering its essentially a Grind Line). Ironically, we demoted Franzen to the 3rd line and instead of lighting a fire under him and while providing the checking line with a useful big body, he continued to suck tremendous ass and effectively cooled down that line until Helm's injury. Pretty sad when the most accountability he's seen is being demoted 4 games or so, and still playing so badly that Babcock just gave up on the experiment and put him back on the first line. Its been two seasons straight now in which Babcock disrupts the chemistry throughout his lineup just trying to get Johan Franzen to play like he's capable of. Line 2 has chemistry? Put him there! Line 3 has chemistry? Put him there! Line 1 is starting to come around and score consistently? Great, its fixed; put him there! *sigh*